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Samsung DVD-H1080R: Review

Posted to Video Components 2009-11-21

One of the premiere, budget-friendly DVD players that feature solid performance and useful capabilities is the Samsung DVD-H1080R Upconverting DVD player. If you're tight on space and need a great-looking model, this DVD player is a nice fit for tight or awkward places. It loads movies quite fast, and also performs well with video upconversion. Performance and ergonomics are top-notch with this DVD player; however, the features are limited and product quality is substandard. Needless to say, for the price, it's a great buy.

At just 9.8 x 10.4 x 2.1 inches and 2.2 pounds, the Samsung DVD-H1080R is sleek, stylish, and compact enough to meet your space requirements. As part of the HD up-convert capability, this model features HDMI and USB to help you avoid a mess of cables. The performance is slightly better than expected for this budget player; however, when the DVD player fails it fails majorly. It has had reliability issues in the past, but fortunately Samsung supports it with a standard warranty.

Rating:

3.6 out of 5

Value

It is difficult to find such a compact and ergonomic yet well-performing upconverting DVD player for less than $100. Samsung stepped up its product value ratio by targeting this model to low-budget consumers. Not only does the Samsung DVD-H1080R play DVDs on standard televisions, but it also upconverts DVDs for using with your HDTV. The number of supported multimedia formats is also impressive, although several important formats (such as WMV) are entirely compatible. For the money, the size and power of this DVD player makes it an average buy.

Features

One of the great things about the Samsung DVD-H1080R DVD player is that it is plug-and-play-ready. It features HDMI, composite video, and digital audio coaxial to ensure your entertainment experience is seamless and digital in the highest resolutions. For quick and easy access, there is a USB port so you can connect your flash drive and immediately start watching downloaded content. Although this model lacks the DVD recording feature of more expensive models, overall, the features are pleasing to those on a budget who need something small and basic.

Summary

Although the upconverting Samsung DVD-H1080R lacks somewhat in quality and reliability, it is a great compact DVD player that makes your DVD experience better than standard DVD players. It is flexible enough to support multiple formats, as well as direct-from-USB drive reading, yet affordable enough for the consumer on a budget. For the price, this model is a bargain. It could use improvements in several categories, but for now you should consider the Samsung DVD-H1080R for what it is.

Pros

Great for space- compact, lightweight, and convenient
Budget-friendly- great for those who want the best for the money
Well-featured- HDMI and USB support, plus multiple format compatibility
HD-ready-features upconversion for using with your HDTV

Cons

Uncertain reliability- many users are unsatisfied