Samsung DVD-HD931 HDTV Converter Progressive-Scan DVD Player
Outstanding upscaling DVD player, INCLUDES DVI CABLE!
THE DVI CABLE IS INCLUDED IN THE BOX! Samsung really dropped the ball in not noting this in their packaging and advertising materials, and the idea that you need to buy an extra, and usually way over priced cable, has probably put off a number of potential buyers.<br />The Samsung HD931 DVI compatible DVD player with 1080i up scaling and image refinement technology seems to have generated a wide range of reviews. On one hand, there seems to be an element in the A/V crowd that plugs something in, finds it to be not 100% integrated out the box or that it requires some adjustment and understanding on the part of the user, who immediately rush to web sites to write \\"This POS sucks!\\" type reviews. That is, as Rummy might say, \\"not helpful\\".<br />There are also many people who have high end system who understand the subtle interaction of program material, displays, room types and so forth, who are probably getting the best out of the player, who write reviews saying it's \\"STUNNING!\\"<br />A few observations:<br />I found the HD931 I purchased, made on 10/03, to be one of the best displaying DVD players I have owned, and that includes quite a few units over the years. The picture is outstanding and crisp, even with component output. Some have complained about the innovative menuing system, but it's a well thought out and very useful approach to controlling the unit. The integrated \\"disc menu\\" that condenses chapters and other disc options into a single pop over window is great, and saves the user from having to go through the elaborate, frequently slow and labor intensive menus used in many DVDs. They look great, but if you just want to change options, jump to a chapter, change audio and so forth the disc menu is great.<br />Some have complained about the remote. It's average, not great not awful, but easy to get used to once you work with it a day or two. It seemed to control the unit just fine from a distance of about ten feet with the unit in line of sight from the remote.<br />The DVI output is fantastic, but it can't improve on a mediocre transfer of the original DVD. However, if the DVD is well transferred and has detail, texture or subtleties in the transfer that might not have come out before with component output then you are going to see this additional detail via the up scaling enhancements, advanced deinterlacing, and DVI output and really be knocked out by the near HDTV quality of many DVD movies.<br />If the original DVD transfer was not very good, or was over compressed, or re-used an older transfer made for VHS or laserdisc, then using component video output might be better, as it will gloss over the faults a bit. Like anything that is \\"higher quality\\" the HD931 DVI output makes lower quality stand out more. Luckily, you can hook up both outputs from the HD931 to your display and select which signal type to use based on the quality of the DVD.<br />The only irritating flaw in the HD931 is the over bright neon blue light on the jog dial. SAMSUNG has issued a couple of firmware fixes for various glitches including a problem outputting the correct aspect ratio of 4:3 DVDs via DVI to certain SONY displays. SAMSUNG was very helpful when I contacted them, and sent me a disc right away to upgrade my firmware. A player with this technology would have cost $1,000.00 just a year ago, not it's under three hundred.<br />In short, this is a great player.te.<br />The DVI output is fantastic, but it can't improve on a mediocre transfer of the original DVD. However, if the DVD is well transferred and has detail, texture or subtleties in the transfer that might not have come out before with component output then you are going to see this additional detail via the up scaling enhancements, advanced deinterlacing, and DVI output and really be knocked out by the near HDTV quality of many DVD movies.<br />If the original DVD transfer was not very good, or was over compressed, or re-used an older transfer made for VHS or laserdisc, then using component video output might be better, as it will gloss over the faults a bit. Like anything that is \\"higher quality\\" the HD931 DVI output makes lower quality stand out more. Luckily, you can hook up both outputs from the HD931 to your display and select which signal type to use based on the quality of the DVD. <br />The only irritating flaw in the HD931 is the over bright neon blue light on the jog dial. SAMSUNG has issued a couple of firmware fixes for various glitches including a problem outputting the correct aspect ratio of 4:3 DVDs via DVI to certain SONY displays. SAMSUNG was very helpful when I contacted them, and sent me a disc right away to upgrade my firmware. A player with this technology would have cost $1,000.00 just a year ago, not it's under three hundred. <br />In short, this is a great player.