0805WHC24 Thomson DPL912VD

13/6/05

4:40 pm

Page 64

Budget DVD Systems # Group test

Thomson DPL912VD T

his package combines a DVD player and surround sound speakers all for the amazingly price of 140. Despite the ultra-low price tag, this system is equipped with everything you need to unleash surround sound 5.1 soundtracks from DVDs. Dolby Digital and DTS decoders are also included to take care of 5.1 soundtracks, while Dolby Pro-Logic II converts stereo into a digital-like 5.1 surround sound experience. MP3 and JPEG files stored on CD-R and CD-RWs are handled, as is DiVX playback for watching movie files downloaded from the internet. Video connectivity is similarly respectable, and the Thomson comes with top-notch component video output and progressive scan capability offering superior picture performance when hooked up to a suitable TV screen. But theres also a handy RGB-enabled Scart socket for connection to a conventional TV set as well as a composite video connection offering basic quality. Theres no dedicated S-video connection. Analogue audio connections are provided for hook up from external sources, but theres no provision to route digital audio signals from a Sky set-top box, for example. Set up is trouble-free and the connections and cables are clearly labelled and colour-coded. The supplied remote handset provides complete system control from the comfort of your armchair, but there are no backlit buttons for identifying disc navigational controls once the lights are dimmed. criticism concerns the cheaply built speakers, which sound thin and coarse with the movies easternstyle music. Dialogue is unrefined too, and the Thomson struggles with sudden dynamic changes to the soundtrack, and delivers occasional audio dropouts during louder passages. The subwoofers slender dimensions make it ideal for placement beside the TV, but its not a particularly potent model and action effects have a tendency to sound half-hearted.

TEST SCENE

House of Flying Daggers
Respectable picture quality, but bass performance during The Echo Game is less spectacular than rivals due to the sub

Picture this.

Picture-wise, theres very little to complain about, and its difficult to see where sacrifices have been made. The Thomsons pictures are well judged and progressive scan signals provide the most stable images and colours. Black levels are particularly impressive and images have a good sense of depth while watching our DVD test disc of House of Flying Daggers. Details are respectable and colours are vibrant even when using lesserquality composite video signal connection, and theres little to criticise at the price. The surround sound performance is respectable at the price and it produces a good sense of being surrounded by sound. Our only

Cut to the chase

In contrast, the systems musical performance is surprisingly respectable. The subwoofers punchy bass carries music along with a good sense of pace and energy while playing the Scissor Sisters album, and the stereo satellites create an enjoyable sound which isnt overly brash or detailed. Despite a lack of refinement, the Thomson DPL912VD outperforms our expectations at the ultra-low price. The cheaply manufactured speaker package may not produce the most natural sound we have heard, but Thomsons picture performance and facilities are well above par at the price. This is a worthwhile home cinema system if youre on a tight budget I

PRICE 140

www.thomson-europe.com 0871 7121342

RATINGS

Style Ease of use Features Picture Sound Value Overall ###$$ ####$ ####$ ####$ ###$$ ####$ ####$

AT A GLANCE

I FEATURES
Progressive scan Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby Pro-Logic II DiVX playback DVD-Audio (low res only) WMA, MP3, JPEG playback FM tuner Composite video output 2 x analogue audio/video input FM antenna input

WHC VERDICT

Performance is above par given that the Thomson is one of the most affordable home cinema systems on the market

I CONNECTIONS

Component output RGB Scart S-video output

Speaker terminals

Component video

Scart (RGB)

64 WHC August 2005