E. Larsen
- Comment
Short Version: I use this unit primarily for streaming but I also wanted blu-ray/dvd/cd capability in a single unit. It excels at all functions. While my wireless signal is strong, I prefer wired connections for added stability - another feature of this player. Performance is very good all around and I recommend the unit as a great value for the money. Details and minor flaws noted below: Compatibility: First and foremost understand THIS IS NOT A 4K PLAYER. It uses "4K upscaling" which is of limited value unless you have a 4K (UHD) display, and even then youll be disappointed. Heres why: The BDP-S6700 HDMI output is version 1.4a which meets some, but not all, of the minimum requirements for 4K video. Of particular note is color depth. HDMI 1.4a displays a maximum 8-bit color depth (256 colors) which is VGA quality. For full 4K color resolution you need a player with HDMI ver 2.0 or better to get the 10-, 12- or 16-bit colors that really make the new 4K displays shine. I knew this going in so the BDP-S6700 was a perfect match for my "older" (2012) Samsung HD plasma display and Denon AVR-591 receiver. CAUTION: If you set your BDP-S6700 to a color depth greater than your display can process, you will get screen flickers, interference bands and blank screens. The BDP-S6700 will auto-detect your display and adjust color depth appropriately most of the time. However, if your A/V receiver is rated for 4K - but your display is not - then the BDP-S6700 will pass the high-bit color on to the receiver. Your receiver may or may not scale this back when sending it to your display. This was my experience and it took some hours (and copious cursing) to figure it all out. I offer that experience here to save some of you some frustration. In the settings look for HDMI Deep Color. It defaults to "Auto". Set this to "Off" if you have anything less than a 4K display. Trust me and just do it. You wont see any difference (your display cant resolve it, remember?) and you will save yourself headaches when random artifacts and flickers occur. Performance: The interface is quick and intuitive. Discs load reasonably fast. Network connection was flawless - the BDP-S6700 detected the network, obtained an IP address and accessed the internet within seconds. Network connections have been rock solid since I connected it. Screen mirroring with my Android phone works very well (IOS users are SOL - I tried 14 different apps with no joy). I dont use Bluetooth devices with it but they are detected without issue. Supposedly upscales 2D-3D (yawn). Streaming: BDP-S6700 offers 75 streaming apps, most of which are of no interest to me. Theyve got cooking channels, shopping channels, sports, movies, TV, news. Theres even an app in Russian. The most useful IMHO are: Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Vudu, Hulu, YouTube, Pandora and Spotify. All of these work flawlessly with one caveat - the search functions using the remote are tedious in every case. Otherwise, they are great. The Home Screen lets you customize 10 - and only 10 - of your favorites. You cant change the "Featured Apps" so half the Home Screen is useless. Screen Mirror: The BDP-S6700 uses Miracast so if you want to display your Android content you are in luck. It utilizes the Wi-Fi function of your phone to stream directly to the player. No lag. Sound is perfect. One flaw I noticed is that the wired connection to the BDP-S6700 is disabled while mirroring and doesnt automatically switch back when Im done. Have to power cycle the unit every time. Only mildly annoying. As mention above, IOS AirPlay doesnt play. You can set up your IOS device as a DNLA server and play media that is physically on the device but you cant stream from the internet nor can you see the IOS device screen (think Facebook, emails, etc). Ironic, since Apple pioneered the technology but then they locked it all up with their proprietary Apple TV system. Oh well... Remote: Small enough to easily fit into the cracks of your couch or recliner and lodge deep in any moving mechanisms. Just sayin... I actually like the remote for its simplicity. One of the better device remotes Ive used. It is IR directional, so you have to point it at the player with a clear line of sight. You can also download an Android app and control the unit with your phone which is great for entering data in app search boxes. Conclusion: If you just bought a shiny new 4K (UHD) display you are NOT going to like this unit so start shopping for a $500 UHD player. If you just want to stream internet then get a Roku, its faster with more customization and 2000+ apps. If you still have HD equipment and want to play all those Blu-Ray/DVD/CD discs youve accumulated for the past 20 years, as well as stream the major providers (Netflix, Amazon, Vudu, Pandora, Hulu), then this unit is for you and its a terrific value for the money.