DVD: The end of VHS at last?

DVD delivers 540 horizontal lines of resolution making for much sharper images than the standard VCR format, which has 210 lines. DVD sounds better, too: digital sound can be separated into discrete channels, making surround sound possible.

Imagine taking your laserdisc into your favourite neighbourhood dry cleaner's, then discovering upon pickup that the 12" disc has been shrunk to the size of a CD, while its capacity has been increased substantially. DVD discs not only up the laserdisc's 60 minutes per side to 133 minutes, but by adding another layer beneath the original one - and using both sides of the disc - you can have an amazing 8.7 hours in total on a CD-sized platter. And you get the best video and audio quality ever offered to a home theater enthusiast.

Naturally, however, you need a whole new player, which means a new search of the store shelves.

What do you need to know before making a buying decision? The few basics outlined here should help you make an informed choice.

Most current players have built in Dolby Digital decoders, for receivers that have the six channel inputs or hi-fi systems that offer separate amplifiers and preamps. Other units incorporate high end features such as component or multiple S-Video outputs, while some can play Video CDs or "home made" audio CD's. Some even offer a built in microphone mixer for the karaoke enthusiast.

So what really stands out from one machine to the other? Are there any differences in their picture and sound quality? How do they do for playing music CDs? And what does the future hold for the DVD format?

Features and benefits

Simply put, DVD's picture quality is simply breathtaking and never has such consistency of picture quality ever been achieved in A/V components before: whether you purchase a relatively inexpensive player or a top of the line unit, you'll enjoy picture quality never before experienced in your home.

Certainly, there are feature differences to consider, but if frills aren't on your agenda we recommend purchasing a basic model from a well-known brand name.

Look at least for an S-connector output (even if your current television doesn't have it), because your next TV probably will have one. Most players today have the S-connector, which improves the image quality you get on your TV. There are a variety of I/O options as well, for hooking the player into your A/V receiver or amplifier. Our advice is to have a look at the back panel of your potential DVD player to make sure it will be compatible with your current or future A/V system.

"Component video" outputs are found on many of today's DVD players. These split your video signal into its components: the luminance (all video signals use black and white "luminance" as the basis for a picture), and the colour signals. This is a "high end" hookup that gives the best possible picture quality, without any smearing or noise - but remember that it isn't much good if your TV set doesn't have the corresponding inputs.

Even without component video, DVD gives you the best picture you'll experience in your livingroom today, but it's something you may want to keep in mind if you're planning to upgrade your TV.

DVD Music machine

Is the DVD player's sound as good as that from a CD player?

If you're looking for high end sound quality and you're willing to spend thousands to hear subtle sound differences between one machine and another, then we suggest purchasing a separate CD player. This way you will be assured of the best sound quality from the different formats. Generally speaking, if one can isolate disc the drive transport and the electronic circuitry from each another, there's less chance of impairing the sound quality.

Most people will be perfectly happy with the "all-in-one" DVD machine, though if you still want that little "bit" extra, look for the higher end DVD players in a manufacturer's lineup: the CD section will usually be upgraded.

Or…

DVD Audio

Many audio experts feel that a new, higher "sampling rate" (using the 96kHz format) will produce better audio quality than the regular CD format. This has led to the introduction of "DVD Audio," which offers "high resolution" multichannel sound.

This is a high end audio format that may never catch on with "mainstream" consumers - and not all DVD players are capable of handling the format. An increasing number of discs is being released, however, so you may want to take it into consideration if high end audio is a priority for you.

Remember, though, DVD's already give great sound even if they aren't "96K compatible."

Can you see the difference?

You know this scenario: five people witness an accident and the police receive five different accounts of it. Luckily, in the DVD world, picture quality from one machine to another is so close that - relatively speaking - everyone's opinion is about the same: "Awesome!"

The DVD format has adhered to very close standards as compared to the wide variety of amplifiers and receivers in the marketplace. That isn't to say that there are no differences between a $700 and a $3000 unit, however, especially to the trained eye. The comparisons generally lie in the detection of "digital artifacts" which can cause a picture to shimmer or produce some jagged outlines in a scene.

Some manufacturers have increased their video processing abilities from 9 bit to 10 bit, which is supposed to minimize this problem.

Some machines may make the picture look a little softer than others, or you may find the contrast better on some. As mentioned earlier, you can find subtle differences among manufacturers, but you may not see $2300 worth of difference between the $700 and $3000 unit.

We can't stress enough to try before you buy - and trust your eyes and ears!

DVD Euphoria

DVD is a wonderful addition to any home theatre system and will enhance your enjoyment. If you're uncertain, rent a DVD player and a couple of discs to see for yourself.

We bet you'll never want to look at VHS again!

Rons verdict:

Before giving my verdict, it is perhaps worth pointing out that my opinion of DVD is helped significantly by two factors

Firstly, everything they said above is true. Picture quality is pixel-perfect whilst the sound reproduction is, to my mind, noticeably richer and clearer than on my CD player, whilst perhaps slightly less boomy. At the moment I have copies of Die Hard, Human Traffic and the Matrix. The only one to show any trace of 'artifacts' was the Matrix on a couple of occasions, but this disk was well known for doing this. As normal, however, quality comes at a price. I bought the 'entry level' Samsung machine and it cost me nigh on £350 , whilst discs retail for around £20. The machine also did not come with a scart lead, nor does it support the standard TV-video co-axial lead, using instead an s-video connection not supported by my TV. Also, nearly all films are played in widescreen, but luckily I am an arty farty bastard who quite likes this. If you are a regular person who is just intrigued by the format , it is probably still a little too expensive for what it offers.

In Summary,

Good Points

Bad Points