I'm winding down on these dual-format player disasters...trying to decide which one to unload now. I still have over 100 HD DVDs so I want to keep one intact mainly for HD DVD playback (but I'll be unloading the HD DVDs also, having watched the final unopened one last night, The Pianist). Most titles are domestic, so playback problems should be kept to a minimum.

For those of you who own both, which player would you scrap? They both have their pros and cons. The handshake problems lean me towards unloading the BH200 while the "grinding" drive (when loading discs) has me reticent about keeping the 5000 (and it's one of the first players built from November 2007).

If you want to keep the best player of the two, then I'd easily give it to the BH200. To me, it's the most likely to continue to receive firmware updates - which is important for new Blu-Ray releases. Assuming it will still be used for Blu-Rays of course. If it was only going to be used for HD DVD playback, then I would argue towards selling both and grabbing a HD-A35 on the cheap...

The only benefits to the Samsung I can see are the Reon and Analog Outs. Assuming you don't need the Analog Outs (which more and more people don't these days), then the Reon can be rectified by purchasing a newer Samsung Blu-Ray player, Oppo, etc.

Then again, these days I'm having less and less use or care in regards to the upconverter as I watch primarily HD DVDs and Blu-Rays and DVD's are becoming much more rare (so much HD content to watch it seems, either that or less time for me to watch it). Those that I do up-convert tend to be older TV shows and to tell the truth - most have pretty poor transfers to begin with unfortunately, that even a great upconverters not going to be able to much...

Although I rarely use BD-Live, it's at least available in the BH200. Also, like I mentioned previously, the continued - if slowed - release of firmwares are a huge benefit. I do not have too many handshake issues myself - and continue to "deal" with the audio dropouts on some extended-branched video. Even those I would prefer over this "grinding" issue you describe on the 5000...

Overall, I'd stick with the BH200 unless...

Unless you want one that will sell fairly easy and for more money. Then, I'd say the BH200 would be easier to sell and would likely fetch more than the 5000. That being the case, there is probably a reason for that - and it likely includes some of the ones I listed above.

If you're looking to sell off your HD DVD's as well though - I'd be tempted to sell both and buy the Oppo, LG BD-390, or whatever your preference and pick up a cheap HD-A2/A3 to view HD DVD's until you deplete them, then resell the HD-A2/A3 for not much of a loss. That is the route I'd go if I was selling off my HD DVD's but I am not (especially some titles that are still format-exclusive). That being said, I can see the day where the BH200 doesn't quite offer the Blu-Ray playback experience and extra features I would like (Netflix streaming and built-in-wireless for example) and I will retire it to the Bedroom.

If you do sell-off your HD DVD's, then the only reason I can see hanging onto either player is for Blu-Ray viewing until a newer player is purchased (which will eventually happen) or hoping that it may appreciate...

I haven't followed eBay for a while, but I think we're past the point of the demand for combo-players being greater than the Supply. I think the demand for them will continue to decrease at a greater rate than the supply of them does. Even more so for the Samsung 5000's.

Personally, I will probably retire the BH200 to the bedroom once I pick up a Blu-Ray standalone that offers 'more.' I won't do that however until prices drop a little bit more and/or I buy a new receiver that offers more than 2 HDMI inputs...

Ya, I've got the Oppo so I don't need to keep either DF player for upscaling (both are decent in this regard). Having Pioneer equipment (receiver/TVs), the known handshaking issues are of particular concern to me. The BH200 is unable to even properly bitstream plain ole' Dolby Digital (much less DD+) to the SC-05 for whatever reasons...and half the time, I lose sync and must pause/unpause to hear TrueHD soundtracks. That said, I do intend to unload the remaining HD DVDs at some point in the not too distant future. I could indeed sell one or both players and use the proceeds to get a cheapie Toshiba...but I'm not too interested in investing any further in the format. The Samsung is somewhat loud when loading discs but it hasn't manifested in any defects as far as I can tell and I've had the player since Best Buy for Business first got them in stock.

Tuff choice. Both of mine are now in bedrooms so I don't use them much but it seems when the Samsung works it works well. It's dissapointing they seem to have stopped support for it even though its a pretty nice blu ray player. I like the LG, it does have some quirks but LG has shown they will still attempt to make it better, maybe one day it will be everything we had hoped for. They seem to be about the same speed and all of that, they both upconvert well IMO. I doubt you care about BD Live if you're debating these units. Overall I guess I would keep the LG due to them still supporting it, even if it's minimal support.

I kept my up5000, but only because of the HQV.