I must just over two weeks since the BD-C5500 Blu-ray player from Samsung call my own.
At first I had the BD-C5300, but sorely missed the DLNA function for playing media such as videos, images or music over the network, also the little brother has only one USB port on the front; the BD-C5500 has a USB port on the back and a front.
After a small unproblematic conversion and a surcharge of only 20 Euro compared to the cheaper BD-C5300, I decided to check the 5500 through its paces.
Caveat: The player is relatively flat and does not have a fan, which could interfere with your movie enjoyment in any way.
Appearance Appearance:
Unwrapped makes the player visually a chic impression. Right on the front are in silver, slightly protruding strip the four control knobs; Eject, Stop, Play / Pause, and, with a little distance from the other buttons, Power. The bar in each of a white LED illuminated buttons can be operated with a very gentle touch of the finger. The light intensity can be adjusted in this menu.
Right below is at the front behind a protective cap one of the two USB ports. Is the drive on the top left behind the flap with the Samsung logo. The flap folded downwardly when retracting.
I myself operate the BD-C5500 with a Samsung UE37B6000 LED TV via HDMI, the sound will be transported via an optical cable to the A / V receiver and connected to the Internet is the player via Cat. 5e cable for software updates and Internet @ TV.
An update of the firmware, which appeared fresh on 14/04/10 on the website of Samsung, can take place with a USB stick.
Behavior during operation:
The fact that players and televisions are made by Samsung, lets imagine that in-house functions such as Anynet + and BDWise support.
Anynet + allows the owners of both devices, to use them with a single remote control. This, however, has its drawbacks, one might hear (without TV) for example, only an audio CD.
With BDWise Samsung has provided an interface with each other a number of settings are to replace the equipment. If this interface is active, some menu items can not be changed at the TV.
The player is ready in about 6 seconds in the main menu. A first sign of life is the BD-C5500 felt after 12 seconds when cold starting of as soon as a Bluray disc is inserted in the drive.
The biggest shortcoming of the total players: The drive can be in operation for a short time strongly perceptible working noises, the environment is very quiet. But for the most part this is done only at the beginning of a Bluray disc or loading menus. During operation, no disturbing noises are struck me; either with an audio CD, DVD or Bluray disc.
The picture and sound quality I find impressive. I also own a Playstation 3 and the can compared with no adverse differences - whether picture or sound - recognize. However, a USB memory is required for BD Live, which then occupies one of the two USB slots.
With the upgrading of DVDs one should not hope for too much, but undoubtedly see pressed on DVD movies a ticking fresher and the contours are sharpened.
Films in various audio and video codecs I packed on a USB stick or DVD and can bypass the BD-C5500 with it. So far, the players took part in all the files that I grabbed him on the USB flash drive for playback. Outstanding!
During playback, the player is noticeably warm, but the temperature remains far below what my satellite receiver emits for example. Thus, the operation without fans a logical step in the rational direction.
The DLNA interface (Digital Living Network Alliance) to retrieve media from the network I angetestet briefly about a 54 Mbit HomePlug (outlet network). With a Windows 7 laptop and the Windows Media Player 11 I briefly established a connection. A device attached to the network DLNA device is recognized without any problems from the BD-C5500. A connection to the 100 Mbit LAN is not wrong, because the load times huge videos else can take some time.
Unfortunately, the Internet @ TV function is not fully developed yet, so that the surface is sometimes very slow. Here Samsung will certainly start in the near future. YouTube videos are, incidentally, untouched if HD resolution is effective or not, but mostly played in a lean SD resolution in stereo sound. Here Samsung should necessarily (!) Help out with a firmware or software update.
A kind of Internet Browser does not exist. It free applications / games may be installed. Among other things, there are applications for YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, a digital TV guide, Picasa or even a graphically beautiful set put Meteorological Service (Accuweather). Games like Sudoku or Mahjong roughly, can also be downloaded for free. Putpat.tv content as Bild.de, TV or digital music television I could not ersichten however. The selection of applications / games is still manageable. I suspect that something is moving in this corner.
On request at Samsung they told me that this so-called 'Widgets' would directly by the manufacturer and this would therefore switched gradually free.
Conclusion:
The Samsung BD-C5500 is an excellent Blu-ray player, who has an exceptional fleet reading time and pretty much takes all tested video and audio codecs. With two USB ports for large USB storage with our own movie or music collection, for example, a 100Mbit Ethernet port and DLNA interface of the player is prima designed for use in home theater. For a device in this price range I can say with a clear conscience a buy recommendation. Who however in drive noise sound the alarm that should hold if necessary by another device on the lookout.
I give the players despite some small weaknesses Amazonian 5 stars, as one in which more can be seen at functions and the quality of picture and sound slightly smaller quirks away.
Positives:
+ Two fully functional USB ports
+ DLNA-enabled = Prima for movie or music collection on your home computer or server
+ If any popular audio and video codec
+ Software updates over the Internet
+ Internet @ TV feature with many useful and interesting applications
+ Good appreciation of DVDs
+ Excellent picture and sound quality
Installed + No disturbing fan
Negatives:
- Noise level at the start of reproduction of a CD / DVD / Blu-ray Disc
- Turn on the Samsung TV if only the player wants to be used as a CD player (the behavior can probably be changed in the options)
- Currently only streaming of YouTube videos in SD resolution possible
Greetings from Bottrop
Patrick
