DVD Player Comparison

OK. I just recently started using DVD players and, since I don't exactly have a lot of money to burn (this being the result of having just an ordinary job, a mortgage, car payment, loan and credit card debt, wife and kid), I haven't exactly been picking up the most expensive DVD hardware. But I have tried out a couple of inexpensive (i.e., cheap) players and I just wanted to share my experience in the hope that others would give similar accounts of their players.

I've tried out the Emerson DVD model and the Samsung 709 (both around $250). I thought the colors on the Samsung 709 were great; vivid, bright, good contrast. In addition, sharp picture. But I thought it handled layer changes weakly. The Emerson model (as far as I know, they only have one) handled layer changes better (I compared three DVD discs on both).

For example, on the Ghostbuster DVD, the layer change occurs after Bill Murray says, "What about the Twinkie?" On the Emerson, you can clearly hear the entire line and then it quickly changes over to the next chapter. On the Samsung 709, you hear, "What about the Twin..." and then it pauses a little longer than the Emerson and proceeds to the next chapter (and I think it misses a split second of the new chapter as well).

However, as well as the Emerson handles the layer changes, I think that its color handling is weaker than the Samsung. Everything appears more faded and washed out. In particular, reds and yellows appeared poorly. For example, all the woodwork behind Bill Murray when he is sitting at his desk talking to the EPA man appears faded in the Emerson compared to the warm, rich color that the Samsung provided.

Of course, in some scenes, the Samsung colors were maybe too bright. For example, in True Lies, the opening scene when Arnold is walking around in the party, the complexions of the well-heeled partiers (and Arnold too) are perhaps too red (the Emerson did seem to have a more realistic flesh tones in this scene).

Who knows. Maybe the Emerson gives better, more accurate color than the Samsung but I was just impressed by the Samsung's vividness (the sometimes too red-tinged complexions and sometimes too bright yellows notwithstanding).

Or am I imagining that there is a difference in the colors? (I tried the Emerson a week after I tried the Samsung...layer change information I remember correctly but I grant that I could be misremembering coloration).

Anyone else care to share your experiences, impressions on these or any other players. I'm particularly interested in how players handle color and layer changes, sound is secondary to me but I'm interested anyway.

--Yrth

[Chromy]

Boy I hear you on the money crunch Minus the kid...

It's getting to the point where layer changes are the single most important feature on a player. It seems that, of all of the "cheap" players that I have seen, my friends Pioneer 414 handles these the best... but he got it on sale for 300 or so bucks.

Color and sound can all be adjusted for (for the most part) with other components. I've got my TV set up for my DVD player and seperate settings for my satalite dish and N64. Sound settings are the same way.

The player that I have, the panasonic 110, has horrible layer changes. Sometimes it skips entire chapters... but only on some discs... and only after the warranty had run out

That may skew my view of reality though

Chromy

Yeah. I tried to change the settings on my set to get more vivid colors using the Emerson but that didn't work. The yellows especially always seemed to run together and I could never get a bright purple (as in Renee Russo's Laker shirt on Get Shorty).

The Proscan player is the only DVD player that I know of that can decently handle layer switches. You can get it for as low as $299.
I never liked DIVX, nor did I endorse it in any way. I had a previous player (Non-DIVX) that I wasn't completely satisfied with, and this Proscan player seems to be one of the best players out there for the money. I bought this player for it's qualities and the fact that it was marked down almost 40% off it's original price. That nasty "DIVX" label on the front can be easily removed, and this player comes complete with Monster cables and a 1 year warranty(parts & labor).

[This message has been edited by Jack Frost (edited 08-05-1999).]

[This message has been edited by Jack Frost (edited 08-05-1999).]

[Taxi]

I have the Toshiba 3107, and this is the one area where my expectations haven't been met with this player, if indeed it is the players fault.

I often get long pauses during the layer switch, where I hear other folks talk about "seamless" transitions. I've rarely seen a seamless transition, but it has happened. It makes me wonder if it's the disc itself, not the player. I don't know.

It's a little bit of both. For example, "Terminator 2" , "Apollo 13", and "True Lies" are examples of DVDs with really decent layer switches. These disc will not be as noticeable on player that does poor layer switches. But movies like "Armageddon", "The Edge", "You've Got Mail", "The Horse Whisperer", and "Enemy of the State" are examples of very noticeable layer switches. I played these movies on a Panasonic, Sony, Toshiba, and Magnavox, and there was a noticeable pause in audio and picture. I found that the players offered the best layer switch in this order (Number 1 being best):
1.)Proscan
2.)Sony
3.)Pioneer
4.)JVC
5.)Toshiba
6.)Panasonic
7.)Magnavox

On the Proscan, I don't know how, but there is no disturbance. For a really good review on the Proscan, go to the following link:
http://www.smr-home-theatre.org/Interface.html

*go to the "Hardware Review" Section
*then scroll down to the "Proscan" review section

[Taxi]

Okay, let's try not to get too carried away with the ProScan player. After all, they supported, in a big way, the divx attempt at hegemony. For me, that leaves a bad taste in my mouth, and it always will.

You are absolutely right, but I hate DIVX and I probably would have never purchased this player if DIVX still existed. I can't even use this player as DIVX player if I wanted to and would not. I was one of the bigest protesters against DIVX and turned several people away from it when I owned a Panasonic A-110, but I really don't see anything wrong with purchasing and using a PROSCAN for DVD. DIVX is history and I am glad that it is. The Proscan (just like Sony, Panasonic, and JVC) still makes a fine DVD player for it's low price point. I can understand having a bad taste with DIVX, but let's be happy the war is over and DVD won. The only thing I am referring to with this DVD player is DVD not that nasty four letter word.

Jack -- What about color on the Proscan? I'll take your word that it handles layer changes well, but as I mentioned, the Emerson handled layer changes better than the Samsung 709 but I thought its color handling was poorer and that was more important...what's the use of quick layer changes when the entire movie looks less vibrant and colorful?

I liked how you listed the players in order of being able to handle layer changes. That's the kind of opinion/impression I'm looking for. Thanks.
--JMoya

It handles color beautifully. I am one of the most picky people in the world, and I am well pleased with this unit. I own almost 70 DVDs and they all look good. It handles blacks, reds, and blues really well. I used to own a Panasonic, and I thought the Proscan did a slightly better job with colors. Much like Obi's review stated, the Proscan brings the down conversion ability of the Sony and the sharpness of the Panasonic together. One thing that is great about this machine is it's ability to handle some discs that other players cannot even play. The Proscan reminds me of my Honda Accord when referring to it's reliability in playing discs. This isn't a big deal, but this player will display the title of the movie on the front display plate before playing the movie (a neat feature that I am sure will be on other players soon).

[This message has been edited by Jack Frost (edited 08-09-1999).]

I almost feel like making a run to Circuit City. Any particular Proscan model?
--Yrth

It's the Proscan PS8680Z. You can't miss it, it has a titanium/ Silver finish as opposed to black or grey. Don't forget, this DVD player includes those expensive monster cables. It also includes a "One Year" warranty in parts and *labor*(instead of the usual 90 days in labor).

Yrth,

I currently Own 2 players the samsung 907 and toshiba 3109.
I have been extremely happy with both players for both sound and audio.

Both Players have
a. built in dd decoders.
b. vcd support

The Samsung player has more vivid colors than the toshiba player. Whether this is a good or bad thing depends on your taste. Viewing movies like "Die Hard", the 907 brings out too much red in the picture, but viewing movies such as the "Fifth Element" it adds to the visual brilliance. For the majority of movies that i have watched, the picture quality is better on the samsung. I also do not notice as much "shimmering" in badly transfered/compressed films with the samsung as the colors seem to mute it more. I also love the Samsung remote control which has the glowing buttons and is shaped so that you can find the important "stop,play,chapter search, rewind,pause keys" even in the dark. It also has seperate buttons for ff/rw/chap search unlike the toshiba which combines the "chapter search" and "ff/rewind" keys. This gets a little annoying when you want to fast forward/rewind and accidently hit the chapter search. DD5.1 sound is great. Decoding is done in my receiver, and I don't notice any differences between it and my 3109.

The Samsung's Drawbacks are slow layer switch. It is noticable but not as bad as some of the cheaper players.

The Toshiba 3109 shines in a lot of ways. It has Extremly quick response time when swiching between chapters and back and forth to the main menu. It has two dvd trays. At first I thought was one of its most useless features but I find myself using them both. The tray if sensitive though and you will sometimes have to nudge a disk when you put it in the tray if you get a "disk error" message when loading. I also love the display which allows you to see what audio mode you are using plus additional chapter information and a bitrate monitor. The samsung has a very limited display of your audio features. Sound wise the 3109 also has DTS which I have a hard time hearing a substantial difference in except in movies such as "Dragonheart" which has amazing DTS sound and effects.

The Toshibas Drawbacks are lousy remote control(large/awkwardly shaped and integrated ff/chapter search), occasional tray problems.

Hope this helps.





[This message has been edited by Herne's Son (edited 08-11-1999).]

Does the Proscan have component outputs?

"Does the Proscan have component outputs?"

The Proscan does have video component outputs, two audio and video outputs, one S-video output, and one optical audio output.

[This message has been edited by Jack Frost (edited 08-11-1999).]

i have a Pioneer DVL 919, and it handles layer changes pretty seamlessly

i've had it for 3 months, no complaints or problems so far...