I own both the Samsung BD-UP5000 and the LG BH200 but still have them in storage because I am using a 60gb PS3 and a Toshiba HD-A35 in my theatre currently. Today I am planning on firing up one or both of my combo players in other rooms.

It got me wondering what people's cut and dry opinions are on combo high definition players.

Which if any of these players do you prefer?

The Samsung BD-UP5000, the LG BH200, LG BH100 or will the LG BH300 be the best bet?

FYI: I have allowed voting for multiple options.

With latest firmware on BH200 and BD-UP5000, both players have been fantastic. I don't know about BH200, but currently 5000 will beat both your PS3 and A35 PQ wise.

And there will be no BH 300 coming.

I would say that it depends on your system and priorities - if you need 5.1/7.1 analogs, the choice is easy.

Conversion of SD DVD is better on the 5000.

If those things aren't important to you, LG200 is a good choice.

It seems that the 5000 and its Reon processing provides slightly better PQ but because of the last update the BH200 has better AQ and the new HD formats. Opinions...

Is there really no chance of a BH300?

Is the UP5000 really much better than running separate Toshiba HD-A35 and a 60gb PS3s? Since I have these machines I could move them around from theatre to family or bedroom.

I love both my Toshiba HD-A35 and a 60gb PS3 but like I said have not pulled out the UP5000 or the BH200 yet.

If you're interested in Combos and not a BD Player, and don't want Multichannel Analogue outputs then IMO it's an easy choice for the LG BH200. I've voted for that one. If you don't want HD-DVD too I'd pick up the Panasonic DMP-BD50.

Is there really no chance of a BH300?
Nope, no chance. The BD300 is due in Autumn and will be Profile 2.0 plus Netflix streaming but it's a BD player not Combo player.

It seems that the 5000 and its Reon processing provides slightly better PQ but because of the last update the BH200 has better AQ and the new HD formats. Opinions...
The Samsung has the same audio quality now too, using the latest firmware. It also has Multichannel Analogue outputs over the LG BH200 but has none of the BH200 hacks (such as PAL support, BD Multi-region and SD DVD Multi-region).

That's what it really boils down to.

I voted for both 5000 and bh200. 5000 is awesome with reon upconversion. but the bh200's design wtih almost touch activated buttons is very nice indeed.

Is there really no chance of a BH300?

That's what I would say, no chance...so I wouldn't even have had that as a choice. At this point, if I was in the market again, I'd buy what was cheapest between the 5000 and BH200 :)

It seems that the 5000 and its Reon processing provides slightly better PQ but because of the last update the BH200 has better AQ and the new HD formats. Opinions...

As posted above, 5000 has gotten its own firmware updates that has equal or better AQ (analog 7.1 output) than BH200.

Odd that so many people seem to prefer the BH200 over the UP5000 as the Reon processor seems to offer superior PQ, and now with the latest FW it has equal or better AQ, plus 7.1 analog outputs.

Odd that so many people seem to prefer the BH200 over the UP5000 as the Reon processor seems to offer superior PQ, and now with the latest FW it has equal or better AQ, plus 7.1 analog outputs.

The BH200 seems to have fewer reported disc compatibility problems. I don't have a UP5K, so I can't say with certainty whether or not that's true.

I like the fact that the 5K has the analogue outs /It gives me options/ and I love the Reon of course.
I like the hacks on the LG. The Samsung may get those one day, but the LG will never have the outputs or the Reon... So, I think, the Sammy is the clear choice

The BH200 seems to have fewer reported disc compatibility problems. I don't have a UP5K, so I can't say with certainty whether or not that's true.

Ehhh, I think they are about the same as far as Problem Discs go.......I wouldnt go by that. I had only 1 "problem" disc and thats Clerks II and even that issue doesnt stop it from playing.....I would say both players are fairly solid as far as compatibilities go.

As far as the players I have always broken it down into two things.

Choose the BH200 if you want region free playback
Choose the BDP5000 if you want\need the analog outputs.

As far as everything else goes it almost a wash. The BDP5K has slightly better SD DVD processing due to its Reon, and I stress slight.

As far as the BH300 goes its not going to be a dual format player, its going to be Blu-ray/Net-Flix player (as was said earlier). These two models are going to be your only new "recent" players that play both Blu-ay\HD DVD.

Odd that so many people seem to prefer the BH200 over the UP5000 as the Reon processor seems to offer superior PQ, and now with the latest FW it has equal or better AQ, plus 7.1 analog outputs.
It depends what you're after:

Samsung: Reon + Analogue
LG: BD Multi-region, SD DVD Multi-region, PAL Support

The Hacks are important to many and trump what the Samsung can offer, myself included. I hate to own a region locked BD Player. Neither are better than other, they both offer unique features.

Ehhh, I think they are about the same as far as Problem Discs go......
Definitely. The decoding chip is the same in both.

As far as the BH300 goes its not going to be a dual format player, its going to be Blu-ray/Net-Flix player (as was said earlier). These two models are going to be your only new "recent" players that play both Blu-ay\HD DVD.

That would be the BD300 :D

The Hacks are important to many and trump what the Samsung can offer, myself included. I hate to own a region locked BD Player. Neither are better than other, they both offer unique features.


Definitely. The decoding chip is the same in both.

I guess it depends where you are. Here in US, I can care less about the hack to play PAL discs. If you live in Europe, like bradavon, then I can imagine it is an important issue. Regardless, the hack only works for SD DVD, not BD.

But even with the hack, you still need a TV that can display 50Hz PAL, unlike my many other SD DVD players laying around my house that actually convert 50Hz PAL disc into 60Hz signal output.

BH200 !

Theres no chance of a BH300

BD5000.Fantastic PQ.

I guess it depends where you are. Here in US, I can care less about the hack to play PAL discs. If you live in Europe, like bradavon, then I can imagine it is an important issue. Regardless, the hack only works for SD DVD, not BD.
That's why I said they're about equal ;). I don't give a monkeys about the Reon chip, well not much anyway. The Upscaling chip in the BH200 is also very good, if not quite as good.

I'd guess most people percentage wise don't care about region coding in Europe too but you're correct overall Europeans are probably the biggest importers of DVD/BD discs. There's a separate hack to switch between BD regions.

But even with the hack, you still need a TV that can display 50Hz PAL, unlike my many other SD DVD players laying around my house that actually convert 50Hz PAL disc into 60Hz signal output.
Many DVD Players cannot convert too. In Europe most DVD Players cannot convert also and rely on the TV being able to handle both (thankfully they all have for years). It's usually a deliberate addition, which LG didn't want to add. I can see why, it is a HD Player first and foremost. The market for PAL support must be small too.

Why they actively disable PAL support though, is just bizarre. I blame the TV makers for not including PAL as standard, especially in 2008!

Well I didn't vote, because I don't have either...yet. I ordered the UP5K Late last week. My reasoning for going with the Sammy is I need the analog outs for now, and after owning DVD's for 10 years I've never needed PAL or region free decoding. Plus it was a bit cheaper.

I own the samsung BDUP5000 and the sd picture quality is amazing, however, I have had issues with some fox studios bluray tittles. No apparent issues with my HD DVD's and the Bluray tittles that load do great. Audio is awesome through my HK AVR 347. Got it for $150 vs $350 if I went with the BH200 $200 savings was an easy decision for me.

I vote for the LG just because Sammy's support is suspect.
I have seen far too many reports of Sammy's CS just plain blow it esp. with their HDTV area.

I am afraid it might translate to this combo player IMO.

The BD300 looks like a scaled down version of the BH200.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10003525-1.html?tag=mncol;txt

http://www.abt.com/images/products/PDF_Files/BD300_spec_sheet.pdf

The BH200 will be profile 2.0 compatible. The only question is whether or not LG will add DTS-HD internal decoding (doubtful) and Netflix streaming capabilities (maybe) to it.

The Sammy is neck and neck with the BH200 due to multichannel analog outs. Honestly, the Sammy needs DTS-HD HR/MA for the analog outs to be an advantage IMHO. There are just too many titles coming out with DTS-HD MA rather than PCM or Dolby TrueHD.

The BH200 will be profile 2.0 compatible.
Personally I wouldn't make such a statement with little evidence to actually back it up.

The only question is whether or not LG will add DTS-HD internal decoding (doubtful) and Netflix streaming capabilities (maybe) to it.
I seriously doubt that. The most we can expect now is Profile 2.0. The BH200 is a product LG no longer have "much" interest in spending time or money on. Why would they? HD-DVD is dead.

Thanks for the links btw. I'm sure it will look better in reality but so far those pictures make it look ugly.

Personally I wouldn't buy one as Netflix is only available in The States (maybe Canada too) and I'd have more faith in Panasonic or Sony with their Profile 2.0 offerings over LG.

If you're into Netflix though the BD300 looks amazing.

I don't think the BH200 supports the advanced resolution audio of DVD-Audio. Does the BDUP5000?

I don't think the BH200 supports the advanced resolution audio of DVD-Audio. Does the BDUP5000?

Nope. Only the Panasonic DMP-BD10AK (a profile 1.0 player) supports DVD-Audio.

Ther is no BH300 it's a BD300 isn't it?

Ther is no BH300 it's a BD300 isn't it?The 4 guys who voted BH300 must know something even LG does not!!! ;)

Samsung BD-UP5000 - LG BH200

Can either of these players have any issues playing these formats:
DivX, XviD, WMV, MP3, WMA, MKV, MP4

TIA
-Joseph

Samsung BD-UP5000 - LG BH200

Can either of these players have any issues playing these formats:
DivX, XviD, WMV, MP3, WMA, MKV, MP4

TIA
-Joseph

The only ones currently supported by the BH200 in that list are MP3 and WMA. MP4 is only supported in the form of AVC/VC-1.

I can't remember if it plays MP3, but no 'computer' video formats at all. Just DVD, HD DVD and Blu-ray (limited to pressed on the latest firmware)

thank you all.

Is the general consensus still that the LG BH200 is the best dual option slightly better than the Samsumg BD-UP5000? It seems 2:1 after the poll.

Is the SD DVD scaling in the 200 close to the 5000? Firmware?