PLAYERS
OF THE MONTH
SONY PICOT DVP-PQ1, £150
Who said DVD players were only for grown-ups and had to be boring black
and silver boxes? Mercifully the designers of the Picot DVP-PQ1 DVD player
stopped short of turning it into a kiddies ‘My First Sony’, but add a splash of
colour and some bigger buttons and it’s almost there… In fact Sony is aiming it
a slightly older age group, teenagers and upwards, though just about everyone
who sees it wants one, even when they learn the price, which at £150 or so
(shop around) is a fair whack for such a basic player. More bad news, being a
Sony, the region lock is almost certainly unhackable.
It’s all about style and the shape and layout have relatively little to
do with utility but there’s no getting away from it, the sloping wedge-shaped
case and ribbed back panel are really eye-catching. You can even customise its
appearance, there’s a transparent flap on the top of the hinged disc cover into
which you can slide coloured inserts or ‘Internal Design Sheets’, either those
supplied with the unit or one of your own creation.
The small size (it measures just 23 x 18 x 13cm) precludes the
inclusion of potentially handy things like front panel displays and SCART
sockets but it does come with a remote control and the AV processing circuitry
is similar to that in Sony’s more conventional looking players. Incidentally,
Sony missed a trick with the remote; it’s a surprisingly conventional design,
why on earth didn’t they go for something a bit more radical?
Playback features are confined to a standard set of trick play options;
it can also play Video CDs, MP3 files, home-recorded audio CDs (CD-R/RW) and
recordable DVDs (DVD-R/RW). There’s also a 3D surround facility called TV Virtual
Sound but few if any of the widgets commonly found on budget players these
days.
AV performance is fine, but the lack of an RGB output may disappoint
owners of high-end home cinema setups, but that’s not what the Picot is about.
The picture is crisp and clean; contrast balance is okay though some detail is
lost in darker scenes and shadows. Background hiss on the analogue stereo
output is well suppressed, it has a digital audio output (coaxial) so it is
possible to connect it up to a 5.1 surround decoder but given the target
audience it probably won’t get a lot of use.
Picot makes a refreshing change from standard-issue DVD players. It’s a
novelty and a real conversation piece but there’s no getting away from the fact
that it’s meant for the younger end of the market. In that context it really
works and it’ll go down a storm with teenies and twenty-somethings but we
suspect that serious home cinema enthusiasts will give it a miss, or buy one
just for fun, and keep it the bedroom…
Sony 08705 111999, www.sony.co.uk
SPECS
Video output composite/S-Video
SCARTs n/a (via cable)
Audio output analogue mixed stereo/coaxial
5.1 decoders n/a
EXTRA FEATURES
Region 2 PAL & NTSC replay, multi-speed trick play, 3D sound,
FOR
Original design, a real eyeful for kids of all ages
AGAINST
Definitely one for the yoof market, old codgers and AV enthusiasts
control yourselves!
IS IT WORTH IT?
Well, maybe, depends on how old you are, or feel…
RATING
4/5
BUSH DVHS1, £199
Two into one does go and there’s a growing number of combi VCR/DVD
players coming on to the market, including this bargain basement model from
Bush but apart from the one-box convenience, what else can it do? The VCR
section on the DVHS1 does have a NICAM decoder but otherwise it’s rather basic,
lacking even standard budget VCR features like auto installation and a Video
Plus+ timer. The DVD player is similarly sparse the only extra of note is a
2-stage zoom and thus far the region lock appears to be rock solid.
Without S-Video or RGB outputs DVD picture quality only rates as
average and it could have done with a slightly wider contrast range, to bring
out a bit more detail in darker scenes. The picture from the VCR is on the soft
side and colours are a touch flat but it shouldn’t look too bad on sub 22-inch
TVs. The DVD and tape analogue soundtracks have average amounts of background
hiss.
Whilst there’s no denying the appeal of having two video technologies
in one VCR-sized box this particular incarnation fails to shine on either count
and unless space is critical or it’s going to be used with a smaller bedroom TV
you’re probably better off buying separate units.
Contact Bush 020 8787 3111
SPECS
Video output composite
SCARTs 2
Audio output analogue mixed stereo/coaxial
5.1 decoders n/a
EXTRA FEATURES
DVD: Region 2, PAL/NTSC replay, multi-speed replay, 2-stage zoom &
shrink, SCART cable included
VCR: VHS LP/SP, NICAM, stereo
hi-fi sound, 8-event/31-day timer, NTSC replay, simultaneous record & DVD
playback
FOR
One box convenience
AGAINST
No S-Video or RGB outputs, indifferent VCR performance
IS IT WORTH IT?
Borderline, just about okay as a bedroom space-saver
RATING
3/5
PIONEER DV-545, £250
Although in DVD terms it’s getting a little long in the tooth recent
price reductions make the Pioneer DV-545 well worth seeking out, especially if
you’re interested in top-notch audio CD and DVD sound quality. This high-end
player really looks the part in its sleek and stylish ultra-slim case. It’s
packed with fancy sounding audio enhancements, like Legato Pro and Hi-Bit
filtering and processing, which enlivens high frequencies and beefs up
low-level sounds. There’s a set of picture controls plus TruSound spatial
effect. It can also play MP3 recordings and home-made DVD-RW discs plus all the
analogue and digital connections you’re likely to need but alas and alack, no
way of changing the region lock without recourse to chipping.
Picture quality is outstanding, colours are vibrant and it has no
trouble rendering delicate shades like skin tones, fine textures show through
in gloomy and underlit scenes and it handles rapid changes in brightness
without a murmur. It gets better, the digital audio output is squeaky clean and
really deserves to be heard though a decent 5.1 sound system; even the analogue
outputs are livelier than usual with minimal background hiss and revealing
hidden depths and low-level sounds in audio CDs.
This is a player for the video and audio connoisseur seeking to bring
out the best in their AV system.
Contact Pioneer, (01753) 789789, www.pioneer.co.uk
SPECS
Video output composite/S-Video/RGB
SCARTs 2
Audio output analogue mixed
stereo/coaxial/optical
5.1 decoders n/a
EXTRA FEATURES
Region 2, PAL/NTSC replay, multi-speed replay, MP3 replay, TrueSound 3D
sound, Legato PRO digital filter, picture controls, condition memory, shortcut
menu, illuminated remote handset, audio cables supplied
FOR
Superb picture and sound, classy design
AGAINST
Getting on a bit now
IS IT WORTH IT?
Yes but do shop around
RATING
5/5
SANYO HV-DX1, £299
To date the AV performances of most of the combination VCR/DVD players
we’ve seen have been rather underwhelming but the recently launched Sanyo
HV-DX1 proves that it can be a worthwhile exercise. The NICAM VCR has
everything you expect from a budget machine including auto setup and a Video
Plus+ timer with programme delivery control. The DVD part is also in line with
current entry-level models having MP3 replay, a picture zoom and 3D sound.
We’re not too hopeful for a region hack but if one should emerge we’ll let you
know.
VCR performance on this machine is well up to the kind of standard
we’ve come to expect from Sanyo, it sets no new records but it’s good middle of
the road stuff with accurately rendered colours and below average amounts of
picture noise. Likewise DVD playback is uncontroversial, colours are natural
looking and there’s plenty of fine detail in both brightly lit and dull
sequences. The analogue soundtracks – DVD and VCR – have acceptable amounts of
background hiss leaving plenty of room for low level effects and despite all
bits and bobs crammed into the box it is surprisingly easy to drive.
Dearer than a budget VCR and DVD player but if you’re short on space
and don’t want to compromise on performance it’s worth considering.
Contact Sanyo, (01923) 246363 www.sanyo.co.uk
SPECS
Video output composite
SCARTs 2
Audio output analogue mixed stereo/optical
5.1 decoders n/a
EXTRA FEATURES
DVD: Region 2, PAL/NTSC replay, multi-speed replay, zoom, MP3 replay,
3D sound, last function memory
VCR: VHS LP/SP, NICAM, stereo
hi-fi sound, Auto setup, VideoPlus+ timer with PDC, NTSC replay, simultaneous
record & DVD playback
FOR
Decent AV performance
AGAINST
A tad pricey
IS IT WORTH IT?
Yes, if you need to save space and don’t mind paying a small premium
RATING
4/5
SAMSUNG HT-DL100, £400
It’s surprising there aren’t more products like the Samsung HT-DL100, setting
up a DVD surround sound system from scratch can be a real headache so having
the player, Dolby Digital and dts 5.1decoders and amplifier all in one box
makes a lot of sense. Throw in a AM/FM tuner (with RDS) and you’ve got the
makings of a complete home entertainment setup. The supplied speakers are on
the small side but Samsung has included a meaty looking sub to take care of the
bass effects. The player specs are unremarkable but it makes up for the lack of
gadgetry with extra audio features, like a multi-mode spatial sound processor.
Good news, there is a region hack for this system, with no disc loaded press
Enter 84269 Enter.
The DVD player works well and picture quality wouldn’t disgrace a
mid-market player, unfortunately there’s no RGB output but S-Video looks fine
with strong colours and a broad dynamic range that copes well with darker
scenes. The speakers are a bit of a disappointment, the soundfield lacks drama
and even with the wick turned up and the sub on full song it fails to get the
pulse racing. Replacing the speakers would probably make a world of difference.
Contact Samsung 0800 521652, www.samsungelectronics.co.uk
SPECS
Video output composite/S-Video
SCARTs 1
Audio output spring terminal speaker connections
5.1 decoders Dolby Digital & dts
EXTRA FEATURES
Region 2 PAL & NTSC replay, multi-speed trick play, Dolby Digital
and dts 5.1 decoders, multi-mode 3D/spatial sound, picture zoom, built-in
amplifier (5 x 40 watts + 1 x 70 watts to sub-woofer), AM/FM tuner with RDS
FOR
Good picture, useful facilities
AGAINST
Movie sound spoilt by cheapie speakers
IS IT WORTH IT?
Yes-ish but you may end up shelling out on better speakers
RATING
4/5
---end---
Ó R. Maybury 2002,
0509
| 
