Helios HVD2085 1080p DVD Player Review

[gene]

<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><A href="http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/avhardware/NeoDigits-Helios-HVD2085p1.php"><IMG style="WIDTH: 125px; HEIGHT: 72px" alt=[dvd] hspace=10 src="http://www.audioholics.com/news/thumbs/dvd_th.jpg" align=left border=0></A>I hope it’s never too late to say “I’m sorry”. At least, that’s how I feel about the new Helios HVD2085 DVD player. You see, I really judged this player harshly in its former incarnation under the NeuNeo moniker. Sure, it failed the HQV tests miserably and had a remote control that was designed by Fisher Price, but the fact of the matter is – I did not have the ability to play the unit in conjunction with a 1080p display. This time I do. Using the Westinghouse LVM-42w2 1080p monitor, I connected the reworked Helios DVD player and felt like I was seeing it again – for the first time. Make no mistake, this is pretty much a re-badged NeuNeo HVD2085, but I am seeing the player in a new 1080p-powered light. While it still has its share of drawbacks, there is at least more balance to the unit now.</SPAN></P>
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[ned]

Clint,
If you would compare it to Toshiba's HD-a1 or broadcast HD would the overall PQ be similar or at least close?

How about in comparison with a good scaler like DVDO's VP30 with ABT102?

Thanks for your input.

Ned

 

[djoxygen]

Clint,

My 37" Westinghouse 1080p is scheduled to arrive next week and I was considering the HVD2085 as I currently have on older Sony DVD player that tops out at 480p component.

From the LVM review it looks like the monitor may have better upscaling and de-interlacing capabilities that the HVD2085. In your opinion would it be better to let the LVM handle these tasks with that player? Or should one consider a different up-rezzing DVD player like the Panasonic S97 - running the HDMI at 1080i and letting the LVM deinterlace?

(I am still drawn to the HVD because of its utter lack of respect for region coding and ability to handle PAL discs.)

 

[Audioholics]

Here's the thing - the player simply doesn't do 2:3 pulldown... so I would personally consider sending 1080i out to a 1080p display and let the display do the deinterlacing. The only other interlaced option you have is 480i - which really defeats the purpose of the player. 480p will look good, but again, why have a 1080p player... 720p - same problem as 1080p.

All in all, what they really need to do is figure out what the need to do (and charge) to put out a 720p/1080p player that does 2:3 pulldown.

Resolution - stunning (HD DVD will still be much better, but this is pretty cool)
Picture quality - will make you mad when you see jaggies everywhere...
HVD disc - WOW, if you have this player, go get some HVD discs.