Samsung Shows 2nd-Gen Duo HD Player At Int'l CES
by Greg Tarr -- TWICE, 1/28/2008
LAS VEGAS — Samsung used International CES to unveil the next iterations in its high-definition disc player line, including the company's second-generation HD Duo dual-format HD DVD/Blu-ray Disc player.
The company also showed its fourth-generation single-HD format Blu-ray Disc players, and continuing DVD players and recorders.
Samsung's new Duo HD player, model BD-UP5500, combines Blu-ray and HD DVD playback and is slated for May delivery at a $599 suggested retail. It will follow the first-generation HD Duo player which was expected to ship shortly after the holidays.
The BD-UP5500 includes advanced audio decoding and a streamlined cabinet design. It will be compatible with BD, HD DVD, CD and DVD discs and is compliant with BD Profile 1.1 specs supporting picture-in-picture running commentaries and the HDi interactive feature set for the HD DVD format. It will output HD content at most resolution levels including Full HD 1,920 by 1080p/24 fps, in addition to 720p, and 1080i. It will also up-convert standard DVDs to those levels.
Audio support includes 7.1 PCM, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD HR and MA, bitstream audio output via HDMI.
Outputs include HDMI v1.3 CEC control, an Ethernet port for Web-enabled content and the latest firmware upgrades.
Samsung also showed its BD-P1500 (shipping in May at a $399 suggested retail) fourth-generation Blu-ray player, which will support 1080p playback, and compatibility with BD, CD and DVD discs. It will up-convert standard DVDs to 720p, 1080i and 1080p resolutions
Audio output includes support for 7.1 PCM, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD HR and MA, and bitstream audio output via HDMI. The HDMI v1.3 connection adds CEC home theater connectivity/control. The player will include an Ethernet connection.
In DVD players, Samsung presented four models including the DVD-F1080 (April, $99.95 suggested retail) "ultra compact high-definition 1080p up-conversion DVD player." The model will up-convert standard definition DVDs to HD formats including 1080p, and features a sleek compact cabinet design that is said to be "slightly larger than a DVD disc."
The DVD-HD1080P8 (April, $89.99) is billed as a high-definition 1080p up-conversion DVD player with HDMI. It will up-convert and digitally enhance DVDs to resolutions including full 1080p.
The DVD-P180 (April, $49.99) is a slim-width up-converting DVD player with HDMI-CEC.
Model DVD-V9800 (April, $99.99) is a dual-deck DVD/VHS combo player with full HDMI connectivity and up-conversion to HD formats including 1080p.
In DVD recorders, the company is offering the DVD-R175 (April, $149) and DVD-VR375 (April, $179), both with full multiformat recordable disc support.
