samsung bd-p1400 blu-ray player test
DESCRIPTION
Samsung BD-P1400 tested. Highs: Ethernet port; stylish design; hi-res bitstream audio out Lows: Not Profile 1.1, some 24fps issuesTRANSCRIPT
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HOME CINEMA CHOICE MAY 2008
70 SAMSUNG BD-P1400 ➜ £250 Approx ➜ www.samsung.co.uk
Budget Blu-ray
As any movie fan knows, sequels are rarely better than the original, but the follow up
to Samsung’s BD-P1000 is more The Godfather Part II than Superman 3.
The BD-P1400’s feature list is superior to the company’s debut deck, and is bolstered further by a fi rmware update which we suggest all buyers implement as soon as they can. Bitstream-out audio support extends to both Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio, as well as standard Dolby and DTS 5.1. Then there’s an HDMI output with proper 1080p24 support – none of that 1080p to 1080i and back again nonsense that hindered the BD-P1000’s picture quality. The BD-P1400 has also been given a radical makeover, supplanting the angled lines of the P1000 with a gently curved fascia. The fi rst player design had its fans, but in my opinion, this model looks better.
Flip it 180° and you’re presented with a decent array of sockets. Taking centre stage is the HDMI v1.3 output, which not only delivers 1080p video (including upscaled DVDs) but also routes the hi-rez audio bitstreams. Couple this player with a new receiver able to decode the audio for the best possible performance. For those without a suitable AVR, there are 5.1-channel analogue outputs which deliver a standard DD 5.1 mix as PCM from Dolby TrueHD, or DTS core.
This is a standard Profi le 1.0 player, which means no BonusView for you, my friend. Like the Pioneer player (see page 72) there’s an Ethernet port on the rear, only to be used for software updates and not to access BD-Live
features in the future (the deck lacks the necessary hardware to be upgraded to Profi le 1.1 or 2.0).
In action the player handles like a tractor, trundling round the setup menu with annoying pauses, and the remote’s button arrangement needs work. But in its defence, disc-loading time is better than we’ve seen on some early players and it takes tricky BD-J menus with only a modicum of complaint.
Blow up your videoVisually, Blu-ray picture quality is excellent, bringing Déjà Vu to life on my 52in Full HD screen. The movie’s opening gambit – a ferry exploding in a ball of vivid orange fl ames and billowing smoke – looks fabulous, while the minute detail of the movie’s New Orleans setting is reproduced with suitable clarity.
But watching the movie at 1080p24 on a suitably-equipped TV reveals some slightly queasy camera pans, with an occasional stutter that isn’t present in 60Hz mode. This will upset those looking for the smoothest pictures possible.
Standard DVD playback is actually very good, with the player doing a reasonable job of curing jaggies and passing both our horizontal and vertical text crawl tests. It’s a actually a better DVD player than the Panasonic BD30. CD playback is functional.
Overall then, the BD-P1400 is a good budget Blu-ray offering, albeit one with caveats. Those looking for a strong HD picture will be pleased, but it’s lack of Profi le 1.1 support will limit its appeal. Perhaps hang on for its BD-P1500 replacement...
Danny Philips ponders the virtues of a Profi le 1.0 BD-spinner
➜ SpecificationsVideo Upscaling: YES DVD to 1080p
Progressive Scan: YES to 1080pMultiregion: NO B (Blu-ray); R2 (DVD)
HDMI: YES v1.3 Component: YES 1 set
Phono stereo audio: YES plus 5.1 Digital audio: YES coaxial/optical and
HDMISACD/DVD-A playback: NO/NO
Dolby TrueHD/DTS-HD Master Audio decoding: YES but DTS-HD MA only via
firmware update Interactivity: YES BD-Java only
Dimensions: 430(w) x 79(h) x 327(d)mm
Weight: 7.3kgAlso featuring: Anynet HDMI CEC,
Ethernet port, MP3, JPEG, DVD-R/-RW, CD, CD-R & CD-RW playback
URL: www.techradar.com/241631
➜ Tech LabsVideo jitter: 3ns
Audio jitter: 404.4ps
Video S/N ratio (composite): -74.2dB
Video S/N ratio (S-video): -75.4dB
Video S/N ratio (component, interlaced): -65.5dB
Chroma AM: -74.7dBChroma PM: -60.1dB
Chroma Crosstalk: -71.8dB
VERDICTSamsung BD-P1400; £250 Approx
Highs: Ethernet port; stylish design; hi-res bitstream audio out
Lows: Not Profile 1.1, some 24fps issues
Performance:Design:
Features:
Overall:
AV/CVProduct: Nicely-priced Blu-ray player with hi-res audio and 1080p24 support
Positioning: The only current Blu-ray player in Samsung’s range
Peers: Sharp BD-HP20H, Sony BDP-S300, Toshiba HD-EP35
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