Arcam DV139 DVD-player

DVD has become a commodity product, with players readily available for the price of the recently-released film which you could play to them.

The format continues to be among the more significant consumer electronics success stories of the previous decade, and those huge quantities of generation (plus the seemingly- unstoppable Chinese manufacturing market) have decimated pricing.

It's going to require some years prior to all of the content accessible the new HD formats starts to approach what is on DVD - if, obviously, it does.

In the event you possess a good screen and sound equipment and see lots of DVDs, afterward the DV139 should let you derive greater degrees of satisfaction in the content you already possess.

The DV139 shares Arcam's somewhat understated FMJ ('full metal jacket') house style. The awesome (and - British) silver frontage comes with a big, green fluorescent screen, as well as recessed annular buttons needed to control the player to the slick, backlit remote's simple minimum.

Build quality - that's represented in the DV139's 5.1kg weight - is brilliant, and well up to Arcam's normal high standard. Round the back you'll discover analogue 5.1 and stereo sound outputs, plus optical and coaxial digital output signals. Video escapes via HDMI, component, composite, S video or RGB Scart. There is also an RS232 interface for remote system control.

The good thing continues in the player.

The key processor is a Zoran Vaddis 888-S - similar from what you will see in some lower-end players, but this is where all other likenesses end. Scaling and of chippery who make the DVDO central processing units would be the duties deinterlacing.

All awe-inspiring stuff, but it is not difficult to drive with set up menus that are well thought-out. Other video adjustments look after HDMI colour space, black amount and DivX enrollment amongst other things.

There is additionally an original test pattern 'wizard' for fundamental calibration of your screen's sharpness, colour and contrast controls. In the event you're using outside processing, you will value the 480i/576i mode - which can be obtained via part and HDMI -- and an adjustable sound delay.

The 5.1 output gains from complete bass-management facilities, along with the normal station-amount and delay adjustments. There is a sound sequencer also handy.

In the event you're using the 5.1 output signals, you can participate a built in Pro-Logic II decoder for two channel combinations just by pressing a button on the remote. A fantastic thought, and one that may appeal to people who have high- end sound equipment that predates the debut of the Dolby standard.

Quite simply it is an excellent performer. On the test bench, the essential analogue output signals of the DV139 were discovered to possess a long frequency response that is a just 0.5dB down (or better!) True to life and colours are vibrant, as well as the DV139 is effective at carrying actual depth to the picture.

Artefacting can also be held at bay; even homebrew DVDs being given a fresh lease of life - as opposed for their defects as is frequently true for high end hardware. The HDMI output signal was able to do better in terms - Moreover, the upscaling and progressive styles show easy motion allied to an absence of stepping' and no falls in flat definition with NTSC picture-derived substance.

An analogue sound delivery that could simply be called breathtaking reinforces those powerful visuals. To put it simply, this player will sing whether SACD, DVDA, CD or DVD. Even you'll need to pay lots of cash on an audiophile player that is committed to equal it - along with the DV139 does so much more.

Steering system and station separation are additionally of a standard that is topflight.

Arcam - which continues to be for three decades in the sound company - confessed surprise, and so I am prepared to miss this.

The DV139 is in my own opinion among the greatest DVD players you will find everywhere about Earth, and the best DVD player yet secure. It does really take advantage of your existing software - and that is really the most essential idea, even with all the hidef requiring your focus...

Arcam DV139 DVD-player photo