None

very weak

The only reason I chose this model instead of a Toshiba was its MP3 playback capability. I was so excited about making my own cd's and listen to them. I was totally dissapointed when I tried making my first mp3 cd. It never played the mp3's, did not even detect them. Normal audio format's that I recorded on a CD-RW played only once. The player did not even spare even the DVD's. There were a number of skips during a single viewing session.

When I did take it back to exchange it, the fellow tested the player with his own mp3 cd. Guess what, it played just fine. I later got to know that Samsung cannot handle the CD-RW's. Apex does that best. Samsung can only play CD-R's. So if you already have this system, DO NOT record music on a CD-RW.

I just saved myself the pain and exchanged the player for Toshiba SD1600. Works like a charm. Play's CD-R's and CD-RW's with no problems. Does not play MP3's. But that's fine with me, as long as it plays the DVD's, as it is supposed to.

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Samsung 1600

Looks good, nice remote with good button spacing and easy to read.

It's a Samsung, which has so far defined itself as "This product probably sucks."

I bought it for my dad, but decided to give it a ride first. I opened a brand new dvd, "The Cell." I popped it in and the player said their was a disc error. Put it in my trusty 2109 and it played fine. I put it back in the SAMSUCK and it loaded this time. Deep in the movie it spazzed-out (paused and glitched). Then I tried to play a just-purchased audio CD. It wouldn't load. I tried 3 more cd's only to get the same result. I put the last attempted CD in my 2109 and let it play while I repacked the SAMSUCK to return it the following day.

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Toshiba SD-2109

Nice remote + looks good. Outstanding picture + sound quality. good features for the price. Does NOT skip on DVD.
Nice CD sound. EXCELLENT VALUE!

Does skip occasionally on CD, but fine on DVD

Excellent player for the budget person. Very good value

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1st DVD player

Nice remote + looks good. Outstanding picture + sound quality. good features for the price. Does NOT skip on DVD.
Nice CD sound. EXCELLENT VALUE!

Does skip occasionally on CD, but fine on DVD

Excellent player for the budget person. Very good value

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1st DVD player

Nice and warm for the cat to lie on!

Mp3?

I must admit the only reason I went for this model was that it stated that it has an MP3 decoder. I have spent the last 2 days burning disc after disc in a variety of different ways and using different burning programs. Not one of them would work on this player. Correction, one of them worked for about 20 seconds with no sound... Also the first film I watched on it (gladiator) skipped about 5 times and froze 3 times. The unit does seem to get a bit warm as do the discs upon removal. The picture quality is good as is the sound but what is the point of paying the extra money for the extra features if they don't work? Fortunately I have got another 10 days left to take it back for a full refund or replacement. I might actually get the same model again just to see if it has the same problems. Even though the price is temting on this model I would not recommend it to anyone. Save up the extra cash and get something worth buying.

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none(Can't find another this bad)

Cheap

Could not get it to play mp3's. Skips on cd's and skips and freezes on dvd movies

Purchased this player because it looked like it had the most features for the money. But after I hooked it up to my system and played the first dvd movie (Mission Impossible 2), the screen started to freeze through out all the action scenes. (Very annoying) I did't know if it was the dvd or the player so the next day I tryed another brand new movie and the same thing happened but this time there was no action scenes. It just started to freeze the picture during the movie. It also skipped on an audio cd I tried to play. I have decided to return this unit and try a Sony or an Onkyo.

Stay away from any of the Samsung DVD players. I wouldn't even recommend this player to my worst enemy.

Lots of Features

does not play mp3 and DIDN'T play cdrw and used to skip. YES I FIXED IT:)

You can fix most of the probs you guys are having. To fix skipping just go to Eckard or any drug store and buy some lense cleaner for glasses and be sure its safe for coated lenses. take it apart and clean the pickup lense with a cotton swab. make sure there is no cotton fibers left on the lens. Alse clean around like on the spindle. And yes the heat is some of the skipping problem too. to cure this go to radio shack and purchase a couple of heatsinks and some heatsink epoxy (the kind that gets hard) and 2 small brushless fans. place heatsinks on the video processor(at the top right of the board) and on anything that gets hot(turn it on and feel around on the chips, if its hot in open air imagine how hot it gets in an enclosed environment). Now wire up the fans and fasten them down inside (not directly on the case, it wont moove any air that way) so that they stir the air up and will vent some outside through the vent holes in the sides of the case.
I know its a shame to do this to a new player but if you really love the machine its worth it. and no i wont buy another samsung product.
I did this to my player and it works better than any ive seen. completely skip free and works as one should.

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Denon

Number of features, zoom and CD-R reading

DVD play

I really, really wanted to like this product. I believe that samsung has been making great strides in improving their products, especially their cell phones, but this is no cell phone. The 711 had all the features I wanted (no, mp3 playing wasn't one of them and the box & samsung's website do not claim to play mp3s), optical and coaxial digital outs, component video outs, and zoom. When playing music CDs it sounded great, especially with the optical digital out, DVDs sounded great too. However, I experienced skipping problems with no repeatble pattern or reasoning. Once in a GREAT while it would get through a movie without skipping (happened 1 time in 15 trys). Would skip on same disc in different places (disc was never ejected). Experienced the same problem on two different machines too (exchanged it once).

I am currently using a Phillips DVD player that has not skipped once with same discs used in the Samsung. I payed $169 for the Phillips (will do a review for it later) and so far I am satified except for the remote.

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Sony Playstation 2 (not really similair), Phillips (not sure of model #)

Plays MP3s,VCDs,and CDRs

Skips and Freezes

Contrary to one of the other reviews the 711 does play MP3 files. I've tried a couple of disks that I have burnt and they do work. It will even display different directories... the problem is that it skips constantly while playing.

It plays audio CDs just fine. No skipping. And VCD's also work without a problem (although I haven't seen what they look like on any other machines - the picture is not great but I think that VCDs in general don't have great picture).

DVD though do skip. At twice in any movie I've tried and often more frequently. The Robocop special edition went berzerk when I tried to play it. Took it to the video store I rented it from and it played fine on a Hitachi 535.

Picture quality when not skipping looked great to me, especially on Starship Troopers.

I've written to Samsung about the problems I am having, and hope that they will be resolved. I was hoping that I simply had a defective unit, but after reading the other reviews it looks like a problem with the whole line. If the machine worked as advertised it would be an excellent buy.

I'll update once I get some action from Samsung.

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nothing yet

It says goodbye when you shut it off.

SKIPS,SKIPS,SKIPS,oh and it FREEZES too!A total piece of CRAP!!!!

STAY AWAY !!! Samsung has sent me every model they make .After I complained about the 709 I bought ,the 711 was one of seven bad units they sent me. Not one unit could play without skiping on any of my discs or the service centers test discs. I am getting my money back after 6 months of yelling and screaming? If you need to get your money back call Samsung and ask for Ron Hartel at 973-691-6204. I think Samsung is to DVD players what Firestone is to tires !.... Buyers beware!!!!Please be persistant as customer service is lacking also.It annoys me that they seem
shocked that seven of their units sent to me were DEFECTIVE.
Contact the retailer that sold the unit to you .Make them aware that they are selling junk and wasting your valuable
time and money.If you experience trouble obtaining a refund
from Samsung ,have your retailer get involved.I am planning
to contact 20/20 to see if they would be interested on doing
a story on these pieces of JUNK!

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This experience has soured me on dvds.I'll stick to VHS as
long as tapes and equipment are sold.I'm planning on selling my barely used DVDs on Ebay .