From Robert Silva,
Your Guide to Home Theater.
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The Helios H4000 is feature-packed DVD player with several innovative features. The H4000 can deliver 720p/1080i/1080p upscaled images through HDMI connectivity and/or component video connections. In addition, other features, Region Code Free and PAL/NTSC compatibility add to its flexibility. If you are looking for a new DVD player, whether to use with that new flat panel HDTV and surround sound system, make sure you check out the Helios H4000 as an option.

Helios H4000 Product Overview

The feature package of the Helios H4000 DVD player includes:

1. Single tray DVD player with DVD-Video, DVD+R/+RW/-R/-RW, Divx, CD/CDR/CDRW/CD-MP3/HDCD/WMA and JPEG playback.

2. Built-in video processor/de-interlacer for upscaling to 720p/1080i/1080p.

3. 1080p output via HDMI and Component. HDMI and component outputs can be used simultaneously.

4. Component connection resolutions - 720p,1080i and 1080p.

5. VGA/RGB-HV connection resolutions - 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1280x1024, 480P, 720P, and 1080i.

6. Digital optical, digital coaxial, and two sets of analog audio outputs (2-channel and 5.1 Channel).

7. Supports both Dolby Digital and DTS pass-through; built-in Dolby Digital and DTS decoder option.

8. Switchable NTSC/PAL output (Including 720p, 1080i, 1080p) - automatic PAL/NTSC bi-directional conversion. NTSC 720P/1080i/1080p support at 60hz. PAL 720P/1080i/1080p at 50hz.

9. DVD Region Code Free.

10. Wireless remote control and easy-to-use Onscreen Menu Interface.

Helios H4000 HDMI Output and Scaling Features

HDMI Defined

HDMI stands for High Definition Multi-media Interface. In order to transfer the digital video signal from a standard DVD player to a television, the DVD player must convert the signal from digital to analog, this results in some loss of information.

However, the H4000, with its HDMI output, can transfer the DVD's digital video signal directly, without conversion to analog. In addition, HDMI can transfer both video and audio signals.

Video Upscaling

The H4000 features video upscaling. You can enable this unit to either feed the digital video signal as 720p, 1080i, or 1080p (in addition to 480p) to an HDTV. 720p and 1080i are the two main standards for HDTV display resolution. In addition, the H4000 can also output 1080p through its component outputs.

720p represents 1,280 pixels displayed across the screen horizontally and 720 pixels down the screen vertically. This yields 720 horizontal lines on the screen that are displayed progressively, or each line displayed following another.

1080i represents 1,920 pixels displayed across a screen horizontally and 1,080 pixels down a screen vertically. This yields 1,080 horizontal lines, which are displayed alternately. In other words, all the odd lines are displayed, followed by all the even lines.

1080p represents 1,080 horizontal lines that are displayed sequentially, which means all lines are displayed during the same pass.

If your television has a native display resolution other than 720p or 1080i, the TV will rescale the incoming signal to its own specification.

The capability of the H4000 to output a video signal in the 720p, 1080i, or 1080p format allows the DVD player's video output to more closely match the capabilities of today's HDTVs.

Although this is not the same as watching your DVDs in true-high definition, you will experience increased detail. This is why the H4000 is classified as HD-compatible.

This function works best on fixed pixel displays, such as LCD or Plasma sets, the upscaling may result in harsh images on standard CRT and Projection sets.

This can yield different results on the final, displayed image. In order to take advantage of 1080p upscaling, your television must have 1080p native display capability.

Setup - Hardware

Additional components used in the review included a Yamaha HTR-5490 6.1 Channel AV receiver, Outlaw Audio Model 950 Preamp/Surround Processor paired with a Butler Audio 5150 5-channel power amplifier, as well as an Onkyo TX-SR304 entry level AV receiver.

Video displays used: A Westinghouse Digital LVM-37w3 1080p LCD Monitor , Syntax LT-32HV 32-inch LCD TV , Samsung LN-R238W 23-inch LCD TV and an Optoma H56 Video Projector using Component-to-DVI connection conversion.

Comparison LCD TV/Monitors are HD-compatible. The Westinghouse LVM-37w3 (1080p) and Samsung LN-R238W (720p) both have HDMI and HD-Components inputs; the Syntax Olevia LT-32HV (720p) has a DVI-HDCP input as well as a set of HD-Component inputs. The Syntax was connected to the Helios H4000 via HDMI-to-DVI Connection adapter. All LCD units have progressive scan HD-Component inputs as well. The Optoma H56's native resolution was 1024x768.

Loudspeakers used, included: Klipsch B-3s, Klipsch C-2, Optimus LX-5IIs, Klipsch Quintet III 5-channel speaker system, and Klipsch Synergy Sub10 and Yamaha YST-SW205 Powered Subwoofers.

Comparison DVD players (720p/1080i upscaling) included , Samsung DVD-HD931 (DVI-HDCP output) as well as a Toshiba HD-XA1 HD-DVD player and a Samsung BD-P1000 Blu-ray Player playing standard DVDs in both 720p and 1080i upscaling modes via HDMI interface. The 1080p mode on the Samsung BD-P1000 was also used.

Recordable DVDs used were made using: Sony RDR-HX900, Philips DVDR985, and a Presidian PDR-3222.

Connections between components were made with Accell, Cobalt, and AR Interconnect cables.

Setup - DVD/CD Software

Pre-recorded standard DVDs used included scenes from the following: Serenity, Aeon Flux, The Cave, Kill Bill - Vol1/2, Pirates Of The Caribbean, Underworld, Moulin Rouge, Zathura, The Corpse Bride, and V For Vendetta, as well as video content on DVD-R and DVD+RW discs recorded on DVD recorders.

Other-than-Region 1 coded DVDs included: Crying Freeman (Region 2 - PAL), Le Pacte des Loups Brotherhood of the Wolf - (Region 2 PAL), Arizona Dreams (Region 2 - PAL), ED Wood (Region 3 Version - NTSC), Godzilla Vs Mechagodzilla 2002 (Region 3 - NTSC), Godzilla Vs Megaguirus (Region 3 - NTSC), A Chinese Tall Story (Region 3 - NTSC) and Sem Limite Para Vingar "Ricochet" (Region 4).

For audio only, various CDs included: HEART - Dreamboat Annie, Nora Jones: Come Away With Me, Lisa Loeb: Firecracker, Blue Man Group The Complex, Telarc: 1812 Overture. DTS discs included: Queen: Night At The Opera/The Game, Eagles: Hotel California, Sheila Nicholls: Wake, Alan Parsons: On Air. Also included: The Corrs: In Blue (Dolby Digital). In addition, music content on CD-R/RWs were also used.

Divx Demo files, standard resolution, were used.

The Silicon Optix HQV Benchmark DVD video test disc was also used for more precise video performance measurements.

Proceed to Page 2 - Evaluation and Final Take