Customer Reviews

Samsung HT-C5500 Blu-ray Home Theater System

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

The HT-C5500 is a solid all-in-one home theater package at a good price, but you need to know what it can--and can't--do before you decide to buy.

First, some pros and cons:

Pros:
*Low cost
*Compact
*Easy setup
*Integrates with Samsung AnyConnect+ TVs for one-step DVD playback
*Decent enough sound and sufficient volume for a family room
*Netflix and YouTube connectivity work well
*Completely integrated in one relatively small unit
*iPod/iPhone dock included
*Speakers look nice and are very small and unobtrusive

Cons:
*Very limited inputs (Audio only; there are no HDMI inputs--the description above is wrong)
*Flabby bass response (no surprise given the 8lb passive subwoofer)
*Completely integrated--if one part dies, your entire home theater system is offline
*Wireless Internet use requires optional ($70) proprietary Samsung LAN adapter
*Proprietary speaker connectors
*AnyConnect+ can be a little wonky: If you have a disc in the tray, DVD playback seems to override all the other functions such as Internet services or the AUX input.

Even given all the Cons, this system suits my needs very well. I already owned a Samsung TV. I didn't want a proliferation of remotes or components. And the odd shape of my living room meant that I wasn't going to get optimal surround sound in any case, so I wasn't willing to pay a fortune for a system.

I ran the HT-C5500's HDMI output to one input on my TV and connected my FIOS box's optical audio output and my Mac mini's analog audio output to the appropriate inputs on the HT-C5500. The HT-C5500's remote is nothing special, but it makes it quite easy (after a little practice and reading of the manual) to switch between setups. You still need, however, to manually switch between HDMI inputs on the TV depending on what source you want to watch.

Note, however, that I'm at the absolute limit of what this system can do. I couldn't add, for instance, a game console into the mix.

Still, I'm very happy with my purchase. Yes, the HT-C5500 hits a wall quickly, but if you intend to stop before that wall arrives, you won't be disappointed.

I will start with what's bad and the reason why I gave it 4 stars.I have a Samsung TV and one of the reasons I bought this was so that I could sync all my devices using one remote and the Anynet feature(a Samsung AV network system to automatically control Samsung audio-video devices). This unfortunately has been a slow painful learning process, its working now but there are some unresolved issues (e.g.Anynet sometimes taking a long time to recognize devices). Lastly, I wish the rear speakers were wireless. You do have the option to buy an expensive low rated Samsung wireless receiver to fix the problem.

Now to the good part. This is a 2010 model!!! not 09 not 08:) For the price you get-a home theater+ blu ray+ iPod dock+ FM + internet. Produces a great quality sound that really fills up my small apartment. I love the automatic sound calibration option that sets your speaker sound based on distance. I get crystal clear FM and the iPod dock works great with my iPod Nano. Lets be honest, its hard to get a decent home theater system with all these accessories for close to $400.

Tips:
1)Buy an HDMI and optical audio cable from Amazon (does not come with the unit), some stores charge insane prices.
2)I would highly recommend reading the Anynet guide, just Google Anynet + guide to get it. Will save you a lot of time!
3)The price on the HT C5500 seem to change by $50 in different websites--shop around for the best price.

I spent a solid week researching which surround sound system to buy when i stumbled upon this one. I was also looking at the samsung bd 1250 which was rated pretty good buy cnet. Im guessing this system is an upgrade since its the 2010 model so i assume that means its better. It was delivered yesterday and after getting everything set up im happy to say im satisfied with my purchase. i was sort of worried since there were no reviews out yet due to it just being released. It sounds really good. I haven't had a chance to play around with the online features yet, but im planning on using the built in netflix streaming. Be careful though if you plan to mount the speakers on stands, since it only has a keyhole in the back instead of screw holes.

I have recieved this for X-Mas Present and so far I like it.
When I recieded it I was tad disapointed due to just One HDMI but I figured it out.

My Steup
----------
Fios Cable Box (HDMI)
PS3 (HDMI)
XBox360 (HDMI)
Wii (Component)
Desktop PC (Component)
They are all conected to my Samsung LCD (LN52A750).
due to Theater and LCD Being samsung, it uses what they call the Anynet+(HDMI-CEC)

I have the Samsung Theater ( HDMI Out) conect to my Samsung LCD.
Then I have the Optical Audio Cable from Samsung LCD to the BlueRay Theater.
and Boom, All of my inputs Audio go to my BlueRay Home Theater.
All you Do is Switch the theater input to D.IN, and anything on my TV will come out
to the Theater thru the Optical Audio Cable. So When I switch to my HDMI inputs
on my LCD, HDMI1 , HDMI2, Which are my Xbox360, PS3, exc..exc... the Audio comes out the Theater.

Front USB
-----------
I have over 300 Movies , and Pictures on my external HD, and all I did was plug it in on Front thru the USB and so far I am able to watch 90% of my Movies. a few dont work due to the Divx codect or Avi codect that the Bluray theater cant recognize.
As for the Quaility they look good, If my AVI is HD quaility it looks almost like
bluRay dvd, is all depending on the quaility of my movies (files).

**** As a Geek that I am, I always update the firmware, thats the First thing I did after I had the Theater all Setup.. I went to Samsung.com, went to support and pick out my Model Downloaded the Firmware, Copy to my USB Stick and inserted it on to the Theater and it updated. ****** they Just came out with new Firmware 12/28/2010

Wireless Internet
------------------
I found a Wireless Wifi USB that is way Cheaper and Compatible with this System instead of the High price that Samsung Selling. is the " Intellinet 523974 - Network adapter - Hi-Speed USB " I actually found it on amazon and also found it on MicroCenter so I drove to get it there.
I pluged it in and It recognized it, and in 5min I was watching NetFlix.

It's a nice form factor, looks great, and would be just what I want if it would only work. I had to connect to the internet and let it upgrade itself before it would even play DVDs. I could select chapters in the menu, but not play them! It doesn't actually do half of what it is supposed to do. It detects my iTunes server, but says "unsupported format", even though the user manual says MP3 is supported. So much for that. Then, when it's playing DVDs or Blu-Ray discs, or streaming from Netflix, the sound and picture get way out of sync, like a second to a second-and-a-half. All the movies start to feel like bad Japanese dubbing. And the blank area around the 16:9 is filled with unattractive "video junk" that looks like a buggy video card driver or something.

Overall, even if it actually worked, the interface is extremely tedious and confusing, so it's difficult to switch from DVD to Netflix, for example, if there is a disc in the tray. I never did actually figure out how to use it, even after reading the manual a couple of times. I had to randomly try buttons on the remote until it would get me to the system menu where I could choose the function I wanted.

I returned this unit to exchange it for a Sony BDV-E570. So far, the Sony seems to function much better and has none of the above problems. It also has much better bass, although I was not really looking for a system that would impress me -- just one that would be small and unobtrusive, and function nicely.

Like I do everywhere else, I have to give this disclaimer first I am not an audiophile, I don't really have the ear to say this bass isn't right or the treble blah blah blah, I just know its too loud or too quiet.

I bought this first and foremost for the surround sound, and it works and I enjoy the sound, period.

I bought this to go with a new HD TV, so the Blu-Ray works like a dream, the picture looks great, so I'm satisfied there.

Lastly there's the internet/apps, and here is where it falls short. First you have to buy a wireless adapter (well you don't have to, you can connect it to your router using an Ethernet cable, but that wouldn't work well in my apartment). The one app I use more than any other is Netflix, and the menu seems sluggish (compared to my Xbox 360) and occasionally crashes. I haven't taken the time to figure out much else, so maybe I'm missing something that would redeem this in my eyes, but for everything I've laid out here I think it's deserving of a 3.

Oh, P.S. the Ipod dock is a nice add on.

Love this system, plays very nicely with my Samsung LCD TV. The set up was quick and intuitive, the sound is superb and the Blu-ray player is amazing! It's great to get on the internet and access YouTube, Netflix, Pandora, Facebook and more. Highly recommended!

The system works fine for me. I haven't had any real issues, just a learning curve with a new product. Works good with my Samsung 55" UN55C6800. I'm new to the world of HD video, so I don't really have anything to compare to, but I really like NetFlix which I can use with this system. It doesn't have all the switching capabilities that the better systems have, but it came free with my TV, so I'm not complaining.

I am just satisfied with the product ( not overly impressed!). It does it basic job of playing movies and gives some average home theatre effect. Set up was little time consuming with all these wires around. Love the apps line Vudu and Cinema now. Amazon shipping was super quick.

Coming to issues, the central channel speaker is not great. I always have trouble in hearing movie dialogs which is transmitted through central channel speaker. I am using the same remote for Samsung TV and home theatre with anynet+ feature, the response time is awful!. I strongly suggest Samsung to fix this probelm in next software/firmware update. Typing words for youtube search and google maps is time consuming. Youtube videos have the problem in picture and voice sync. Samsung customer service ( online chat) should improve a lot, for all problems they are suggesting to re-set the product..common guys! While playing movies there is no way I can go to the title menu when using the TV remote for TV and player using anynet+, this is really annoying.

Over all, it may be OK product for the price. If you don't care about these little issues you can buy this product.

Regards

i bought this ht-c5500 home theater during a black friday sale and paid under $300. it had everything i wanted/needed. set up was easy since its just 1 hdmi cable, all the speakers and their wiring are color coordinated so you cant get that wrong. the sound is really good. i lowered my subwoofer to -6 (the lowest setting) and it still sounds great! the ipod dock was a great addition and its nice to listen to music on it. the am/fm tuner also is nice to have. it is internet capable, but requires a lan stick not included, or you can simply plug a lan cable directly into the back of it which is no big deal to me either way. my only complaint is with the 'anynet' control. i was really REALLY hoping to use 1 samsung remote while watching tv/movies, but the bluray remote will not change channels on my tv, and my tv remote wont control the volume on the bluray player, i spoke with samsung support and they said anynet is designed to work for 'most' remote control commands, but they left out channels and volume which seems important. and on a side note, why would a bluray remote control even have numbers 0-9, if they have absolutely no use for tv? they dont operate the am/fm portion, infact, i cant find any use for numbers on my bluray remote. besides that, i would recommend this to a friend, as everything else is great. i also loaded up some pictures of everything once it was set up. thanks