Samsung Announces New Blu-ray Disc Players

Samsung is coming into the CEDIA show (September of this year) with its arms swinging. Two new products were announced this week that will be shipping starting in September. The new BD-P2400 and BD-P1400 have advanced features like HDMI 1.3 and support for Dolby TrueHD audio. Possibly the most significant specification is the new players' support for 24p or 24 movie frames per second playback. Since most movies are filmed at 24 frames per second, setting the new Samsung Blu-ray Disc players to 'On' removes the need for 2-3 pull-down or judder effects when coupled with a compatible display. Each of these players will also support 60Fs for enhanced compatibility with many of today's HDTVs.

Extending beyond the standard Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS audio formats, both the BD-P2400 and BD-P1400 also support lossless formats including, DTS HD and Dolby TrueHD.

The HDMI 1.3 connection also offers HDMI CEC technology (Consumer Electronics Control, which Samsung dubs its version as "Anynet+"). This integrated technology (actually part of the HDMI specification but highly underutilized) allows consumers to use a single remote control to operate the BD player, TV and other A/V products from Samsung.

Via HDMI, both model is able to up-convert standard DVD discs to full HD 1080p resolution and the BD-P2400 adds Silicon Optix' Reon HQV processing for near-perfect noise reduction, deinterlacing (both for standard definition and for on-board 1080i to 1080p conversion) and scaling.

For those with extensive DVD collections, the BD-P2400 and BD-P1400 models include backward compatibility with standard DVD and CD formats (including DVD-ROM, DVD-+/R, DVD-+/RW, CD, CD-R and CD-RW). Playback of multimedia content in a variety of different formats is quick and easy at 720p, 1080i and 1080p resolutions. The players do not support DVD-Audio or SACD. An "Easy Top Menu" function allows consumers to change font and color of subtitles and menu titles according to their tastes, as well as the background color and menu graphics.

Pricing and Availability

The BD-P1400 will be available in September for $549 and the BD-P2400 will follow in October for $649. These should be popular products, however pricing is still too high for mass-market adoption in venues such as Wal-mart, where the HD-DVD formats can rise above niche status and start making their way into the homes of Joe and Susie Public.

Here's to hoping that these new players have better user interfaces and faster response times for disc loads and navigation. Samsung's first product, the BD-P1000 wasn't exactly a recommended product around here, but it's good to see third-generation products starting to hit the shelves - especially in time for the holiday season.