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General Features: - Home DVD player - Single-disc design -
Plays
DVD-Video, Video CD, and - Region 1
Video Features: -
27MHz/10-bit video D/A converter - Forward slow motion effects - Forward frame-by-frame advance - Component video output
Audio Features: - 96kHz/24-bit audio D/A converter - Dolby Digital and DTS digital out
Convenience Features: - Program and random play modes - Repeat play mode - A-B repeat play mode - On-screen menu (black/white) - Parental lock feature -
Resume play (but not when -
Playback from desired chapter,
Front-Panel Control: -
Play, stop, pause/step, skip/search
Remote Control: - Model #RM-D1 -
Play, stop, pause/step, skip/search - Open/close tray - Display, setup, mode -
Numeric buttons for random access -
Direct access to subtitle, audio track, - Repeat, repeat A-B, clear buttons - Disc menu, player menu - Cursor control, enter
- Component video (1) - S-video (1) - Composite video (1) -
Stereo analog outputs (2) - Coaxial digital audio output (1)
Specifications: - Video S/N (DVD): 70 dB - Audio S/N (CD): 110 dB - Dynamic range: DVD (linear audio): 95 dB CD audio: 94 dB - THD (CD): 0.007%
Power Requirements: - 120V A/C, 60 Hz - Power consumption: 22 Watts - Energy Star compliant - Auto power-off function
Weights and Dimensions: - Weight: 6.2 pounds -
Dimensions:
Included "Accessories": -
Remote control, supplied with -
S-video, composite video, and
Warrantee: - Parts: one year - Labor: 6 months
Dates: Introduction to Market: April 2000 Review date: Sept. 26, 2000
Other: Country of manufacture: China
List price: $ 275.00 Avg retail price: $ 250.00
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| Mitsubishi
DD-4001 DVD/Video CD/CD Player |
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Manufacturer: Mitsubishi Model:
DD-4001
Market Introduction: April 2000
MSRP: $275.00 Avg. Retail Price: $250.00
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Performance: B+ Video: B+ Audio: B Features: B Ease of Use: B Remote: C+ Build Quality: B Value: B-
Summary:
The DD-4001 is Mitsubishi's entry-level DVD
player. It has most of the
High
Points:
+ Complete set of outputs, including component video output, coaxial
and + Large, easy-to-read LED display
Low
Points: - No reverse slow motion and reverse frame-by-frame special effects - Small remote control with tightly packed buttons
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The DD-4001 is Mitsubishi's current entry-level DVD player. This DVD player has the basic features commonly found on entry-level models: search scan, slow motion, frame-by-frame advance, Dolby Digital and DTS digital output, on-screen menus, and parental lock feature. Unlike some other budget-minded DVD players, the DD-4001 features a complete array of outputs, including component video output and two sets of stereo analog audio output. It comes in a handsome charcoal gray chassis with a stylish and elegantly simple front panel, and plays back the usual assortment of DVD-Video, Video CD, and audio CD discs.
The picture quality from the DD-4001 is quite good. The picture is detailed and sharp. The colors are accurate and saturated, and shadow details are well reproduced. On our 27-inch TV, the picture is very good. On our 61-inch rear projection TV, the picture remains good, but we started to notice slight motion artifacts when an object moves across the screen. A good example of what we're talking about is in "Men In Black" Chapter 8 (at about 29:20), when Agents Jay and Kay walk down the hall, and the white circular light fixtures on the ceiling moves down the screen behind them as they walk forward. Watch for the "staircase" jagged edge effect around the outline of the light fixtures. That's called motion artifact.
The picture remains clear and steady during fast scans and slow motion. Fast scan has three speeds in either forward or reverse (2x, 8x, and 32x). Slow motion also has three speeds (1/2x, 1/8x, and 1/16x), but only in the forward direction. To enter the slow motion mode, you must first pause playback. Frame-by-frame advance is also only available in the forward direction. Though they would be nice to have, we don't believe that reverse slow motion and reverse frame-by-frame advance special effects are absolutely needed in entry-level DVD players.
Using the bonus features in the "Men In Black" Collector's Edition DVD, we were able to verify that the DVD angle change feature performs smoothly with a delay time of just less than two seconds before actually changing to the desired angle. This is decent performance for angle changes.
Since this model plays audio CDs, we gave a selected set of CDs a listen and were quite satisfied with the CD playback quality. Unlike some entry-level DVD players, the DD-4001 does not feature a virtual surround sound algorithm. Also, CD-Rs cannot be played back in this model, according to the owner's manual. Complementing its full array of audio features, however, is a complete set of audio output (see sidebar at left for the complete list), including Dolby Digital and DTS digital output, and both coaxial and optical digital audio outputs.
This player offers a whole host of the most desired and practical features for an entry-level DVD players. In addition to the video and audio features already mentioned, the DD-4001 includes:
The remote control is compact and has logical button groupings. The remote's frequently-used disc transport buttons (e.g., play, stop, pause) and menu navigation buttons (e.g., arrow and enter buttons) are located on the lower half of the remote. The buttons, however, are marked with only one color--white. Other models' remote controls use color-coded buttons to enhance readability and ease-of-use. Since the real estate on this remote control is rather scarce, we find that most of the buttons are rather small and therefore slightly harder to operate.
Navigating the menus is also cumbersome, because the "enter" button is not well integrated with the cursor control buttons. Unlike well-designed remote controls where the "enter" button is located in the middle of the cursor control buttons for quick operation, the DD-4001's "enter" button is actually offset to one corner, outside of the cursor control cluster. This configuration requires you to move your finger off of the cursor control buttons to press the "enter" button, then back again if you're still making additional selections.
Unfortunately, the remote control can't control other audio or video components (such as a receiver or TV, Mitsubishi or otherwise), and it doesn't have glow-in-the-dark buttons for ease of use in a dark room.
Overall, the DVD-4001 is fairly easy to use. The operating instructions are well-written with clear and helpful diagrams. And most common settings have reasonable default factory values, making the set-up process as quick and simple as possible for most consumers.
To configure this DVD player, press the "Setup" button on the remote control and the black and white text-based menu helps guide you through the configuration of languages (for audio, subtitles, disc menu, and DVD player menu), video settings (e.g., TV mode/aspect ratio, still mode), audio digital output (e.g., PCM, Dolby Digital, and DTS), parental lock features, on-screen display message, angle icon, background screen color (e.g., blue/gray), and LED display dimmer (e.g., bright/dim).
Most of DVD player settings and DVD navigation tasks can be accessed directly from the remote control, making routine operation a snap.
As noted in the Video and Audio sections above, the A/V performance of the DD-4001 is fair. The disc navigation delays (that is, the time from when a button is first pushed until the action is completed) are slightly longer than average, as you press skip chapter and navigate the various DVD menus.
The disc loading mechanism is particularly slow. For example, it takes nearly 20 seconds from the time the player starts to close the disc tray until the first images from the DVD appear on the screen. Navigation between DVD titles and chapters are much more acceptable.
The DD-4001 comes with a complete set of outputs--one set of component video output, S-video output, composite video output, optical digital audio output (Toslink), coaxial digital audio output, and two sets of stereo analog output. It has all of the different kinds of connections you could possibly want.
Overall, the build quality appears to be about average for entry-level DVD players. The chassis is well built. Both the front and back panels exudes an aura of quality that is unusual for entry-level DVD players. The disc transport mechanism operates quietly during disc navigation operations. However, we think the same mechanism can stand for some improvement in response time, since it takes too long before the first picture is displayed after loading the player with a new disc.
The entry-level DVD player market (i.e., models ranging in price from $150 to $250) is extremely competitive. Many competing models offer similar suite of features (and also better performance in some areas), but some of the features that other players offer that the DD-4001 doesn't have are:
We mention this so that you would be aware of other features that may interest you, or realize that the DD-4001 has all the features that you need. Some other notable DVD players in this price range include the Sony DVP-S360, Panasonic DVD-RV30, Pioneer DV-333, and Toshiba SD-1600.
The Mitsubishi DD-4001 is a solid performing entry-level DVD player, offering good picture quality with good scan search (forward/reverse), slow motion (forward only), and frame-by-frame advance (forward only). The disc loading mechanism is rather slow, though angle change response times are reasonable. For about $250 average retail price, the DD-4001 is a reasonably priced model in the competitive market of entry-level DVD players. |
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Contact Information: Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America, Inc., 9351 Jeronimo Road, Irvine, CA 92618-1904
Visit the Mitsubishi DVD web site. View their specification sheet for their line of DVD players, the product drawing and dimensions sheet for the DD-4001 DVD player.
Did you find this product review helpful? Let us know your thoughts, send an e-mail to us at Feedback@TimeForDVD.com
Used In Testing: The following DVDs were used in testing this DVD player: A Bug's Life, Tarzan, Meet Joe Black, Pleasantville, Tomorrow Never Dies, and Fleetwood Mac: The Dance. The following audio CDs were used: Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, Titanic: Music from the Motion Picture, The Best of Fourplay, and Celine Dion's The Colour of My Love.
Calibration: Our home theater equipment was calibrated with the Video Essentials DVD.
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