 Love it |
| Review Date: September 20, 2009 |
| Reviewer: r0dnt, Arid, Central California, USA |
I used to have a DirecTV DVR (stopped the service, but still had lots recorded on it), a (sucky) DVD player (do not buy cheap GE products), a VHS player (also sucky, but indestructible), a great bookshelf stereo, a video game console, a TV and an input selector to switch between all of them. Connecting all these devices was a fishing net of cables that could drown a dolphin educated in basket weaving. Just disconnecting and reconnecting all those cables to move stuff around easily took 45 to 60 minutes. (I like them to be tidy, but I don't take the time to label them. Go figure.) Also, the whole setup was contained in an Ikea entertainment center that was 3 feet tall, 2 feet deep and just over 4 feet long.
Enter the HT-BD8200.
I knew I wanted this thing when I heard it's announcement last January. The more I read about it, the more I liked it. It seemed to have every feature I was looking for: compact size, wireless networking, connects to network accessible hard drives to show audio and video and images, streams Netflix and Pandora Internet radio, Blu-Ray (so I can be like the hip kids). Wall mountable, too! This thing was finally released in August, and I scooped 1 up. But, at $800 I started to worry that my expectations were a little high, and that I would be sorely disappointed.
Streaming Netflix directly to the TV is pretty cool. You cannot search for movies to watch through this system, but after you add them to your Watch Instantly queue on the Netflix website, the movie is immediately available to watch through the HT-BD8200. Similarly, the streaming Pandora music is cool, but also has limitations.
My HT-BD8200 is connected to my TV (also Samsung) by HDMI, both of which have the AnyConnect+ feature, which allows the 2 devices to adjust each other depending on what I am trying to watch. One thing I dislike about the streaming music feature; if I switch the TVs input source to the video game input, the music is turned off so that the HT-BD8200 can play the sound from the video game. What I wanted to do, though, was surf the web with the video game console while listening to Pandora's music. This could be a configuration problem, and there's probably a way around it, but for now, it's only slightly annoying.
The 2.1 virtual surround sound is really good. It can definitely put out more noise than I care to find out. With the volume at 20 (I think it goes to 100), I can easily feel the hardwood floor vibrate from the bass. I'm no audiophile, but I appreciate quality sound. The HT-BD8200 produces crisp, rich and clean sound. The virtual surround sound does work provided the sound being played was recorded with surround sound.
I feel like I have only dabbled in its many features. For example, I have not been able to get it to see a hard drive on my computer running Ubuntu/Linux, but a stand-alone networked hard drive should work well.
Yes, it's expensive, but it seems to have just about everything I can ask a small, wall mountable, attractive system to be capable of. |
Good value and more than adequate
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| Review Date: November 2, 2009 |
| Reviewer: C. Chu, |
After reading all the reviews, both good and bad, I decided to pull the trigger after I found a unit for around $500. I'm glad I waited for a little while as I believe that the right price for this product is about $600. It has plenty of features to keep you occupied and plays BD and DVD just fine. It will not satisfy the high end hifi crowd nor people expecting good 5.1 surround sound. Personally, I don't need wall shaking sound effects that pisses of my neighbours so this is the right system for me.
Edit: now that I've been using this for more than a week, I can say that I'm quite happy with this purchase. I have plugged in my TV to the system to use as external speakers and the virtual surround sound is more than adequate for my tastes. I can't go beyond 25 (max is 50) on the system volume without pissing off my neighbours.
So far: TV speakers << HT-BD8200 < 5.1 system.
The internet capabilities are a great extra to have. BD and DVD replay works great on my LN52B750. Only peeve is that remotes aren't compatible with each device and once in a while, my TV goes into a "mode not support" state and I have to restart the TV before I can use it. Hope Samsung will fix these problems in the future. |
Living the dream!
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| Review Date: October 29, 2009 |
| Reviewer: The Amazin' Mets, New York |
I love this unit! First, surround sound capabilities are pretty much non-existent. I still like the sound the unit provides, better than my TV speakers will ever provide. I don't use the surround feature, having said that, the sound fills the room VERY well. The subwoofer is the heart of the speakers providing that "movie theater" feel. Transformers Revenge Of The Fallen made me crap my pants, I thought there was an actual robot alien fight happing in front of my eyes as I could feel everything....I ran out the room and hid like a little school girl. Please note, that particular movie is bass heavy and you may want to turn the DB on the subwoofer down. All other movies I have played at the factory setting and sound good.
It will never replace a true/high-end 5.1 or 7.1 system but then again I did not spend big bucks on the system nor do I have to bother running cables around my walls and have speakers showing all over the place. I know the "true audiophiles" will chirp that with a little more cash saved one could have a decent home theater setup and to that I say....who gives a crap.
Where else can $600 get me the following in a small, VERY compact, wall mountable single unit:
-A quality Bluray/DVD upscale player
-Speaker system with a wireless subwoofer
-Ability to connect iPod/iPhone.....and yes, it does work with iPhone 3GS!
-Ability to connect any MP3 device
-Ability to connect USB device for picture/music playback
-Stream YouTube, NetFlix, Pandora on device
-Have internet capabilities. THIS UNIT DOES INCLUDE THE WIFI DONGLE!! Not sure why they don't mention that.
As far as Bluray loading speeds, I say this unit is as fast as my old DVD player. Now, I have mainly watched Bluray movies from Netflix which appear to be a no-frills version. Maybe the version you buy at retail locations that include a ton of features will load a little slower?
I have only had two minor issues with this unit. They have happened only once but I feel it's fair to mention.
1-The unit had turned itself on. I leave for work in the am one day and when I get home I see it's on.
2-The unit has a light at the bottom that can be set to on when unit is off, on only when unit is on or off altogether. I had it set to on when unit is on but I came home one day to find the light on. I checked to make sure it was at the setting I had originally chosen and it was. I set it to "off" to be safe. I don't want or need the light on.
On another note, I don't like the fact that the screen saver option cannot be disabled. I listen to Pandora often and like having the artist information on the screen, yea, it's a big deal for me to those who are rolling their eyes. When I have people over it's nice to see that information as well and it provides a nice visual rather than a stupid windows like screen saver. GIVE ME THE OPTION SAMSUNG!!!
I have heard some folks say their fan is loud; my fan is quite as a mouse. Also, my wifi works without any issues what so ever. Nothing is perfect and there are bound to be glitches I guess.
There is also one digital optical output which may bother some. I have a switcher which works wonders and have not lost sleep over it.
Finally, this is the system I did not know I wanted until it was released. To think that I was going to buy a Bluray player, soundbar system and a Netflix streaming device at one point. You either want this or you don't, there is no competition at the moment for a package like this so stop reading reviews!
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Amazing value in terms of price, quality and size
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| Review Date: October 30, 2009 |
| Reviewer: R. Kay, Burlington, Vermont, USA |
Overall: The Samsung HT-BD8200 is an amazing value given the actual discounted price versus the list price. My local Vermont store was within spitting distance of Amazon, ABT, Crutchfield pricing so I purchased locally a) in case of any problems and b) so I could have a professional install. Having the cables hidden (Power, Cable TV, HDMI, FM Tuner, Optical) is well worth the $100+ install price.
Background: The Samsung HT-BD8200 is paired with a Sony 46 inch XBR9, with the relatively new Bravia 3 engine and 240 Hz refresh rate. My room isn't suitable for a 5.1 system due to the number of outside doors, inside pocket doors, fireplace, windows, etc. The Sony and Samsung units are mounted on a Sanus articulating mount that not only tilts left/right and up/down, but pivots away from the wall for maximum viewing when our daughters visit with their college coeds for a home cooked meal and movie.
Pros:
1. The HDMI 1080p DVD up-conversion is great. Use a quality HDMI cable such as Monster. Our friend has a Sony TV/Blue Ray system and thought he was watching a Blue Ray disk, when it was actually a DVD at 1080p.
2. While not 5.1/7.1, sound quality is excellent - think of it as a very good stereo hooked up to the TV, Blue Ray, DVD player, which all sound great. Be sure to adjust the factory setting "bass test rumble" The 2.1 stereo quality sourced from CDs and the FM tuner far exceeded expectations. TV show sound quality is greatly improved with an optical cable by playing the sound through the 8200.
3. Adjustable speaker to seating area "throw" distance; adjusting this setting helps maximize the sound quality and sound immersion.
Cons:
1. Need HDMI cable for maximum quality. The Samsung has difficulty reading smudged DVDs. If mounted directly under a TV, place unit slightly in front of TV to allow access to the top loaded BD/DVD/CD player.
2. Need optical cable to listen to the TV through the Samsung. Plus, must scroll through the unit's function key to "digital"; no function key on remote.
3. For those unwilling to learn to decipher the manual, getting the settings set can be frustrating.
Other: Have not yet tried the streaming Netflix, Pandora, etc. with the included wired/wireless LAN unit.
Summary: We have been waiting for the Samsung HT-BD8200 since the January 2009 Consumer Electronics show. I downloaded the user manual prior to obtaining the unit. Once you learn how to adjust the settings to your preferences, the unit is an amazing value in terms of price, quality, and size. For see CNET UK's 8.5 star professional review: [...]We will absolutely recommend the Samsung HT-BD8200 to family and friends.
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Ht-BD8200
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| Review Date: October 17, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Gramm Roberts, Shreveport, LA USA |
| The HT-BD8200 delivers on every level. I know it's not a 5.1 system, but the sound quality, e-features, and space soultion more than make up for the lack of stadium rattling noise alot of the 5.1 systems put out. I received mine and from the time i received it from the UPS delivery truck to the time it was set up and fully functioning, only 30 minutes had elapsed. I ordered mine from ABT Electronics, and it came with everything you will need to access everything that this unit advertises. To my surprise it even came with the USB Wireless dongle that many sites say is something you have to buy seperately to access the e-content such as Pandora, Netflix, Blockbuster, and Youtube. The only thing extra i would recommend picking up is a optical audio cable instead of the standard audio calbe that comes with the unit. It only runs $10-$15 for an 8 ft. cable, it is well worth it for the sound quality. I would highly recommend this unit to anyone who is in the market for a quality sound sytem that delivers everything and more that is advertised. |
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