UPconverting DVD Player that Works with COMPONENT VIDEO!
Written: May 19 '05 (Updated May 20 '05)
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Pros: Uses COMPONENT connections, to UPconvert pictures. Needs NO special ports. High Quality Video. DIVx
Cons: Not a name brand, and unknown durability, though uses name brand parts.
The Bottom Line: The fact this works with ALL HDTVs using regular component connections, combined with a surprising picture and abilities to adjust it, makes it a winner. DVI or HDMI not required.
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| schafercorp's Full Review: Norcent Technologies DP-501M DVD Player |
I've been buying UPconverting DVD players for going on three years, and this is one I passed over, simply because I regarded it a dime store brand, to coin an old phrase! I was shocked, at it's performance, it's quality, it's picture, what all it had to offer, and anything else one could be surprised with out of a NON expensive, off brand DVD player.
First, simply put this is not your average low end DVD player, it has abilities one finds in high dollar machines, and it delivers an amazing quality of picture.
It does this without the use of DVI or HDMI ports. I'll explain all those shortly. What it can do, is play a DVD at HD resolutions of 1080i and 720p, it can also play DIVx movies, it connects thru " Component Video " allowing older HD sets to enjoy a High resolution they can not get out of most of these new type of players because for several years, HDTVs did not have the new connections, like DVI or HDMI.
There are SEVERAL MILLION HDTV owners who have paid HUGE dollars for HDTVs, that can not use other UPconverting players, which truly add to the visual quaility of any DVD.
Often buying one, and finding it required a special connection, and that is not the case with the Norcent.
One more thing amazing and found only in the Panasonic DVD-S97S, was the ability to adjust your picture, while not to the degree of the Panasonic, you can adjust thru your DVD player things like contrast, color, brightness, which is just not something one expects out of a low dollar machine.
Before I tell you more about this player, let me explain what an UPconverting player does. Normal DVD players, play a DVD at 480i resolution. Progressive scan DVD players which require a HDTV can achieve 480p. UPconverting or scaling players, can enhance your resolution between 2X and 3X by doing 720p and 1080i. All this works very similar to how you raise your resolution on your computer monitor, which increases your picture detail and quality.
HDTVs in current production use a HDMI or DVI port to connect to popular DVD players that can UPconvert, but JDTVs just a couple of years old have " neither " of these ports to connect one of these players with. THIS player,will connect TO ANY HDTV via the component " red, blue , green " cables.
As mentioned I've reviewed most of the current stock of this style of player and have been aware that the new players tend to leave out a mass market of HDTV owners who do not have these connections. The reason new players do not is " Hollywood Pressure " because UPconverting thru component video , has an effect on copyright protection, so major electronics companies go along with the pressure and only LG / Zenith ever made one of these players, and it was under the Zenith name, and newer versions of that player will not UPconvert with component video, thus causing alot of sad people, who simply want a better picture, and have no options with their TVs. And in truth people who were early HDTV adopters paid more for their TVs. Since this player comes in one form, with no HDMI or DVI ports, one can fairly judge it, unlike the Zenith which requires buying a used model, since when they changed the codes " firmware " making it unable to play an UPconverted picture, with a component connection, Zenith keept the same model number. The Norcent is simply what it states it is. That's one reason this player excited me, while I own a Zenith, I am aware many people get taken in auctions, thinking it will work with their TV and it will not. The Norcent will work with any HDTV. Since the Zenith is the only real rival, and it does have DCDi " an enhanced processor " , and this player does not say whether it does or not. I will tell you that, thru a comparable connection, of component video, this player HAS the BETTER picture, and overall, is far superior to it's rival. That said, and explained, this is truly a gem amongst giants.
Now that I have explained what this players primary purpose is I will list what it does well, and or wrong.
1. THE DP-501M HAS A FANTASTIC PICTURE on ANY HDTV, clean and crisp and bright with high clarity. On the level of the best of this class.
2. The Video processor is equal to the new Samsung DVD-HD850) and the Toshiba DS-5980, and does a wonderful job. NO " jitters " or " sticking, on all DVDs I have tested.
3. Black levels are above average, with details in black showing and NO CHROMO error at all. What this means is there is little of the blacks that turn greenish that I found, and there is an ability to see detail in blacks. Another amazing thing from a NON name brand player.
4. While oddly large, the remote is very easy to use, and responsive. One can simply stop the picture, goto settings brighten or darken it to suit themselves, and press play and off you go, from the point you stopped at.
5. And it plays popular formats including all the norms, like DVD-R, R and MP3, what is more shocking is only the LG player in this class will play DIVx. DIVx if you are not familiar is the popular format of downloaded movies, and one can easily copy any to a CD-R put it in this player, and it is on your TV set. This of course is another feature I am sure Hollywood is not pleased but my point is not to argue the merits of DIVx, just make you aware what this player can do.
6. It is also a Media reader, and will display and work with most forms of Digital cameras. Allowing you UPconvert the picture you have just taken and view it on TV, in HD quality. Nice!
7. One thing I do know is this player is based on the popular PC part maker Lite-ONs DVD drive, which is a real plus, and that is a name brand. While I try not to make a list of specs, I DO want to draw attention to anything that, makes a product Better or worse.
8. I found NO HEAT issues. Another plague of these players.
They run often almost hot, this one runs warm at the most.
No stalls or locks from heat, and it ran on repeate for three " 3 " days, straight, perfectly fine.
9. I found the sound quality to also be above average, and while not the main purpose of the player, has no faults, and works just fine with a basic connection, or receiver.
Now that I've listed what it does do, I'll make mention of what I consider the one and only negative.
1. Norcent is a non name brand, which means low cost, and while this product came in at 299.00 it quickly dropped to 199.00 and now can be found anywhere from 50.00 to 100.00 .
Well that all sounds like a plus, and in a way it is, THE ONE BIG QUESTION here is is the product durable.
When I think Norcent, I think Walmart and Christmas bargains, and that is the price range most of this companies items are at. Around 39.00. Of course NONE of those is this player. I can honestly say this that mine has ran several days as stated above with NO issues at all.
Most DVD players do not this well.
When a player does all the basics, does all the things a better player does, has features seen on players that cost over 1000$ USD, and does things found on speciality DVD players like DIVx, and Media reading as well as can EASILY connect to any HDTV, and does NOT REQUIRE amy special port connection. I remain taken back.
The DP-501m comes in a silver case, with an easily readable screen, done in black. Even if you do not own a HDTV there are features mentioned above, you can easily enjoy with the traditional S-video, or composite connections.
Like I said, it is hard to gauge or compare any foundation of company history here, because there is nothing to compare it to. I had no expectations and am still toying with it, because it's a rather unique item in it's field.
There is no indication of problems, one might want to look at other Norcent reviews, but none of them have the Lite-On drive that I am aware of. While a real bargain player, it sure does not perform like a bargain player. A a real " RARE " find.
This player was tested on the following TV sets:
Hitachi 60" LCD
SONY 50" LCD
Panasonic Plasma 42" HDTV " plasma will only do 768p
resolution and works fine here too!
Sanyo CRT HDTV Widescreen 30" tube.
RCA 32" HDTV 4:3 CRT tube.
Below is a list of players I have used to compare this player with, and have now or have owned.
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
Toshiba SD-5960 - HDMI
Toshiba SD-5970 - HDMI
Toshiba SD-5980 - HDMI
Samsung DVD-HD941 - HDMI
Toshiba SD-V592 DVD-VCR Combo - HDMI
Denon DVD-2910 - DVI & HDMI
Denon DVD-3910 - DVI & HDMI
LG LGDVB418 - HDMI
My FINAL OPINION: Is if you find one of these, buy it, if you own a HDTV. If you own a HDTV without a DVI port ot a HDMI port, which almost all UPconverting players require, YOU NEED TO Look for one of these. This is the answer, that eludes many seeking an UPconverting player only to find one, and it not work with their TV. Again it works with ALL HDTVs. And it will surprise you also. Being I know of no history of this brand, I suggest you buy retail if at all possible for warranty protection.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 69.00
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Epinions.com ID:
schafercorp
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Member: Jeff Schafer
Location: OH
Reviews written: 35
Trusted by: 9 members
About Me:
Work as an Independent Advisor. Products & Software Tester since 1994. Writer.
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