LG's "Super Blu" BH200 HD DVD / Blu-ray combo player now available
After a slight delay and a false alarm, LG has finally announced that its "Super Blu" BH200 HD DVD / Blu-ray combo player is now available at retailers nationwide, for the not so low price of $999. In addition to playing both HD formats, the player also has the somewhat notable distinction of being the first player to support Blu-ray profile 1.1, although you'll still have to wait a while to take advantage of that particular feature. Otherwise, you'll get full 1080p support (including upscaling of DVDs), HDMI 1.3, component and composite video outputs, digital optical and analog audio outputs, and a LAN port, not to mention a USB port on the front for impromptu slide shows or music playback. Now, if only they'd work on getting the cost down to something less than the combined cost of an HD DVD and Blu-ray player, we'd be all set.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
John B @ Dec 10th 2007 2:39PM
"...for the not so low price of $999"
Urgh! Ouch! Bend over and grab your ankles while you're reaching for your wallet (except for h4ldol who arrogantly thinks that everyone who doesn't own BD is nothing more than a cheap b4st4rd).
How the hell is this possibly any better than an HD-A3 and PS3, with the only exception of having it all in one unit? For that cost, I'll take the space hit from owning an HD-A2 and buying a PS3, thank you in order to save ~$400, thankyouverymuch.
Vedder @ Dec 10th 2007 2:40PM
Beautiful player with excellent video, unfortunately a major shortcoming is it's audio out, which at this time is just able to do TrueHD to 2 speakers not 5.1. WTF! Hopefully, problem will be resolved with a firmware update.
Chris Beveridge @ Dec 10th 2007 2:47PM
I thought the Panasonic BD-30 was the first 1.1 player...
JayHDDVD @ Dec 10th 2007 2:49PM
I have the HD-A35 and DMPBD30, both have awesome audio capabilities for about the same price as this piece of trash from LG.
This should only cost 599 max.
Greg @ Dec 10th 2007 3:21PM
The Panasonic BD30K was the first 1.1 player available Donald, and waiting for the 2.0 update to the PS3 :) (anounced to be before the end of the year, so within 3 weeks).
Devils Advocate @ Dec 10th 2007 3:26PM
This player wont sell worth a shit, because the samsung player will cost only $799, which aint bad.
SAMe @ Dec 10th 2007 4:37PM
You'll get 250 if you try playing 300 on this piece of crap.
The Aggie CEO @ Dec 10th 2007 5:13PM
I'll get one when the price drops below $400..........
so ummmmmmm
2 years or so maybe??
lol
I'm good right now with my PS3........I dont need an HD-DVD player THAT bad just yet.......
Jim @ Dec 10th 2007 5:59PM
I think the Samsung BDP-UP5000 will be a much better deal, $799 and it includes the Silicon Optix Reon chip. Same price as the top of the line Toshiba HD-XA2 (which also has the Reon chip) but adds Blu-Ray. Probably pick it up for less at Amazon, Buy, etc.
Hopefully this is the first of many dual format players, so we can all forget about this stupid HD format war and get on with the business of living life in high def!
HD4ME @ Dec 10th 2007 7:14PM
I guess BR being forced to have the HD DVD standard features does indeed now make it "super blu"
JeffDM @ Dec 10th 2007 10:32PM
At that price, its point is lost on me, as is the case with many of the dual format players, too much money.
Nothing I see there is worth the price, even if you knock off 25% to assume a street price. Two single-format HD players and a high-dollar HDMI switch is still cheaper, and if you're doofy, throw in Monster Cables too. If you already have one HD player, you can buy the other for much less than a dual format player. Here, the price to have just one deck do both is too high.
GhostDoggy @ Dec 11th 2007 8:05AM
If one has an HTPC in the room then just buy the LG HD DVD/Blu-ray combo optical drive for $299.