The Bottom Line
If you own an HD-compatible TV with HDMI or DVI input, you can watch DVDs in higher resolution. This works well with Plasma/LCD monitors and DLP video projectors. The H4000 offers extensive playback options, including: Most recordable DVD formats as well as CD/CDR/CDRW/HDCD/MP3/JPG discs.
The H4000 produces a very good upscaled image from DVD sources, and the audio quality was very good on both DVD and CD sources. The HD4000 is definitely worth checking out as a home theater option.
Pros
- Plays almost all video and audio disc formats (except SACD and DVD-Audio)
- HDMI and Component output with 720p, 1080i, and 1080p upscaling options.
- Region Code Free.
- NTSC/PAL compatible (bi-directional conversion). Upscaling features work in both formats,
- Smart Play feature skips unwanted viewing of previews and ADs at the begining of the DVD.
Cons
- No SACD (Super Audio CD) or DVD-Audio playback compatibility.
- Jaggies present on diagonal lines, moire pattern elimination just average.
- Remote control not backlit.. Very small, hard-to-see, front panel display.
- Top mounted controls on unit make component stacking impractical.
- Encountered possible HDMI connection glitch with one of the test monitors used.
Description
- DVD player with DVD-Video DVD+R/RW/-R/-RW, CD/CDR/CDRW/CD-MP3/HDCD/WMA and CD-JPEG playback.
- Built-in video processor/de-interlacer for upscaling to 720p/1080i/1080p.
- 1080p support via HDMI and Component. Output video via HDMI and component simultaneously.
- Video Resolution via Component connections - 720p,1080i and 1080p.
- Video resolution output via VGA/RGB-HV - 640x480,800x600,1024x768, 1280x1024, 480P,720P and 1080i.
- Digital optical, digital coaxial, and two sets of analog audio outputs (2-channel and 5.1 Channel).
- Switchable NTSC/PAL output (Including 720p, 1080i, 1080p) - automatic PAL/NTSC bi-directional conversion.
- NTSC 720P/1080i/1080p at 60hz; PAL 720P/1080i/1080p support at 50hz.
- DVD Region Code Free (Regions 1 - 6)
- Wireless remote control; Easy-to-use Onscreen Menu Interface.
Guide Review - NeoDigits Helios H4000 DVD Player with HDMI Output
In terms of video performance, the Component and HDMI connection both provided a good result, in both standard and upscaled resolutions.
Using both HDMI and Component connections at the 720p setting in conjunction with a Syntax LT-32HV 720p native resolution LCD Television, and using the Silicon Optix HQV Benchmark DVD video test disc, the H4000 produced mixed results.
In terms of detail and color, the H4000 faired well. However, moire and jaggies elimination during motion were average. With video noise tests, some background video noise was noticable, but not excessive.
The inclusion of VGA output interface on the H4000 was a welcome feature, as this enables the user to view DVDs fulls screen on PC monitor or a VGA-only video projector.
I encountered a glitch when using H4000's HDMI connection with my Westinghouse Digital LVM-37w3 1080p LCD set. The glitch prevented the H4000 from locking into the HDTV's HDMI interface, resulting in no image. This required me to use the component video connections to access a 720p/10980i/1080p image. Since the H4000 has component video 720p/1080i/1080p transfer capability, this issue was not stumbling block. I could not determine if the glitch was the fault of the DVD player or the LCD set.
The audio performance of the H4000 was very good. Dolby Digital/DTS surround sound options worked well, with excellent imaging. The user has the option of using the digital audio ouputs or the 5.1 channel analog outputs to access both Dolby Digital and DTS surround signals.
With a flexible featrure package and overall good performance (with some tweaking needed on the jaggie and moire issue) the H4000 is worth consideration.
