Samsung DVD-HD747 SACD-R Support

Also, in some forums they say this player has the same motherboard of HD841. I wonder if i can flash HD841 firmware on my HD747

Do HD747 and HD841 have the same laser pickup as well? As I remember some firmwares have protection against flashing different types from CD (model ID in both should be the same).
Anyway, it would be better to dump HD747 firmware over serial interface and make it SACD-R aware.

Most probably yes, in another forum, i saw someone wrote "HD747 is just a re-branded HD841 for australian market". So maybe they are 1:1 copies with different model numbers.

Anyways, if you can guide me, i can dump the firmware and send it to you. Btw, i got a raspberry pi pico that i use fordumping NAND fw and hacking Xbox 360 consoles. Hope it would be useful. Otherwise, what do i need to dump the firmware?

I've found this on the internet which supposed to be HD747 firmware. If it's eligible for modding, i can try that on my player.

Here's another variant of firmware i've found on same source. Hope this helps.

Here's the link for Zoran programmer (instructions in Bulgarian)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mXrZylXJFTuT7Uq3qKphqB_nf5CkA85s/view?usp=sharing

These both firmwares are for different models. Would be better to figure out your HD747 model ID. Is it ADXT6AFR or ADXT6XFA?

There it is. I guess it's the one with XFA. Haven't disassembled the player yet, but i can do it if needed.

As far as I remember some button on remote should show firmware ID while no disc in tray, probably PROG button.

Yes, it worked. Version is "100204.07.ADXT6AFR"

This firmware seems to be the same as HD745 ver.1 (100204.07.ADXT6XEL). Do you suppose to upgrade from CD-R/RW or over serial cable?

Seems like there are no pins on the motherboard for serial connection. I have several CD-RW laying around, so i prefer using CD for upgrade.

Shall I try to flash HD745 ADXT6XEL modified fw or will you upload a new one for HD747?

I've uploaded firmware in Interim folder. In the case of bad luck player could be recovered over serial cable only.

Seems like bad luck found me even before starting fw update process. I've burned 5 different CD-RWs with several different programs, every one of them was recognized as VCD. I've done this modded fw installs for several Philips and Pioneer DVD players with the exact CDs and burning softwares before, and every updates i've done was successful.

Even more bad news: Just tried to listen a scratchless brand new audio CD, player struggled to read it. Seems like laser is dying although i've cleaned it several hours ago. If you don't have any more suggestions, i'll try it with a CD-R tomorrow as a last resort. In any case, thank you so much for all your help.

Btw, i have some incoming players (Denon DVD-1920, Philips DVP-9000S, Marantz DV6001) that i can afford bricking if you can provide modded FWs for them too :) I have latest firmwares for all of them too, just 9000S has a dead laser which i'll replace some time later on.

Yes, aging laser diode is definitely the problem for SACD-R playback.
Marantz DV6001 is the only player I could modify firmware.

Seems like bad luck is still breathing on my neck, Marantz seem to have semi-dead laser (reads CDs instantly but doesn't read any DVDs). I don't know if it has diode adjustments on its laser head, i'll get it checked by my technician. If it doesn't, i'll change its laser too. Also it's sad to hear that you could make custom fw only for Marantz DV-6001, Denon DVD-1920 that i've got reads everything without any problems.

By the way, Pioneer DV-588A can be flashed with DV-585A's firmware and reads SACD-R. Just confirmed it and updated the list on the github.

After all these bad luck, it's time for some happy update: Just burned Samsung DVD-HD747's modified firmware that you've sent to me to a CD-R (not CD-RW) and voila! It accepted the update and now it plays SACD-R! Looks like this player struggles with CD-RW discs, or it's because of aged laser diode.

Thank you so much for your efforts. I'm adding this model to the list too.

Congratulations! As I remember some payers don't do DVD-RWs well even with the rather fresh pickups.

Yeah, maybe it was the case. By the way, do you have official firmware for Marantz DV-6001? If yes, what version is it? I'm asking that because I've tried to find v29 which addresses HDMI issues as some say in forums. Anyways, here's the official v28 firmware, hope you can do your SACD-R magic with this too. I've ordered new laser for it, should be in my hand in several weeks.

Yeah, it's also basically a Philips DVD player with modified UI and chassis. By the way, firmware flashed successfully and booted with v28. Now i'll just wait for new laser and test SACD-R, but i guess it will definitely work. Thanks for your help brother.

Good news! Marantz DV-6001 is now officially reading SACD-R. My replacement laser was delivered yesterday and i've immediately tried it, works like a charm! Thanks for your hard work sir, gonna add this player in github list too.

It may seem like i've been asking too much, but can you look into this firmware when you have free time to see if it's eligible for modding? If you see any possibility, i will order new laser for my 9000S. It's a spectacular player that i don't wanna scrap away.

It has a very old ZIVA5 processor, and I don't know how to modify such firmware.

Wow, sad to hear that, this player had so much quality and potential. Anyways, thanks for all your help.