AVS master thread for the Samsung BD-D5500

Thought I'd create this thread for anyone with this model who may have any news, info, or questions they'd like to share.

It's been awhile since I had a Samsung BD player [had the BD-P1500 before], but bought the BD-D5500 because of Divx HD playback, the soft touch panel, plus it had an analog audio out, which a lot of newer players have been omitting. My current receiver doesn't have HDMI or Digital/Coaxial inputs.

I found that the model played several BD's which the old player choked on. I was happy to find out that it played all of my Star Trek Season 1-3 discs flawlessly with out skip and freeze issues, and so far has played everything I've tried without issues.

My old player would not play certain DVD's and that as well is working fine on this player.

The player itself is relatively quiet except for occasional disc read noises being slightly higher than what I'd consider normal. I also have a Sony BDP-470 that is a little quieter in this regard.

As of the posting of this date, I have not needed a firmware update, though I'm sure I'll need to at some point.

I invite anyone to post here of their findings.

Thanks.

Hi, thanks for starting this thread. I own one of these and so far no issues. I own an old Panny BD30 which has served me well for years but thought I would upgrade.

I feel a little weird about the Sammy. It seems to work fine and BD playback looks great from the one movie tested so far "The Expendables". But I should probably play that movie on my Panny and compare IQ. The Panny at the time of release was supposed to be one of the best and it always looked great to me but I'm not a videophile.

I don't like the design of the Sammy, it looks weird and the disc "door" is kind of a lame design. I know they are trying to stand out from the pack with the space age design of this player, but jeez.

Anyway, I've owned for less that a week and still checking it out. I really like all the apps and from what I've read Samsung and Sony have the most. Although it sounds like the new pannys have quite a few but not as many.

I'm torn, I may keep it, but I'm toying with the idea of getting a panny 210.

dudeman.

Thanks for the reply.

I do agree that the disc door isn't the best idea they've had, but that is cosmetic to me. Also, I wish they had put the ON button toward the right or left end of the player. But I'm sure it's where it is due to the fact they'd have had to make two touch-sense strips, thus increasing costs.

Has anyone tried using this player to stream video over your home network? I'm looking for a 3D blu ray player that plays as well as a standalone media player, like the WD TV Live.

Well, right now, mine is not connected to any network, but do plan to someday myself. This player is mainly for use in our bedroom for use when one of us [me or my wife] wants to watch something the other doesn't.

I just bought the D5500, but my new the Samsung UN46D8000 3D TV has not arrived, so I've not been ablle to play. Therefore, is this player able to upconvert my old non-HD DVDs?

Thanks,
Wes

Yes it does, and looks pretty good from what I can tell.

Thanks for the quick reply.

Wes

I bought the BD-D5500 last week, and I seemed to have an excellent image quality, a significant improvement in color compared to my previous player (a Samsung BD-P1600), and online applications are impressive. BUT!! can not play MKV and DIVX HD files from USB properly. That is, they will play but with pauses and stuttering, rather annoying to see. Video files to play from the ConXion Allshare (DLNA) are even slower. This ultimately made ​​me return to the store where purchased. I recommend it for those who want to see 3D and BD movies, who are interested in the USB media reprodiccion should think about another option.

I've noticed a noise issue.

LG pz550 plasma. when the player and tv first link up the tv shows the signal as 1080p/60, as expected for the menus, etc. looks clean! one I start a movie (wall e blu ray), the signal goes to 1080/24 because I have that feature enabled on both player and tv. I get a lot of pixel noise this way.

When I go back to the menus, the resolution stays at 1080/24, and now there's noise all over the menus.

As a test I turned of the 24p function on the player, and thus the tv had that mode grayed out. Much less noise now altogether, and it stayed at 1080p/60.

So just wondering if this is some sort of known issue. This is my first HD setup. and i didn't even really see a difference in the image when it was panning around. the judder/studder effect on horizontal pans looked the same either way.

I was looking for a replacement for my Panasonic BluRay player and ordered a "BD-D5500" but then when I started looking for reviews all I could find were "BD-C5500" reviews.

Is the "D" model a newer model or it is a "chain store (aka only sold at store ''XYZ'')" model?

avid

I got my BD-D5500 at costco. Do you get any noise in the blacks?

I believe the BD-D5500 is a newer model than the BD-C5500. The front panel and case designs are different. they we're closing out the BD-C5500's at Best Buy there where I bought my BD-D5500 for $149.00.

As far as noise in the blacks, I haven't noticed any. My BD player is hoked up to a Toshiba 32" HDTV which is not 3D, so I can't comment on that end of it.

The "D" denotes that it is a 2011 model blu-ray player. The "C" model player is a 2010 model. It works in the same manner as Samsung's HDTV's. Hope that helps.

I have yet to receive my Samsung player yet as it was ordered on whim / panic and currently it might be lost in transit as the selling company states they shipped it but FedEx says they never picked it up from the shipper as it was never scanned into their system.

When I do receive it I will connect it to a older 40" Toshiba Plasma (1080i) and not a 3D set.... waiting for that $200.00 "3D Conversion Box" for older sets that I have read that two or more companies are going to be releasing in the next few months.

avid

My wife just bought me the BD-D5500C today for our bedroom. I just finished setting up everything short of my Samsung Apps account. I also downloaded the latest FW. This is a nice player and the IQ is great. That was the first thing DW noticed. I too do not like the disc door, but oh well. Netflix works good too. I tested a few of my divx files and they work fine with no issues. I will have to try some DivxHD files soon.

What is the "C" at the end of the model #?

Not exactly sure, but the full model code for my player ends in a ZA. I'm in the US.

My "full" model # also ends in ZA (I'm in the US too) BD-D5500C/ZA. However I'm referring to BD-D5500 vs BD-D5500C on the box labels. Does anyone know the difference?

Where did you buy yours from? May be a code as to where they are bought from.

BJs. The only difference I could tell in the store was that one came with an HDMI Cable and one didn't, but I'm sure there was more to it, because that would be lame. The site doesn't list the BD-D5500, but there is a whole shelf load of them in the store.

Maybe the "C" stands for Cable.

I know that places such as Costco, Sam's Club, Bj's, and others, do throw in a cable to entice the buyers. Makes some sense as it's one less item to have to buy. The old composite [analog] cable is almost a moot point [and practically useless] now that products are moving toward all digital connections.

Only the manufacturers know the reasoning behind their model numbering schemes.

There is a May 19, 2011 firmware update for the player. I don't usually do a firmware update unless I have a problem playing a disc or notice other issues. Haven't heard what this addresses.

I did the update. This player is not listed in the drop down menu if you go to Samsung's firmware update page. You have to go to the homepage for this model, then navigate down to updates.

I did the usb thumbstick update, worked fine.

anyone getting extra noise using 1080/24p mode and a 24p tv?

Tried to do the firmware update that was dated 6/8/11. Downloaded it, put it on a usb stick and am getting the message "No file available to upgrade. Please check it and retry"

current version: 2011/01/08_001001


Update: got the samsung wireless lan adapter and the update downloaded immediately

Reading the reviews on this player, it takes quite a beating on Amazon mostly regarding its Apps functioning properly.

I was eyeing a Panny 210 but PaulsTV is running a pretty damn good deal on a PN59D7000 bundled with the megamind kit and BDD5500

How are the apps running for everyone?

It seems that the firmware online is an older (April?) firmware in the 'ZIP' file and was only posted online in June.

You can download via the network interface the newest firmware, which if I remember correctly is May2011.

avid

I just received my BD-D5500/AZ and after updating the firmware to the latest, the free apps are working for me.

For some reason I can not purchase apps through the player as it will not take my password, but could purchase through their web site and install.

If I have had troubles with an app it seems to have more with the connection speed I am having that day to the servers of the content provider.

avid

Ugg.. No wonder my BDLive was not working..
Why not print on the box or in the install area of the manual in bold print that you must have a USB Thumb Drive installed for BDLive to work!! And why have it stick out the front?!?

avid

Update 06/14/11

I did an online chat with Samsung support.. and while the person stated that the USB Thumb Drive should work in the rear/WiFi port. my player would not see the attached USB drive even tho it was light up showing it was getting power!

I haven't hooked up the apps yet, my TV does netflix, but when I pull the cabinet out soon I'll run a cat6 to the router back there.

I'm assuming it's a gigbit connection. Right? Is that even specified?