Samsung DVD-M101 DVD Player
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Manufacturer: SAMSUNG
Price at amazon.com: $99.88This item is not stocked or has been discontinued.
- Dolby Digital and DTS outputs for direct connection to an external digital-to-analog converter for clearer overall signal
- Spatializer N-2-2 simulates surround sound through your TV or stereo speakers
- Component-video (Y Pb, Pr) and S-video outputs offer optimal connection with compatible DVD player
- 24-bit/96 kHz audio digital-to-analog converter (DAC) for high-resolution digital playback
- Onscreen display
Product Description:
The Samsung DVD-M101 DVD player is an affordably priced model that features state-of-the-art composite-video outputs, digital compatibility, and a slim design. The player's Spatializer N-2-2 sound circuit simulates surround sound through your TV or stereo speakers, while its 96 kHz/24-bit audio converters deliver pristine audio quality from DVDs and CDs. The back-panel Toslink optical terminal passes a 96 kHz/24-bit audio stream for use with the latest high-end audio recordings (though be aware that your receiver must be able to decode your 96 kHz recordings if you use a digital connection there). The DVD-M101 includes left/right analog-audio outputs for compatibility with Dolby Pro Logic receivers and, in case you don't have a receiver yet, TV inputs. This unit also supports both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel formats through its digital outputs for direct connection to a full-featured audio/video receiver or an external digital-to-analog converter (DAC). In the video realm, the M101's 10-bit video DAC ensures precision playback of high-resolution DVD signals. Analog video components are also selected to optimize performance. Component-video output terminals provide the optimum connection between the DVD-M101 and an advanced direct-view or projection TV. The unit also offers standard composite- and S-video outputs.
Description from Manufacturer:The Samsung DVD-M101 DVD player is an affordably priced model that features state-of-the-art composite-video outputs, digital compatibility, and a slim design.The player's Spatializer N-2-2 sound circuit simulates surround sound through your TV or stereo speakers, while its 96 kHz/24-bit audio converters deliver pristine audio quality from DVDs and CDs. The back-panel Toslink optical terminal passes a 96 kHz/24-bit audio stream for use with the latest high-end audio recordings (though be aware that your receiver must be able to decode your 96 kHz recordings if you use a digital connection there).
The DVD-M101 includes left/right analog-audio outputs for compatibility with Dolby Pro Logic receivers and, in case you don't have a receiver yet, TV inputs. This unit also supports both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel formats through its digital outputs for direct connection to a full-featured audio/video receiver or an external digital-to-analog converter (DAC).
In the video realm, the M101's 10-bit video DAC ensures precision playback of high-resolution DVD signals. Analog video components are also selected to optimize performance. Component-video output terminals provide the optimum connection between the DVD-M101 and an advanced direct-view or projection TV. The unit also offers standard composite- and S-video outputs. Average Customer Rating: 
Comment: Decent enough, but you get what you pay for Rating:
I have to say that as far as DVD playback, digital is digital. When you compare this to a VCR/VTR this thing blows 'em away. I use the optical digital audio output so the sound is insane - excellent seperation for 5.1 channel movies, and *very* clear CD audio. But I use the standard RCA video output, and the thing still stomps all over my VTR for picture quality. That said, there are a few (minor) frustrating things: Response to the remote commands is somewhat lethargic. You have to wait a second or two before you know whether the unit "heard" your remote. Also, it is a bit slow when loading a disc (DVD's and CD's take the same amount of time, it seems). That leads me to my biggest complaint. When I got this unit I was really looking for a CD player, but saw this as an opportunity to move into the world of digital video for quite a small amount of cash. The CD support is really quite disappointing. It flat won't play some CD's, and is rather finicky on most. It has a lot of trouble with direct track access - it usually finds the right track, but starts about 3-10 seconds into the tune. Sometimes it just won't even come close (like going to track 3 when looking for track 6).
All in all, for DVD playback, including some pretty neat features, it's probably worth the money (note that it's not a lot of money). Just don't expect it to replace your single disc player for CD Audio.
Comment: good entry level dvd player Rating:
this samsung model is a good value. while it's not the most consistent player on the market, for the price you pay you are getting a nice bargain. it froze up on one of the first movies we watched on it, but that might have been due to the fact that it was a blockbuster rental. basically, you get what you pay for. overall, its a nice dvd player for an even nicer price that you will enjoy for a long time.
Comment: Pay a little more to get a better player Rating:
I bought the Samsung 101 a couple months ago as my first DVD player. The price seemed reasonable and I liked the remote control. I also liked the Samsung 1-year warranty on parts and labor. Most players have a 90-day warranty on labor, and a 1-year warranty on parts, which means you are taking a risk if you do not buy an extended service contract from your retailer.
Connection and set-up were fast and easy, and the owner's manual is excellent, logically organized and with clear instructions.
Picture and sound were fine, but there were sporadic, though noticeable, "break ups" in the picture where it would disintegrate into large pixels. These are not the fault of the discs, since they don't always happen in the same place at the same time.
More annoying than the occasional picture problems is the slowness with which the player loads the DVD and responds to the remote control. The remote response is so slow that I often was not sure if the player had even received the signal until 5 or 10 seconds after I had pushed the button. While you do get used to this after a while, it's a real drawback.
The ergonomics of the remote itself are very good, with an intuitive layout, but this is offset by the slowness of the player's response.
The player does a good enough job that it got me hooked on DVDs, but after a month, I relegated this player to the bedroom and bought a Toshiba (2800) that is far superior to the Samsung and only cost about [a bit] more.
The Toshiba also has a great feature that the Samsung lacks: the first zoom level on the Toshiba gives you a slightly larger letterboxed image for widescreen DVDs, without cutting off much at the sides and with no discernable loss of image sharpness. This is a real convenience on my 27" TV, maintaining the widescreen ratio but giving a bigger image. The Samsung has a feature called "S-Fit" which supposedly does the same thing, but the manual says it does not work on all discs, and I never got it to work on any of mine. The Toshiba works for all the discs I have and it's a feature I would not sacrifice.
Bottom line on the Samsung 101:
Pro: Good remote, good picture, good sound, 1-year warranty parts and labor, good instruction manual.
Con: Sporadic picture problems, slow to load DVDs and slow to respond to remote, 2-level zoom does not increase image size for widescreen DVDs.
If you want a good basic player and don't want to pay for an extended warranty, consider the Samsung.
Posted at November 11, 2003 05:29 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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