Big-game big-screens: CNET's guide to viewing the Super Bowl in HDTV
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Home-theater playbook:
Play 10: Virtual HD-DVD player
When to call it:
When you want the best DVD picture for your new "fixed pixel" plasma, LCD, or DLP HDTV.
Play description: Many new HDTVs are equipped with new, cleaner, digital video connections (DVI or HDMI) that an increasing number of DVD players can exploit. These players upconvert the DVD player's video signal to a higher resolution that matches the native resolution of your HDTV.
Your best options for this play:
Sony DVP-NS975V
Denon DVD-1920
Samsung DVD-HD950
Play description: Many new HDTVs are equipped with new, cleaner, digital video connections (DVI or HDMI) that an increasing number of DVD players can exploit. These players upconvert the DVD player's video signal to a higher resolution that matches the native resolution of your HDTV.
Your best options for this play:
Sony DVP-NS975V
The good: Improved video quality via HDMI on certain TVs; sleek design; adjustable picture controls; separate bass management for SACD; lip-sync delay control.
The bad: Inaccurate color decoding; no improvement in video quality on some TVs; cannot output custom, nonstandard HD resolutions.
The bottom line: Sony's digital deck has a slick design and makes a great complement to fixed-pixel displays that have digital inputs.
The bad: Inaccurate color decoding; no improvement in video quality on some TVs; cannot output custom, nonstandard HD resolutions.
The bottom line: Sony's digital deck has a slick design and makes a great complement to fixed-pixel displays that have digital inputs.
Denon DVD-1920
Outlook: HDMI-upscaling DVD players aren't available for $50 from your local drugstore--yet--but the Denon DVD-1920's high price is pretty rich, even for the high-end segment. The Samsung DVD-HD950, for instance, boasts exactly the same key features as the Denon but lists for about $100 less. That said, in an era of ever-plunging prices on nearly disposable products, Denon's name is one of the few that can demand and receive a premium based on its past reputation for delivering well-regarded A/V products. Expect the Denon DVD-1920 to do brisk business among the legions of enthusiasts who are already happy with their Denon receivers.
Samsung DVD-HD950
The good: Plays DVD-Audio and SACD discs; slim design; jog/shuttle control on remote; upconverts to 720p, 768p, and 1080i resolutions; aspect-ratio control; solid compatibility.
The bad: Inconsistent image quality on horizontal-resolution tests; lack of smoothness on some difficult images; 768p output inactive.
The bottom line: Samsung's DVD-HD950, a universal HDMI-upconversion DVD player, falls a little short of videophile demands.
The bad: Inconsistent image quality on horizontal-resolution tests; lack of smoothness on some difficult images; 768p output inactive.
The bottom line: Samsung's DVD-HD950, a universal HDMI-upconversion DVD player, falls a little short of videophile demands.
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