Samsung BD-P3600 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player
Samsung BD-P3600 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player
Samsung BD-P3600 plays Blu-ray high-definition discs (selectable output resolution: 1080p signals available through HDMI output only; 720p/1080i signals available through HDMI or component video) with selectable 720p/1080i/1080p video upconversion for DVD (upconverted video available through HDMI output only). There is built-in audio decoding for Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD and DTS-HD Master Audio Essential–Netflix video and Pandora music streaming (subscriptions to these services required). Player has 2 USB ports (1 front, 1 rear) for storing downloaded BD-Live material.
User Ratings and Reviews
1 Stars Samsung misleading product description
The box and the unit say “Wireless LAN,” not “Wireless Capable.” No. Once you’re sitting in front of the unit wondering why it’s not finding a network you look in the manual and it says you need an adapter. So there is no Wireless LAN. There’s a product you can buy for $75 bucks. Wanted to be happy with the $1,800 we sunk into Samsung TV and player. Charge me the extra $75. Just don’t mislead me.
1 Stars Horrible product - avoid avoid avoid
I’d ordered a Samsung PN58B650 HDTV (and am very happy with it), but at the same time Amazon showed that others that had the same HDTV ordered the Samsung BD-P3600 Blu-ray Disc Player. I quickly looked up CNET’s rating of this player (which is Extremely good!). But failed to look at user’s reviews (MY MISTAKE). This player came, looking new and attractive, but couldn’t play a movie all the way through, locking up constantly, refusing to open the disk tray unless it was powered down and back up. Constantly looked for a disk when none was inside of it. After trying everything (including talking with Samsung tech support and doing everything they suggested), I decided to return it, then I read all the user reviews - it would have saved me the headache if I’d read them before I ordered it. Samsung makes wonderful TV’s, but apparently they have problems with their Blu-ray players.
I’ve since bought a Panasonic Blu-ray player and it works faultlessly!!
5 Stars Good Internet Linked Player
We bought this unit about 4 months ago. At the time, it played Blu-Ray DVDs, Pandora, and Netflix. I connected it to our network so we’ve tried all three and they work well. I linked the unit to our Pandora account and now when I want music, I don’t have to turn on my computer. It’s all contained in the DVD unit. We have also streamed movies from Netflix and found that with our connection, color movies are a bit grainy, but B&W classics (Psycho, Casa Blanca, etc.) are great. My guess is if we had a better internet connection (we are in the boonies with DSL), even color movies would look great. Recently, when I turned it on, it asked if I wanted to update the firmware. I said “yes”, and it then took quite a bit of time to load the new firmware (had me worried I’d just made a paperweight). When it restarted, I now had access to Blockbuster instant movies and the ability to search for content on YouTube. So between Blu-Ray movies, Blockbuster & Netflix instant movies, YouTube content, and Pandora, this is a great DVD player (and I haven’t even tried to play CDs).
2 Stars Be VERY Careful of the Samsung BD-P3600!
On June 3rd I purchased the Samsung BD-P3600 from Amazon.com. It was a birthday present for my fiance’ whose birthday is July 15th. Along with the player I purchased 5 Blue Ray movies as part of a package deal which was great. We set it up and proceeded to watch movies and the picture was awesome! Crystal Clear! The player is quiet and start time was better than expected. For the next few months we proceeded to view both Blue Ray and traditional DVD’s with the same quality and no problems. On November 9th I purchased Transformers Revenge of the Fallen and Underworld Rise of the Lycans on Blue Ray. When we tried to view them the discs were automatically rejected and this error message appeared on the TV Screen: “This disc can not be played”. I immediately went to the Samsung site to see if there were any issues with these titles or new firmware updates. I found there was a new firmware update dated 10/31/09. I downloaded it to a thumb drive and installed it. When I tried to play the movies again I received the same error message. I then tried to play some of the Blue Rays we purchased and watched over the last few months like Quontum of Solace, Wolverine, Troy, Taken and a few others and none played. Regular DVDs did.
I called Samsung support and was told to clean the discs and unplug the player from it’s power source and try again. I did with no change. I called back and was told that I needed to take the player in for service at my expense because the 90 day warranty had expired. I was told there was not one service center in my area that I could take it to. I live in a Maryland suburb of Washington DC which is almost at the midpoint between Baltimore and Washington. But there is not service center?
The Amazon return policy is also very limited.
The support at Samsung is terrible! The troubleshooting seems to be limited to basic techniques that most people would try on their own anyway.
When the player works it’s great! But when it stops playing BlueRay movies and there is no help available, that is unacceptable! Now I’m stuck with a BlueRay player that only plays traditional DVDs.
I have a Panasonic at my place and I haven’t had a single problem!
If I had it to do all over again I would have purchased a Panasonic or LG for her birthday. I hope this helps someone who might be considering this Samsung model.
3 Stars Good Product…BUT
PROS:
Outstanding picture quality
Outstanding audio quality
7.1 analog audio outputs
Streaming Capability
CONS:
No backlighting on remote control buttons
Wi-Fi set up and operation
Problems playing “some” Blu-ray titles
Customer Support
OTHER EQUIPMENT:
Outlaw Audio 950 Control Amplifier
Panasonic TH-50PZ800U HDTV
Legacy Audio Speaker System
MODEL: BD-P3600 XAA
S/W: Bev2.05_091015_XAA
LOADER: LDv1.12_090924_
REGION: A/1 (BD/DVD)
REPORT:
I purchased this unit as an upgrade to my Home Theater System (HTS). It replaced my Oppo HD-981 up-converting DVD player. My experience with the unit has been mixed.
Video for the unit is connected via its HDMI output to the Panasonic HDTV. It is connected to the Outlaw Pre-Amp via its 7.1 analog outputs (only 5.1 due to the Pre-Amp’s capability) for audio. My HTS is set up as a 5.1 system using Legacy Audio speakers.
The picture quality is outstanding. The up-conversion quality of DVDs is equivalent to that of my Oppo unit, and the Blu-ray picture quality is detailed and vibrant. Dark scene contrast is outstanding as viewed on the Panasonic HDTV.
Other than Blu-ray functionality, my reason for purchasing this particular unit is because it has analog outputs that allow me to use the unit with my current equipment to enjoy the new HD audio formats. The quality of the new HD sound formats dwarf all the previous formats. The sound is clear, full, and deep.
As much as I enjoy the unit, it has had problems playing back some Blu-ray titles (My Bloody Valentine, Crank, Chrysalis, The Haunting In Connecticut [menu issues], and Tropic Thunder [playback issues]). In addition to the Blu-ray issues, I am having problems with the Wi-Fi link dropping during streaming NetFlix playback.
When I first purchased the unit, everything worked fine until an upgrade to add Blockbuster and YouTube streaming (FW V2.02) was pushed it. None of the 30 or so movies I streamed failed before the firmware update, but all of the streamed movies that have been played after the update have failed approximately 40-minutes into playback. Firmware update V2.05 finally addressed the problems (I am still testing)! Customer Support has been of “little” use.
Filed under: Blu Ray Player Reviews