Samsung BD-C5900 1080p 3D Blu-ray Disc Player

Samsung BD-C5900 1080p 3D Blu-ray Disc Player
With a touch control panel, slim profile, Samsung Apps, and ability to play all current formats of DVDs and CDs, this Samsung player is a great entry level 3D player for consumers who want the latest technology without going high-end. Although it does not have built-in wireless (see the Samsung BD-C6800 3D Blu-ray Player for the least expensive Samsung 3D player that does), it can be connected directly to your system via ethernet/LAN or using the Samsung LinkStick adapter. (More on this later.) The DVDs load fairly quickly, and the output is clean, with little noise from the machine, unlike the early Samsung Blu-ray players. The sensitive touch controls are wonderful, although they can take getting used to since I was used to pushing buttons -- and that only moved this lightweight player out of position. 

What this has: connection for LAN; USB port for the Samsung wireless adapter or a flash drive; one HDMI port; two-channel output; Samsung apps/Internet TV (needs to be connected to your home broadband network); and, of course, 3D playback. 

What this does not have: 5.1 or 7.1 audio output (I channel mine through a 7.1 receiver, so this doesn't matter to me); an extra HDMI port; internal memory; built-in wireless. For these features, you'll have to go up the Samsung 3D player line. The remote control is unexcusably clunky, but the good news is that the sleek remote for Samsung 3D TVs can operate the BD player, so you can stash it away, never to need it again. 

If you want to have Samsung apps and Internet TV on your home theater system (Netflix, Pandora, Hulu Plus, YouTube, Facebook, etc.), you must connect to your home network. Because Samsung has not made its "low end" 3D TVs with built-in Wi-Fi and because this player doesn't come with built-in Wi-Fi, either, you have several choices. If you buy a Samsung LinkStick Wireless Adapter, you can use it on your TV most of the time, then switch it to your 3D Blu-ray player for wireless updates or BD Live since Samsung's 3D TVs come with all the Internet TV apps that the player does. You can also connect this Blu-ray player via LAN cable to a gaming adapter or other wireless network extender. You can connect your player directly using LAN/ethernet cable to your router, if the two are close. Or you can skip this player and instead go up to the next model. which may cost less than the price of a LinkStick. 

You will need a 3D player to play 3D Blu-ray disc on your 3D TV, and this player is a great option. It's sometimes offered as part of a promotion, so many people who might have paid the extra for built-in Wi-Fi end up with this instead. Not to worry. It is a great player, and the issues -- such as the Wi-Fi issues and two-channel playback -- can be overcome with minimal effort. Is this the best player Samsung offers? No. Is it worth the price? Absolutely. This works as well as the other players in the 3D line but without the extra features. Even if you don't yet have a 3D television, this player offers enough to make it worth considering.