Samsung BD-C6900 3D Blu-ray Player (TPV 89)

Samsung’s BD-C6900 is their first to offer 3D Blu-ray playback

The well-designed remote control isn’t backlit, but has glow-in-the-dark buttons for the main disc transport functions. In addition to the disc controls, the remote also has buttons that can control various brands of televisions, including power on/off, source select, and volume and channel up/down buttons.

PERFORMANCE

With 1080p single pixel on/off test patterns, the player has no problem outputting a perfectly sharp rendition via the HDMI port, which is par for the course these days. The player’s internal video processor also does a very good job of upconverting 1080-line interlaced HD video to 1080-line progressive.

Where the player really excels is with DVD upconversion and playback. For example, Microsoft’s Windows Hardware Quality Labs test DVD features a dual-layer change test, consisting of vertically scrolling title roll text at the DVD format’s highest possible bitrate, with a layer change right in the middle of the roll. With many players, there’s a very noticeable blip or temporary freeze at the layer change point. Not so with the BD-C6900, which traversed the layer change with absolutely no indication whatsoever that the layer change had indeed occurred. Indeed, I ran the test a few times on the Samsung and again on an older DVD player just to confirm that I had indeed correctly chosen the layer change test on the WHQL DVD (it’s not specifically called out in the disc’s sub-menus—kind of an Easter egg thing).

The player is also very responsive to menu loading, compared to earlier generation Blu-ray players. Video guru Joe Kane’s HD Video Essentials Blu-ray test disc features menu selections that combine graphics and text that are loaded separately and then merged on-the-fly into the viewable image (a feature that the Blu-ray disc specification includes, but is hardly ever used). With many Blu-ray players, the disc’s menu and text selections slide horizontally to and from the left in a slow and jerky fashion. The Samsung player is a comparative speed demon, with a much faster and more fluid response to menu selection choices.

BOTTOM LINE

In a time when fine-performing Blu-ray players priced under-$200 are the norm, some will squawk that the Samsung’s $400 suggested list price is a little out of line, even though it has 3D BD playback capability. But, consider that compared to first generation Blu-ray players of just a few years ago that cost two to three times that of the BD-C6900, the Samsung’s extensive feature set and very good performance most definitely represents a good value.

SPECS & PRICING

Samsung BD-C6900 3D Blu-ray player

Disc Formats Supported: 3D Blu-ray, 2D Blu-ray, DVD, DVD-R/RW, CD, CD-R/RW
HDMI Direct Audio Bitstreams: Dolby Digital, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS, DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS-HD High Resolution
Outputs 1080p at: 24 Hz, 60 Hz
Video Outputs: 1 each HDMI, component, composite
Digital Audio Outputs: 1 optical
Analog Audio Outputs: 7.1-ch
Other Connections: 1 Ethernet, 2 USB ports
Dimensions (WxHxD): 16.9” x 1.7” x 8.8”
Weight: 6.4 lbs.
Warranty: 1 year parts, 90 days labor
Price: $399.99

SAMSUNG
(800) 726-7864
www.samsung.com/us