After Creative, Samsung is the next to walk in Apple's shoes, unveiling its first iPod docking audio system, its first DVD-equipped shelf system and a receiver based HtiB with HDMI 1.3 input for connection to high definition disc players.
For the latest trio of hi-fi Blu-ray players that are announced for this fall, the company embedded the HDMI 1.3 and several decoders for almost all the Blu-ray surround codecs, including the Dolby TrueHD and the DTS-HD High
Resolution Audio and not the poorly compressed DTS-HD Master Audio.
The current Samsung players stream the surround tracks in native form over HDMI 1.3 outputs to compatible decoders embedded in such products as A/V receivers. In contrast, Samsung's P1200 Blu-ray player lacks Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD decoding but incorporates Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital, DTS and PCM decoding. It also features HDMI 1.3 output.
The HTiB with HDMI 1.3 input, the HT-AS720, is being expected to ship in October at $599 street price. Among its features, the device has two HDMI-CEC inputs, one HDMI output, and 1080p pass-through from a connected Blu-ray player to a connected 1080p-capable high-definition display. Fortunately, the HDMI simplifies the operation of multiple compatible components in a home theater system.
The other deck, the AS720 also features onboard decoders for Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby Digital Plus and multichannel PCM. Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD High Resolution soundtracks can be easily converted by Samsung Blu-ray players to multichannel PCM for transport to the AS720 over HDMI cable, the company said. The device is rated at 6x100 watts plus 150 watts in the powered subwoofer, comes with wall-mountable speakers and doesn't up-scale other video sources to high definition or feature XM Satellite Radio controls.
The company's first DVD-equipped 2.1-channel shelf system is the MAX-DX76 rated at almost $349 street price, which ships in October with component and HDMI outputs and 350-watt amplification. Its vertical piano-black glossy chassis features blue accent lights and rounded edges, being extremely sophisticated for a device of its kind. It's equipped with Dolby Digital and DTS decoders indeed, but unfortunately, it lacks the virtual surround technology that delivers surround sound through two speakers. Not to mention it doesn't upscale video to high-definition.
All in all, the brand's first iPod-docking audio system is the one-piece MM-X5, expected to hit the market at $179 street price, which also features USB host to connect to, and play back content from, USB drives and USB-equipped MP3 players. The unit, which is officially called an "MP3 player docking microcomponent", features all the package it needs such as: an iPod dock, FM radio, CD slot, clock-radio functions, built-in MP3 decoder to play MP3 files embedded on CDs and in USB drives, 2x10-watt output and single-driver speakers.
Recently, Samsung shipped a trio of 70 Series HTiBs without dedicated iPod dock, but with USB host capability. They are priced from a suggested $379 to $509. The new audio systems and Blu-ray players sport gloss piano black finish to match the cosmetics of Samsung's HDTVs.
As for the popular headphone MP3 players, according to Samsung, the company is planning to improve the player's design with some trendy light-emitting touchpad controls. The first product of this kind is the U3 player, which looks pretty much the same as Apple's iPod.
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