1st Major Player From Samsung in the UPconvert Scaling, game.

Author's Rating:

Pros: Solid look, Fine Picture, Trendy design, 1080i, 720p. Plays about anything.

Cons: Upconvert can only be done from player. Poor remote.

The Bottom Line: 
Look for the Samsung HD841, this is a second choice even if it cost more.

Author's Review
Well, I have written on all three of the Samsung players I have, and this is the oldest in the game. Was pricy, and has DCDI, and looks very nice at 1080i or 720p. It lacks picture adjustments you would expect at the price when new. No doubt a bargain now days. Still it is a player in this game, because there are not alot of UPconvert players out there. When tested on my three TVs, which are a Hitach 60" a SONY 50" both LCD and a Sanyo 30" Widscreen HDTV, traditional tube, it did very very well. Much better details on newer released DVDs. Older DVDs seem not to improve as much. If you are new to the game I suggest a Samsung HD841, which is the better of these two. The HD941 was a disappointment, with the only change being to HDMI, and the picture or features the same, just more money.
If your TV calls for HDMI then a Monster DVI to HDMI adpater has worked well for me. While this has a trendy design the HD841 looks more solid, and is more in tune with todays TV WEGA clones. But if you like the " wow " effect the blue lights on this one, make it really stand out.

There is some chromo error in the blacks, and they at times lean towards greenish. Though not as bad as the two Toshiba models mentioned below. I have not see any white out, effects, and for the most part, the picuture obtained with the DV
I signal at 1080i, is indeed impressive.

Still if you find this one and can not find a HD841 you will be happy, only the Toshiba SD5960/5970 has been a disappointment, the first did not work the one I keept over heats. This Samsung player will run for days on end, not turned off.

Still with DCDi I found it less impressive on screen than the Samsung HD841. For some reason the DCDi is maxed out, and thus non adjustable, and actually offers a less defined picture than the newer, cheaper HD841. Though the difference is not great, this machine cost 2x as much , so one expected more, and with DCDi?

Samsung has come FAR in what it now produces, this is a serious player in the HDTV market, but remains one that is overall still reasonably priced. BB and CC both often have this or a newer Samsung hooked up to a set if you ask to view one in action.

REMEMBER: YOU MUST HAVE A HDTV, WITH A DVI PORT, OR HDMI PORT TO USE THIS WITH, THERE ARE DVDI TO HDMI ADAPTERS AND CABLES, THAT CORRECT THAT, BUT WITHOUT ONE OF THE TWO PORTS ON YOUR TV, THIS PLAYER CAN NOT USE THE UPCONVERTING FEATURES.

3/24/05: Just went over my list and have found that Samsung has a couple of new players comming a DVD-HD850 and DVD-HD950, the specs sound quite similar to previous players, though I had little to go on. The style will be similar to the DVD-841, and the HD950 is in black. You might wish to wait and see what developes with these two, but if you want to want one now I still say go for the DVD-HD841.


UPDATE OF INTEREST: I have just reviewed the DENON DVD-955S and since it is somewhat similar, might be of interest to you.

Other similar items:
Panasonic DVD-S97S - HDMI
Denon DVD-955S - DVI & HDMI
Denon DVD-755S - DVI
Samsung DVD-HD931 - DVI
Samsung DVD-HD841 - DVI
Samsung DVD-HD850 - HDMI
Samsung DVD-HD941 - HDMI
Toshiba SD-V592 DVD-VCR Combo - HDMI
Toshiba SD-5960 - HDMI
Toshiba SD-5970 - HDMI
Toshiba SD-5980 - HDMI
Denon DVD-1910 - DVI
Denon DVD-2910 - DVI & HDMI
Denon DVD-3910 - DVI & HDMI
LG LGDVB418 - HDMI
Norcent DP-501M - Component Connection

Known coming similar item: Samsung DVD-HD950

SONY will introduce an line Mid Summer of similar UPconvert players.

Samsung will introduce a Combo Mid Summer of this type DVD.

TESTS COMING SOON, Zenith & LG UPconvert players. Euro brands and whatever else comes my way.

I will update this as I get more information that can be verified.

4/19/05 ENJOY!