Samsung DVD-HD941 Up-Converting DVD Player
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- 720p, 768p, and 1080i upconversion from conventional DVD-Video images (for use with high-definition and HD-ready TVs)
- Faroudja DCDi technology eliminates jagged edges along diagonal image lines
- High-resolution audio performance with Super Audio CD (SACD) and DVD-Audio decoding
- HDMI digital-video output, including an HDMI interconnect and an HDMI-to-DVI converter
- Discrete IR codes ensure that the unit will function properly with your other home theater components
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| DCDi technology offers higher resolution and sharper images, with few motion artifacts. |
HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is a lossless, uncompressed, all-digital audio/video interface to link any audio/video source (such as a set-top box, DVD player, or A/V receiver) with an audio and/or video monitor, such as a digital television (DTV). HDMI supports SD, ED, or high-definition (HD) video, plus multichannel digital audio--all using a single cable. It transmits all ATSC HDTV standards and supports up to 8-channel digital audio, with bandwidth to spare to accommodate future enhancements and requirements.
SACD and DVD-Audio media both offer super-high-fidelity sound. DVD-Audio discs provide 192 kHz/24-bit multichannel and stereo sound, high storage capacity, and unique bonus materials not available on regular audio CDs. These discs often have compressed Dolby Digital soundtracks for listening on standard DVD players, but true DVD-A decoding is required for full sonic appreciation. Depending on the disc, Sony's proprietary SACD format provides multichannel and/or stereo sound, often presented in a dual-layer format compatible with both standard CD players (at standard resolution) and SACD-equipped players like the DVD-HD941 (for full-resolution playback).
As an antipiracy measure, the DVD-HD941 performs its own decoding of both DVD-Audio and SACD signals, passing high-resolution analog, not digital, audio to your integrated amplifier or surround receiver. This means you'll need an audio/video receiver with multichannel analog-audio inputs to appreciate multichannel DVD-A and SACD releases.
A set of stereo and a set of multichannel analog-audio outputs route audio from DVD-A/SACD media as well as from Dolby Digital- and DTS-encoded DVDs to you’re A/V receiver. If you're not planning to use the DVD-A/SACD capability for multichannel programming, both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround-sound signals can be routed through the player's digital-audio outputs (one each of RCA coaxial and Toslink optical) for simpler connection with your receiver. Composite- and S-video outputs bring compatibility with nearly any television.
What's in the Box
DVD player, remote control, remote batteries, user's manual, HDMI digital video interconnect, HDMI-to-DVI converter, stereo analog audio interconnect/composite-video cable, and warranty information.
- Electronics: 0 pages (2004-09-30)
- Publisher: Samsung
- Label: Samsung
- Studio: Samsung
- Batteries: 2 AA batteries required
- Average Customer Review: based on 27 reviews
- Sales Rank in Electronics: #62083
A bonus was being able to make the player region-free using (sometimes conflicting) experiences found elsewhere on the Internet and some of my own ingenuity. I'm posting my detailed experiences here so that others can make their player region-free. The steps may appear long and complicated, but they took less than five minutes to peform.
The most-recent experiences indicate that an Aiwa remote is required to make the 941 region-free. That worked for me! I would love to know why an Aiwa remote is able to do this and how anyone could have stumbled upon this discovery!
Actually, I programmed my Harmony 676 remote to *emulate* the Aiwa remote and then used the Harmony to make my 941 region-free. Talk about multiple levels of indirection!
The Harmony requires the model number of a *device*, not a remote. Not knowing which Aiwa device(s) use the RC-6AS14 remote, I Google'd for "Aiwa RC-6AS14 remote control". One of the hits took me to http://www.dvdremotecontrols.com/Mfrs/Aiwa/AiwaAudioDVD/RC-6AS14.htm--which not only provided a screen shot of the remote, but also listed the Aiwa devices that the remote actually controls!
I programmatically added the first Aiwa device (the CX-NA10--a "Mini System (DVD)") to my Harmony, and then I performed the following steps:
Note: Make sure the 941 is off. Make sure there is no DVD in the drive.
Using the 941 remote:
1. Turn the player on.
2. Press the OPEN/CLOSE button. The drive door will open.
Using the Harmony remote:
3. Press the DEVICE button.
4. Press the NEXT button until the "Mini System (DVD)" device appears next to one of the soft buttons.
5. Press the "Mini System (DVD)" soft button.
6. Press the NEXT button until "Repeat" appears next to one of the soft buttons. (I had to press the NEXT button seven times to cycle through the choices.)
7. Press the "Repeat" soft button.
8. Press the NEXT button until "Program" appears next to one of the soft buttons. (I had to press the NEXT button eight times to cycle through the choices.)
9. Press the "Program" soft button.
10. Press the NEXT button until "Clock" appears next to one of the soft buttons. (I had to press the NEXT button three times to cycle through the choices.)
11. Press the "Clock" soft button.
The player's LCD will display "ADJUST". There was also a brief mention of something about a 'servo adjustment complete' on the TV.
I used the 941's remote to press "9" (as others have instructed), but this didn't have a visible effect. The drive door did not close. Doesn't hurt to do it, I suppose.
12. Using the buttons on the player, close the drive door and power it down.
Upon powering up the 941, I could play other regions' DVDs. I also double-checked that my own region's DVDs still played ok.
I added the 941 to my Harmony remote and both it and the player itself have been working great!
Notes:
-I just purchased my 941 from Amazon.com; not sure which firmware version I have, but I assume it's a relatively current one.
-Other people's experiences said I would need to press a SHIFT button on the Aiwa remote prior to pressing the Repeat, Program, and Clock button--in order to generate the appropriate signals. Since the Harmony emulated the *functions* of the Aiwa remote and not the actual *buttons*, I did not need to emulate or press a SHIFT key.
Unit 1-Upconverter feature breaks return get new unit.
Unit 2-Upconverter feature breaks ship to Samsung to fix. Board replaced.
Unit 2-New board, upconverter feature still does not work.
Getting ready to screen at Samsung. Generally Pissed off.