Blu Ray Disc Players

With more and more users strongly ensconced in the PS3, looks like it is end of days for HD Blu-ray disc spinners with the standalone disc spinners going under £90 – a catchy bean that is sure to attract any gadget geek. Guess Samsung begs to differ here with unveiling players like the Samsung BD-D8900 which has a lot more on offer as against bare movie playback, which includes HDD on board together with 3D technology. Don’t we all love convergence? Look like the Korean manufacturer is all set to unveil an absolute epitome of technology packed in a stylish unit like the Samsung BD-D8900 that promises to get rid of all those boxes cluttering beneath your TV. It is so very remarkable in its scope, in that it literally makes the PS3 seem a little restrictive particularly with Samsung trying to sweeten the deal furthermore by offering a £50 cash back (for a limited period).  So the BD-D8900 sure does prove to be a technology buzzword, as it manages to blend a 3D Blu-ray spinner, PVR with 1TB HDD, Freeview Decoder, internet service hub and Media Player all in one. Improvising its sibling Samsung BD-D8500, this new model packs double the amount of storage capacity (1TB) in comparison to its predecessor in addition to a second HDMI output (audio-only) that is onboard just in case you wish to have individual HDMI feeds to your sound system and display. Then again, it is pretty much identical in all other aspects. Well, it is up to you to decide if this justifies the extra price tag, as we personally don’t really believe it does, as the difference between a 1TB and 500GB shouldn’t really work out so much assuming that an additional HDMI connection wouldn’t really cost this much. Nevertheless, the BD-D8900 is no doubts an awesome spinner.

What you get

Also called the PVR (personal video recorder) or HDR (hard disk recorder) the BD-D8900 simply put is a Sky+box for Freeview with the addition of HD goodness. The latter requires the spinner to be much big in size than the prior incarnations of PVRs. The box packs a hard disk that comes with a whopping capacity of 1TB, which comes in handy for all the HD fans. The spinner is capable of recording 240 hours of HD programmes/480 hours of standard def content with the ability to even rip music CDs with comprehensive track listing and cover art downloading by default that can also be transferred as MP3s to a USB.

Features at a Glance

• Full screen capabilities
• 1000 GB of HDD Media recording
• Hyper Real Video Engine
• BD Profile 2.o
• Smart Hub
• 1GB Local Storage
• 2D to 3D conversion
• 3-Second Boot time
• 1080p DVD output
• BD Wise Auto image Setup

Design and Connectivity

Well in order to accommodate all of the above technology, it calls for a chassis of some size and the Samsung BD-D8900 3D Blu Ray Player humbly obliges. It is a fairly stylish unit and comes in a classy blend of glossy black and chrome finish that is obviously Samsung familiar. Check out the cool embellishments like the window on top through which you can view the discs whirring around and the 3D logo which glows at the top, which is kind of hard to miss, upon a disc being loaded.  Thankfully, this can be turned off from the settings menu, if you find it too flashy. It sure does look to be a chunky chap at 64mm tall and 430mm wide. On the flip side, not that it lacks charm or the required refinement. For starters, the spinner is devoid of any clunky tray for disc loading and uses a slick slot loader instead, try feeding it with a silver platter and watch it hungrily slurp it in. There are also touch-panel controls with an illuminated disc mechanism, courtesy the semi–transparent lid. We guess you really wouldn’t be keen on hiding this flamboyant hulk away in your cabinets. In the front, right behind the flip down panel you get to see a CI slot, which comes in fairly handy with accessing paid services namely Sky Sports over Freeview, and you also find the USB port for media playback right here.

Coming to the rear of the BD-D8900, regardless of all its functionality it doesn’t really look crowded at all. You get two HDMIs with one of them for audio only, which comes in handy at routing lossless DTS HD and Dolby TrueHD Master Audio soundtracks from Blu-ray spinners to receivers that are AV compatible (non-3D) with the primary output delivering 3D straight to your stereoscopic display. Also on offer are digital optical audio outputs, phono AV together with an Ethernet connection. With Wi-Fi being onboard you wouldn’t need a dongle. The component video output is also on offer, but then you might want to be aware of the fact that it doesn’t help with Hi-def.
Again, Blu-ray output is restricted to 480i complying with the AACS copy protection protocol. Furthermore Freeview HD is output at 576p, in contrast to the HDMI option, thus taking care of the issue of online piracy with a single stroke. Performance-wise, the BD-D8900 sure does put in a nice performance, but cannot be labeled the fastest spinner when it comes to loading titles as it takes roughly a minute and a half after loading the BD-live enabled disc in the tray to the time the Fox logo cares to show itself. Nevertheless, the controls are fairly responsive with the picture over HDMI neat and crisp.

Features

Samsung is one such manufacturer that has always been magnanimous when it comes to features and the BD-D8900 Blu Ray Disc Player is no exception to that concept. So let us start with our favourite, the Smart Hub, the new web portal of Samsung that offers you an assortment of apps on your TV screen. It is not just the content that has gone through a makeover since last year with the addition of the BBC iPlayer to the Internet@TV, but the presentation has also turned awesome. The snazzy and bright Smart Hub menus has its apps icons all neatly laid out in a grid format that allows you to segregate them into folders, (just so there are several members of a family using them and wish to separate their content from others). Addition of new apps happens rapidly and easily via the App Store. Few of the existing apps would include the Google Maps, Daily Motion, BBC News, Picasa, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter along with a plethora of other less popular and specialist apps. Again, you also get to access a whole load of games, puzzles and activities for children, a fairly family-friendly feature. Again, though it doesn’t really match up with the BRAVIA Internet Video of Sony, wherein the TV content looks to be huge, it is not really far behind too. The Your Video feature which is relatively new looks up for info on movies, both old and new, giving you the option to like and share the same on social networking sites. The search mode, which is also new probes for keyword-related content on YouTube, Your Video and Facebook, and excludes the Freeview EPG in that search.

Moving on to the DLNA AllShare feature – this allows for streaming of content from networked devices namely NAS drives and PCs. It list of formats supported go on to include WMA, DivX HD, MKV, MP3, WMV and AVI to name a few, but then streaming is not possible with AVCHD files, which you can alternatively play from the disc. The above list can also be played via the USB port. The BD-D8900 also comes in handy with ripping music CDs onto your hard disk and you can copy the same to a USB if you wish to or even stream them. However, there is no Blu-ray recording as it is a straight-up unit.

Along with playing 3D Blu-rays, the spinner also converts pictures from 2D to 3D. This is not just applicable to DVDs or Blu-ray discs alone, but also to the Smart Hub videos and content streamed from network or USB devices and Freeview recordings/programmes, with the facility to alter depth with settings ranging from 1-10.

There is a whole array of features onboard offered in terms of digital TV too that goes on to include dual HD tuners for Freeview that comes in handy at changing channels during recording, but this is constrained by its obvious restriction to record just one channel at a time. Then there is the Time Shift with which LIVE TV programmes can be paused or be watched from the start even as it records, a 8-day EPG with series link together with the rest of the features that is broadcaster-controlled akin to other PVRs. Polite dialogue boxes aids in activating series, and with it being set, the Schedule Manager displays all instances when the specified series is being shown, together with the rest of scheduled recordings.

Operation

Operation-wise – guess Samsung have gone that extra mile this 2011 on their Blu-ray lineup in making their menus feel and look welcoming and clear-cut with smart usage of vibrant graphics, chunky fonts and straight-forward menus. Importantly, the onscreen design is a real delight to use and doesn’t really stop you from opting for the product. Well, there are some hitches like the menu slightly dragging especially the menus relating to DLNA, but guess the delays are not really significant. The best of the lot would be the main menu, which uses animated icons that are neatly laid out in a platform with corresponding floating options above. Almost everything can be accessed from here with the inclusion of EPG, USB, Smart Hub HDD content, DLNA playback together with all vital Settings menu, which again is a cakewalk to be used. The recorded TV menus take the form of blocks each with a thumbnail that can be sorted by Date, Name or Channel wise.  Also on offer is an assortment of editing features that allows you to delete parts of your recording with the use  of an intuitive onscreen editing tool, but then accessing that feature is not an easy task. So is the task of setting up your ID for Smart TV for apps like Twitter and Facebook. Furthermore, keying in mail IDs and passwords via the onscreen keyboard that has been designed to replicate a mobile phone is complicated too requiring you to toggle through diverse pages of words and switching between various entry methods. Fortunately, there is the “Remember by Details” box and checking that would make you go through the process just once.

Getting to the rest of the setup process looks pretty much simple, setting up the Wi-Fi for instance, guides users (especially the not-so-tech-savvy) using simple graphics and explanations.  Yet another feature that makes using the deck a pleasant one would be the petite dialogue boxes that rush to your rescue by popping up when encountered with a conflict or stuff that you need to know namely timer schedule changes or recording clashes, with any such happenings, the deck will let you know about it. Yet another helpful feature keeps you posted on when an SD programme selected by you is shown in HD.

Again, try hitting the info button as you watch TV and you will witness the best of onscreen info banners seen until date. The details that are displayed is pretty comprehensive with coloured icons being used for stuff like resolution, subtitles, aspect ratio, Audio format and description. Even better you are allowed to browse the entire line-up of channels to know what’s on days before the scheduled telecast.  Usage of USB/DLNA content is easy too they share the same menu layout as the Recorded TV display. Likewise the EPG also dons a classy design that manages to squeeze a 6-channel, 2-hour programme grid, synopsis of programmes and controls and the live TV box all into one screen without giving a cluttered feeling. Well, there is one hitch though, it is not possible to read the names of the programmes in the grid, which is actually a shame.

All of the above is wonderfully controlled by a remote that is user-friendly sporting chunky tactile keys, big lettering and sensibly laid out. Life is made furthermore easy with the playback keys that glow in the dark and dedicated buttons for 2D to 3D conversion and the Smart Hub. If you wish to explore more hit the Tools button for additional options, that includes an array of picture presets and User setting, which allows for adjustment of various picture parameters. On the flip side if you own a Samsung TV that has a Freeview decoder of its own, you can manage it with a single remote, but that gets kind of confusing at times as to which decoder are you currently using. While it is a powerful combo, it is sure to confuse the technically-weak.

Performance

3D and 2D Blu-ray Playback

Blu-ray images look spectacular in this Samsung BD-D8900 3D Smart Blu Ray Player with HDD. The clean and crisp pixels are digitally transferred from the disc to the screen resulting in pristine images with signs of noise witnessed only from the disc. Textures and fine details are taking in its stride and rendered dazzling acuity. Regardless of the 3D content being viewed via active shutter glasses, 3D images look vibrant and sharp, but with the advantage of additional distance and depth, the effect looks downright absorbing.

Users might want to be aware of the fact that while using a Samsung TV and Blu-ray player together, the deck is detected by TV’s smart connectivity via HDMI and seemingly improves the overall experience as the features and settings are interlinked and giving the feeling that the deck and the TV are one and the same, which is actually both good and bad. With two remotes and two menus looking almost identical it gets confusing to figure out where Blu-ray disk player went? It would have been nice if Samsung had distinguished the menu system particularly upon being connected to a TV with identical menus! Well, if it is smart enough to identify two Samsung devices being connected, then it could’ve might as well altered the colours of the menu! Are you listening Samsung?

Picture Quality – TV Tuner

The deck has a magnificent HD playback with abundant details on HD channels and is devoid of any artefacts like noise or blockade with stuff looking great. Colours look natural and deep with diverse shadows and shades on background and clothing that looks smooth and devoid of banding.

HD Recording Quality

The spinner records only in the highest possible quality making the recording on hard disk seem great retaining minute details. This would have posed to be a problem if the disc was any smaller than 1TB, but with this kind of high capacity for recording, there doesn’t look to be a concern. Even if there is one, all you need to do is then connect an external disk and voila there  it is – record HD videos to your heart’s content.

Standard definition channels also seem strong when viewed both recorded or live with a wee bit of feathering and block noise with rapid movements, but nothing that could prove annoying. Coming to the spinner’s 2D to 3D conversion, it is not that impressive, we would say. It fails to provide an extra depth to most of the scenes, with just a couple of evident floating object instances that remotely look real. On the flip side we are yet to see a manufacturer give us a convincing conversion tech.

Verdict

Samsung sure does know how to cram as many features possible into a single product and the BD-D8900 looks to be no exception to this trait of theirs. Well, for starters, the deck is no svelte-looking piece and neither does it attempt looking so – now for a deck that packs this many features, there has to be someplace that all these technology needs to go. With its extensive connectivity options to its exhaustive features, the deck sure does know how to work things out of a TV, let alone a disc player. It looks to be a living proof of convergence that blends together a variety of AV components into a single unit. It also explodes with couple of cutting-edge features like comprehensive Freeview functionality to media streaming over Wi-Fi, not to forget the colossal 1TB hard-disk. It is irrelevant whether it’s a smart Blu-ray spinner or a Hi-def PVR, or a tuner with two or more niggles, but this is as good as it can get in a world of Freeview HD as it promises to tick all relevant boxes with the HD/Blu-ray+1TB hard drive combi. Now to pick on a few areas for improvement – Samsung need to work on their network media streaming functionality as it is frustrating when you are not allowed to use the internet features while it is recording. Again, the inability to record two channels simultaneously looks to be a shame particularly in this day and age; Yet, this feature rich player more than compensates the price and presents itself to be a purposeful 3d-ready deck.

Samsung BD-D8900 Blu Ray Disc Player – Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	Samsung
Model Name	Samsung BD-D8900
Product Code	BD-D8900
Product Type	Blu-Ray player
Form Factor	Table top
Dimensions H x W x D	430 mm x 60 mm x 299mm
Weight	3.9 kg
Colour	Black
BD Profile	5.0
Control Button	Touch Key
Deck Type	Slot-in
Front Display	VFD
Video Decoding Format	HD JPEG, MPEG, MPEG2/4, AVCHD, DivX HD, MKV, WMV 1,2,3,7,9
Video Output Resolution	1920 x 1080 P, 1920 x 1080 I, 1280 x 720 P, 720 x 480 P (720x 576 P), 720x 480 I (720x 576 I)
Video Scaling	DVD Upconversion
Audio Decoding Format	AAC, Dolby Digital Plus 7.1ch, Dolby TrueHD, DTS, DTS HD Hi-Res audio, DTS HD master audio, LPCM, MP3, WMA
Playback Media	3D Blu-ray, Blu-ray video, CD DA/CD-R/CD-RW, DVD-video, DVD R, DVD RW
Connectivity	Analog Audio Outputs: 2ch Anynet+(HDMI-CEC) Component Video output Composite video output Ethernet HDMI output:2EA Optical Digital Audio Output USB Host: 1EA Wireless LAN Built-in
Tuner	Dual Tuner, DVB-T2/C
Recording Media	Yes (100GB)
Timer Recording	EPG (Digital) Number of recording (1 Month): 50 Events/Month On Time Recording: Off, 10 min~6 hour
DVB	Auto channel Scan Channel list Auto clock setting EPG (digital) – SI-EPG Favourite channel Logical channel number Manual channel scan Radio Parental Guide TTX(OSD) OTA Subtitle (DVB) Subtitle (TTX) Time shift
General Features	3D convertor, AllShare, BD Wise, Full Screen, Hyper Real Engine, Karaoke, Local Storage (Built-In Memory), Smart Hub, Ultra Fast Play, Video Up-scale DVD
Physical Features	Capacity:1TB Plate size: 3.5” Recording time (HD, SD): About 20 hours of HD Stand by/Operating: 1W/33W
Warranty	One year

Forget the Atkins Diet, for the Samsung Diet looks to have done wonders in slimming down the Samsung BD-D7500 Blu-Ray Player to astonishing compact proportions. It is the Korean Manufacturer’s 3D flagship model for 2011 focussing a lot on its stylish looks and unique design. Well, looks like Samsung is one-upping themselves! It was only a year before when the Samsung BD-P4600 Blu Ray Player was touting itself as the World’s slimmest player, when the BD-D7500 decided to deprive the former of its crown. Samsung sure does seem to have pushed boundaries again with this Blu-ray player that is scarcely an inch thick. Not only does it sweep you off your feet with its looks, but is also complete with its leading edge tech namely 1080p upscaling, 2D to 3D conversion, 3D playback, DLNA, touch-sensor controls, in-built Wi-Fi, Apps that is Web connected and aides in content streaming. Not to mention the expensive tag that tags along it in comparison to most players in the current market.

Well, for those of you who are tired of sliding their players under your television, you can now wall mount it, provided you figure a way out of the wiring situation. So are we all set to explore this achingly petite player and what it has on offer?

Key Features – A quick Glance:

• Superior graphic UI.
• Wi-Fi on board.
• Along with playing HD movies in 3D, it also up converts 2D titles (blu-ray) to a near 3D image quality.
• Ultra Fast Play (Samsung touts a less than 3 second start up time)
• Capable of playing audio CDs and CD-R/RW along with DVDs.
• Capable of decoding DTS Master Audio and Dolby Digital TrueHD. Multi-channel theatre sound can be enjoyed with the receiver being connected via optical audio out or HDMI.
• Novel SoC (System-on-Chip) for outstanding 3D up-conversion of pictures, movies, and video streaming.
• BD LIVE supported – content can be downloaded from the provided blu-ray disc via a network connection; Note, 1GB free space or a USB stick would be required
• Playing music, videos and photos on your Smartphone, PC or NAS is now possible with AllShare via a network connection.
• Allowed to play multimedia files via the USB connection. The following file formats are supported – AVI, MP3, WMA, JPEG, MKV, DiVX, MP4 and HD.
• One Foot Connection compatible player, but then needs a Samsung Wireless Router that supports the One Foot Connection. This helps the player in establishing a connection with the router within 1 foot and doesn’t really require a password. Internet connection is seamless after this even if player is moved all around the house.
• Samsung Smart TV makes a whole host of entertainment options possible, namely streaming from Vudu, Blockbuster, YouTube and Pandora. You can even update your social networking sites like Twitter or Facebook or if you choose to simply browse the net, all of the above with the tap of a button.
• Smart Hub makes it possible to download a range of paid and free apps together with Internet services and content namely, weather forecasts, news, Games, stock market quotes, music and movies.
• DLNA compatibility allows for connecting to the other DLNA compatible stuff in the house for you to enjoy the multimedia files. Additionally, you can turn your android phone into a remote for the BD-D7500 by downloading a special app called iOS, that is free.

Design/Finish

Measuring 0.9 inch deep, this Samsung BD-D7500 slim player comes in both glossy black and trendy silver finish. With a brushed metal silvery look, the slot-loading disc drive is located towards the side. Most of the cost of this player has gone into styling the BD-D7500, which looks to be a charismatic addition to Samsung’s 3S design theory (symmetrical, slim, slot-in). Its sleek brushed aluminium finish proves to be a real feast to the onlooker’s eyes and can be both wall mounted or fitted onto a stand. Well, it cannot be fitted into a cabinet though because of the side slot-in design. Gone are the days of noisy and slow load times. The addition of touch-sensor controls with the incorporated blue lightning sure does make the player to stand out in any home theatre and therefore would be more ideal to place in an area where it can be spotted. As mentioned before, if you find the player’s thinness kind of annoying, the supplied angled pedestal comes to your rescue. You can also just go ahead and wall mount with the brackets provided.

Slots & Controls in BD-7500

Akin to life, there seems to be compromises here too. The connections at the rear have been kept to a bare minimum to match the 1-inch frame. So the only connections that you get to see would be a single HDMI output, a USB, optical digital out, a LAN port. There is also an A/V mini-jack output that comes with a breakout cable for stereo analog audio and composite video. It lacks a dual HDMI out that was on offer in its predecessor BD-C6900, which proved to be real handy, especially if you have an older version of A/V receiver that has issues getting through 3D video. Again, it lacks multichannel analog audio out too. The On/Off is the only physical button that you get to see on the player. Additionally, there is also a Play/Pause logo in the centre encircled by 4 touch-sensitive buttons that controls playback. Fortunately, you really don’t have the need to use the USB slot for the Wi-Fi dongle, as it is in-built. Just follow the setup wizard and your deck would be networked in couple of minutes. Though the entire thing lights up similar to a Christmas tree, thankfully there is an option to switch this off, such that it doesn’t prove to be an annoying distraction while watching your favourite movie. Kudos to Samsung for having equipped the player with a slot-in disc drive due to which movies are played in less than 20 seconds from the time the spinner sucks in your disc. Well, this avoids the endlessly waiting time spent on the disc tray to pop out and go in. Definitely the fastest load time that we have seen so far!

Audio/Video

There is an on-board DTS-HD Master Audio decoding and Dolby TrueHD in the BD-D7500 3D Ready Blu Ray Disc Player that helps pass Hi-Res audio formats in their inherent bit stream format via HDMI, helping your A/V receiver decode the same. The setup menu offers a choice between 3 preset modes and a user mode, wherein the latter allows for adjusting noise reduction and sharpness. The depth of a 3D image can be adjusted with 2D to 3D conversion.

Playback is supported in the following formats in the BD-D7500 – CD audio, DVD, BD, MKV, AVCHD, WMA, Divx HD, MP4, JPEG and MP3. The player can be added to your home network via either a wireless 802.11n module or via Ethernet port. It is also equipped with 1GB of internal memory for storage of BD-Live content together with a USB port for additional storage. The latter also supports movie playback, music and photos. But then, the deck is devoid of advanced control ports like the IR or RS-232.

Features

The online platform in the Samsung BD-D7500 seems to be the richest in terms of online content. A rapid-growing App store has a whole host of casual games together with left-field infotainment, namely the Yoga Helper, which enhances your yoga poses and How to Tie a Tie etc. You get to amuse yourself by browsing pictures from Picasa. Again, the streaming video options also are abundant that goes on to include YouTube, Acetrax, BBC, Vimeo, iPlayer, DailyMotion etc. Social networking is also here in the form of Picasa, Twitter, Facebook, Google Maps, AccuWeather etc. Talking about social networking, while it indeed has a big nod to it on the Smart Hub portal, it is kind of disappointing to know that Twitter and Facebook are not really included in the TV experience. Well, you might have to relent to Samsung’s very own account login and creation tolerating the hurdles associated with it, which looks to be a part of the package.

In terms of streaming/downloading content the Smart Hub Portal literally smokes ahead in the race. It packs a literal mix of VOD services together with miscellaneous apps as mentioned above. The Your Videos Section forms a part of the Smart Hub Package that is more IMDb-lite. Streaming movies from within makes more sense, though presently that is not an option.

If you are looking to entertain yourself by streaming TV shows, music or movies, the BD-D7500 is only too happy to comply. The same can be played via a networked PC or via the USB stick; files such as MKV are reeled too. In case you have your stuff stored using a NAS (which we think you do), do not be surprised if the support is kind of pedantic. Well, that is because the player is kind of finicky when it comes to media servers.

Last but not least, check out yet another novel feature, BD-Wise, which helps the deck in outputting a disc at its inherent frame rate and resolution upon being connected through HDMI to a Samsung TV that is BD-Wise compatible. Well, this works if you let the TV control the frame-rate conversion and the upconversion.

Performance

The Samsung BD-D7500 3D Blu Ray Player doesn’t really disappoint you in terms of performance and does a fabulous job when it comes to putting life into 3D elements. It kicks off right from the minute the Warner Bros logo pops on the screen. It is a real treat to the eyes to watch 3D ingredients like a tennis ball being dangled in mid air, proving to be attractive additions. This is made possible thanks to its radiant convincing depth levels together with a realistic touch to the movies. Textures are flawless with vivid-looking clothing and fur. With the audience of a movie being kids, it is the colours that tend to attract them and colours are indeed impressive and captivating with dynamic rich hues. Blacks were impressive as well.

In terms of audio quality, the BD-D7500 Blu Ray Player player is capable of Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD Master Audio and DTS-HD HRA along with supporting 7.1 channels through HDMI output, thus providing you with crisp and sharp surround sounds perfect for any of your favourite movie that you decide on watching. The quality of audio in the BD-D7500 is good too with the fabulous decoding of the supplemented MA 5.1 DTS-HD. More importantly, the dialogues are crisp and are not flooded neither by the music nor by the sound effect. Again, be it a subtler or action packed sequence, the experience is wonderfully immersive. Bass brings about a dramatic scenario with action-packed sequences. In fact, it looks to be a perfect match for the kind of 3D performance that you get to witness.

In terms of picture quality the player scores extremely well with both 2D and 3D images. Images literally pop up to life on the screen by way of brilliant, vivid, crystal clear quality. Load times are rapid and the BD-D7500 upconverts old DVDs seamlessly to HD quality. Though we do admit that the quality of up-converting DVDs has improved dramatically in comparison to its predecessors, the BD-D7500 still has a lot to make up in comparison to some of the high-end players or the Sony PS3 for that matter. Again, though the spinner upconverts conventional 2D images to 3D, the image quality might differ based on the source material.

Do not get dodged with the deck’s feather light weight, as the HD quality of the picture coming from within is a real killer with bustling playback detail, that you can literally peer into the smoggiest of scenes and yet come out with abundant details. 3D movie playback is cool too. Well, there is also the option to depth convert conventional 2D DVDs and Blu-rays to 3D. Though, it doesn’t really convince many of you out there that there is no real reason to use 3D glasses for content that is not designed to be watched in 3D format, you eventually cannot help but admire Samsung’s smartness in presenting 2D in the best ever possible fauxD. DVD playback also looks to be okay, though you will possibly find a more precise upscaling in the rival decks. Again, the spinner cannot be taken seriously to be a dedicated CD player, especially with its music playing capabilities being limited to functional. Nevertheless, this limitation doesn’t really matter much. Also we do not really think this deck is too very compatible with several AVRs as it evidently devised to be directly connected to a TV. On the flip side, you sure can connect it with a home cinema amp and the BD-D7500 would only be too happy to bitstream DTS Mater Audio and Dolby TrueHD. Then again, you might want to be aware of the fact that it lacks a persistent memory and the single slot for USB will have to be backed up with an additional 1GB, especially if you are looking at downloading stuff from the BD Live.

Remote Control

The BD-D7500 is backed by Samsung Anynet Plus (HDMI CEC), a network system that controls AV devices of Samsung by default eliminating the need for different remotes for various devices. This Anynet + feature offers you an experience that is seamless and user friendly and all you really need is just one remote. That being said, though the BD-D7500 is touted to be a remarkably stylish deck, we guess the same cannot be said about its remote control, which is neither fascinating nor really practical in use. It lacks backlighting with just the playback buttons being lucky enough to be treated with a fluorescent finish.

Power Consumption

Thankfully, the Samsung BD-D7500 3D Smart Blu Ray Player is not too very power hungry and uses only just about 14 to 16 watts when it comes to Blu-ray playback with only 0.3 watts while on standby. Well, it might not sound to be the best, but it is definitely above average in comparison to the other players in the market.

Pros

• Stylish form factor
• Smart Hub Connectivity
• Wi-Fi Onboard
• Wall mountable
• Ultra fast play
• Touch-sensor controls
• One Foot connection

Cons

• Limited Connectivity
• Run of the mill DVD and CD playback
• Lacks advanced control port such as RS-232, dual HDMI outputs and multichannel analog out for audio
• Pricey
• Uneven file support with media streaming

To Wrap-Up

Guess the Korean manufacturer would do everything possible up their sleeve in devoting an exclusive team to downsize technology with their sole mission being breaking their own record. This is the only possible reason that we could think of, for the Samsung BD-D7500 touting to be the world’s slimmest deck. No wonder it was waltzing all over the CES 2011 after being crowned the World’s slimmest Blu-ray deck. Let us say that this player is exclusively for those hankering for a high-end and hot Blu-ray player packed in an attractive case. Then again, the deck doesn’t really rely on its looks alone and packs a whole host of features in its tiny packing like DLNA compatibility, integrated Wi-Fi, 3D support, in-built storage and Smart Hub with Web-connected Apps, to name a few. On the flip side, if you are someone that doesn’t really give much of importance to the form factor, then you might step down a bit to the BD-D6700 with almost the same features, but with a more traditional design, together with a dual HDMI output which the 7500 lacks. Again, if you are not a great fan of 2D to 3D conversion, you could step down even further to the BD-D6500 forking out a relatively smaller sum for almost the same features.

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Samsung BD-D7500 Blu Ray Player – Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	Samsung
Model Name	BD-D7500
Form Factor	Tabletop
Dimensions (W x H x D)	380 x 23 x 158 mm
Weight	1 kg
Colour/Finish	Black, silver
General Features	Control Button: Touch keys BD profile: 2.0 Deck Type: Slot-in Ultra Fast Play: Yes 3D Converter: Yes Hyper Real Engine: Yes Front Display: VFD AllShare: Yes BD Wise: Yes Local Storage (in-built Memory): Yes Smart Hub: Yes Video Upscale DVD: Yes
Physical Feature	Energy Rating: 2 star Stand by/Operating: 0.3W/19W
Video Feature	Decoding Format: AVCHD, MPEG2/4, JPEG, GIF, PNG, DivX HD, HD JPEG, MKV, WMV(1, 2, 3, 7, 9)
Audio Feature	Decoding Format: AAC, Dolby Digital Plus (7.1ch), Dolby TrueHD, LPCM, MP3, DTS, DTS HD Hi-Res Audio, DTS HD Master Audio, MP3, WMA
Sound Output Mode	Stereo
Supported Audio formats	AAC, HD-AAC, MP3, AC-3MPEG1/2 Audio, WMA, PCM
Additional Features	Wall Mountable AllShare 1GB flash memory in-built USB host function
Playback	VCD 1.1 Blu-ray Video DVD Video/DVD+R/ DVD-R/DVD+RW/DVD-RW CD DA/CD-R/CD-RW
Supported Digital Video Standards	DivX, DivX HD, AVCHD, MPEG1, 2, 3, WMV9, XviD, AVI, H.264, VC-1
Blu-ray Features	Picture Zoom, 4x Picture Zoom Power, Parental Lock
Blu-Ray	Media Format: NTSC BD Profiles: Profile 1.1 (BonusView) 2.0 (BD Live) Media Load Type: Slot-in Slow Motion Speed: 1/8, 1/4, 1/2 Blu-ray Repeat Modes: Chapter, Title and A-B repeat Upscaling: Yes
Connectivity	Analogue Audio Outputs: 2ch Aynet+ (HDMI-CEC) Component/Composite Video output Ethernet HMDI output: 1EA Optical digital audio output USB Host: 1EA Built-in Wireless LAN Wireless LAN ready
Connector Type	1 x HDMI output – Bottom 1 x Composite Video/Audio output – Bottom 1 x Digital Audio output (optical) (TOSLINK) – Bottom 1 x USB 2.0 – Side 1 x Network (RJ-45) – Bottom
Remote Control Type	Infrared
Cables Included	1 x A/V cable
Energy Star Qualified	Yes
Power	Power Adaptor – External Consumption (operational) 19W
Warranty	1 Year Parts and 3 Months Labour

“Appearance can be deceptive” is how we would like to describe Panasonic’s new 3D range-topping Blu-ray disc spinner. It is kind of difficult not to be impressed with what the player has on offer. Well, it might not be the cheapest player that you can lay your hands on and some might even find it fairly pricey at a £200, if anything more, especially when there are a whole array of options below £100. But we have to admit that with such lengthy feature list, it sure does justify the cost and proves to be worth every penny. Well, for starters, how about just waving your hands in front of the player and lo behold, it is at your service to take in a disc. Doesn’t that make for an interesting start? The Japanese manufacturer has also done some nice tweaks to their GUI menu trying to be a little innovative from their monotonous previous generation players. Again, Viera Cast is still there and is relatively easy to navigate.

Now coming to the killer aspect of the Panasonic DMP-BDT310 Blu Ray player, the Skype feature! The player also records your Skype video mail regardless of your presence. Neat huh? Again, your iPhone takes the shape of a remote control here. Let us not forget the High Digital Clarity Sound – it does exactly what it promises to do. Last but not least, the 3D Effect Controller, 2D to 3D conversion feature and the Wi-Fi on-board. Well, if you are wondering with all of the above, the image quality must be a compromise, uh-huh not here!

Key Features

• Dual HDMi
• Significant improvement in playback speed in comparison to its predecessors.
• Full Hi-Def 3D Blu-ray playback.
• Converts 2D DVDs/Blu-ray discs to 3D.
• No more cluttering with adapters/wires – thanks to the built-in Wi-Fi.
• The 3D Effect Controller comes in handy at controlling the leaping 3D effects thus helping you to moderate the depth as per your discretion.
• The Vertical Colour Preference process is now one and a half times better in an effort to maximize details – thanks to the Adaptive Chroma Processing.
• The killer Skype feature is a showstopper in the BMP-BDT310 bringing your dear ones near you, and is just a button push away on the remote.
• “Go Green” with the UniPhier Chip in the player that not just fortifies a sharp and clear picture quality, but also keeps a tab on your power consumption.
• DLNA certification makes it easy for streaming of content from DLNA-compatible devices.
• Witness your iPhone, iPod or iPad take the form of a remote.
• Looking for a more personalized feel – a home wallpaper/screensaver does the trick.
• Panasonic has taken care of noise reduction via the HDMI Pure Audio even as it reproduces a natural sound quality.
• VIERA CAST allows access to a whole host of info and multimedia content from online sources like Twitter, YouTube, Bloomberg, NetFlix and few other popular sites.

Design/Slots and Controls

Aside from the revamped pile of features for 2011, Panasonic has managed to conjure an innovative and fresh look for the DMP-BDT310 with an amazing slim casing and a beautiful black glossy chassis. The slim profile has more to it than just being skin deep. Yeah! It helps to a great extent in reducing CO2 emissions thus facilitating a 48% cost cutting on your energy consumption. Isn’t it high time we do some justice to the environment by using minimal resources aside from worrying just about our monthly utility bills? Yet another interesting inclusion in the BDT310 would be the Touch-Free Sensor, a funky cosmetic highlight that lets you open and close the disc tray with a simple wave of your hand over the top-mounted sensor. While it may look more of a gimmick than a must have feature, it sure does keep grotty fingerprints at bay and is irrefutably a cool thing. This sleek deck sports a bizarre diagonally dappled pattern surrounding the sensor panel on the top and shimmers with light. There is a remarkable compact frame measuring 35 x 430 x 179 (h x w x d). Meaning, aside from the fact that the deck prove to be a perfect fit to any AV cabinet, the carbon footprint on the environment is also eventually lesser due to smaller boxes used for packaging; Neat huh?

Coming to the player’s front panel, it has been kept uncluttered – thanks to the flap that extends all the way across the fascia. Following this is the disc tray, couple of buttons, an LED display along with a USB port that supports MP3, WMV, DivX HD, MKV and JPEG formats. Again, there is a SD card slot that is designed to support BD Live storage and JPEG, MPEG-2, MPO and AVCHD playback.

Talking about the rear panel, we get to the admirable part of this flagship model, the inclusion of two HDMI outputs, both of which are v.14. This is something that was appreciated on the BDT300 and we are happy to have it back on the BDT310. This means you can stream 3D pictures straight into your TV via the main output, while the sub port comes in handy to import HD audio to your receiver. So now you can enjoy both 3D pictures and audio soundtracks in HD concurrently. Then again, it is a different story if your AV receiver boasts of a HDMI v1.4 input, making the second output of minimal significance.

Also on the rear you get to find a second USB port. Guess we would no longer have to witness the battle between Skype camera and the wireless USB dongle for the rear port as was the case in the DMP-BDT110. The built-in Wi-Fi in the BDT310 allows the TY-CC10W communication camera to enjoy the rear USB port all to itself, making the front port available for digital media playback. The connectivity gets complete with the Ethernet port (that takes care of wired net connections), Optical digital audio and analogue stereo/composite stereo outs. The BDT310 lacks component video outs along with Multichannel analogue, but that is not a big loss really.

Features

While many of the DMP-BDT110 features have been replicated in the BDT310, let us explore the several other features that are included that could probably justify the £70 premium, because the Touch-Free sensor, dual HDMI, and built-in Wi-Fi looks to be just starters.

For instance, let us explore this peculiar feature of Digital Tube Sound that primarily aims at replicating the kind of warmth brought about by vacuum tube amplifiers, largely deliberated for music playback. This is further accentuated by High Clarity Sound that literally shuts off any analogue video circuitry in an effort to reduce intrusion thereby bringing about cleaner and clearer sound. Last but not least would be an onscreen display – the Playback Information Window that manages to provide you with the very last detail pertaining to the disc currently being watched along with the current settings.

Again, the DMP-BDT310 is DLNA certified and is capable of streaming music, videos and photos from a Windows 7 PC/NAS drives on home network along with streaming stored programmes in Panasonic DIGA recorders with parallel streaming in other rooms too. Well, let us also not forget the Viera Cast, a whole host of websites that goes on to include Bloomberg, YouTube, Twitter and Picasa along with few other European sites. Though it cannot be really compared to Samsung’s Smart Hub or Sony’s Bravia (as it has a lot more catching up to do), particularly with the new Viera Connect still not having made its way to the 2011 Blu-ray decks, it is kind of disappointing!

On the flip side, Skype is beyond doubts a canny inclusion to the Viera Cast roster that gives you the pleasure of having video calls with your loved ones in any corner of the world, all within the comforts of your recliner, right there in your living room. With the growing demand for this VoIP service, this beyond doubt is a welcome addition and works seamlessly. Thanks to the breezy interface and ingenious features, namely the auto-answering message and the facility for callers to leave video messages while you are away. Likewise, with an incoming call during a movie, the front panel lights up with a “Call” sign along with an audible ringtone. The auto-answering message takes over (an update promised by Panasonic) with you being away recording the caller’s video message on the SD card. An awesome, but a pricey feature as you might have to shell out an extra £120 for the TY-CC10W camera – Nothing comes for free guys!

So having seen enough of downsides, now for some treat for iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad owners. There a free downloadable app that turns your devices into the BDT310’s remote giving you access to some extra functions that even the default remote lacks. This works with Scrub and Gesture and also gives you an added bonus of accessing content from networked devices through your Apple device.

Next up would be the 3D features, mainly the 2D-to-3D conversion attribute that adds that extra tinge of perception to 2D DVDs and Blu-ray discs. Cartoon and animated titles look absolutely neat. It definitely looks worth the price, particularly with kids around or if you own a large collection of Disney titles. There is yet another functionality, the 3D Effect controls that allows you to play around with the depth of images along with the screen type to Round/Flat thereby eliminating the hindrance caused at the sides of the screen meeting the bezel. The most berserk setting would be the Screen Frame that is intended to add a diffuse border that goes all the way round the image, which is supposed to make it comfy to watch, but on the contrary users find it more distracting than being helpful.

Coming to the brilliant innovative OS, one of the most intuitive seen till date, the icons of the main menu are neatly laid out with corresponding right, left, up and down controls in the remote. All it requires is a single button press to guide you to the relevant option.

Moving next to the remote control, guess there is room for improvement. We would have appreciated if Panasonic had a backlighting on the remote, particularly for this flagship model. But then, with many using a universal remote like Harmony, it really doesn’t matter. Still, the short and stubby remote has neatly embedded, easy to memorise buttons with unique buttons for Viera Cast, Netflix and 3D effects. Well, the other conventional buttons go on to include Home, Setup, Display and Status and Popup Menu. Overall, no great shakes about it, but as mentioned could have been better. A word of caution though, beware of the Home key that is parked right next to the menu control key, if you want to avoid frequent visits to the main menu.

In terms of performance, the picture quality is rated as awe-inspiring, especially if you choose to pair it up with the Panasonic plasma. The 2D image’s depth and density screams rich and cinematic at you cramming the images to display the sharpest detail possible.

Switching to 3D increases the WOW factor – you cannot help but praise the gorgeousness with which the BDT310 handles the clarity and smoothness of Full HD images mesmerizing you with the achingly beautiful image quality and detailed backgrounds. You would hardly find any issues when it comes to blurring or crosstalk with stunning colours and sizzling details punching right through your retina. Thanks to the Adaptive Chroma Processing ticking inside the deck that is responsible for up-sampling colour detail from 4:2:0 to 4:2:2 giving colours a more cleaner and staunch appearance as against other conventional Blu-ray spinners, eventually bringing about a more authentic and jaw-dropping 3D effect. The player seems to blend with the TV reproducing fast-moving objects in a perfect effortless composure. The deep punchy blacks together with vivid colours and meticulously rendered detail turns just about everything from delicate textures of plant life and close-up human shots scintillatingly sharp.

Sonically-speaking, the Panasonic DMP-BDT310 Blu Ray Disc Player is remarkably good in terms of Blu-ray standards with music sounding perfectly open and crisp, and doesn’t really lean too much towards top-end frequencies, yet retaining that perfect amount of bottom end punch. This gets further accentuated by Digital Tube Sound, a welcome feature as mentioned above, giving that additional layer of depth, though it doesn’t really impress a few. Last but not least, disc loading times have definitely gotten faster in comparison to the predecessor DMP-BDT300. Again, you might have to use 1GB SD card, as the player lacks built-in memory for BD Live downloads.

Pros

• Full Hi-Def 3D Blu-ray playback
• Intuitive OS
• Twin HDMI outs
• Skype Video calls
• DLNA certified
• Touch-free Sensor

Cons

• Pricey Skype camera
• Viera Cast could do with some improvement.
• 2D conversion, a mixed bag

To Wrap-up

The BDT310 proves “Good things come wrapped in small packages.” True, to that saying it crams a lot of stuff even as we endorse the fact that it is kind of pricey in comparison to its rival flagship players, especially the cost of the Skype camera. Well it does have its own downsides like the 2D conversion not being a killer feature and Viera Connect still not finding its way to the Panasonic decks. But guess such molehill of negatives gets dwarfed by the avalanche of features on offer in the BDT310 and sure does deserve a thumbs-up.

Panasonic DMP-BDT310 3D Blu-ray Player – Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	Panasonic
Model Name	Panasonic DMP-BDT310
Model Number	DMP-BDT310
Form Factor	Tabletop
Dimensions (W x H x D)	430 x 35 x 179 mm
Weight	1.6 kg
Colour/Finish	Black
BD-ROM	Full HD 3D BD-Video
BD-RE/BD-RE DL	JPEG/MPO
BD-R/BD-R DL	DivX/DivX HD/MKV
DVD	DVD Video
DVD-R/DVD-R DL/DVD-RW	DVD-Video DVD-Video recording AVCHD MP3/JPEG/MPO DivX/Divx HD/MKV
Audio System	Dolby Digital Plus/Dolby TrueHD: Decode and Bitstream Output DTS-HD Master Audio Essential/DTS Hi-Res Audio: Decode and Bitstream output
USB Slot	Standard: USB 2.0 high speed Slot: 2 – Front for playback/Rear for Skype Camera Playback: JPEG/MPO/MP4/DivX/Divx HD/MKV
SD Memory Card Slot	Compatible Media: SD/SDHC/SDXC Playback: JPEG/MPO/MPEG2/AVCHD
High Quality Picture	Adaptive Chroma Processing Full HD Up sampling (New P4HD) 3D Effect Controller 2D to 3D conversion 1080/24p Playback Deep Colour x.v. colour Digital Noise Reduction
High Quality Sound	High Clarity Sound 96kHz Surround Re-master Pure Audio on HDMI Digital Tube Sound Audio D/A converter
Easy to use	VIERA link Wireless LAN New Stylish GUI Touch-free Sensor
Networking	VIERA CAST/BD Live/DLNA
Power Supply	AC 220-240V, 50Hz Approximate Consumption: Normal use 13W Standby-Quick Start off 0.2W Standby-Quick Start on 4.3W
Warranty	1 Year Parts and 90-day Labour Warranty

We have been witnesses to Blu-ray Players shrinking in size year after year, but guess Samsung decided to leapfrog that trend with the introduction of their Samsung BD-D7000 3D Blu-ray Player. Featuring an ultra small design, this player looks more like an external drive as against the home theater player that it is. With the “small and slim” trend in vogue, this Korean manufacturer continues to amaze us with their capability to downsize their disc players, yet not comprising on the features or functions. Showcasing perfect entertainment is now well within your reach with this disc spinner that packs amazing entertainment features. Let us take a sneak peak at the BD-D7000 and its features which screams out “small is beautiful”.

In the Box

• BD-D7000 3D Blu-ray Disc Player
• Remote Control with Batteries
• Documentation
• Warranty Card
• A/V Cable
• 1-year Parts and 90-day Labor Warranty

Design

The BD-D7000 Blu Ray Disc Player is debatably one among the petite player in the current line-up of Blu-ray players and definitely is nothing similar to the conventional players. Boasting of a unique design that takes the shape of a cube, its compact form and smaller footprint makes it easily stackable and proves to be a discrete fit to just about any room/shelf. Looks like Samsung is also planning on unveiling an amplifier unit along with matching bookshelf speakers, so turning your blu-ray player into a wholesome mini-system to aide with audio playback shouldn’t be an issue. Well, the good news doesn’t stop here, looks the Korean manufacturer is no longer interested in the conventional loading trays and has decided to bring about some innovation with the 3S (Slim, Symmetrical, Slot-in) design concept. To that effect, this compact and minimalist 3D player comes with a hidden slot for disc loading that can be popped up from the center of the player. Also there is a classy silver metal casing that wraps around the unit. So, getting back to the unique hidden loading mechanism, this is how it works – the complete top panel can be popped open by a couple of inches in order that you slot-in a disc. Again, to eject a disc, the top pops up spitting the disc out in a perfectly graceful motion; Neat huh? Then there are also the touch sensor controls that further plays up the futuristic feel. It sure doesn’t come as a big surprise to see the BD-D7000 win the CES 2011 Innovations Design and Engineering Award.

So having had enough insight on the design and feel of the disc spinner, let us move on to the features on offer.

Now enjoy movies in 1080p full HD 3D entertainment, interactive movie extras, streamlined online apps – it is all here and is pretty much possible with this multi-functional entertainer, which also support advanced audio processing thus helping you to enjoy a thorough home theater experience. As mentioned above, the minimalist cube design along with a strip of metal casing adds a touch of sophistication thus epitomizing Samsung’s design philosophy offering a blend of form and function. Also, no more prolonged waits to watch your favorite movie as the quick loading and booting takes care of the same. While the touch-controlled sensors takes care of easy adjustments, the premium A/V processing adds flavour to almost any home theater, not to mention the enhanced graphic UI.

The Wi-Fi on board simply allows you to connect to an internet connection, thus giving you advantage of more than 200 downloadable Samsung apps, be it free or paid. Likewise, the BD Live allows for downloading of movie extras, namely previews for movies or interactive chats and quizzes. Again, the BD-D7000 provides support for processing advanced lossless audio formats like DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD bringing about detailed immersive surround sound taking entertainment to the next level.

Features at a glance:

Slot-in Loading

The slot-in loading mechanism proves to be extremely useful when it comes to eliminating the need to move parts thus making the spinner a more quieter and efficient player. A concealed slot pops up from the middle when you are all set to load a disc taking you by surprise.

Fast Booting and Loading

With Ultra Fast Play, booting the player takes less than 3 seconds, so no more prolonged or eager waits to watch your much awaited movies thanks to the BD-D7000’s rapid booting and loading time. So just pop in that disc and you are all set to watch your favourite movie right away.

2D to 3D Conversion

The innovative 3D converter technology takes care of 3D up-conversion of 2D pictures movies, and streamed videos. Samsung’s very own Hyper Real Engine brings about crystal clear and detailed picture quality along with ensuring color performance and motion in pictures, movies and streamed videos. Again, the innovative SoC (System-on-Chip) works wonders with exceptional 3D up-conversion of pictures, movies and streaming videos.

Cinema Quality 3D Home Entertainment

This Samsung BD-D7000 disc player delivers amazing cinema quality 3D visuals. It also packs 3D glasses, 3D content materials, a home theater projector or 3D-ready HDTV, all of which looks to be a perfect route to enjoying home entertainment. With 3D Blu-ray disc release growing day by day, you are all set to enjoy theater-like entertainment right from the comfort of your living room.

Full HD 1080p

The BD-D7000 comes with a Blu-ray disc format adept to produce five times the resolution of a conventional DVD with a progressively scanned full HD 1080p (1920 x 1080). Also the player is capable of reproducing sharp and detailed image quality on your HDTV.

Samsung Smart Blu-ray

Now your TV can be your web-enabled interactive gateway for you to share, watch, play and interact with your buddies. Also it allows for over 200 paid and free downloadable apps for entertainment, sports, games or social networking. The Samsung Smart TV offers you a whole host of added entertainment options. For starters, the Smart Hub, pulls out a simple menu of connected features wherein you can easily search for videos, movies or shows via online services across connected gadgets and simultaneously access a whole host of apps via the Samsung Apps. Talking of Samsung Apps, it connects you with your preferred digital content allowing you to stream movies from Blockbuster, Netflix, YouTube videos, shows from Hulu, advanced level of info related to sports from ESPN, Pandora’s music, or tweet away on your Twitter or Facebook accounts.

The “All Search” comes in handy to key in a phrase in the search window that allows access to a list of things from your internet, subscribed channels or a home network or just about any wirelessly connected devices like even your Smartphone. Again, there is a “Your Video” function that comes up with handy recommendations depending on your viewing history.

BD Live w/ BONUSVIEW

For an ultimate interactive experience, check out this interesting feature while viewing a Blu-ray disc (that supports BD-Live) it allows for additional content to be downloaded – content that is related to the movie you are currently watching via a network connection making passive viewing all the more interesting. BONUSVIEW also allows you to view two sources concurrently displaying one in a smaller window.

Built-in Wi-Fi

The BD-D7000 3D Blu Ray Player is Wi-Fi ready, so go ahead and take full advantage of features like BD-live via online connectivity and also gain access to Samsung apps. Additionally, there is an Ethernet port in case your home network works on a wired connection. Likewise, the player also supports the novel “One Foot Connection (but does require a Samsung wireless router that supports OFC) – this helps the unit in establishing a connection to a router that is well within a foot and doesn’t really require a password. Connecting to the internet after this is easy and effortless, as the unit can be moved around the house.

Remote Control

The BD-D7000’s remote though lacks backlighting is fairly intuitive with responsive controls, but then has to be in line of sight with the unit for it to work.

AllShare Home A/V Networking

Now you can share photos, music or movies to your heart’s content from your home PC or phone straight into your TV screen, thanks to the AllShare function. It is capable of wirelessly syncing via both your Samsung phone and PC and can stream content or even track your calls and messages via the real-time monitoring on your big screen.

Anynet+(HDMI CEC)

Anynet+, this convenient feature offers linked operations with other Samsung gadgets that supports the Anynet+ feature by automatically controlling Samsung AV devices thereby eliminating the need for more than one remote control, regardless of the number of devices used.  Simply put, the Anynet+ function provides you with a simple user-friendly experience with a single remote.

Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio

Bring theater-like experience right into your living room with the BD-D7000’s DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD. Full HD visuals don’t really give you the full satisfaction of a home theater unless it is combined with stellar sound. Well this disc player doesn’t disappoint you here by offering you an in-built processor for DTS and advanced Dolby audio formats with the inclusion of DTS-HD and Dolby TrueHD that is responsible for lossless surround sound (multi-channel) to be pumped in as Hi-Res audio into your speaker setup.

Multi-Format Disc Playback

The Samsung BD-D7000 acts more than just a Blu-ray disc spinner. To that effect it supports DVD, DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW, CD and CD-R/RW discs while you get to enjoy your entire collection of music/movies. Additionally, file formats like JPEG photos and MP3 music are also supported by this player.

Energy Star Rated

Last but not least, the unit allows helps a great deal in the “Go Green” evolution proving to be an environment safe gadget, as it comes with a 2.0 Energy Star rating and uses an operating power of 19 watts with standby of 0.3 watts. Along with proving to be environment friendly, it is pocket-friendly too and doesn’t add to your energy bill, cool huh?

Pros: Compact and Stylish, Fast, Quiet, Intuitive remote with responsive controls, Perfect DLNA syncing, Netflix and Vudu seamless and easy to use with a distinct button for Netflix on the remote.

Cons: Remote lacks backlighting, requires to be in line of sight with the unit to work efficiently, Magnet for dust, impossible to stack things on top of player as it tends to open.

To Wrap-up

The Samsung BD-D7000 sure does seem to be a benchmark for Blu-ray players – small, but uncompromising and stands out among the rest. It is designed with a chic look with amazing entertainment features that you could look up to. Its fast and quiet operation blends well with the handy intuitive remote and interface that makes maneuvering the features simple and easy. On the flip side, the remote lacks backlighting and is a literal magnet for dust. With such minimal flaws, the BD D7000 disc spinner proves to be a perfect personal entertainment device that you wish for, not to mention the premium price that you may have to pay for this tiny footprint.

Samsung BD-D7000 3D Blu-ray Player – Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	Samsung
Model Name	Samsung BD-D7000 3D Player
Product Code	BD-D7000
Tray Type	Slot-Load
Form Factor	Tabletop
Dimensions (W x H x D)	7.1 x 1.2 x 7.1 inches
Weight	2.4 lbs
Colour/Finish	Silver/Black
Power Requirements	120V AV 60Hz
Power Consumption	Operational: 19W Standby: 0.3W
Energy Star Complaint	Yes, 2.0
Connectivity	HDMI Connections: 1 USB Ports: 1 Ethernet: 1 Digital Audio (Optical): 1
Features	Cube Design Samsung Smart TV Enhanced Picture Quality 3D Playback with 2D to 3D conversion Full HD 1080p upscaling Ultra Fast Play Built-in Wi-Fi Multi-format Disc Playback Touch Sensor Control SmartHub
Special Features	HDMI CEC Apps Platform 3D BD Wise AllShare (DLNA enabled)
Internet Streaming Services	Samsung Apps, Netflix, Vudu, YouTube, Pandora, BlockBuster, Twitter
Virtual Surround	Dolby Digital Dolby Digital Plus Dolby Digital TrueHD DTS DTS-HD Master Audio DTS-HD HR Audio
Video	System: NTSC Region: Blu-ray: A, DVD: 1 Progressive Scan: Yes 480p, 720p, 1080p HD Upconversion: Yes, up to 1080p 2D to 3D Conversion: Yes Ultra-fast Play
Audio	Dolby Digital/DTS compatibility: Yes Built-in Decoder: Yes HDCD Decoding: No LPCM: Yes THX Certified: No
Disc Playback Formats	Video: Blu-ray 3D disc, Blu-ray disc, DVD video, DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD+RW, DVD-RW Audio: CD DA, CD-R, CD-RW Files Supported Video: MPEG-2, MPEG-4, DivX (including XVid), DivX HD, WMV(1/2/3/7/9), AVCHD, MKV Pictures: JPEG, HD JPEG Music: MP3, AAC, WMA
Wireless Connectivity	Network: Built-in Wi-Fi
Connectors	Analog: Analog audio (2 Ch) out x1, Composite video out x1 Digital: HDMI x1, Digital optical audio out x1. Control: USB port x1, Ethernet x1
Local Storage	1GB
Convenience	USB Port x1
Warranty	One Year Parts and 90-day Labour Warranty

Oppo Digital made its entrance in the DVD arena towards the end of 2004 or around the beginning of 2005 selling upscale DVD players, which placed them in the entry-level slot then. With evolving time and changing market trend, Oppo have proven themselves to be one among the high-end disc manufacturers dominating a good chunk of the Blu-ray market, with the Oppo BDP-95 Blu-ray Player proving the same. It looks to be an audiophile version of the BDP-93, but with a surprising difference in the overall design. It is not just larger in terms of size, but comes with significantly different internals as well. Looks like Oppo has done its homework perfectly well with a lot of effort being placed on making the BDP-95 a notch above its predecessors. Also it weighs a solid 16oz as against its elder brother the BDP-93 which weighed 10.6 pounds. Let us take a quick tour of this flagship model offered by Oppo and see if it is worth all that hype!

The All New Front Panel

The BDP-95 is significantly a full inch taller when compared to the BDP-93, with the depth and width remaining the same. The front panel has been refurbished with a contoured look as against the flat anodized façade seen on the BDP-93 giving the layout a neat and functional look. The main power button has the name OPPO embossed along with the five backlit capacitive-touch playback buttons as opposed to the dedicated mechanical buttons that we get to see on the BDP-93. No major change has been made to the Open/Close button that sits next to the tray. Towards the center sits the disc tray flanked by the control and display buttons. As mentioned earlier, the BDP-95 is significantly heavier than its predecessor due to the custom-designed Toroidal power transformer. Toroidal transformers are competent with a less mechanical hum in comparison to the conventional cheap laminated steel core transformers offering a more robust power source to all critical audio components. Also, these transformers are designed to give out superior inrush current and significant low exterior magnetic field as against conventional steel core laminated transformers.

Back Panel

The rear houses an array of comprehensive outputs and network connectivity panel, the most prominent of them being the inclusion of a pair of dedicated stereo RCA outputs and balanced XLR audio outputs. These take care of high performance analog audio with the latter featuring a true differential signal path commencing right from the DAC to the three-pin XLR connector. The balanced output offers better common-mode noise rejection via transmitting a set of differential signals, thus enhancing signal quality. The DAC (Digital to Analogue Converter) in the BDP-95 Blu Ray Player is driven by SABRE32 Reference ES9018 from ESS Technology. This is pretty much the same DAC used for professional studio equipments and high-end consumer apps. The SABRE boasts of a Dynamic Range (DNR) of up to 135dB with a Total Harmonic Distortion plus Noise (THD+N) of -120dB, which is supposedly the industry’s best performance level that satisfies even the most challenging audio conformist. The BDP-95 is also loaded with a full set of 7.1-multichannel analog outputs, which are also powered by SABRE32. Again, there are two assignable ver1.4a HDMI outputs, which offer flexibility in terms of wiring up your spinner. You are also provided the option to connect one output to a HDTV for casual viewing while the other can be connected to a projector for home theatre viewing. If you are looking at a multi-room installation, the BDP-95 is equipped to output video and audio to dual 3D/2D TVs concurrently.

The rest of the connections in the rear panel go on to include coaxial and optical digital outs, component and composite video outs, a LAN port, a USB port, and an eSata port that aides with viewing external hard drive contents. Additionally, there is a fan as the unit gets fairly hot owing to the high performance and also partly due to the Toroidal transformer.

Remote control

There is a full backlit remote control that accompanies the BDP-95 that is easy to use in dimly-lit home theatres. The ergonomic key layout and legible labelling makes operating the disc player seamless than ever

Features

Although the BDP-95 is an exclusive “bells and whistles” disc player, it does the job that it is intended to do perfectly well and outshines in performing its core function – deriving the last bit of content from the disc spinning within and delivers the same in its purest form possible thereby down streaming components. The custom-designed Toroidal Power Transformer built by Rotel via its robust power to internal audio components drives out delicate signals perfectly with minimal distortion. This universal disc player plays both 2D and 3D discs along with CDs, DVD-audio and video. It also decodes lossless codecs like and DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD providing Hi-Def entertainment yielding both of these hi-res formats through the 1.4 a HDMI output in bit stream format.

In terms of video streaming, the BDP-95 Blu Ray Disc Player is powered by the Marvell’s Kyoto-G2 video processor along with the second-generation Qdeo technology. Qdeo video processing is famous for its immersive viewing experience that renders natural videos devoid of noise and artifacts, regardless of the content. In terms of high-quality Blu-ray content, the BDP-95 loyally reproduces content exactly as the director would have intended to. In terms of DVD, the picture upconversion is almost equal to HD content.

While Upscaling for HDMI 1 and video processing is powered by the Marvell Kyoto-G2 QDEO 88DE2750 chip, scaling for HDMI output 2 and video processing is powered by Oppo’s on-board video scaling chip, manufactured by Mediatek. There are on-board adjustments on offer for Contrast, Sharpness, Saturation and Brightness as well as adjustments for scaling and video processing for Noise Reduction and Edge Enhancement. It is worth mentioning that the options provided for video adjustment setting for HDMI 1 and 2 outputs would vary slightly, as two separate video processing chips have been utilized for each HDMI output.

Disc Playback Compatibility

The BDP-95 supports the following formats and discs: BD-Video, DVD- Video/Audio, Blu-ray 3D, SACD, AVCHD, CD, HDCD, CD-R/RW, Kodak Picture CD, DVD+R/RW and DVD+R DL, BD-R/RE. Also of note, SACD and DVD-Audio can be accessed via both HDMI outputs and 5.1 channel analog.

USB and eSata

There is an eSata port that provides access to media files, which is stored on external hard drives. The front and rear mounted 2.0 USB ports come in handy to access photos, videos and music content via a flash drive.

Network/Internet Connectivity

Internet Connectivity is via Ethernet or the on-board USB Wi-Fi adapter. The BDP-95 offers access Netflix/Blockbuster streaming services along with media files that is stored on network connected devices.

Memory

This Oppo BDP-95 Blu Ray disc player comes with a 2GB internal memory wherein 1GB can be used to access BD-Live. Nevertheless, there is always the option to expand memory capacity via a flash drive, if required, by utilising either one of the USB ports.

Power Supply

The Roten-designed Toroidal Power Transformer takes care of the audiophile-grade power supply.

Control Connections

The IR sensor and RS232 connections takes care of efficient integration via a central PC-based or IR-based remote control. The option for these connections is provided, which aides with full control integration for custom-installed home theatre set up.

Warranty

The Oppo BDP-95 offers limited 2 years warranty for parts and Labour from the original purchase date. The same can be availed of by registering your purchase for warranty cover by visiting the official website http://www.oppo-bluray.co.uk/customer-services/warrenty/product-registration.aspx.

Final Take

You might want to consider this player if you are looking for a versatile and adept audiophile-grade universal player (which the player definitely is) along with being a great bargain for its price. The BDP-95 is a definite star performer in terms of audio and video.

You might want to look further, if you want a player with a much higher level of performance in terms of sound quality (which we doubt if you may succeed and even if you do, it could take several multiples of the BDP-95’s reasonable price). Again if you are not a great fan of the BDP-95’s compelling DACs/analog audio section, then we guess the BDP-93 might be your best bet.

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Oppo BDP-95 3D Blu Ray Player – Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	Oppo
Model Name	Oppo BDP-95
Model Number	BDP-95
Product Type	Blu-Ray 3D player
Date and Month of Release	March 2011
Form Factor	Table top
Dimensions H x W x D	9.8 cm x 43 cm x 31.1 cm (16 x 12 x 4 inches)
Weight	7.3 kg (16 lbs)
Colour	Black
Full HD 1080p Resolution	Yes
True 24p Video	Yes
Disc Types	BD-Video, Blu-ray 3D, DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, AVCHD,  SACD, CD, HDCD, Kodak Picture CD, CD-R/RW, DVD±R/RW, DVD±R DL, BD-R/RE, BD-R/RE DL
Operating Temperature	5 °C to 35°C (41°F – 95°F)
Operating Humidity	15% to 75% No condensation
Audio Characteristics	Frequency: 20Hz – 20kHz (+/- 0.2bB), 20Hz – 96kHz (+/- 1dB)  Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >125dB (A-weighted, with auto-mute), >115dB (A-weighted without auto-mute) THD+N: <0.0003% or -110dB (1kHz 192/24 at 0dBFS, 20kHz LPF), <0.002% or -95dB (1kHz 44.1/16 at 0dBFS, 20kHz LPF
Audio Codecs	Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD,  Dolby TrueHD (bitstream), DTS, DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS-HD Master Audio (bitstream), PCM, SACD, DVD Audio
File Formats	MPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC (H.264), VC-1, MKV
Video Characteristics	Composite Video Amplitude: 1.0Vp-p (75O)  Component Video: Y: 1.0Vp-p (75O), Pb/Pr: 0.7Vp-p (75O)
BD Profile	BD-ROM Version 2.4 Profile 5 for 3D (also compatible with Profile 2,  Profile 1 Version 1.0 and 1.1)
Internal Storage	2GB (Approximately 1GB available for BD-Live persistent storage.  Actual storage varies due to system usage)
Output	Analogue Audio: 7.1ch, 5.1ch, or stereo  Dedicated stereo analogue Audio: XLR Balanced and RCA single-ended Digital Audio: Coaxial, Optical HDMI Audio: Stereo, up to 7.1ch high-resolution PCM, up to 5.1ch DSD bitstream or LPCM conversion of Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS, DTS-HD High Resolution Audio and DTS-HD Master Audio. Analogue Video: Composite, Component Video (Y/Pb/Pr, 576i/576p, 720p/1080i available for non-restricted content only) Digital Video: HDMI with HDCP (PAL576i/576p/720p/1080i/1080p/1080p24 NTSC: 480i/480p/720p/1080i/1080p/1080p24)
Key Features	Blu-ray 3D Playback  Video Processing by Marvell’s Qdeo technology Dual HDMI 1.4a Outputs Supports Netflix Instant Video Streaming Fast Loading & Response Times BD-Live & BONUSVIEW Plays SACD & DVD-Audio Discs USB 2.0 for Media Playback Supports 24/192kHz FLAC & WAV files eSATA Port for media playback from Hard Disks
Power Supply	100V – 120V or 200V – 240V, 50/60Hz AC
Power Consumption	45W (0.5W Standby)
Warranty	2  years