Product Description

Plays Blu-ray high-definition discs (selectable output resolution: 1080p signals available through HDMI output only; 720p/1080i signals available through HDMI or component video). There is selectable 720p/1080i/1080p video upconversion for DVD (upconverted video available through HDMI output only) and built-in audio decoding to PCM for Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD and DTS-HD Master Audio Essential * Netflix video and Pandora music streaming (subscriptions to these services required). There are 2 USB ports (1 front, 1 rear) for storing downloaded BD-Live material.

---

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1 in Television
• Color: Grey
• Brand: Samsung
• Model: BD-P1600
• Released on: 2009-03-10
• Dimensions: 2.10" h x 16.90" w x 7.80" l, 4.90 pounds

Features

• Experience vivid, crystal-clear visuals that are more natural, more realistic and simply stunning with Blu-ray's full 1080p HD resolution
• Stream Blockbuster, Netflix, YouTube & Pandora
• Multi-format playback lets you enjoy Blu-ray Discs, DVD, CD, MP3/WMA, JPEG, AVCHD and more
• Enjoy BD-Live support for accessing fresh content
• Dolby TrueHD / DTS-HD MA technologies for high-definition audio

From the Manufacturer
(March 17, 2009)
Experience the Blu-ray difference with the Samsung BD-P1600. Enjoy incredibly detailed images and brilliant color in full high definition 1080p resolution. In addition to a fantastic picture, enjoy cutting edge features like support for Netflix and Pandora movie/music streaming; BD-Live support; and two USB connections for updating firmware, adding wireless ability, or playing back MP3/WMA files. Watch your favorite DVDs and Blu-ray Discs, listen to CDs with the highest-quality audio, and plenty more.

A sleek, stylish and powerful Blu-ray player. Click to enlarge.

Experience vivid, crystal-clear visuals that are more natural, more realistic and simply stunning.

Get more out of a Blu-ray Disc than what's on it with BD-Live.

Experience billions of colors, high definition audio and improved frame rates with a single cable.

Blu-ray full HD playback
Digital imaging is made up of pixels. The more pixels in a picture, the clearer it is. With Blu-ray full HD (and 24 frames-per-second) playback, you get every single pixel out of a film possible. Experience vivid, crystal-clear visuals that are more natural, more realistic and simply stunning.

BD-Live ready
Get more out of a Blu-ray Disc than what's on it. BD-Live 2.0 lets studios future-proof their Blu-ray titles, so they can add content to BD-Live Ready discs even after they have been shipped. Simply connect your Blu-ray player to the Internet (through the included Ethernet port or using an optional Link Stick USB wireless dongle) to download images, subtitles and more. Text-chat with friends during a movie, or play against others in online trivia games to unlock exclusive video content and earn discounts on other products.

Multi Format Playback
In addition to Blu-ray discs, you can drop in a normal DVD and watch the picture get upconverted to near HD quality. Your CDs will also sound great, and you can play MP3/WMA audio from CD, DVD or USB. Or enjoy looking at your favorite JPG files from photo CDs.

HDMI 1.3
Experience billions of colors, high definition audio and improved frame rates even at full 1080p resolution. HDMI 1.3 is a video cable format that delivers it all from your Samsung Blu-ray player without any loss of quality. Since you only need one HDMI cable, there's no ugly mess of tangled-up wires. So your set-up is as clean-looking as the picture.

Dolby TrueHD / DTS-HD MA
Both of these HD audio technologies deliver the sound of the original audio master to your home, bit-for-bit. Listeners enjoy the same audio that was recorded and mastered. Paired with high-definition video, this means an unprecedented home theater experience.

Netflix Instant Streaming Ready
Are you a Netflix member? You no longer have to wait by the mailbox to satisfy your flix fix. Instantly stream from a selection of over 12,000 (and growing) movies and TV shows. The number of titles you can stream per month depends on which Netflix subscription plan you choose.

Stream movies instantly from your Netflix account.

Upgrade firmware easily via Ethernet or USB.

Instantly streaming movies and TV episodes from Netflix is done through a broadband connection and a Netflix Queue-based user interface. Netflix members visit the Netflix Web site to add movies and TV episodes to their individual instant Queues. Those choices will automatically be displayed on members' TVs and available to watch instantly through the Samsung players. Once selected, movies will begin playing in as little as 30 seconds. With the included remote control, Netflix members can browse and make selections right on the TV screen, read synopses and rate movies, and fast-forward or rewind the video stream.

Pandora Ready
The BD-P1600 can stream music though the popular Pandora music service. Enjoy a fresh way to discover new music and stay up-to-date with your favorite artists.

Wi-Fi Ready
By adding Samsung's proprietary Link Stick 802.11b/g/n wireless dongle (not included), users can wirelessly connect to the latest Blu-ray features when the dongle is connected to one of the players' two USB 2.0 ports, or via the traditional wired Ethernet connection.

Analog/Digital Audio Out
Know what sounds great when it comes to your Blu-ray Disc player? Having audio output options. For picture-perfect audio there's the HDMI output. If you prefer analog audio, the player comes with a stereo RCA output for two channels of analog audio. An optical output is also included for the happy medium.

Firmware Upgrades
Your new Samsung Blu-ray Disc player won't be obsolete the moment you bring it home from the store. It's equipped with an Ethernet connection so you can download the latest firmware upgrade and add new features. If your player needs more local storage to take advantage of these features, simply plug in a memory stick with at least 1GB of memory into the USB port.

What's in the Box
Samsung BD-P1600 Blu-ray Disc Player, 47-key Remote control, Batteries, AV cable (RCA type), User's Manual, Quick Start Guide

---

Customer Reviews

Good value player
This is a good value for a blu-ray player with the new online features available such as Netflix, Pandora, and BD-Live. It is small and easy to install and setup. I use the HDMI output to my Samsung HDTV and the Optical Digital Audio output to my AV receiver. The Anynet+ feature is convenient which helps the Samsung components work together reducing button pushing. I hooked up an ethernet cable and easily got it online and setup with my pre-existing accounts with Netflix and Pandora. I've read BD-Live requires a USB 1GB flash drive. I have download cable modem speeds in 6MB/s range so the picture quality is very good from Netflix, I'd say equivalent to upconverted DVD quality. Audio quality from Pandora is also excellent and the commercial-free music service is supreme. Blu-ray DVDs look fantastic and upconverted standard DVDs look great too. This does not have the higher-end HQV chip to my knowledge. The face pushbutton interface is cool and has a high-tech feel to it. Load time is very fast - about 8 to 10s. The menus look good and are easy to navigate. No complaints here. I'm very pleased getting all these features for entry level money.

Finally a FAST stand alone
I bought one of these to replace a PS3 because I hated that it looked like a wart in my setup, had a loud fan, and could not bitstream. Finally there is a small blu-ray standalone that is fast, has a great picture and can bitstream advanced audio. It looks great in the rack and the netflix/pandora features are a nice bonus. I won't be missing the PS3 at all.

BTW, it is known that a 1GB usb drive is needed for BD live enabled titles. If you do not have one installed, and are not internet connected BD-live titles will not play unless BD-Live is disabled under the settings. I don't know why it is enabled by default, but the couple of guys that had unplayable discs could have fixed that problem my disabling BD-Live or inserting a 1GB flash drive. A little research will yield a lot.

Since the player is brand new (almost pre-release) there may be hiccups, but expect firmware to address them as they are found. As is, the player is playing all my blu-rays spectacularly. This is a great player. Don't hesitate if the features meet your needs.

Recent Issues Ruin a Good Player
I received this blu-ray machine at the and of April, 2009, along with a Samsung HDTV. The player has worked fine - playing discs, streaming NetFlix and Pandora - until last month. An automatic firmware update which I accepted via the internet introduced a bug which renders the machine inoperable. The machine is now locked with the display only showing "LOAD." There is no main menu and discs in the player when turned on have no effect of 'jump-starting' the machine.

I discussed the issue with Samsung Tech Support ('support' being used loosely here) and they informed me that this is a known issue and their engineers are working on a solution. In the meantime, I've seen bulletin board discussions with people having the same problem. Samsung representatives continuously suggest the same, ineffective 'solutions' : hold down the FF button; install the latest firmware update - which, a> is impossible since the player is locked and b> the original cause of the machine not working.

The final solution from Samsung representatives is to send the machine in for repair. During a support chat session with Samsung, I was informed that the price of this would be $160.00. I paid only $80 for it, as there was an Amazon discount of $200 on any player purchased with a qualifying TV.

The idea that Samsung is expecting customers to return the machine for repair and pay for those repairs is ridiculous. It is their own firmware, which they deliver to these machines, that is the cause of these problems.

As I mentioned earlier, the quality of the player - when it was functioning - is great. However, with it in its current state, and Samsung's fleecing of their customers, it has led me to "spread the word" and in no way, shape, or form can I possibly recommend this product - or any other Samsung product - until something is done.

Samsung should be offering a re-call of this product and replacing it at no cost to consumers. Until then, Samsung goes on my "Do Not Buy" list.

p.s. the Tag Product section of this review page doesn't seem to be working.