Upgrading my Home Entertainment System (Questions)

[Midnyte_Sun]

I currently have the HT-Z512T Samsung 5.1 Speakers 5-disc DVD Player System with total 1200 watt output.

Connectivity Options: HDMI-CEC, Wireless Module included, USB HOST, HDMI Out, Audio Inputs (2), Optical Inputs (1), iPod

I want to upgrade to Blue-Ray player, but ofcourse, the setback is that I have to buy an entirely new entertainment system. I have asked lots of reps, even talked with Samsung and they said there is no way I can just hook up a Blue-ray player to my system and use the 5.1 surround. Is this true? If the blue-ray player had an optical in, would I be able to use it?

If its not possible to just buy a Blue-Ray player, I wanted to upgrade to the Blue-Ray Entertainment System offerred by Samsung, the BD3252:

It has a total output of 1000 watts and an optical in. Any other systems somebody could suggest?

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[ComicChick]

what about a PS3? i dunno if you're a gamer, but they've lowered their prices, and its still one of the cheaper blu ray players on the market, and you'd be able to play games, buy tv shows and movies from the PSN too

 

[Midnyte_Sun]

I actually went to a store and looked at the PS3, but the rep couldn't open one up to let me analyze the ports on the back. I opted for a Blu-Ray player, and I tried to make it run all 5.1 channels, but it was only able to run four speakers, the subwoofer just wouldn't work in any setting.

Anybody have any advice?

 

[KALEL114]

The PS3 does have an optical out and HDMI. I would highly recommend you take the player you got back and get it instead. If you can't do that, could you please tell me what Blu-Ray player you have now? That will help in finding a solution to your Sub issue.

 

[ComicChick]

I would do what kal said if you can take it back, unless you really like that particular player. I personally like the opportunity of being able to watch movies and/or play video games. I've got my ps3 hooked up to a 50in DLP so I like watching blu ray on that quite a bit.

Best of all, PS3's have taken a major price cut. You can get a 120 gig one for less than I paid for my 80gb one, and it also comes in a smaller, slimmer model now too. And like I mentioned before, you'd be able to download, games, demos, shows and movies, so there's another perk.

 

[Midnyte_Sun]

The PS3 does have an optical out and HDMI. I would highly recommend you take the player you got back and get it instead. If you can't do that, could you please tell me what Blu-Ray player you have now? That will help in finding a solution to your Sub issue.

Well I went and bought this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-BD-P3...3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1257475896&sr=8-3

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After I connected it to the Optical line, and turned on Dolby Pro Logic II or whatever, it did play out of my rear speakers, my front speakers, even my center speaker, but it could not play out of the subwoofer.

For whatever reason, not one of the settings on my old 5.1 samsung system could decode it on the new blu-ray player. On top of that, the sound quality was degraded.

I'm pretty sure it has nothing to do with the new blu-ray, and everything to do with my old system.

 

[Midnyte_Sun]

I would do what kal said if you can take it back, unless you really like that particular player. I personally like the opportunity of being able to watch movies and/or play video games. I've got my ps3 hooked up to a 50in DLP so I like watching blu ray on that quite a bit.

Best of all, PS3's have taken a major price cut. You can get a 120 gig one for less than I paid for my 80gb one, and it also comes in a smaller, slimmer model now too. And like I mentioned before, you'd be able to download, games, demos, shows and movies, so there's another perk.

That was my first choice to get the PS3, but the reps couldn't find one person who knew what I was talking about. Thats what I get I guess for shopping at Best Buy. Two of the reps swore to me that the Optical would play the 5.1 surround. They were partially right, it did work but it could not play by subwoofer for whatever reason. I returned it today.

 

[RyanJ]

It's possible your old system's receiver can't properly decode the sound codec the blu ray player is sending. Did you try changing the sound setting on the movie you were watching? Change it from HD Master to something different? I know on the PS3 you can change audio to bitsream and it can effect your sound output. Not sure if you can do that on the model blu ray player you had. Ideally, you'll want to use the HDMI cable for your sound as well so you can get the full uncompressed audio. But it looks like you'll need to udgrade the entire system for that.

 

[Midnyte_Sun]

That's exactly what it was. Ironically, the Blu ray player I bought was in fact the same brand (Samsung).

After I returned the blu-ray player, I was lucky to find my old 5.1 system in the discounted section and next to it was a similar blu-ray player with a similar 5.1 system. After comparing the back ports on both systems, I realized I could make the Blu-Ray player work with my older speaker system.

I asked the vendor if I could buy the open box display Blu-Ray player and they finally agreed. I installed the system and they gave me the speakers with it at a discounted price. So now I have extra speakers and a Blu-Ray player for only $100 more than a standard Blu-Ray player.

I have noticed one problem with the Blu-Ray player, my Blu-Ray DVD's during playback occasionally show a strip of pixelated lines. Is this a faulty optical reader?