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Brief introduction to digital technology
by Dimitri Goutis
Better make room for a new component in your entertainment center because chances are that soon you’ll be adding a new DVD player. Although DVD players and the DVD format are not catching on as quickly as was predicted, they are becoming increasingly popular and are set to replace the aging VCR players. Think of it as a tale similar to the audio tape and the compact disc: “Once upon a time, there was an audio cassette which was devoured by a beast called a Compact disc.” The DVD tale, however, has no end to it. It will continue to progress at a rate faster than anyone can keep up with as technology keeps advancing.
Yet selecting a DVD player for your living space is anything but a simple fairy tale. The consumer is very conscious of the fact that practically hundreds of DVD players are out there, each with various company logos, and each with thousands of features and capabilities. It is no wonder that the consumer feels like he or she is tumbling down a wormhole. Features like Dolby Digital and Digital Theater Sound (DTS) decoding, component video outputs, and manufacturers ranging from KLH to Sony to Theta Digital have the consumers wide-eyed with amazement but with their backs turned away from DVD technology. That is true for the most part. Many people embrace new technologies with passion, ignoring the complexity of them and taking advantage of the possibilities they have to offer. Pure fun is the best description that comes to mind.
Purchasing a DVD player can be fun for everyone if all the features and possibilities are put forth in a simple yet effective manner. Before anyone goes out to purchase a DVD player, certain things need to be taken into consideration.
Considerations
First of all, consumers have to develop a familiarity with the technologies and features available today. Technologies and terms such as Dolby Digital, DTS and Virtual Surround (Spacializer) need to be researched. Also, cost must be considered. The price of a DVD player starts in the hundreds of dollars and and goes up to the thousands. Last but not least, the individual’s entertainment needs have to be met. Is the DVD player to be used in a home theater, or is it simply going to be used with a television? Does it have all the features that you are looking for?
Once these basic aspects are taken into account, start looking at the options present. Did someone say simple? That is a far cry from the truth. People use the phrase “the sky is the limit” for many things, and selecting a DVD player could very well be one of them.
First of all, manufacturers have about three different models on their DVD lineup, with different features and for every budget. As mentioned earlier, manufacturers range from low-end RCA to high end Theta Digital and Pioneer. But what about those features that should be taken into consideration?
The following listing overviews certain features according to two categories: audio and video.
Audio
Dolby Digital Compatibility
Dolby Digital is a relatively new way to reproduce sound for theaters and for home entertainment. Introduced in 1992 in the movie Batman Returns, Dolby Digital is a way to digitally reduce the background noise that comes from the audio sources, like the speakers and the receiver. Think of it as the latest version of the legendary Dolby Noise Reduction system used in tape players. Dolby Digital is able to produce crystal-clear sound and deliver it discretely to all speaker channels. This delivery systemmeans that sound only comes out from each speaker when it has to. This system is unlike the common Dolby Surround Pro-Logic, which delivers sound to four channels at the same time, using analog methods. Dolby Digital is the standard feature of all DVDs today. Just look for the Dolby Digital logo on the front panel of the DVD player.
Dolby Digital Decoding
Not all DVD players are able to decode the Dolby Digital signal because most DVD players in the middle of the price range contain a built-in Dolby decoder and all that is required is a Dolby Digital-ready stereo receiver. While DVD players in the lower price range are able to send out this signal, but they cannot process it. Rather, a separate decoder is needed to connect to the Dolby Digital-ready receiver or a Dolby Digital receiver. These receivers are usually identified by the Dolby Digital logo they cary on the front cover. Also, Dolby Digital-ready receivers have six discrete inputs on the back, which are usually labeled “5.1 Channel input”.
DTS compatibility
DTS is an abbreviation for Digital Theater Sound. The purpose of DTS is to further enhance the quality and realism of the soundtrack of a movie. The most commonly used slogan is that DTS re-creates sound the way that the director intended for it to be heard. However, DTS is not as common a feature as Dolby Digital mainly because there are few movies that encoded with the DTS sound format. Many DVD players and receivers are able to decode the DTS signal. It is therefore only a matter of time before DTS becomes one of the standards in home entertainment. Look for the DTS logo on the front panels of the components.
Digital Optical Output
This output is used primarily for transferring the Dolby Digital and any audio signal from the DVD player to the receiver or the processor. It is a few steps higher than the common RCA connection because it is able to transfer data more efficiently and with less distortion. This type of output is also a standard on all DVD players today, and some have more than one optical outputs. The second one can be used to connect the DVD player to a Mini-Disc recorder or a CD-Recorder.
Digital Coaxial Output
This output is a step higher than the standard optical outpu, and it is able to transfer data with even less distortion. What is most important is that this output can be used for transferring the DTS signal. Standard optical output is also able to do this, but not at the same level a digital coaxial cable can. This feature is quickly becoming more commonplace in the world of DVD players.
RCA outputs
This output is perhaps the most commonly used connection on any type of video or audio equipment. Therefore, it could not be absent from the DVD player. This connection is used simply for transferring audio signals from the player to the receiver or the decoder, but it is unable to carry Dolby Digital and DTS signals. In other words, these outputs can be used to listen to music and watch movies in Dolby Surround Pro-Logic mode. RCA connections are a fairly “ancient” feature when compared to the other two options available.
Compatibility with Recordable and Rewritable CDs
This compatibility is crucial. With CD recorders becoming more and more popular, DVD players should be compatible with the rewritable and recordable CDs. Surprisingly, many DVDs are not compatible with one of the two formats or even both. This feature is a very important one if your CD library consists primarily of recordable and rewritable discs. Currently, Pioneer is one of the few manufacturers that has considered this requirement and is a top choice for many consumers. Nonetheless, other manufacturers are realizing the importance of compatibility and are taking the necessary steps to meet the consumer’s needs.
Virtual Surround
This feature may be considered important, especially for those who are on a tight budget. Virtual Surround creates a “fake” surround field by using the RCA cables and only two speakers instead of five. Therefore, all that is required to produce good quality sound is a stereo receiver and two speakers. The surround effects created are acceptable, but they cannot meet Dolby Digital and DTS standards by any means.
Digital to Analog Conversion Rate
Another feature that is becoming standard is the 24bit/96KHz digital to analog conversion rate. This conversion rate is used when the DVD player is reading a CD. A common CD player has a 16bit/48KHz digital to analog conversion rate, and the higher these two numbers are the better because these numbers indicate that music can be reproduced more accurately. Most DVD players with this feature have the two numbers-24bit/96KHz-on their front panels.
Video
RCA video output
Perhaps the most “primitive” of the video output on the DVD player, this yellow output serves one and only purpose: to transmit a decent picture to the television. With better options out there, it is highly recommended that the RCA output be used only as a last resort.
S-Video output
This output is also standard on DVD players today. It is easily identifiable because it is similar to a USB connection on a computer but has a smaller diameter. The picture that is obtained through the use of the S-Video output is dramatically improved and very noticeable when compared to the RCA connection. It is highly recommended that the S-Video output be used. There is, however, one downside to this feature: the television must have a S-Video input or it will not work. Most new televisions have this feature as it is quickly becoming the standard.
Component Video outputs
Another feature that improves the picture quality even more than the S-Video option, Component Video consists of three outputs with different colors. Think of it in this manner: the picture is divided into three different outputs, instead of one, which is the case with S-Video and RCA connections. This division automatically means higher resolution, vividness and clarity. Component Video, unfortunately, is available only on higher-end DVD players and, as with S-Video, the television must be Component Video compatible. Once again, expensive televisions carry this feature. Overall, a feature which is highly recommended for those who are not a tight budget and are plain fans of good picture quality, regardless of the price.
Summary
These are a few the basic features that one should look for when shopping for a DVD player. Of course, there are many others that are not available on a widespread basis such as High Definition Compact Disc (HDCD) decoding, which improves the quality of common CDs and provides crystal -clear sound with HDCD coded CDs. Another option that is gaining popularity is the multiple disc DVD player. Sony, for example, has already released a two-hundred disc DVD changer. Of course, the changer is able to read CDs, and many people see this ability as an advantage. Instead of having two different components, they prefer to have two. Logical, one might say.
One might also say that the possibilities a DVD player has to offer, are limitless, and they would be absolutely correct. It is possible to connect a DVD player to a single television or to use it as part of a complete home theater system.
The choice is yours, and should be researched thoroughly because a DVD player is not the cheapest component you can buy. It is definitely worth the money though. My advice: look around and have some fun. That is what DVD players are used for anyway — pure fun!!
