SAMSUNG HT-BD1250 BLU-RAY HOME THEATER SYSTEM

Soon after deciding on a Samsung HTIB system to integrate with my two-year-old Samsung 46″ HDTV, I came across this HT-BD1250 system at Greatest Get with all the functions I wanted (Bluray, surround sound with wireless to the rear speakers, Anynet+ integration, iPod integration), plus a handful of that I made the decision were “good-to-have” (wireless network integration/Pandora/Netflix). The moment I realized I would will need to add the Samsung SWA-4000 wireless speaker amplifier and extra HDMI and optical cables for integration with my Tv and HD/DVR cable box, the complete package by way of Amazon was by far the very ideal deal and way to go.

Very first speedy note: You DO NOT need something other than Basic HDMI cables, which when purchased as a package here with Amazon are 80+% less pricey (even with the shipping charge from the third-celebration vendors) than if you buy them at Ideal Get or other brick/mortar. Do not Believe THE HYPE on so-known as “larger end” HDMI cables.

As for the HTIB method itself, I identified that the documentation guided me by means of most of my installation/cabliing scenarios, and every little thing worked rather a lot the 1st time as soon as I powered anything up. I necessary to make a handful of calls to Samsung tech support to get anything configured the way I needed (I had some distinct concerns about the video/resolution modes switching between HD and non-HD inputs), but the assistance was English-speaking and reasonably competent. (I only got a single “bum steer” from their tech help when I was generating what turned out to be a user error on my aspect with the iPod integration, but the tech also did not determine it appropriately and needed me to send the unit in for service at my own expense…not an acceptable alternative. I later walked away from it for a handful of hours and then returned back to it with a clear head, and figured out my error in utilizing the setup menus, and it turned out all was effectively after all.)

I ought to almost certainly mention my wiring/integration setup: I have a Samsung LN-4661F HD Television, a Motorola HD/DVR cable box from my cable business, and now my Samsung HT-BD1250 HTIB. Cabling is as follows: HDMI Out from the Motorola HD/DVR cable box to HDMI In 1 on the TV (CATV audio and video are integrated on the HDMI), HDMI Out from the HD-BD1250 HTIB to HDMI In 2 on the Tv (for DVD/BD video), and Optical Audio Out 1 from the Tv to Optical Audio In 1 on the HD-BD1250 (to feed the CATV audio back from the TV to be reproduced via the HTIB’s sound amplifier).

I attempted to use a “standard” USB wireless network adapter to integrate with my home wireless network and discovered that it was unable to detect it I suspect I could have made it perform with some extra initial configuration first on my laptop, but I ended up scrapping that thought and I merely ordered the Samsung Wireless adapter for this unit, and it integrated perfectly with my home network in minutes. If you are truly tech-savvy and feel you can get a “standard” USB wireless adapter configured to perform with this, I suppose you could attempt to do so and save or , but for .99 the Samsung WIS09ABGN adapter operates appropriate out of the box and is a supported resolution.

As for the wireless network/Net integration itself, I have tested Pandora and it works nicely have not tested Netflix on demand but. I also have however to be ready to figure out how to get integration with my Personal by way of wireless to work as a supply input (like to access music/multimedia I have on my Computer), but it is an advertised function of this system and I am confident I can hack my way by means of and make that work sooner or later…not a priority for me, even though, just an additional “good to have”.

The iPod integration performs relatively well, but I am a little disappointed that I was not in a position to figure out how to make “Shuffle” functionality operate…I appear to be stuck playing my music in the order it’s stored in my playlists. Not sure yet if this is a limitation or if I just have not figured out how to do it however.

The wireless speaker connection to the rear speakers with the SWA-4000 configured effectively pretty significantly the initial time (I just had to play with the energy cycling upon initial configuration) and the sound has been loud and clear. I did encounter precisely 1 sound dropout on it the very first day which immediately resolved and has not recurred, but it got my consideration and I am concerned about it based on critiques I read of other Samsung HTIB systems with wireless rear speaker connections. We shall see.

Configured out of the box, sound to the rear speakers only comes out if the input supply gives it (like from a Dolby five.1-enhanced DVD or BD), but I located that by cycling via the Dolby Effect Modes on the remote to the “Matrix” setting, I can hear sound by way of all five speakers all the time…specifically what I want, and the sound is wonderful.

Another rapid item to mention: I tested a couple of “standard” DVDs and the “1080p upscaling” characteristic of the BD player works effectively. As…

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I have been using this unit for about four months now and was extremely pleased with it even even though occasionally I have observed that it just shuts down in the middle of watching a movie. These days it prompted me for a firmware upgrade. Given that it is connected to the world wide web the firmware upgrade was automatic. But right after the firmware upgrade the unit just exhibits LOAD message and doesn’t do something. A Google search reveals that a lot of men and women have the identical issue with the firmware upgrade. When contacted Samsung tech assistance they asked me to ship the unit to them for repair. Even though this dilemma was reported days back, I am surprised they have not pulled the firmware upgrade, also the support is not quite valuable in that they are not willing to make a correction to my address on their record even even though I requested it twice. Negative firmware upgrade and poor assistance makes this item negative.

Update 11/25/2009 :

Nowadays CVE known as me to inform me that I have to pay about 160USD for fixes for my BD player I have purchased only 2 months back. I Named samsung support and they told me I am out of warranty given that I purchased the product in 2004 (BD player in 2004 . Soon after speaking 1 hour with Samsung support and uploading obtain proof, they have concurred to start off repair in two – 4 weeks. And I have provided my address atleast five instances to them and nonetheless they ask every time I call them.

The firmware situation and the poor help makes this item worse.

Update 12/05/2009 :

I nevertheless have not received the unit even even though their site says the situation is closed. No tracking quantity or whatsoever. Named the customer service, and I was told that it is repaired and the consumer service would not know when it will be actually shipped. 25 days with no a player now and my Netflix Blu ray disk is just sitting there. By no means an additional Samsung item once more.

Update 12/14/2009 :

Following more than 1 month of shipping my bricked product to Samsung assistance ( CVE ) , I have not received the unit yet. I have created atleast ten calls to them and each and every time I get an solution that it will be repaired in 5 – 7 organization days. I hope they work five company days a week so it is currently 20 business days following they have received the unit. What a horrible client service they have. I will never purchase yet another samsung item ever.

Purchased a Samsung LN52A650 before xmas which I thoroughly really like and have been debating what audio to match it up with. Blu-ray and 5.1 were a need to but purchasing each a player and five.1 amp plus matching speakers/subwoofer can get quite spendy. TA-DA…this issue shows up. Not becoming five.1 savvy prior to this I was not prepared for the rear speakers to fairly significantly keep quiet but when they get the proper feed its brilliant.

My set up:
DirecTV HDDVR hdmi to the LN52A650 for broadcast Tv.
BD1250 hdmi to LN52A650 for BD/DVD/CD/IPod/Pandora/FM/camera/and so on.
Network cables wired direct from DSL modem to BD1250, LN52A650 and HDDVR. (The wife loves Pandora…verify out their site if you adore music and aren’t familiar with them.)
Optical audio from DirecTV HDDVR to HT-BD1250 if I want to listen to 5.1 from DirecTV. Note: It says in the LN52A650 documents that going from it to one more audio method is constantly at ideal “stereo” no matter what variety of connector you use. The heck with that …I went optical from the HDDVR to the 1250. Ratatooie by way of StarzHD sounds five.1 great.

This new setup let me “retire” my old Sony “stereo only” amp, an old Panasonic CD player, a Panasonic “progressive” DVD player and a couple of tall Sony speakers. (That stuff is now hooked up and rockin’ in the garage.) The vacated shelf space is now occupied by perfect sized wicker baskets that my wife discovered that are holding significantly of our DVD collection.

I nonetheless use the 3 remotes since I have not figured out how to get all the functionality I need without having them. I generally watch ESPN so, as I have always completed, I hit the “ON” button on the DirecTV remote and it fires up the TV and the HDDVR. I left the speakers on the Tv set to “on” so on start up the broadcast Tv sound comes over them. Note: The DirecTV remote will turn the HT-BD1250 on if you set it up but you have to move the switch at the best, etc., and so on….pain in the butt.

At very first getting to use a single of the Samsung remotes to fire up the 1250 bothered me but I have modified my mind. The reason? We have Tv watching guests from time to time so for them to just plop down, hit the DirecTV “ON” button and commence watching “without” the surround sound booming away is my preference. The LN52A650′s speakers are excellent adequate. What’s cool is that if they pop in a disc it automatically fires up the 5.1 and the TV speakers shut down. If you want to listen to a broadcast over 5.1 just hit tools and choose the 1250 for sound.

The “Any-Net” characteristic enables the 1250 to be obtainable for use from numerous of the menus on the Samsung remotes. Also the volume can be adjusted by any of the remotes, which includes the DirecTV remote. Fairly straightforward!


And final but not least hitting the “Off” button on the DirecTV remote shuts the HDDVR, LN52A650 AND the BD1250 off. Apparently the “Any-Net” speaking among the Tv and the 1250 need to tell it to take a break too. I actually like that…no one particular can inadvertantly leave the amp on.

Question to any of you with a comparable Tv and Blu-ray. I am not truly seeing any “dramatic” difference between the 1080i HD stuff I get off the dish (which is beautiful by the way)and a blu-ray movie. Ought to there be?