Samsung BD-P2500 Blu-Ray Player Reviewed

Published On: November 8, 2008
Last Updated on: October 31, 2020
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Samsung BD-P2500 Blu-Ray Player Reviewed

The BD-P2500 ($500) uses the higher-end Silicon Optix Realta HQV video-processing chip and incorporates Netflix's streaming video service. This Profile 2.0 player also has onboard storage for BD-Live features and multichannel analog audio outputs.

Samsung BD-P2500 Blu-Ray Player Reviewed

By Author: Adrienne Maxwell
Adrienne Maxwell is the former Managing Editor of HomeTheaterReview.com, Home Theater Magazine, and HDTVEtc.com. Adrienne has also written for Wirecutter, Home Entertainment Magazine, AVRev.com, ModernHomeTheater.com, and other top specialty audio/video publications. She is an ISF Level II-certified video calibrator who specializes in reviews of flat-panel HDTVs, front video projectors, video screens, video servers, and video source devices, both disc- and streaming-based.

samsung-bd-p2500-hqv-blu-ray-player.gifSamsung's BD-P2500 ($499.99) is a Profile 2.0 Blu-ray player; it supports both BonusView/picture-in-picture playback and BD-Live Web functionality. Its other noteworthy addition, compared with earlier Samsung Blu-ray players, is the use of Silicon Optix's higher-quality HQV video processor, which allows for better upconversion of standard DVDs. Plus, thanks to an October 2008 firmware update, the BD-P2500 now allows you to stream movies and TV shows directly from Netflix

Additional Resources

• Read top performing Blu-ray player reviews from brands like Oppo, Marantz, Denon, Sony ES, Integra, Yamaha, Onkyo and many more....

The BD-P2500 supports Blu-ray, DVD, CD audio, and AVCHD playback; it will not play MP3, WMA, JPEG, or Divx discs. The back panel features HDMI 1.3, component video, and composite video outputs (no S-video). For HDMI, the output-resolution options are 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p/60, and 1080p/24. The menu's Movie Frame (24 fs) option allows you to enable 1080p/24 playback; once you do so, the player will always output 1080p/24 when it is available on a Blu-ray disc. For component video, output-resolution options are 480i, 480p, 720p, and 1080i. The setup menu includes sharpness and DVD noise-reduction controls.

As for audio connections, the BD-P2500 offers HDMI, optical digital (no coaxial), and both 2- and 7.1-channel analog audio outputs. The player can pass the Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio formats in their native bitstream form over HDMI, to be decoded by a receiver with the necessary decoders. It also sports internal decoders for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD High Resolution audio; however, it does not contain an internal decoder for DTS-HD Master Audio, which is more common than DTS-HD HR. The BD-P2500 can pass 7.1-channel PCM audio over both the HDMI and multichannel analog audio outputs. The step-down BD-P1500 offers similar audio capabilities, but it lacks the 7.1-channel analog audio outputs.

Given the player's Profile 2.0 designation, the inclusion of an Ethernet port is a given. This port allows you to connect to the Internet to access BD-Live Web features on Blu-day discs and to perform firmware updates. The back panel also has a USB port, which provides storage for BD-Live features. The BD-P2500 has 1GB of onboard memory, but you can also connect a USB storage drive (not included) for additional storage of BD-Live downloads. The BD-P2500 does not include any advanced control ports, like RS-232 or IR.

Read The High Points, The Low Points and the Conclusion on Page 2


samsung-bd-p2500-hqv-blu-ray-player.gif

High Points
• The BD-P2500 offers a very attractive image with Blu-ray sources, and the addition of HQV video processing means a higher-quality picture when upconverting standard DVDs.
• The player is Profile 2.0, so it supports BonusView and BD-Live.
• This player offers quick startup, load times, and navigation.
• The player passes Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio in bitstream form over HDMI, and it offers internal Dolby TrueHD decoding. The inclusion of 7.1-channel analog audio outputs makes it a good choice for someone who has an older, non-HDMI receiver.
• Netflix subscribers can stream content from their Instant Queue directly to the BD-P2500.

Low Points
• The player lacks internal DTS-HD Master Audio decoding.
• It does not support MP3, WMA, Divx, or JPEG playback.
• Netflix's Instant Queue feature doesn't offer as many titles as the company's mail-order business, but the company is adding content regularly. Also, you can't add content to the Instant Queue directly via the player; you must do so via your computer.

Conclusion
The BD-P2500 is a full-featured Blu-ray player that offers good overall performance. Its Netflix support gives it an edge over some comparably priced players, and you can find it for a lot less than its $499.95 MSRP.

Additional Resources

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