Fairly good picture with adequate sound.

Problems with dual layer dvds like Matrix and Wild Wild West.

Samsung's player sports some impressive features for the price. However its need for a firmware upgrade to play movies like Deep Sea Blue or Matrix is a real downer. I agree with another reviewer that Samsung should have either recalled the players or upgraded them. After calling Samsung's customer service department, I decided the player back for exchange for something better.

Similar Products Used:

Toshiba models

Shows blacker than black calibration pattern on Video Essentials. User friendly remote which is programmable for TV codes for Volume, On/Off, Channel. Stylish. Auto Dim display. Great dynamic range, signal to noise and freq response specs for audio CD's.

Would not play MATRIX. Garbled menus on MUMMY and SOMETHING ABOUT MARY. Won't play CD-R/RW.

Bought for $249 in May of 1999. Worked without incident until MUMMY, MATRIX and SOMETHING ABOUT MARY. Took it in for the ePROM upgrade and they also replaced the laser. Now all the above titles play and look as good as they do on my Sony. This really is a GREAT player and I'm statisfied with it and Samsung's backing it up with the free update to address the problems on the above three titles.

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Sony DVP-S300 as primary player for my main home theater system.

I called samsung and they told me there is a problem with this unit being able to play dual layered disks, good luck.

Price - Quality - Value - Remote

Needed firmware upgrade

This was my first DVD player and I was extremely happy with it, considering the circumstances involved with the purchase! The first DVD I bought was the Matrix (didn't everyone) and I soon got the crash course on "Dual Layer Compression" when I found I my 709 didn't support it :( While standing in the return line at BBuy, another satisfied 709 owner told me where to get the firmware upgrade done - and one week later I was trying to decide between taking the Blue or the Red pill!

Even with the needed repair, I absolutley LOVE this machine!! It looks terrific and came with a killer remote. I now use it in my son's room for watching Disney DVD's and it still works flawlessly (2 years old and going strong!) I have since upgraded to a Denon for my HT (mainly for the RGB & Fiber outputs) but I would definately put my 709 up against a lot of other players that cost much more. It was a great deal back, and still is, even by todays standards...

For the record, I don't know why everyone is knocking Samsung? I have a beautiful 17" monitor, an excellent 27" TV in my bedroom, and even a microwave from them that cooks like no other I've seen! Maybe I have just been lucky?

By the way, two of my coworkers also purchased the 709's and they have never had any problems after the service upgrade, either!

Similar Products Used:

None

easy hacks, ease of use, lots of neat extra features like zoom, variable scan speed

analog video-out picture quality is weak (s-video is superb), questionable reliability marrs an otherwise superb product

I've owned this unit abut 11 months and feels its time to throw in my 2 cents.

If you own this product already, the following will be helpful for you.

First: You must check out these sites on how to turn the samsung 709 into an all-region, all purpose player using the supplied 709 remote control (though it still wont play cd-rs). Heck, the least we deserve for purchasing this temperamental product is the ability to remove macovision and hack into all regions! The 709online site mentioned below is not much help for US purchasers, and you may find these sites much more concise with better instructions on how to hack the 709. Check out either one the first one I think is better):

http://www.709firmware.fsnet.co.uk/faq.html

-OR-

http://www.dvd.reviewer.co.uk/info/multiregion/full/Thomson3300.asp

The Samsung uses the same firmware as Thomson and Hitachi so dont worry if you see references to those models...Samsung actually manufactures those models. The hacks are great! You can order dvds from all over the world that arent available in the US (like Star Wars, for example!) Also, the hack disables macrovsion so you can make perfect VHS tape copies.

Second: As far as the numerous complaints regarding the skipping and freezing, I have had this unit in for the same problem myself. It seems to have been a combination of a defective optical laser assembly and the firmware. If you still have this unit under warranty and are experiencing these problems, take it immediately to the nearest Samsung authorized service center to have these items replaced. Samsung tech support confirmed that the skipping is caused by faulty optical laser assemblies. Samsung customer service was incredibly helpful (unlike other companies), and had my parts shipped to the cervice center within one week. Apparently, Samsung knows that some of the 709 laser assemblies have problems and they are more than willing to replace. Also, when you take your unit in, Samsung will also upgrade you to the latest firmware available- Version 3.32 (part number ST-709B V3.32) Have the center check it out, and if you don't have Version 3.32, let the service center know and they will replace it. I had a December 1999 manufactured unit, and I only had version 2.8! Both the service center and Samsung have worked wonderfully with me to fix my player. My service center reaffirmed to me that Samsung is one of the best in the business for out sending parts quickly. So they may not make the best product, but they do their damndest to stand behind it, which I admire.

This review is really for the people who already own this unit. If there are even any of these left to buy new (I think Target is the only place that still carries the 709), as soon as you get it, make sure you get the new firmware right away. I'm not sure if i'd recommend this particuar samsung line though...i mean i hardly ever used mine and i'm surpised that the whole laser assembly needed to be replaced. So far the fix seems to be ok, but I guess time will tell. But again, Samsung knows about the problems with this model and are very much willing to fix it as best they can. I hoped this info helped you fellow 709ers!!!

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pioneer, sony

Nice Remote

This is the biggest piece of crap ever made. Skips, locks up...doesn't play.

I received the player as a gift in April. I didn't really use it much until winter. It wouldn't play some DVD and then after about one month of use it wouldn't play any of them. The player skipped or just wouldn't load the discs. It has now been in the shop for about a month and I have been told that the parts are back-ordered from Samsung.
I have even sent an email to Samsung but got no reply, of course that was no big surprise. They are selling garbage and they know it. I have since bought another player and will try to sell this piece of crap when it comes back...or I might just take it out back and shoot it. It would probably make a better target than a DVD Player.

IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT BUYING A SAMSUNG.....THINK AGAIN!! YOU WILL ONLY BE KEEPING THE REPAIR SHOP BUSY.

Picture, Sound, Price, multi-region, standards conversion, macrovision free

huh?

Since my original review, I've had a lot of enquiries about hacking this player and disabling macrovision. Please see http://www.709online.com/ and in particular http://www.709online.com/709faq.htm for details on how to do this.

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Toshiba 3109 R1

Picture, Sound, Price, multi-region, standards conversion, macrovision free

huh?

Since my original review, I've had a lot of enquiries about hacking this player and disabling macrovision. Please see http://www.709online.com/ and in particular http://www.709online.com/709faq.htm for details on how to do this.

Similar Products Used:

Toshiba 3109 R1

Alright, I'll take it back. I don't like the DVD-709 after I too got the Matrix and found it didn't work. Won't even load. Now for all you goof balls out there, IT ISN'T A PROBLEM WITH DUAL LAYERS!!! The Samsung can handle Dual layers as good as any other under $500 player. To handle Dual Layers you need to put RAM in the box and BUFFER the data stream so that you don't get drop out's while the laser realigns. Cheap players are not going to invest in RAM. The Matrix adds a instruction Data stream at the same time as the Video data stream (for the Follow the White Rabbit feature) and the Samsung can't handle that. It has skipping problems because it has a 8bit data codec and a more limted error correction window which makes it more likely to react to a fingerprint or dirt than some other players. For the money it's not too bad, but I think I'm gonna bring mine back and get a Philps DVD825. Same price range, optical digital out and it can handle the matrix.

Shoot! What a disappointment. I have been watching the DVD evolution and for two years and was salivating when my turn came to pick one up. My funds are limited so I got the Samsung because of it's relatively impressive list of features and the way cool remote. Wouldn't you know it, the first DVD I tried to play was the dual layered Matrix. Let me tell you... Samsung + Dual Layered DVD = BUMMER. The second DVD was Deep Impact and it jumped and skipped because of a nano-micron sized piece of dust. I cleaned and cleaned, it skipped and skipped. I took the disk to a friend's house and they both played flawlessly on his Pioneer DV 525. I am going today to exchange this piece of HUD for the Pioneer. So what's another 50 bucks anyway?