The Official Samsung BD-P1500 Owner's Thread - Page 54

I got an e-mail from them saying that they're having shipping problem, so I called to inquire how long it's gonna take for them to fix the problem and the lady from CS couldn't give me a specific timeframe. I've been using their service since 2004 and they've always been impeccable. This is a small glitch that can be fixed. I can always go get a movie at Redbox if I want to. But I will NEVER ever use Blockbuster again!
Besides, they promised to re-imburse the affected customers. I just hope that they'll find a quick fix to this problem.

The Netflix problem seems to be fixed. I actually got a DVD from them yesterday even though they supposedly shipped no DVD's on Wednesday. This episode was kind of a black eye for them but if they ramp back up and the problem doesn't re-occur, I doubt it will be a long term problem for them financially.

Hey all, newbie here...

Just got my BD-P1500 yesterday here in Australia, and it's awesome...

Now I've heard some issues re: audio dropouts or sync, but that's not my exact problem - mine just (intermittently it seems) refuses to play sound through the centre channel.

I have it connected to a (low end, I know, but they perform really well and I can't afford more) Logitech z5450 speaker system (which can handle DD and DTS, but obviously not the hi-res formats), and the centre speaker works fine in everything else (as well as the speaker test where it plays noise through each speaker in order).

Connected to speakers via optical, but I had the video connected via HDMI straight from the player to my Samsung LCD.

I tried with Batman Begins and it did it, but then I (can't remember which) stopped it and played it again, or ejected and reinserted, and was fine.

Then last night Good Luck Chuck (wife's choice, not mine, even though I told her it'd be terrible), did it EVERY time we tried.

Now the player is set to Bitstream (re encode) which sounded from the manual like the best option. I tried Bitstream (audiophile), but my speakers just said 'Dolby Digital' instead of the usual (and correct) 'DTS' that it usually gives on all HD discs (I have HD DVD too through 360 add-on).

I have Dynamic compression off, and Down conversion or whatever it's called (compress 96khz to 48) off as well, as the speakers can handle 96.

I tried changing the video from HDMI to component (and have left it that way now), but it still happened! However, probably the 6th time I tried Good Luck Chuck... it worked. Centre channel was fine.

HDMI had a weird (maybe expected, I dunno, and interested to know if anyone can clarify) 'side effect' where even when either Bitstream option was used, sound was still output over HDMI at the same time, so had to turn the telly down (no prob at all; Samsung, so can use 1500's remote), but using the sound-through-the-tv is actually is how we ended up having to watch GLC last night, as the speaker setup just wouldn't output the centre... the speaker has the slight hiss like it's 'active' but no sound coming out, so only speech was the sorta muffled version that comes from L and R speakers.

Other discs are fine so far (only had it a day, but watched Cloverfield and National Treasure 2 with no problem, both awesome sound, and about to watch Vantage point now... oh, and tested Ratatouille, that was fine too), so it seems that some discs (or maybe it's not the disc, it's just an overall intermittent thing, but GLC seemed VERY difficult) just intermittently decide not to output centre channel to my speakers.

I heard on some forum that the audio issues seemed restricted to HDMI, hence why I changed back to component to test (I might leave it that way though, as I can use the HDMI for my HD STB, so the wife doesn't have to stuff with speakers, which confuses her, and the free-to-air TV stuff can have its volume through the telly), but obviously if this problem's going to keep popping up we'll both get frustrated with having to stop/start (or eject/reinsert!) a few times to get it to work.

Anyone else had/seen the problems, or have any suggestions? I didn't think either of the 96-48Khz, or Dynamic Compression stuff would be relevant, especially since it's intermittent.

Worth trying coax output? Didn't notice if the 1500 has that actually...

EDIT: I haven't looked into any firmware update, though to my knowledge there's one 'imminent' to provide Profile 2.0 support, right? Can I check the current firmware somehow? I looked in System Info, wasn't sure if that was it...

EDIT 2: Thanks scuderia :-)

Grrrrr yup Vantage Point just did it too... Stop/restart didn't work, Eject/reinsert didn't... Then SECOND eject/reinsert did, watching it fine now... Hmpf...

Welcome to AVS forum, mate!

Thylacine666
This is the 1st time I've heard of the center not outputting when using Bitstream re-encode. A couple of months back, I had the same connection: 1500>AVR via Toslink as my old receiver doesn't have HDMI. I never had any audio problem then. I have since replaced my AVR with with a new one with HDMI connectivity and every once in a while I would get some audio drop-outs with Blu-ray. I mean no output on all 7 speakers and not just the center. If you have it connected via toslink to your AVR/mp then there shouldn't be any problem. Try changing the audio option while playing blu-ray and check if the center is outputting. Also, try to unplug your center speaker(wire) and re-plug it.

Thanks buddy... I thought my issue sounded kinda unique...

No coax output, so that's ruled out as a test. I thought of swapping the toslink cable - the one I'm using came with somthing (my HD STB maybe, can't remember) and VERY thin cable, too thin for my liking, I dunno maybe I'd feel more comfortable with a bit more bulk to the cable, so will prob go buy another - it's quite short too, can only JUST pull the player far enough out of the cabinet to reach the ports.

Have yet to go to that length yet, ie getting another cable...

I've so far had no 'dropouts' per se (I assume by this term, people mean that the audio just 'mutes' for a period... as I say mine is a case of no output to centre speaker, all others fine). Once it 'works', ie centre output, no dropout or loss of centre or any other output for the rest of the time the disc, any disc, is in use.

Might just swap optical/toslink cables between this unit, and my 360 (the optical cable for which is a better one I think), and see how that goes.

On a separate note, WOW Vantage Point was AWESOME...

EDIT: Dammit... narrowing it down, but dammit... Changed optical cables, same issue. Turned Dynamic Compression on, same issue. Turned Down Conversion on, same issue (so put both back to 'off').

I reckon it IS disc-related, as I've got GLC to play ONCE properly, whereas Batman Begins came good after one retry (may've ejected first, can't say for sure), and Vantage Point was fine after 2-3 tries, but Cloverfield, National Treasure 2, and Ratatouille all worked fine first go (that's of course not to say that that first go wasn't just a lucky one).

Ah who knows... Maybe I just need new speakers ;-) Convincing the wife on the other hand is a very different story :-P

EDIT 2: Aaaand No Country For Old Men just worked perfectly first time (man I love that movie...).

I notice there's a firmware on the US site, but it's 'XAA' whereas my player shows 'XSA'. Whether that's relevant who knows, but my player won't even detect the file (on USB stick plugged into the back). Emailed Aus Samsung to see if it's do-able or even necessary... can't hurt I s'pose, assuming it's compatible.

Had my first disc issue......August Rush would not play. I suspect this is more of a disc issue, it had a noticible scratch.

How come the box, the manual and even a sticker on the player itself all say will not play DVD+R, only DVD-R when in reality it plays both single and dual layer DVD+R just fine?

I tried different brands of DVD-R / DVD+R ,the only ones that would read for me BD-P1500 is Verbatim DVD+R
...


What I am wonder will the player ; ever go BD-Live and DTS-MA-HD audio?

I have a onkyo tx-sr606 i set my audio for bitstream audiophile audio and the pcm down sampleing and dynamic compression to off ,is that right?

No reason it can't. Already has the ethernet port and a usb port. It would be nothing to stick a 1 or 2gb memory stick in that usb port and have everything it needs to go BD 2.0.

Guess it depends on how well samsung supports it

From what I've heard "around" (ie forums), there's an imminent firmware update. The box even says 'Profile 2.0 Ready'.

EDIT: Here ya go - http://reviews.cnet.com/video-player...-32815244.html

Promised for October this year, according to that article.

like to get my hands on imminent firmware update,like windows xp sp3 beta

Hey there,

Newbie here too. Have exactly the same problem as thylacine666, somehow my center speaker does not broadcast the voice track, all I hear is the music and background noise. I don't have a cheap sound system either: Samsung AV HT-AS720 connected via HDMI.
Tried a bunch of DVDs: Indiana Jones and Last Crusade, Star Wars Episode 2, Apocalypse Now and even Blu-Ray Africa: IMAX had the same problem. Usually, restarting BD-1500 does the trick.
Will call Samsung help line see if they can help, dreading being on the phone for hours...

I've noticed that it can also depend on what DVD burner you used to burn the disc. I have a Lite-on and a couple of Sonys, and the Sonys seem to burn much more reliably with both -R and -RW discs than the Lite-On does. I've stopped using the Lite-On altogether...

Quite a few might disagree.

For now, I did test DVD-R,DVD-RW,DVD-R DL, BD-RE 25 and BD-RE 50 and it works great.

er...I guess that shows how much of a newbie I am!

it is supposed to play DVD-. My point was to the fact that all over the box manual and player it says cannot play DVD+, when in fact it does.

I have no DVD+ so I can't do the test

YAAAAAAY someone else!! Let me know if you get anything back... I've reverted mine to HDMI connection to TV, which carries sound even when on Bitstream to allow optical output, so if it keeps happening on a specific disc I can still watch sound through telly (ugh... probably only happen if it's a movie the wife wants to see, because she won't care about the big sound). Not sure if I'll chase it further with them, especially since I got a reply from the local Samsung tech support who didn't really have any answers as it's so new over here (Australia)...

EDIT: Just watched Beowulf, Hills Have Eyes, and Departed, no problem with any of em...

Don't worry about it. We all have to start with something. As long as it works for you, that's all that matters.

I was in Circut city today looking at a
Samsung BDP-1500 Blu-ray Disc Player.On the
display it said the unit was profile 2.0.
I told the manager I did not think the player was
2.0 profile and he assured me it was.I told him that
he was mistaken even the the display brochure
said BD live 2.0.Am I wrong or did samsumg upgrade the firmware for this unit?

I have a Lite-on thank for the info going to get a Sony
The One and Only

In the offical Samsung USA web page, today have uploaded a new firmware for the BDP-1500, the version 1.3.

At this moment in the European web pages they didnt uploaded any new firmware. And there is no online upgrade yet in Europe.

Has anybody upgraded to the new firmware yet?

Not upgraded but looking here it seems no new features just "Improves playback capability"

Mine works fine so I guess I'm just gonna wait for some FW upgrade that will "significantly" improve the player's playback capability or for BD-Live. Hope that those who are having problems with this player can finally get it to work properly with this FW upgrade.

Mine is networked and a check for upgrade found no new firmware available

Mine too....says I have latest firmware.....however not sure what that version is since only time I recall was on last upgrade it showed me current and new....I think I recall mine last one was upgrade to v1.1. Also, can't find anywhere in the menu system to see what firmware is present....I tried to turn on the 1500 and hold the INFO button as isntructed below down but nothing pops up with firmware revision.....any trick to get this to work ?

Earlier Post By Neozecat
"What is the current firmware version now?
It depends of your location US or Europe.
For Europe, the last firmware available from update directly through the player itself via ethernet is 080711.02_050708-1XEF available since 07/11/08.
For US, it seems to be 080621.02_04012008_XAA. The Europe one is more recent than the US one."


FYI....found this if you want to do by USB key
http://www.samsung.com/us/support/po...el_nm=BD-P1500

How-To Update The Firmware On Your BD Player Using A USB Flash Drive
Before you begin:
Your player needs to be connected to your television.
The TV and Blu-ray Player need to be powered on.
Your TV needs to be tuned to the appropriate auxiliary input for Blu-ray viewing.
Connect the USB Flash drive to your PC.
Go to the Download Center at Samsung.com. [Click] “Search by model number”, then enter your model number in the field and [click] "Search".
[Click] the firmware tab and locate the USB Firmware Update. (If there are multiple USB updates, select the one with the highest version number)
[Click] on the ZIP file to begin downloading and save file to your desktop.
[Right Click] the ZIP file to [Extract] the RUF file. Then [highlight and right click] the RUF file to [Copy] it to the clipboard.
Open “My Computer” and locate the USB Flash device. Then paste the RUF file into the device’s main directory.
Safely disconnect the USB device. (Right click on the green arrow in the taskbar and select “Safely Remove Hardware”.)
Verify that there is no disc in the player and then connect the USB flash drive to the USB port on the back of the player.
The player will verify the firmware on the USB device. Once verified, a dialogue box asking if you want to update the firmware appears. Select YES and [Press] "Enter" on the remote control. The update begins.
The update will take several minutes and when complete, the power will turn off. Remove the USB Flash drive from the player. This completes the upgrade process.
To make sure the new f/w was installed correctly, turn the BD Player on and press and hold the "INFO" button on the remote control. The new f/w version will be listed.

I grabbed the US one to see if it'd even register on my Australian unit, and it didn't (I tried via USB).

Contacted Samsung support who said it wouldn't (which I expected), but that it also wasn't compatible as US is NTSC and Australia is PAL - um, aren't they SD terms? Not applicable to high-def formats??

Anyway, they said there wasn't a firmware update available here in Aus (nothing on the site either), and that they only hear when it's made available.

My 'System Information' suggests I'm running on a June firmware, v1.1 - I think it shows
080604.01_050708-1_XSA ...

I decided to get sneaky with the US link provided above, for the 1.3 firmware, and replaced the \\us\\ with \\au\\ and I got to a local page WITH A NEW FIRMWARE, posted 19/08/08, which when I downloaded (was a .zip, containing an .iso, which I burned to disc) appeared as 080808_01_BDP1500_XAA.RUF . This WAS NOT available by browsing to the download section for this model; I had to modify the US link to see it.

This IS a new firmware obviously, compared to mine, but a) no way I'm running til it's 'published' on the site, and the filename looks like the incompatible one that I got from the US site earlier anyway b) may not be important anyway if it only 'improves playback compatibility', and c) local Samsung tech support advised that I'd have to get a local official service centre to do the update lest I void my warranty.

Since I've had my unit for less than a week, I'd definitely be getting the centre to do it, even though (working in IT) I'm quite familiar and comfortable with updating firmware - things can always go wrong, stuff that's out of my hands etc... I could have a power outage while it's running etc...