Samsung DVD-HD841 HDTV-Compatible Upconverter DVD Player
[Archived in Products, Progressive-Scan DVD Players, Samsung]
Manufacturer: SAMSUNG
Price at amazon.com: Too Low To DisplayUsually ships in 24 hours
New from $154.99
List price $249.99
- 720p, 768p, and 1080i upconversion from conventional DVD-Video images (for use with high-definition and HD-ready TVs)
- High-resolution audio performance with Super Audio CD (SACD) and DVD-Audio decoding
- DVI digital video output with cable
- EZ View letterbox eliminator
- Includes remote control
Product Description:
Samsung's DVD-HD841 delivers scintillating video and audio performance at an eye-popping price. Between the unit's progressive-scan component-video and DVI digital-video outputs, sophisticated high-definition upconversion (from 480i/p DVD-Video to 720p, 768p, or 1080i, depending on your HDTV), and processing abilities for the audio-only SACD (Super Audio CD) and DVD-Audio formats, this player quite nearly does it all. The DVD-HD841 has a built-in video scaler that permits output to a HDTV. Samsung's video upconversion technology eliminates visible scan lines and artifacts arising from interlaced video and the 3:2 pulldown process required to render film-based movies as NTSC video. The result: higher resolution from conventional sources and sharper images with few motion artifacts. The player's DVI digital-video output may be used for lossless video transmission between the player and compatible TVs and computer monitors. Superior Sound SACD and DVD-Audio media both offer super-high-fidelity sound. DVD-Audio discs provide 192 kHz/24-bit multichannel and stereo sound, high storage capacity, and unique bonus materials not available on regular audio CDs. These discs often have compressed Dolby Digital soundtracks for listening on standard DVD players, but true DVD-A decoding is required for full sonic appreciation. Depending on the disc, Sony's proprietary SACD format provides multichannel and/or stereo sound, often presented in a dual-layer format compatible with both standard CD players (at standard resolution) and SACD-equipped players like the DVD-HD841 (for full-resolution playback). As an antipiracy measure, the DVD-HD841 performs its own decoding of both DVD-Audio and SACD signals, passing high-resolution analog, not digital, audio to your integrated amplifier or surround receiver. This means you'll need an audio/video receiver with multichannel analog-audio inputs to appreciate multichannel DVD-A and SACD releases. Enjoy peerless multichannel, surround-sound audio from DVD-Audio and SACD media. A set of stereo and a set of multichannel analog-audio outputs route audio from DVD-A/SACD media as well as from Dolby Digital- and DTS-encoded DVDs to your AV receiver. If you're not planning to use the DVD-A/SACD capability for multichannel programming, both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround-sound signals can be routed through the player's digital-audio outputs (one each of RCA coaxial and Toslink optical) for simpler connection with your receiver. Another handy feature is the player's EZ View letterbox eliminator, which lets you enjoy full-screen pictures on 4:3 aspect-ratio TVs--even when you're watching widescreen DVDs. Composite- and S-video outputs bring compatibility with nearly any television. What's in the Box DVD player, remote control, remote batteries, user's manual, DVI digital video interconnect, stereo analog audio interconnect/composite-video cable, and warranty information.
From the Manufacturer Samsung announces the advent of audio/videophile-quality DVD entertainment with its next-generation of upconversion DVD players: the DVD-HD841 and the DVD-HD941. Delivering stunning, cinema-quality DVD playback, both players use a fully digital process to provide high-definition resolution such as 1080i, 768p, and 720p signals, making it ideal for those who want to get the most out of their HD displays and existing DVD titles. Both models have a host of advanced features such as DVI and HDMI... read more
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| The DVD-HD841 has a built-in video scaler that permits output to a HDTV. |
Superior Sound
SACD and DVD-Audio media both offer super-high-fidelity sound. DVD-Audio discs provide 192 kHz/24-bit multichannel and stereo sound, high storage capacity, and unique bonus materials not available on regular audio CDs. These discs often have compressed Dolby Digital soundtracks for listening on standard DVD players, but true DVD-A decoding is required for full sonic appreciation. Depending on the disc, Sony's proprietary SACD format provides multichannel and/or stereo sound, often presented in a dual-layer format compatible with both standard CD players (at standard resolution) and SACD-equipped players like the DVD-HD841 (for full-resolution playback).
As an antipiracy measure, the DVD-HD841 performs its own decoding of both DVD-Audio and SACD signals, passing high-resolution analog, not digital, audio to your integrated amplifier or surround receiver. This means you'll need an audio/video receiver with multichannel analog-audio inputs to appreciate multichannel DVD-A and SACD releases.
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| Enjoy peerless multichannel, surround-sound audio from DVD-Audio and SACD media. |
Another handy feature is the player's EZ View letterbox eliminator, which lets you enjoy full-screen pictures on 4:3 aspect-ratio TVs--even when you're watching widescreen DVDs. Composite- and S-video outputs bring compatibility with nearly any television.
What's in the Box
DVD player, remote control, remote batteries, user's manual, DVI digital video interconnect, stereo analog audio interconnect/composite-video cable, and warranty information.Average Customer Rating: 
Comment: Great Player but No HDMI Rating:
I find this to be an excellent DVD player. I almost waited for the hd-941 for HDMI and the DCDi, but I decided it would be redundant as DCDi is built into my DLP. Also the audio features of HDMI would be useless with the 6 channel DVD audio outputs and the DVI offers equal video.
I'm not sure what artifacts Spencer is talking about in Finding Nemo; But Nemo looks incredible on this machine. There must be something wrong with his DVI input or his color settings. Nemo is over the top in detail and clarity. And animation like Shrek is out of this world.
The upconversion to HDTV 1081i makes movies like Return of the King better then the theatre, you have to see this player to believe it. I recommend going to your local video store to see it for yourself. The Picture is simply mesmerizing and the six channel audio almost makes the purchase worth wild in it self. It adds a whole new dimension the true feel of home theatre sound.
All in all a great player with easy set-up and fabulous options for the price. The only fault is no HDMI and no DCDi but that will be out in the HD-941 if you need it.
Comment: Great Player But No HDMI Rating:
I find this to be an excellent DVD player. I almost waited for the hd-941 for HDMI and the DCDi, but I decided it would be redundant as DCDi is built into my DLP. Also the audio features of HDMI would be useless with the 6 channel DVD audio outputs and the DVI offers equal video.
I'm not sure what artifacts Spencer is talking about in Finding Nemo; But Nemo looks incredible on this machine. There must be something wrong with his DVI input or his color settings. Nemo is over the top in detail and clarity. And animation like Shrek is out of this world.
The upconversion to HDTV 1081i makes movies like Return of the King better then the theatre, you have to see this player to believe it. I recommend going to your local video store to see it for yourself. The Picture is simply mesmerizing and the six channel audio almost makes the purchase worth wild in it self. It adds a whole new dimension the true feel of home theatre sound.
All in all a great player with easy set-up and fabulous options for the price. The only fault is no HDMI and no DCDi but that will be out in the HD-941 if you need it.
Comment: Dark scenes are featureless on DVI; text blurry in all modes Rating:
When connected to my HDTV via the DVI cable (on any resolution, including my TV's native 720p), this unit cannot show distinctions in dark colors. Prime example: In Finding Nemo, when Nemo is first dumped into the aquarium and hides among the plants, the hd841 shows the plants as one featureless, monochromatic, dark-gray mass (with 3 or 4 bright green spots where the light hits them). In contrast, my 4-year-old non-progressive GoVideo DVD player (connected over a plain-old video RCA cable) shows the plants as dark green with darker and ligher streaks, stripes, and other details, with subtle highlights and shadows in the dark parts of the scene.
The same problem is apparent on the THX "optimizer" tests that come on several Disney/Pixar DVDs. The "brightness" test, which is supposed to show a THX logo and drop shadow on a blackish background (surrounded by 8 or 9 boxes in various shades of gray) shows NO detail other than 3 or 4 of the gray boxes. The logo and drop shadow are both completely invisible against the background, as are most of the gray boxes. No amount of adjusting the TV (brightness, contrast, etc.) or the player (note that no black-level adjustment is even available in DVI) had any effect--the detail simply was not there.
In addition, I have concerns with the picture quality in general. While bright scenes looked generally fine, text (such as the "warning" screen at the beginning of DVDs) looks like at came from an old typewriter with a worn-out ribbon. Truly blurry and annoying. Again, a night-and-day difference compared to my old DVD player, and the problem exists regardless of output mode (DVI, component, s-video).
By the way, the black/gray problem was largely solved by using the player's component outputs, but then what's the point of paying extra money for the DVI? The black crush really makes it unacceptable. Unless someone can tell me a fix for this problem, I'll be returning the player for a "regular" DVD/SACD/DVD-Audio unit like the Pioneer 563a or 578a and saving fifty or sixty bucks.
Posted at November 11, 2003 01:14 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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