News

Onkyo Unveils New High-Performance DVD Players (15/7/2005)

Genuinely useful features, DivX format compatibility and most superior sound and video quality distinguish Onkyo's latest DVD players (both of which are available in either silver or black finishes). Here they are in detail...

DV-SP503E - Universal Super Audio CD/DVD-Audio Player - £299.95 Enthusiasts who want the opportunity to replay high resolution audio as well as enjoy high quality movies should make a bee-line for the new DV-SP503E.

Weighing around 3.4kg this player has been designed to be 'Swiss-army knife' of DVD players. DVD, VCD and SVCD disc compatibility is just the beginning... add to that playback of CD-R/RW, MP3/WMA, JPEG/EXIF2.2 encoded and DivX-encoded discs.

DivX compatibility gives access to over 15,000 downloadable video titles (probably more since this release was written!). The key to DivX is its video compression technology which allows DVDs to be shrunk to a tenth of their original size (VHS quality films are just 1 per cent of their original size!). Just download, burn it onto a disc and pop it into the DV-SP503E for instant playback.

For high-resolution audio fans there's playback of SACD and DVD-Audio discs (with 5.1-channel audio output). With a frequency response that extends way beyond traditional CD today's SACD/DVD-Audio discs can deliver an amazing standard of sound quality (the TX-SR503's 192kHz/24-bit audio DAC helps!).

That's not to say that movie lover's needs have been forgotten... far from it. With a latest generation 108MHz/12-bit video DAC onboard this player delivers exquisite images (ultra-smooth PAL/NTSC Progressive Scan output is available too for those with displays that can accept it).

Finally, as with all the other new Onkyo DVD players all the video outputs (Component Video as well as RGB Scart and S-video) are designed to be active simultaneously. So, if you want to feed multiple display devices at the same time, you can.

Finally don't forget that this remote-controlled player also boasts a rocker-type cursor control on the front panel... so you won't be lost if you the remote control slips down the back of the seating!

DV-SP403E - DVD/CD/MP3 Player - £149.95

Buyers who don't need hi-resolution audio replay will find the DV-SP403E can meet all their needs... in an amazingly slim-line package.

Fronted by a sturdy aluminium fascia panel this player exudes quality and style, thanks to a stylish enclosure that measures just over 6cm high. Controls are few in number and laid out for maximum ease of use... and visual elegance.

When it comes to disc playback capability this player is almost as versatile as its big brother (bar the fact that it lacks SACD/DVD-Audio replay). The presence of a 192kHz/24-bit DAC means that audio quality from CDs and DVDs is of a very high order.

On the movie-playing front the internal 54Mhz/10-bit video DAC plus PAL Progressive Scan video output help deliver crisp, artefact-free images (simultaneously active Component Video, Scart and S-video outputs are all provided too).

Add in a full-function remote control and you have a player that you'll never have to make any excuses for...

Product name: Onkyo DV-SP503E
Price (SRP): £299.95 (in silver or black)
Actual release date: Available now

Product name: Onkyo DV-SP403E
Price (SRP): £149.95 (in silver or black)
Actual release date: Available now

www.onkyo.co.uk