Zenith DVB612 - anyone know about it?

[JLanguage]

I just bought a Zenith DVB612 upscaling DVD Player for $80 from Brandsmartusa, and was wondering if anyone has any experience with it. The only information I found online was on Zenith's website:
http://www.zenith.com/index.asp?url=...asp%3Fcat%3D15

It looks good so far, but I haven't had much of a chance to test it out yet. (I'll post an update in a while)


Thanks,
-Jonathan.

[mrlsnyc]

I saw the Zenith DVB612 DVD player at CompUSA today. Does anyone have feedback on this player? How does it compare to other HDMI DVD players in the same price range?

Thanks.

[james.92]

Why not pay just a little more and get the Sony or OPPO? At least you get a known quantity with them.

[mg83716]

Jonathan, do know if this player will do 1080i video via the component outputs. The user manual lists "progressive" as the video output, but on the back of the player, next to the component outputs, is printed "1080i 720p 480p" . I know the zenith 318 DVD player could do 1080i via the coponent outputs, so I'm hoping it can be done with this player. Thanks, Mike.

[Sniff658]

Nobody's tried this player yet?

My 318 just died, and I'm in dire need of a replacement.

[mather]

I'd like to hear if anyone else knows anything about this one as well.

[Optical Serenity]

Black Friday deal on this at Circuit City, any other opinions on this player?

[JCHT]

I have owned a DVB-612 since September. It is a decent low cost upconvert player, not a lot of bells & whistles. It started to pause for a couple of seconds randomly, mainly on DVD-R's. but started on store bought DVDs also. I checked the problem DVD's on another player, no pausing. I called Zenith, they said they would do a swap, since it was under the 90 warranty. About a week later I called Zenith, the player was on the tech's bench waiting to be repaired. I was originally told it was going to be a swap with a replacement player. After a couple of days not getting a straight answer, I was told they were out of replacement units & that my player was not repairable. Then I got a phone call, saying a unit was shipped & will be here today. We'll see what shows up.

[icecore]

Circuit City now has it on sale for 39.99 after MIR. Really considering buying it.
JCHT, did you get the player back and what is your experience with it now?

[gusman1]

I just bought one from CC for $39.99 (after rebate) and connected it to my Vizio 42" plasma via HDMI. So far it is doing fine, but with my limited time on it, this is what I have found:

It does 1080i, 720p and 480p through HDMI and component. It did play DVD-R and DVD+R disks made using Nerovision 4. It did not play DVD+RW disk made through Nero, but did play DVD+RW made on Cyberhome recorder. It did not play VCDs. Divx files on DVD-R did play fine.

Overall it is a good player so far with lots of nice features for the price.

[aero12]

Originally Posted by gusman1

I just bought one from CC for $39.99 (after rebate) and connected it to my Vizio 42" plasma via HDMI. So far it is doing fine, but with my limited time on it, this is what I have found:

It does 1080i, 720p and 480p through HDMI and component. It did play DVD-R and DVD+R disks made using Nerovision 4. It did not play DVD+RW disk made through Nero, but did play DVD+RW made on Cyberhome recorder. It did not play VCDs. Divx files on DVD-R did play fine.

Overall it is a good player so far with lots of nice features for the price.

Just to make sure, how did you determine it does 1080 through component? did you see 1080 via compsite on the player units menu OSD? did you try a disk without css and macrov and saw the signal info on the hdtv? opr are you talking a bout what the back of the player says at the output only?

[Craig234]

How much improvement would I see in going to this HDMI unit with a 42" Spectre LCD over an old progressive scan player, versus how much between the Zenith and better HDMI units?

If I'd see most of the benefit just in going frm progressive scan component cables to HDMI, it's temping to spend $45 rather than sweat a really nice player for now.

[gusman1]

Originally Posted by aero12

Just to make sure, how did you determine it does 1080 through component? did you see 1080 via compsite on the player units menu OSD? did you try a disk without css and macrov and saw the signal info on the hdtv? opr are you talking a bout what the back of the player says at the output only?

In the operating manual it says that 1080i is available through HDMI and component. I have not used component yet. On the remote there is button 'Resolution' that you cycle for the 1080i, 720p, 480p and the front panel display shows the selection. Apart from that I can not prove the actual resolution on the display.

[Huey]

I bought this as well and it does great with HDMI 480p/720p/1080i. It can't do 480i via HDMI. It can do 480i/480p/720p/1080i on component (720p or 1080i requires no copy protection--ripped DVD-R and burnt Divx are fine). It has Svideo and yellow RCA composite. It has optical and coaxial digital. It sends DD/DTS through SPDIF digital connectors and HDMI. Since my plasma can't handle bitstream through HDMI (high pitch, squealing, morse code type sound on bitstream), I had to use PCM mode which sounds great (2 channel stereo). I can send the DTS/DD through its SPDIF digital connectors to my receiver of course (I must switch the HDMI audio of my plasma to analog audio mode to avoid this squealing, incompatible sound through the plasma while using bitstream mode for DD and DTS).

I need to open it up to see what the MPEG decoder and scaling chipset is. It's not likely DCDi as it failed flag wave test pattern on Video Essential DVD. No macroblocking on my plasma. No scaling issues on 720p or 1080i (plasma is 1024X768 so 720p should be best but 1080i looks identical to 720p for me). Remote is generic but functional (needs direct pointing to work (no bouncing off screen). There is no adjustment of video (contrast, brightness, sharpness, etc.) unlike my Samsung 755. It has blue menu background wtih Zenith logo. It's thinner than my Samsung and very sleek looking.

You must have the DVD player in stop mode to switch resolution (disc can be in drive). It shows the resolution on the light blue LCD display on front of player. There is no bright lights to distract you in the dark. The front is thin, glossy black bezel with only a circular area of buttons (power and eject buttons are on top of the player). The loader is kinda flimsy and very thin (2-3 mm thick) but durable and can bend. Loads DVD smooth and fast. Loader is very quiet compared to my Samsung 755, Zenith DVB-318 (DCDi). There is no obvious black or white crush on my plasma using Video Essential.

It does not come with HDMI cable so you need to buy one (Monoprice is very, very reasonable and great quality with ferrite connectors). It does not come with component cable so need one if you use it. It has 90D labor and 1 year warranty. $60 through website with $20 rebate making net of $40 which is awesome deal. $80 in CC store (I picked it up even though ordered and paid for on line)--they will not match their website but will order it for you through their website in the store--at least at my store in Clarksville, IN.

[icecore]

Thanks, great review.

[delpis]

I have a Sony KD-30XS955 and a Philips DVP642, how much better PQ will the Zenith give? Would burnt divx files have better PQ then the Philips? Thanks.

[Huey]

This budget Zenith is not DCDi so doubtful will be much different from other upconverting players. It should be better than a non-upconverting, progressive only DVD player, provided your TV is digital like plasma or LCD. CRT TV's don't see as much an improvement as digital TV's. 30" won't see a huge improvement over bigger displays (mine is 42" plasma and 120" FPTV).

[KramerTC]

Originally Posted by Huey

This budget Zenith is not DCDi so doubtful will be much different from other upconverting players. It should be better than a non-upconverting, progressive only DVD player, provided your TV is digital like plasma or LCD. CRT TV's don't see as much an improvement as digital TV's. 30" won't see a huge improvement over bigger displays (mine is 42" plasma and 120" FPTV).

Huey,

You've had the 318. How do they compare at 1080i over component? Not having DCDi isn't that big a deal anymore. That's two years old and Genesis/Faroudja hasn't bothered to fix the ##$%@ macroblocking "feature".

[gusman1]

It appears that this Zenith unit is identical to LG DN191H with a few features missing. There is an active AVS thread on that unit with people discussing their experience. According to that thread, this unit may be using Zoran 888 chipset.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...1&page=1&pp=30

[Huey]

Zenith DVB318 does component 1080i on ANY DVDs while this one only does 1080i component on ripped DVD-R or non-copyrighted DVDs. I'll have to burn 2 copies of DVD-R of the same movie to compare the 2 component 1080i. HDMI on DVB612 1080i is sharper than component 1080i of DVB318 (expected due to digital over analog). I suspect it's very difficult to beat 1080i component of Zenith DVB318. Hopefully there'll be a hack for component 1080i on all DVDs for DVB612. The only time I miss DCDi is when watching video based DVDs and flag waving test patterns

[Huey]

I opened the Zenith DVB612 and it uses Zoran 888 all-in-one scaling/decoding chip. I also compared the 1080i component of Zenith DVB318 (FLI2301 or DCDi/Faroudja) vs. 1080i HDMI. Guess what, Zenith DVB318 via 1080i component looks better (sharper, better colors, smoother, less noise using generic 6 foot component cable from Wallyworld) than Zenith DVB612 1080i HDMI (cable by Monoprice, 6 foot, gold plated with ferrite cores at each end). Movie tested was Starwars Episode 2 as I own duplicate of these. Thus, Faroudja still wins on my new 720p DLP projector (Mits HC1000u). HTPC via DVI->HDMI with same movie is the same as the 1080i Zenith DVB318 via component which is very nice imagery.

When using my 37" Panasonic plasma the 1080i HDMI of DVB612 was sharper than DVB318 via 1080i component. This shows that variation of sources will occur between differing displays so you must test both ways to know which you'd prefer.

[KramerTC]

Thanks Huey,

By the way, the 418 is a little better than the 318 at 1080i over component on my CRT RPTV after applying the firmware (from the 511 thread) and the remote control hack to upscale all DVDs.

[scum1]

I read somewhere this is made by LG so I'm going to buy one today at compusa for 59 bucks.

[vgs86]

My experience shows extremely pure quality when the source material is dark. This shows up as bad pixellation and/or lousy dithering. The dark part of the picture looks like negative film. This shows up via HDMI cable and is visible at all resolutions. For some reason, the component video will not sync with my Pioneer 104 -> InFocus 4805 at anything but 480i. The picture looks fine at 480i via component out.

I am not sure if exchanging this for another will fix it.

- Vikas

[zrdb]

Originally Posted by Huey

I opened the Zenith DVB612 and it uses Zoran 888 all-in-one scaling/decoding chip. I also compared the 1080i component of Zenith DVB318 (FLI2301 or DCDi/Faroudja) vs. 1080i HDMI. Guess what, Zenith DVB318 via 1080i component looks better (sharper, better colors, smoother, less noise using generic 6 foot component cable from Wallyworld) than Zenith DVB612 1080i HDMI (cable by Monoprice, 6 foot, gold plated with ferrite cores at each end). Movie tested was Starwars Episode 2 as I own duplicate of these. Thus, Faroudja still wins on my new 720p DLP projector (Mits HC1000u). HTPC via DVI->HDMI with same movie is the same as the 1080i Zenith DVB318 via component which is very nice imagery.

When using my 37" Panasonic plasma the 1080i HDMI of DVB612 was sharper than DVB318 via 1080i component. This shows that variation of sources will occur between differing displays so you must test both ways to know which you'd prefer.

Ditto that-the circuit board is identical in both units-the LG-DN191H and this Zenith. How do I know? I briefly owned both of them and took pictures of the board. Based on the fact they both use the Vaddis 888 chip I'd have to reject em'.

[ToLive]

Anybody tried to play 4:3 DVDs through HDMI on this DVB612?
I got one from CC 2 weeks ago, while the picture quality is acceptable, I'm unable to play 4:3 DVDs in their original 4:3 ratio through HDMI. I tried to play 4:3 DVDs like Seinfeld and Friends through HDMI on my SONY 40" Widescreen LCD, it always extends the 4:3 into full 16:9 screen...

There is no option to change screen ratio on TV when using HDMI input, and I tried to change TV screen format on DVB612, but no matter how I change, the picture is always extended to 16:9 ratio.

[Huey]

4:3 movies will be stretched to fit 16:9 on this player on HD signals via HDMI. Sorry.

[ToLive]

Thanks!
yeah, I just read the LG-DN191H thread, same issue there. Well, a bit disappointment, but I think I got what I paid for, anyway I can still use my HTPC to play those 4:3 ratio DVDs for now, hopefully Zenith would release a new firmware sometime later...

Originally Posted by Huey

4:3 movies will be stretched to fit 16:9 on this player on HD signals via HDMI. Sorry.

[Divine_Madcat]

I have this player, and am having an issue. For some reason, i get a horrible squealing effect through the HDMI audio connection; even the TV's Audio optical out passes it on, so i assume it is from the source. When i use my receiver (and mute the TV) the audio is fine. I think i am going to take back the player tomorrow, but i want to make sure there isn't anything i should check first..

[Huey]

Why not hook the player's optical out directly to the receiver which will disable HDMI audio pass through? Sounds like your TV does not like the pass through of the SPDIF signal. Some TV has option of digital or analogue audio for the HDMI. You could chose analog to disable the audio pass through and hook the DVD player directly into the receiver. This will avoid having to mute the TV.