Samsung HT-BD2 review

We could scarcely believe the size and weight of the box this home cinema kit arrived in - at 60kg, it definitely requires two people to move it.

The 7.1 speaker configuration immerses the listener in sound, but finding room for all those satellites is a challenge. In most situations it makes more sense to dispense with the floor stands and mount the speakers on the wall. The subwoofer has its own power cable, and unless you remember to press the power button on the back of the sub, it will consume 18W of power when not in use.

Sound quality was full-bodied and the top volume was loud enough to upset the neighbours, with the large subwoofer producing guttural bass rumbles. However, gentler listening levels were spoiled a little by fan noise, which seemed more appropriate for a PC than a Blu-ray player. Inept CD handling is another disappointment. The player took around 20 seconds to start playing and five seconds to skip a track. Plus, it invariably missed the first second of audio on a CD. Unlike Samsung's BD-P1500, the BD2 can display photo slideshows from data discs. However, it spoils them by loading images painfully slowly, during which time a huge graphic sprawls across the previous photo to show that the player is busy.

Blu-ray disc handling is just as lethargic. Its average of two minutes and 42 seconds to switch on and get to the main menu is the slowest here, even though the slot-loading drive eliminates the need to wait for the tray to open. We're pleased to see that all Blu-ray audio formats are supported, but playing the Dolby TrueHD soundtrack on Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story resulted in occasional audio drop-outs - an unforgivable problem.

Our biggest concern is that the BD2's Blu-ray playback complies with only Profile 1.0. We could probably cope without Profile 2.0's BD Live features, as their dependence on broadband internet access means they're never likely to be integral to a disc. However, the lack of support for Profile 1.1's BonusView could be a serious limitation in the future.