Introduction I had a very specific purpose in mind when I bought this inexpensive ($119) DVD player, but it turns out to be even more interesting than I expected. There are plenty of low-cost DVD players on the market: these days you can even get them for less than $100. But there are few like this. If you are a world traveler like myself (ahem), then you will probably be as frustrated as I am with the difference in standards around the world. Generally, the way it’s done in North America is quite different to the way it’s done in Europe. More than occasionally, the North American way is unlike anywhere else in the world. Take cell phones, for example. You can take your GSM phone almost anywhere in the world and use it – and keep your regular phone number. Or buy a little plug-in SIM card and suddenly you have a local number ...

Introduction The Proceed PMDT is a $5,995 modular DVD-Video transport and video processor built by Madrigal, the parent company of brands like Mark Levinson, Madrigal Imaging, Revel and Audio Access. Unlike nearly all commercially successful high end DVD-Video players, the Proceed PMDT as a transport is built from the ground up for performance, not a repackaged Japanese OEM player with a bunch of tweaks made under the hood. The advantage of such an approach is complete freedom to deliver amazing functionality. The disadvantage is, as DVD-Video has developed into the most successful AV technology ever (that’s right more successful than CD) the technological road has been far from smooth including DVD authoring issues, disc reading issues as well as the looming DVD-Audio format to consider. To date, the Proceed PMDT attacks the challenge of reproducing DVD-video discs at the highest level with nearly no competition other than Meridian’s $16,000 800 DVD machine. There are three key areas ...

Introduction Since its spectacular debut in the mid-1990’s, the price of DVD players have steadily dropped while the quality and features that these players provide have continued to amaze even jaded AV enthusiast. With home theater sales booming like never before as movie-lovers discover the joy of bringing the theatrical experience into the comfort of their home, manufacturers are offering more and more high quality options for the most discerning consumers. The Kenwood DV-5700 is a perfect example being a five-disc DVD-Video/Audio player that comes with key features including 5.1 analog audio outputs for playing discs encoded with the exceptional DVD-Audio format and a progressive scan output for sets that can accept this superior video source. The DV-5700 comes in black and measures 17-5/16 inches wide, five inches tall, and 16-1/8 inches deep, with a retail price of $1,500. To start, DVD Audio is a high-resolution multi-channel capable audio format currently entangled in a format war ...

Introduction The Philips SACD1000 is a multi-channel Super Audio CD player that also plays both PAL and NTSC DVD-Video discs (but note it is not multi-region), CDs, Video CDs and even CD-Rs, but not, strangely, DTS CDs. The SACD1000 retails for $2,000. About Super Audio CD SACD is a development by Sony and Philips as a successor to the Compact Disc (and competitor to DVD-Audio), but the two companies have taken a very different attitude to delivering high-quality audio. Sony was first out of the gate, but their players were stereo-only and very expensive, aimed at an allegedly still-existent stereo audiophile market in Japan that has all but disappeared elsewhere. Philips, on the other hand, has been adamant that their players would offer multichannel capability from the start: this worthy decision unfortunately delaying availability of machines for a while. Following on from the Sony preference for stereo, the vast majority of releases of SACD software have also been ...

Introduction The DV-38A is Pioneer’s eagerly anticipated top of the line progressive video DVD player. The DV-38A retails for $2,000, is THX Ultra Certified and supports both DVD-Video and DVD-Audio formats. With all of the hype of new formats swirling in the audio/video magazines, the DV-38A arrives just in time for those looking for an upgrade in sound and picture. Upon unpacking the DV-38A, I found it to be finished in the traditional Pioneer Elite manner, with a polished black face with gold details and attractively finished wood side panels. The face plate, in addition to the drawer assembly, contains a small number of indicator lights, including one that has a cool blue light for illumination, and minimal operating controls. This give the unit an attractively clean, functional look. The DV-38A weighs in at a fairly hefty 22 pounds. The construction of the unit is very solid, utlizing a triple-layered chassis and three chambers to isolate the ...