Samsung to quit making new Blu-ray players??

Toolfan66

https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/17/18228584/samsung-stops-producing-blu-ray-players

Changes seem to be happening fast with physical media...

BlueFox

Yes. Those that want the best are a niche market.

Emlyn

The article is confusing. Seems from other articles that Samsung is saying they will not develop any new 4K models because they have realized they can't compete for market share with Sony and Panasonic. I would not recommend a Samsung over a Sony or Panasonic player now anyway, but I did buy a Samsung 4K player when they first came out. It was poorly built but worked ok.

One thing I have really noticed in the last couple of years is that even the big box stores like Target and Walmart in my area are carrying hardly any physical media. A Target store I go to once a year remodeled last year to be in the store's latest format and I went in looking for their media section and found basically one row with new and recent video releases at full MSRP. Before the remodel, the store had probably six times the floor space for Blu Ray/DVD/4K discs. Their CD selection was even smaller. Best Buy has beefed up their selections from what they used to be though.

I think the model of selling physical media online rather than in stores is way better, especially through Amazon Prime.

mantis

Samsung makes crappy products in my opinion especially their Blu ray players. We still have Panasonic, Sony and Pioneer Elite for good quality models. I think it's safe to say we are all in good hands.

treitz3

Never mind. Posting without coffee has it's challenges...

Please disregard.

To.

dago

treitz3 wrote: »

Never mind. Posting without coffee has it's challenges...

Please disregard.

To.

Ahem....cough cough, dressing before coffee is also a challenge for you.

mrloren

Anything before coffee is a challenge for me....

I don't like the Samsung players. I've had two of them and they suck One was a low end and the other mid range ($150) both had the same problems and needed to be unplugged every month for a reboot.

I've been happy with my Sony and Panasonic players. The Oppo is just fantastic for picture and sound.

erniejade

Streaming is taking over much of this market. I haven't bought or rented a Bluray in a few years.

GlennDog

I just canceled my Netflix DVD account.
Thought I'd use it, but I've had the same 3 DVDs site's here for 2 months!

pkquat

I have an older midgrade Samsung BD from ~2013. The picture and speed have been above par IMO. How are the Sony and Panasonic at playing media off a multi TB hard drive?

IMO the Samsung does a really good job of playing movies, clips, FLAC files, MP3's right off a multi TB HD. It supports a LOT of formats and so far odd resolutions from phones and such have not been an issue. The menu structure is ok for movies and clips, but a little cumbersome for MP3 and FLAC.

recoveryone

a multi layer issue that combines the low cost of internet speeds and streaming services. With about every TV sold within the last 3 years have the built in ability to stream full HD to UHD you can only look at the cost factor of producing an additional piece of gear that is not truly needed as it once was. In todays world you can cut out several pieces of audio and video gear that we all chased at one time for the best quality. You now have AVR's that have the ability to stream music from a variety of sources including your own collection, combine that with a smart TV that comes with Roku or chromecast that gives you the video streaming you can cut out 2 or more pieces of gear from any setup. We look back and complain about how Napster and other early digital music sources killed off quality sounding music, but now the technology has appeared to have caught up to please both sides of the argument.

tophatjohnny

When we got our Sammy 65 4k we picked up their little curve blue ray player and it's like a toy to me. Works but nothing magical. Love the curved screen though.

rpf65

I’ll start with I’m not a fan of Samsung products.

Samsung, in general, usually targets the mid-range price in many of their products. With their decision to exit the BD market, it’s another bad sign for those who enjoy spinning those silver disks.

I can understand people gravitating toward streaming. A new release in 4K, costs about $30. Of all the movies released last year, I’m pretty sure that there was less than 10 that I would even consider buying at that price point. Just seems the industry is putting out content that just doesn’t interest me. Sure special effects have gotten better, but most everything else has gotten worse.

When it comes to quality between physical players versus streaming the same content, it seems to be getting closer. For the most part, there isn’t much, if any, difference between low end players and streaming. To see/hear differences, you have to get a player in the $500 and up. There may be an exception out there, but probably not three of them.

If the majority of people are happy with MP3 type quality, or less, with music, they will probably be happy with the same quality when it comes to movies. Although I understand manufacturers getting out of this market, I hope a few will continue to remain in it.

tophatjohnny

rpf65 wrote: »

I’ll start with I’m not a fan of Samsung products.

Samsung, in general, usually targets the mid-range price in many of their products. With their decision to exit the BD market, it’s another bad sign for those who enjoy spinning those silver disks.

I can understand people gravitating toward streaming. A new release in 4K, costs about $30. Of all the movies released last year, I’m pretty sure that there was less than 10 that I would even consider buying at that price point. Just seems the industry is putting out content that just doesn’t interest me. Sure special effects have gotten better, but most everything else has gotten worse.

When it comes to quality between physical players versus streaming the same content, it seems to be getting closer. For the most part, there isn’t much, if any, difference between low end players and streaming. To see/hear differences, you have to get a player in the $500 and up. There may be an exception out there, but probably not three of them.

If the majority of people are happy with MP3 type quality, or less, with music, they will probably be happy with the same quality when it comes to movies. Although I understand manufacturers getting out of this market, I hope a few will continue to remain in it.

Oh they will and are.

rooftop59

rpf65 wrote: »

When it comes to quality between physical players versus streaming the same content, it seems to be getting closer. For the most part, there isn’t much, if any, difference between low end players and streaming. To see/hear differences, you have to get a player in the $500 and up. There may be an exception out there, but probably not three of them.

Really? The cheap LG is my sig is clearly superior on audio and video when playing a standard blu ray vs streaming the same movie HD on vudu or netflix. Now I will admit that on my very mid level tv the picture quality difference is more subtle, but the audio quality is FAR superior

rpf65 wrote: »

If the majority of people are happy with MP3 type quality, or less, with music, they will probably be happy with the same quality when it comes to movies. Although I understand manufacturers getting out of this market, I hope a few will continue to remain in it.

I agree with you 100% there. The clear audio difference I hear doesn't matter to most people.