|
The Stereo Review article reviewed the JVC XV-1000, Phillips Magnavox DVD400AT, and the Samsung DVD905. Here's some excerpts about the Samsung DVD905:
"All the digital doings are on a single circuit board that sits upside down over the transport assembly. That unusual arrangement prompted me to remove the circuit board (don't try this at home, kids), which revealed a C-Cube Systems DVD chip, a single very large-scale IC that handles the primary MPEG-2 decoding functions as well as the Dolby Digital audio decoding."
"it's a bit unexpected that Samsung's first foray into DVD is not a price leader at all but a rather high-end player with a built-in Dolby Digital decoder in addition to some other unique features."
"At $750, the Samsung DVD905 offers lots of features per buck, and it was generally very easy to use. More important, its solid audio and outstanding video performance should continue to please long after most novel features have receded to relative insignifigance."
The Samsung player was slow to boot up, 22 seconds compared to 12 and 14 seconds for the JVC and Philips Magnavox machines.
It got slammed for its on-board DD decoder's inability to supply proper bass: "This player provides an excellent example of why a built-in Dolby Digital decoder is not a desirable feature in a DVD player. Use the Samsung's digital output to feed a amplifier/receiver containing its own Dolby Digital decoder and bass-management circuits, and you'll have an infinitely better chance of getting the bass to come out right."
"The JVC led the field in audio performance, and -- in my subjective view -- video as well, while the Philips had the edge in value, and the Samsung in features, plus the added filip of onboard Dolby Digital. But overall, I would cheerfully retain any of these three DVD players for daily use."
|
