Samsung DVD-HD841 Up-Converting DVD Player

• 720p, 768p, and 1080i upconversion from conventional DVD-Video images (for use with high-definition and HD-ready TVs)
• High-resolution audio performance with Super Audio CD (SACD) and DVD-Audio decoding
• DVI digital video output with cable
• EZ View letterbox eliminator
• Includes remote control

I very rarely write a negative review, but this player is so bad, I felt compelled to write this. I just don't want anyone else to waste their money on this unit like I did.

I have 4 DVD players (accumulated over several years) in addition to the Samsung DVD-HD841: a Sony DVP-NS700 (old, but great progressive scan), Pioneer DVD-563A (universal SACD/DVD-A, prog. scan), and the Toshiba SD-5970 (HDMI, 720P/1080i upconversion), an XBox with the DVD dongle (480i only).

I'm not joking when I say the Samsung is by far the worst player (in every way) that I have ever owned. Here's why:

1. DVI output (any resolution) is terrible. No shadow detail regardless of the brightness setting on my high-def front projector (projecting onto 92" screen). Horribly soft picture which results in very little detail, like looking at the image through a steamed up lens. The DVI output is actually the worst video connection on this unit, and yet most people will buy this unit (as I did) to experience the 720p/1080i upconversion. The Toshiba unit's HDMI video output is wonderful and shows how upconversion should be handled!

2. The Samsung keeps skipping audio when playing DTS soundtracks. I thought it was a dirty disc at first, but this happens with every single disc, regardless of how I clean them, and none of my other players have this issue.

3. Really bad response to the remote control, and limited angle of control. It's tough operating this player as it is slow to respond to its remote control and you really have to point it at the unit.

4. Forgettable sound quality with SACDs and DVD-As the Pioneer is much better (and it's cheaper too!).

5. As documented by several Amazon.com reviewers (and elsewhere on the internet), the Samsung forgets its settings each time it's turned off, so you have to re-configure its DVI, Dolby and DTS settings all over again. Such a pain.

My advice to you is please do not buy this unit, and save yourself the money! If you're looking for DVI or HDMI 720p/1080i video upconversion, go with one of the other players with this feature that have great reviews (e.g. the Toshiba, Panasonic, Sony, Denon). If you're looking for a DVD player which plays SACDs and DVD-As, there are now many low-cost alternatives too.

I can't believe Samsung could release such a poor product.

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I have had this DVD Player for several weeks now and only had one major problem; that was the setup issue that several have had. However, I was aware of this problem and knew how to solve it. But, it should be noted that Samsung has a firmware updated available that solves this problem. I am guess that Samsung will have this firmware updated preinstalled in the near future.

I rent movies from Netflix, the 5 at a time plan, so I watch a lot of DVD's maybe too many. I have not had any problems with a DVD skipping. In fact, I haven't had any problems at all with the playback of DVD's. The sound is great and the picture is perfect displaying the finest detail and the full range of colors. I am using the DVI output set at 1080i. I only wish that I could get the picture to look half as good when watching standard definition TV stations. I have spent hours finessing the color of standard definition (S-Video) and only a few minutes adjusting the DVI settings.

The only gripes that I have are with the remote. You do have to point the remote almost directly at the DVD player for it to receive the RF signal. And the buttons on the remote are somewhat close together making it difficult to press the correct button sometimes.

I am giving this item 4 stars because of the remote control issues. Other that these two issues with the remote, I have had no problems with this DVD player. And the price of this DVD player when compared to the others with the same features almost overcomes these minor problems.

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I'm 35 and reasonably electronic literate. I bought this piece of at Best Buy and in short I packed it up and took it back the very next day. The only other dvd player with HD capablities at Best Buy was the Toshiba SD-5970 and the sales floor rep actually told me to go with the Samsung. I couldn't have been more dissapointed with anything I've ever bought electronics wise and it's even more expensive than it's Toshiba counterpart believe it or not. To sum it up I bought this player obviously for it's HD upgrade capabilities. I wanted my dvd's obviously to be viewed in their optimum picture quality and thankfully I did get just that, once I switched out my Samsung for the Toshiba after a trip back to Best Buy that is. The Samsung's picture actually was barely an improvement on the Progressive scan Sony that I already have and for me that was enough. The Toshiba not only didn't have the screen flicker that the Samsung revealed but it has a near true HD signal and the clearness in picture compared to the Samsung is like night and day. Great picture, crisp and clear and truly HD like and it's DTS compatible as well. If you're a fan of the fact that the Samsung can play SACD's then don't let the only difference between these two sucker you into buy it like it did me along with the bad advice I received from the Best Buy representative also. If you're like me and are all about optimum picture quality do yourself a huge favor and do not buy this product. Save a few dollars and get the near true HD picture that you and your HDTV deserve and go with the Toshiba. The difference was huge and don't let their prices fool you either as the Samsung is actually the more expensive of the two. Bottom line; If you care about picture quality and are picky about this sort of thing and want your dvd's to look the very best they possibly can on your HDTV then buy the Toshiba. Enough said.

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For those that are considering buying this DVD player please understand that I believe the quality of picture you will get depends on what you are hooking the player up to. I have a Hitachi HD 50v500 widescreen LCD. This television has a processor inside that upconverts a normal analog component input (for example a 480P signal) to virtual HD. Therefore on my previous progressive scan player, the picture was pretty good. It was still not as great as a true 760 or 1080 signal, but definitely better than SD signals. This is where you need to know what is happening to a sub-HD signal inside your t.v./monitor. This DVD player upconverts the 480p signal inside and passes this signal digitally via the DVI cable. This player is basically completing the same job that the Hitachi would be doing inside the t.v., resulting in a similar picture quality, which again is good but definitely not HD. If you have a t.v./monitor which doesn't upconvert a sub-hd signal to virtual hd, then this player will noticably improve your picture quality. But what it comes down to is this, how can you create more pixels when the pixels aren't there on the DVD to begin with? There is no such thing currently in the U.S. as an HD-DVD, therefore we are stuck with a computer to approximate and fill in more pixels.

Bottom line, check with the manufacturer of your t.v./monitor to see what it is doing with a sub-hd signal before investing in this player. For me a progressive scan player will suffice until the HD-DVD's come out.

Don't buy this player just because of the DVI. When you use the DVI, the Samsung doesn't render all gradations of black. You can clearly see this in the THX contrast test or by noting how dark the interiors are on the first few minutes of Star Wars Episode IV. Sound & Vision magazine noted it too (January issue). It's a critical flaw, very noticeable, and for me renders DVI unwatchable. That said, the component video output delivers a good picture and I'm happy with the sound, but don't be like me and buy this player because you wanted to check out DVI.