Samsung’s DVD-HD931 DVD player offers a digital visual interface (DVI), which caters to the new era of digital TVs. You can transfer the DVD player’s digital signal directly to the display without any unnecessary signal-degrading digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital conversions.

In 2003, DVI w/HDCP (digital visual interface with high-bandwidth digital content protection) became a de facto connection standard for most mid- to high-end HD monitors. This multipin computer-type connector carries the uncompressed digital video signal directly from the DVD into the display device. The promise: a pure digital connection with no digital-to-analog-to-digital conver sions, providing a cleaner, more lifelike DVD picture.

To investigate this claim, I reviewed one of the first DVI-equipped players, the Samsung DVD-HD931. This handsome unit has a silver faceplate, a soothing baby-blue display and a bright cool-blue backlit scan shuttle ring. It looks more expensive than its $349 retail price would suggest. (Expected street price is $299.) The feature list is equally impressive. It includes a standard 480i output via component, S-video and composite video connections; a progressive (480p) analog output is also offered via the component video connection. Through the DVI connector, the user can choose upconversion to 480p, 720p or 1080i scan rate outputs while the signal remains in its digital form. Other features include MP3 audio with programmed play, JPEG photo play, zoom (2x and 4x), a non-proportional zoom called S-fit, analog audio output, digital audio output (via both optical and RCA jack) and Faroudja deinterlacing with DCDi signal processing.

I checked out the DVD-HD931’s performance by using the 480i scan rate first, then 480p (analog) and the DVI (digital) outputs. The 480i performance is best described as ordinary and comparable to players selling for less than one-third its price. So I moved on to the higher scan rates you would use with an HD set, beginning with 480p. I viewed a number of DVDs, both movies and test discs. The player produced (via its analog component video output) a picture that could only be described as unremarkable. In fact, my two-year-old progressive player produced better, clearer results. Test signals confirmed the lack of perfor mance, as did numerous visible picture artifacts. How could this be, I pondered? This unit has Faroudja’s coveted deinterlacing with DCDi circuitry. I inserted my trusty Faroudja Test Disc that was designed specifically to compare Faroudja upconversion favorably against all competitors. I ran every test. The player failed each one! Where lines should have been solid, they flickered; where patterns should have been black and white, they produced multi-colored rainbows. Faroudja uses a very famous flag- waving test where the stripes on Old Glory should look straight and true. They were as jagged as the teeth on my biggest wood saw.

Undaunted, I switched to the player’s DVI output. Now the pictures looked fabulous. There was more detail, excellent color, and the noise and interference were gone. The player passed every test pattern with flying colors. I switched the player’s DVI output from 480p to 720p and again to 1080i. All test patterns remained artifact free. Consequently, I surmised that the Faroudja circuit kicks in only when you use the DVI connection.

The player has a handsome silver finish with a baby-blue display and a bright, cool-blue backlitscan shuttle ring. The player can read nearly every type of disc, except for high-resolution multichannel audio.

I went back to movie content to see which scan rate looked best on the two DVI-equipped displays from Sony and Hitachi I had on hand. The Sony is a widescreen set that natively displays both 480p and 1080i line signals. It was close, but the player’s 480p output appeared sharper and more detailed. To date, it is the best native enhanced-definition picture I have been able to make this television produce.

The only drawback is that the picture, via the DVI input, grew about 3%, which cuts off about 8% of the content at the edges. The TV, with various sources connected to its analog video inputs, overscans or cuts off about 5% of the image, which is about average. I have heard reports of other displays having size and picture issues with certain DVI source devices. I suggest that anyone planning to use this input purchase the DVI-equipped source device from a dealer with a good return policy. In my opinion, there has not been adequate interoperability testing between DVI source devices and displays. Until there is, the buyer needs to be aware that certain combinations may not operate as expected.

 
The cause of the excessive overscan is unknown, and I would not blame the Sam sung player because when it was connected to another display device, the 42-inch Hitachi plasma, I did not have this problem. The signal, whether via analog component video or DVI, produced exactly the same size image. Using the Hitachi plasma, I came to the same conclusion as I did with the Sony display: The player’s 480p scan rate was the one to use. I found that setting the DVI output to 480p and letting the plasma upconvert the signal to the TV’s native rate produced the best result. Again, the picture was stunning and virtually free of noise and interference.

If you want a top-quality picture from a low-cost player and have a DVI w/HDCP- equipped display device, I highly recommend Samsung’s DVD-HD931. Connected to an HD monitor via DVI, it will make your DVDs come alive.