First Chinese-made DVD-Video players reviewed (and opened).
EXCLUSIVE -- WE LAB-TEST FIRST CHINESE DVD DECKS
09/20/1999
AUDIO WEEK
(c) Copyright 1999 Warren Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Price is right at $199 list, and dealer cost as low as $160 on first Chinese-made DVD-Video players augurs 4th-quarter mass-market breakthrough for category. Despite fears that cut-rate decks from China would cut technical and performance corners that would mar DVD category for all, news that could profoundly affect CE industry is that first entry-level decks from China perform as well as or better than top-priced models from more established brands.
That's conclusion of independent lab tests we commissioned on $199 Konka and Oritron DVD-Video decks just hitting retail showrooms. Latter brand, heretofore unknown in U.S., appeared without fanfare at national powerhouses Best Buy and Circuit City earlier this month. Konka, among China's top CE brands with 25% TV market share there, plans N.Y.C. coming-out party Tues. for San Jose-based U.S. subsidiary that promises broad rollout of high-end products this fall -- including HDTV and DTV-ready sets, flat-tube big-screen NTSC models, additional DVD-Video entries such as 13" TV/DVD combo.
We decided to bench-test Konka and Oritron players and perform extensive hands-on evaluation because: (1) Those models are first manufactured in China to reach U.S. (2) Brands are unfamiliar, compared with OEM products sourced from China by major vendors. (3) Decks have sub-$200 MSRPs and could retail for even less, given $160 dealer cost on Konka model. Curiosity as to performance-quality was prompted by awareness that first bargain CD players to hit market could read digital data off CD -- but didn't exploit full fidelity of medium.
Not so with first Chinese DVD decks, our tests reveal. Electrical measurements were conducted by Advanced Product Evaluation Laboratory (APEL), independent test facility in Bethel, Conn. APEL was CBS lab before privatization and routinely tests CE products for publications, major retailers, govt. departments, others. Tests were supervised by Frank Barr, APEL pres. and veteran engineer, and involved industry-standard measurements for video and audio performance.
Results were generally impressive for Konka and Oritron decks, especially compared with lab's previous measurements on 2nd-generation decks of 2 major brands in $750-$850 range, as well as $650 first-generation deck that used mostly discrete components, such as decoders for MPEG video and Dolby Digital. Point is important, as Konka and Oritron decks are gutless wonders with only DVD drive and handful of ICs under hood -- including single-chip MPEG/Dolby decoders from C-Cube and STMicroelectronics, respectively.
Performance of Chinese decks was similar, with Konka scoring slightly better in video parameters and Oritron better in audio. In video frequency response, which measures resolution or sharpness of decks' output, each player was flat throughout visible range with only -1.3 dB (Konka) and -1.4 dB (Oritron) rolloff at 6 MHz point, meaning decks will deliver nearly all of 480-line horizontal resolution inherent in DVD format. By way of comparison, best frequency response APEL has measured to date was down just -0.18 dB at 6 MHz -- in $850 deck.
Konka player trumps that deck in video signal-to-noise ratio, and each Chinese player measured vastly superior to first-generation DVD player in this test for luminance noise. Measurements for composite video output were 65.5 dB for Konka and 63.8 dB for Oritron, compared with 64.4 dB in $850 deck -- and 51.4 dB in first-generation player. Performance was similar in tests for luminance signal-to-noise at S-Video output: 66.7 dB for Konka and 64.5 dB for Oritron, compared with 65.2 dB in $850 deck. Test disc with procedure for S-Video wasn't available when first-generation players made debut. Discs used for our APEL measurements were Video Essentials for video, CBS CD-1 test disc for audio.
Dicier area of performance for all DVD decks is stair-step linearity, which tests player's ability to correctly resolve shades of gray from black to white -- fundamental building blocks of video picture. Measurement for stair-step linearity is expressed as percentage that, relative to perfection (0%), tells how closely deck comes to resolving shade correctly. That seldom occurs at more than one step among 10 in test with any DVD player APEL has tested to date. Results were pretty consistent among Konka, Oritron and $850 player. At step for black, they came within 30-35% of resolving shade, step for white was within 40-45% of accuracy, at intermediate steps, deviation was 2%-13% for all players.
Audio numbers for Chinese decks aren't as good as others, but Barr said in most cases that's irrelevant because difference is measurable but not audible. Konka and Oritron players showed flat frequency response out to 20 kHz, where signal dropped 1.4 dB. Rolloff has been fraction of dB in decks previously measured. In audio signal-to-noise ratio, Konka had 89 dB, Oritron 92 dB and dynamic range measured was 90 dB and 93 db, respectively. Measurements have averaged 100 dB in each category for players tested in past.
Harmonic distortion is virtually nonexistent in Chinese decks or any others. And channel separation in Konka and Oritron decks was sufficiently wide (82 and 87 dB, respectively) to prevent any audible crosstalk between left and right channels of stereo signal. Good measurement also ensures accurate steering among channels in Dolby surround-sound modes. Previously, best separation measured was 91 dB.
In hands-on evaluation, new decks compare favorably with any we've seen. Under hood, construction was solid on Konka and Oritron deck, with state-of-art electrical grounding. DVD drives were whisper quiet, and scan times from instant of disc insertion were 2.0 and 2.6 sec. for Konka and Oritron, typical of all drives. Konka's is supplied by Digital Video Systems from Korea; Oritron's wasn't readily identifiable. Industry sources told us cost of DVD drives is in $50-$65 range, $80 and more for DVD-ROM; meanwhile, C-Cube Ziva-2 chip used in Konka player is $17 in OEM quantities.
Cosmetically, decks are quite different. Konka KD-1800U has silver-tone finish with contoured, die-cast brushed aluminum faceplate. Oritron DVD200 is more prosaic no-frills black box. Konka remote control has spacious and logical layout, solid feel, hideaway panel for seldom-used commands such as those for setup. Smaller Oritron zapper is more cramped, and tiny buttons often stuck. See-through onscreen menus in Konka deck had richer appearance, comparable with those of top brands, although Oritron menus were straightforward and serviceable. Each brand packages decks in brightly colored self-sell box -- Konka's includes carrying handle. As for owner manuals, they were clear if not totally explanatory. For example, Konka manual assumes U.S. audiences are familiar with Karaoke functions of Video CDs (VCD) available in Asia.
Decks differ significantly in functions and features, although each is factory-set for Region 1 playback. Konka model has user-selectable NTSC/PAL output but operates on 120 v-60 Hz power only. Although owner in PAL country could get viewable picture from Region 1 NTSC disc, power transformer in $30-$50 range would be needed to supply proper voltage. Oritron DVD200 promises "worldwide operation" with 90-270 v 50-60 Hz "wide-range power supply." But it doesn't convert NTSC output to PAL; instead, it will play PAL discs as well as NTSC if regional coding is adjusted for discs sold in PAL countries.
Oritron regional coding can be switched by service technician, said Eric Rixon, Hong Kong-based dir.-business development. He told us that customer using U.S. Region 1 model overseas would be able to obtain plug adapter for local power supply and could call Oritron service center to have regional code changed by modification of software program. Manufacturers can't print code changes in manuals owing to Macrovision licensing agreement and there's $1 million "first penalty" for offenses, he told us. Macrovision last week sent "stern warning" to DVD makers on activities that breach sanctity of regional coding, such as shipping players from factory with multiregion capability, Rixon said.
Oritron made player multivoltage for world-model chassis it could ship to variety of countries -- brand supplies Dixon's in U.K., Kingfisher in France, retailers Best Buy, Circuit City, Target and WalMart in U.S. Rixon said WalMart will carry 120 v-only player that can be made at lower cost. Also for cost savings, all U.S. models have VCD function defeated, Rixon saying that that saves $2.50 royalty per player payable to Philips. Konka deck plays VCDs and Super-VCDs and represents different approach to building for world market. Wendy Wu, Konka USA exec. vp, told us KD-1800 has single-voltage power supply to keep entry-level pricing down, but otherwise it's designed to be world player with switch of power supply and regional code by factory.
Some unintentional gaffes common to first-time exporters were evident in Oritron brand's U.S. debut. Although DVD200 packaging and manual tout universal voltage, legend on rear panel of player says it's 90-125 v. That's to satisfy labeling requirements for UL certification here, Rixon told us. Oritron technicians at Hazelwood, Mo., service center told us packaging and manual were incorrect and player is 90-125 v only. But Rixon contended techs were referring to upcoming WalMart deck.
Oritron packaging also carries sell-line "Dolby Digital Decoder" -- which might lead some buyers to conclude that deck outputs discrete 5-channels of surround to multichannel amp. But under our tests DVD200 doesn't decode AC-3 bitstream, which Rixon confirmed. Claim on box, he said, means "decoding" in generic sense that digital signal has to be decoded to create mixdown for 2-channel analog output for use with stereo system or TV, or with Dolby Surround or Pro-Logic home theater receiver. Other DVD decks in Oritron line do decode and output discrete Dolby Digital, Rixon told us. He said Dolby royalty is based on number of channels decoded; those and other licenses amount to $28 on entry-level DVD200. Overall DVD royalties are "astronomical" and based on selling price of hardware, Rixon said. For example, he said, if DVD drive is built into stereo system or TV combo, royalty is based on total value of product.
Licensing is reason for sudden emergence of Oritron brand from obscurity in U.S. Rixon said that to offer DVD, each individual brand must have Macrovision license -- not merely original manufacturer. So, although Circuit City owns Criterion house brand and Dixon's has rights to Grundig name in U.K., neither has Macrovision license -- but Oritron does. In haste to get entry-level DVD decks for 4th-quarter sale, retailers went with Oritron-branded product rather than spend time and money to acquire Macrovision license, Rixon said. Oritron is brand of Hong Kong-based Orient Power Group, with plants in China. Company was founded in 1984, has 15,000 employees and $3 billion annual sales from OEM and branded video, audio, autosound, satellite and telecom products. Rixon said company has long marketed Koss-branded audio products in U.S. under license from venerable Milwaukee-based headphone pioneer. He said Koss brand might well have been used for DVD player that now bears Oritron label, but same Macrovision license constraints prevented that. Rixon said company also builds OEM A/V product for who's who list of prominent CE brands, including JVC, Kenwood, Philips, Toshiba. |
