1204wv04 JVC XV-N212

18/10/04

5:24 pm

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FACT FILE

The amount of detail on offer is impressive and colours are bold

q q q q q q

RGB Scart output Picture adjustments 3 x soundfields super-slim design Slow-motion Zoom

JVC XV-N212

FEATURES Plays: DVD, DVD-R, DVD-RW (Video mode only), DVD+R, DVD+RW (not all discs), CD, VCD, SVCD, CD-R, CD-RW, MP3, JPEG, MPEG4; Dolby Digital/DTS output; resume playback; 1.5x Quick Playback; high-speed picture search; still frame; frame advance; slow-motion; one-touch replay; programmed/random play (CD/VCD/SVCD only); repeat/A-B repeat playback; zoom; Video Fine Processor; sound effect; dynamic range control; onscreen display; JPEG slideshow; 11 wipe effects; parental lock; remote control; dimensions: 435(w) x 44(h) x 201(d)mm SOCKETS RGB Scart socket; composite video output; electrical digital audio output; stereo analogue audio output CONTACT 5000 www.jvc.co.uk TEST DATA Video jitter: 5ns (good) Signal-to-noise ratio: -76.4dB (excellent) Chrominance AM/PM: -67.9dB/-65.7dB (excellent/good) Chroma crosstalk: -56.0dB (good) Frequency response at 5.8MHz (S-video): 2.82dB (excellent) (composite): -0.11dB (excellent) Audio jitter: 777.8ps (below average) For a full explanation of test data, see page 144

DVD player 80

three strengths, each increasing the reverberation of the effect. Playback compatibility is extensive and the JPEG slideshow comes with a range of wipes a surprisingly vast choice, in fact, with no fewer than 11 options to sample. Basic set-up is handled via the onscreen display, which is more basic than were used to these days, and the remote control. The latter, while echoing the decks svelte lines, is awkward to use. The main problem is that the usual array of up/down/left/right buttons does not have the select button in the middle but offset to the right, meaning you have to keep looking for it when making selections. a fuss about this because continued use will iron out most of the problems. We werent overly impressed with CD reproduction but at this price, the deck is most likely to be used as a movie source rather than a home entertainment hub, of course, so this isnt much to worry about. The sound effect isnt worth bothering with, adding a rather unpleasant and artificial-sounding echo to the soundtrack that frankly serves absolutely no purpose. In summary, JVC has delivered a good budget deck verging on very good when you consider the competitive price. You can certainly get better performance from models about 50 up the budget scale but if your wallet would object to this extra outlay then you will get very enjoyable movie delivery from this deck David Smith
One of the slimmest weve seen
VC is making an aggressive move into the budget market with this slimline deck. For around 80 you can get a well-designed, nicely specified DVD player that certainly looks the part. With minimal clutter on the fascia, its a relief to find that not much has been left out. The rear panel has the essential Scart, which can be set for composite, S-video or RGB output. There is also a composite video output, electrical digital audio out and stereo analogue audio sockets. The omission of component video outputs is understandable at this price point but you might still have expected a dedicated S-video output and maybe an optical digital audio option to go with the electrical one. Features are fairly extensive, starting with the usual picture-search and slow-motion options. The zoom goes up to 4x a shame considering the huge magnification offered by other JVC decks. The resume play function goes a step further than most, memorising the resume point for the last 30 discs used. This remains in memory even if the deck is switched off. Another quirky little feature is the Quick Replay mode. Similar to that offered by Panasonic, this boosts playback speed to 1.5x while retaining audio playback. The video performance is adjustable over a wide range of parameters (much more than you would expect on a budget model) via JVCs Video Fine Processor. You can tweak gamma, brightness, contrast, saturation, tint, sharpness and Y delay. There are preset levels for Normal and Cinema use, as well as the option to save two personal settings. There is less scope for fun and games when it comes to audio. JVC offers a sound effect mode, which comes in

PERFORMANCE

With so many picture adjustments on offer, its tempting to start twiddling immediately, but this deck produces a decent enough image out of the box. There is a little bit more picture noise than we would like, with some images displaying noticeable grain. Still, the amount of detail on offer is impressive and colours are bold. On a test scene from X2: X-Men United we were impressed with the overall feel of the picture and the handling of digital effects. Having a bash at the picture settings does improve matters. The sharpness setting in particular seems to cause deterioration in the image when set too high. In some ways having such extensive options available is a bit daunting you always think theres a better picture to be had with a slightly different combination. Experiment for a while and then stick with a combination that pleases you. Trick-play functions are okay but the operating system takes a little getting used to. We never make too much of

WHATS GOOD

Decent picture; nice design

WHATS BAD

Average sound; fiddly remote
PICTURE SOUND FEATURES EASE OF USE VALUE ALSO CONSIDER.
SAMSUNG DVD-Por so more but it is money well spent a Best Buy performer with very good picture quality Reviewed: Aug 04 DENON DVD-1710 Upgrade to a prog scan player for 50 more and youll enjoy super pictures and sound from this Denon deck Reviewed: Sep 04

OVERALL VERDICT

The picture is good and the price is great, making this a tempting budget option
December 2004 s WHAT VIDEO AND WIDESCREEN TV 73

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GroupTest

LG DV8900

70 (APPROX) N N www.lge.co.uk N OVERALL RATING ###
The DV8900 seems to have two key things going for it: it only costs a paltry 69.99 and, at under 40mm, its one of the slimmest DVD players ever. Which is great as far as it goes, of course but does it also measure up when it comes to quality?

Picture

Picture quality is the DV8900s strong point, without question. Its pictures really are outrageously good for such a phenomenally inexpensive deck. Colours are well-saturated and believable, the contrast range is extensive, the depth of field impressive, and the amount of fine detail retrieved commendable. The picture is unexpectedly clean, too, without MPEG blocking noise, smearing, dot crawl or any of those other nasties so common on sub-100 decks.

Description

As stated, the DV8900 is exceptionally slim though not really so amazingly so as to warrant LGs emblazoning of a special Slim Technology logo all over the 8900s box. In fact, I was more taken with the units extremely minimalist style than its slimness; making the inevitable operating buttons tiny and laying them along an
Kept to a diet of Dolby Digital and DTS, the little LG doesnt disappoint. CD playback is much more revealing of the DV8900s deflated price point. Timing generally turned out OK, but theres an electronic timbre to high trebles that prevents the sort of full-range richness that distinguishes the good from the merely average. Tragically, though, the DV8900 has an Achilles Heel. The problem is that there seems to be a marginal synchronisation problem with the decks audio signal. This doesnt often present an issue with perfectly mastered DVDs played on ordinary CRT TVs. But with an LCD, plasma or DLP rear pro TV (which themselves introduce a slight synchronisation error to the audio chain), it can cause noticeable lip-synch anomalies even with perfectly mastered soundtracks. And with discs that have known audio mastering errors like Con Air, Seven and Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels, the problem can be quite horribly distracting even on ordinary CRT TVs.

FEATURES

MPEG chipset: ALi Corporation M3355 A1 Progressive scan: No Picture adjustments: Yes (only Black Level Expansion, though, and thats only with NTSC) Connections: coax digital audio output; stereo audio output; composite video output; RGB Scart Dimensions: 430(w) x 39 (h) x 242(d)mm Weight: 2.2kg
angled-back top slice leaves the fascia looking very sheer.

Connections

Like the JVC reviewed elsewhere, the DV8900s hookups comprise the basics only. Which is to say a single RGB Scart, stereo audio outputs, a coaxial digital output, and a composite video output. Theres no S-Video or optical digital audio output.

Operation

This LGs onscreen menus are among the best in this group, looking professional and attractive, as well as being absolute simplicity itself to navigate. Even simple CD playback benefits from a genuinely helpful onscreen menu thats a lesson to many a more expensive deck. The remote control is OK. There are a few too many buttons,

Excellent

Average

LAB REPORT

many of which are a touch too small but the layout and labelling

save the day, especially given the extra weight correctly accorded to the all-important disc navigation buttons.
Video jitter (-3ns) Signal-to-noise ratio Composite (-77.5dB) Chroma AM (-65.9dB) PM (-63.8dB) Chroma crosstalk (N/A) Freq response S-video (N/A) Component (N/A) Composite (-2.5dB) Audio jitter (1668.5ps)

Features

As youd expect of such a cut-price deck, theres not much to see

Wrap up

The DV8900s superb (for the money) pictures and acceptable sonics would have made it an easy recommendation to the budget buyer in spite of its lack of features were it not for the lip-synch problem. Damn shame.
here. Disc compatibility is pretty extravagant, including the odd rarity such as Windows Media, JPEG and Kodak Picture CDs. And discs start to play impressively quickly after insertion. Otherwise, though, the only things even remotely worth mentioning are impressively fast playback after popping in your disc, a pseudo surround sound
processor, and a Black Level expander which, oddly, only works

with NTSC discs.

90 H O M E C I N E M A C H O I C E

SEPTEMBER

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Tried&Tested

CONCLUSION
Theres no doubt that the bulk of these new decks offer an astonishing selection of functionality. Considering the low price points they cover, HCC has been pretty impressed with the overall standard. The one exception to this is Yamadas DVX-6600. This feels a bit like a throwback to the bad old days of poorly engineered cheap imports seeking to cash in on the then-demand for multi-region players. And so while it scores well in terms of how many features it gives you for your measly 100, in performance terms its a level below any of its rivals. Sitting above it on our league table is LGs 8900. This is tragic in some ways, since it would have fared much better but for a single glitch in its system: the out of sync audio. In picture terms its actually one of the best in the group remarkable considering its price. But that audio problem makes many a DVD all but unwatchable. Eighth place belongs to JVCs N212. This has the looks and price to be a winner, but its just a bit too average on the picture and sound fronts to ultimately win the judges over. We await JVCs budget progressive scan models with interest. So to seventh and the Samsung DVD-P345. This is the first deck of this group which we could confidently say anyone could buy without actually finding much to complain about. And if youre a digital photography obsessive you might well love it for its digital card functions. But in the end, for us this digital card friendliness didnt quite outweigh the averageness of its overall AV performance. gets its so high is its exemplary progressive scan picture performance. If you only want an interlaced picture, we reckon youd be better off with our third placed option, Panasonics DVD-S27. The all-round performance quality from this deck is absolutely outstanding for the money, making it currently our sub-100 deck of choice.

TOP 5 RANKING

1. PIONEER DV-470 2. PHILIPS DVP720SA 3.PANASONIC DVD-S27 4. LAFAYETTE LFDV971D 5. SONY DVP-NS585P
When the going gets tough
From here things get tough. The tussle for fourth, fifth and sixth is a close one between Sonys DVPN585, Lafayettes LFDV971D and Thomsons DTH213. After much soul-searching, we just about rate the Thomson model sixth. In terms of performance quality for the money its actually very good, but its shortage of features ultimately lets it down. Next up the ladder we eventually placed Lafayette. This offers exceptional features for its price, as well as a tasty design and more than solid all-round performance. And it would doubtless have placed higher were it not for its problems with multilingual films and the last-minute arrival of Philips similarly-specced but cheaper DVP720SA. Fourth, then, belongs by the narrowest of margins to Sony although we should probably make it clear that the only thing that

The final two

Just pipped to first place is the Philips DVP720SA. This blew us away with its fearsome combination of features and price (progressive scan AND multichannel SACD playback for 150? Barmy), and then put the icing on the cake by being a highly accomplished performer to boot. Astounding. However, if you can live without the Philips multi-channel audio (or cant afford the extra 30), our ultimate champ this time out is Pioneers DV-470. This offers a sublime combination of pictures, sound and features, all presented in a gorgeous box, accessed via a superbly designed operating system, and then sold for what is, under the circumstances, a song. Time to upgrade, indeed! I

DVD-RW (VR mode)

DVD-Ram Playback

Price () Approx

Super Audio CD

WMA Playback

Memory Cards

DivX Playback

MP3 Playback

Kodak Picture

Screensaver

DVD-Audio

JPEG View

DVD PLAYER

JVC XV-N212 Lafayette LFDV971D LG DV8900 Panasonic DVD-S27 Philips DVP720SA Pioneer DV-470 Samsung DVD-P345 Sony DVP-NS585P Thomson DTH213E Yamada DVX-6600

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H O M E C I N E M A C H O I C E 103

OVERALL

PICTURE