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Samsung Announces Dual-format HD-DVD Player

by Clint DeBoer — April 16, 2007

Samsung BD/HD DVD Duo Player

Samsung, who was incidentally the first company to retail a Blu-ray Disc player, will introduce a dual format high-definition HD DVD/BD optical disc player - apparently by December.

The "Duo" HD player (currently being called the BD-UP5000 - the 'U' apparently standing for "Universal") will support both HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc formats as well as their interactive technologies. In great contrast to the currently-shipping (though enigmatic) LG BH100, HDi and BD-Java are to be fully supported.

Samsung’s 2nd generation Blu-ray Disc (only) player will also available at retail this month (April) and this, along with the upcoming Duo player seemed poised to help advance the movement of Samsung's strong-selling HDTV lineup.

According to the press release issued by Samsung, Ron Sanders, President of Warner Home Video is quoted as saying "We welcome Samsung's Duo HD player as another solution in the marketplace that will help reduce consumer confusion and buyer hesitancy towards HD media. This is an innovative product that can move us closer to mainstream consumer adoption of HD technologies."

While dual-format players are certainly a step in the right direction, DVD doesn't exactly seem doomed to be replaced by these new formats any time soon. In fact, we still stand by our prediction that both formats were doomed to a niche market out of the starting gate.

The real question, in our minds is how quickly will technology pricing drop in time for the holidays. If pricing for the embedded drives and technology doesn't fall rapidly enough - then this player will easily top $1200. If pricing can come down, then a sub-$1000 player might be feasible by Christmas. One thing is for sure - lots of people will be keeping their eyes peeled for more information and photos in the coming months. Perhaps CEDIA will reveal more on this in September. And perhaps we'll need to replace out Toshiba HD-XA2 reference players!

For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

Discuss This Article

niget2002 posts on April 17, 2007 12:09

Until the HD wars are over… this is the only type of player I'd be interested in. I have no interest in trying to decide which is better and for what reason, and I think there are a lot of NON technophiles out there that are in the same boat. If a salesman can walk Joe user up to a machine that is priced slightly more than the other two and can say that it'll work with both… then I'm sure he'll make a sale.

I think this will do one of two things… either other companies will follow suit, or the price of individual players will drop so that the cost of a dually is absurd.

silversurfer posts on April 16, 2007 21:59

mouettus, post: 263425
Yes indeed! lol

So they would have to play cd, cd-r, cd+r, dvd, dvd-r, dvd+r, dvd9 (DL), sacd, dvd-a, hd-dvd, bd and the list goes on (im sure im missing some…). What kind of hardware do you think it would take!? lol Actually i don't have a clue. But something sure is that it would cost a lot of money to develop, thus your 1500$ price tag.

But Oppo does all of that now except for HD-DVD and BD, at a very affordable price. So I think there is hope.

mouettus posts on April 16, 2007 19:59

silversurfer, post: 263421
I am hoping for a cost effective universal that also does SACD and DVD-A. Is that too much to ask?

Yes indeed! lol

So they would have to play cd, cd-r, cd+r, dvd, dvd-r, dvd+r, dvd9 (DL), sacd, dvd-a, hd-dvd, bd and the list goes on (im sure im missing some…). What kind of hardware do you think it would take!? lol Actually i don't have a clue. But something sure is that it would cost a lot of money to develop, thus your 1500$ price tag.

mtrycrafts posts on April 16, 2007 19:55

silversurfer, post: 263421
But then you have to deal with inputs on your receiver/pre-pro and TV, not to mention space in general.

Yes, but at times money talks

silversurfer, post: 263421
I am hoping for a cost effective universal that also does SACD and DVD-A. Is that too much to ask?

Not at all, but I cannot wait forever. It is so hard to restrain myself as it is.

silversurfer posts on April 16, 2007 19:36

Seth=L, post: 263329
You could get the Samsung BD-P1000 and the HD-A2 combonation for less than $1500, LOL. The BD-P1000 goes for $500-700 now and the HD-A2 goes for $300-400. It doesn't make the Samsung multi-format desirable to me.

But then you have to deal with inputs on your receiver/pre-pro and TV, not to mention space in general.

I am hoping for a cost effective universal that also does SACD and DVD-A. Is that too much to ask?

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