Guidelines for DVD Equipment by Philip Ehrensaft
/ September 2, 2002
Version française...
If you enjoy opera or ballet, now is the time to
move over to DVD. The higher technical qualities bring us closer to
irreplaceable live performances and the benefits of being able to relive or
anticipate performances.
 No less than eighty-two opera
DVD titles are available in Canada, and this number will increase at a healthy
clip. The medium offers distinct visual improvements over VHS and better sound
than Hi-Fi VHS. Prices for DVD players and requisite high-resolution televisions
have tumbled and the cost of an opera on DVD is often less than an audio CD set
since the content is on one disk as opposed to two or three, and it is not
necessary to print a libretto.
It is possible to assemble a
high quality DVD setup without breaking the bank. Step one is having a
television capable of displaying DVD's high-resolution output. This requires a
TV with either SVHS ("supervideo") or "component" input jacks. DVDs played via
the familiar coaxial cable deliver somewhat better images than VHS, but most of
their higher resolution and better colour saturation is lost. Component video
yields a slightly better picture than supervideo, so look for a television with
component inputs unless you get a very good deal on a unit that has only
SVHS.
The 27" screen TV is the most common in today's market; excellent units sell
for less than $500. The brands that typically score high in Consumer
Report tests
for picture quality are Sony, Toshiba, and RCA, although the latter has a
problematic repair record.
The audio quality of the
television is not a great concern. If you're serious about music, you will
channel DVD audio tracks through your sound system or amplified computer
speakers (Altec, Lansing and Cambridge Audio are good bets). Your two-channel
stereo system will do fine; the "PCM stereo" sound track on DVDs is high
quality. Surround sound has compressed, lower quality sound on 5.1 tracks and
can be saved for car chases and war flicks.
DVD players
fall into three classes: standard single-disk, standard multidisc, and
"progressive-scan." The latter, which does not cost much more than standard
players, offers resolution and colours verging on lifelike only if you invest in
an "HD-ready" television (HD =
high definition). These units run from $1500 and up.< /FONT
>
A multidisc DVD player is of
little benefit to classical music fans unless they have a mad desire to watch
the entire Ring Cycle without a single visit to the fridge. A quality
single-play unit is sufficient for viewing classical performances. Toshiba,
Panasonic, Sony, Samsung, Hitachi, RCA, JVC, Philips, Pioneer, and Yamaha offer
solid models in the $300 to $400 range. Some of China's cheaper Apex brand
models are of equal quality.
Some but not all of the DVD players can do double-duty as an entry-level
audiophile CD player. Consult the current issue of the British magazine What
Hi-Fi,
which does a good job testing DVD players for sound quality. Some recommended
models are available in North America as well as in Europe. Check whether a unit
can also play audio CD-Rs, CD-RWs, and MP3 files.
Above all, use your own eyes and ears to evaluate units. The specific models
tested by Consumer Report or What Hi-Fi will usually be replaced by new ones within months. The fact that one
model by a given manufacturer rates high is no guarantee that its replacement
will be of equal quality.
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