Zenith DVB312 Progressive-Scan Slim Design DVD Player

• DVD, DVD-R/RW, DVD+RW, CD, CD-R/RW, WMA, JPEG, MP3 playback
• Progressive scan technology produces superior, crisp, clear images
• Moveable zoom allow user to view images in greater detail
• S-video, component video, progressive scan video, and composite video outputs
• S-video cable, A/V cables, remote control included

Amazon.com Product Description:
Handling most media formats as well as full home-theater duty, the slim DVB312 from Zenith is a great choice for budget-minded audio- and video-loving technophiles and anyone looking to invest in a DVD player designed to be cutting edge for some time to come. Play MP3 and WMA CDs, homemade DVDs, JPEG image CDs--and, of course, commercial DVDs--all will look and sound great on a standard or high-resolution TV. Whether your living room is currently home to an HDTV or you're merely thinking of "someday," the DVB312 delivers the full potential of DVDs. Progressive scanning, referred to as 480p for the number of horizontal lines that compose the video image, creates a picture using twice the scan lines of a conventional DVD picture, giving you higher resolution and sharper images while eliminating nearly all motion artifacts. Top-of-the-line component-video outputs help minimize digital and line-scan artifacts on compatible advanced televisions, while composite- and S-video outputs bring compatibility with nearly any television. A single set of left/right analog-audio outputs channel audio to Dolby Pro Logic receivers and stereo televisions. Both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround-sound signals can be routed through the player's coaxial digital-audio output for direct connection to a full-featured audio/video receiver. The players onboard 96 kHz/24-bit digital-to-analog audio converter ensures optimum decoding of all disc formats. If you don't have a surround receiver or six-channel speaker setup, you can still make every movie night the ultimate experience: the player simulates surround sound through two speakers (even the stereo speakers on your TV). Other features include CD-ROM-upgradeable firmware (for compatibility with future formats and features), full-motion picture zoom (4x, 16x), random and repeat playback, closed-caption support, and accommodation for interactive story (and multi-story) DVD programs. What's in the Box DVD player, S-video cable, composite-video/stereo analog RCA interconnect, remote control, two AAA batteries, user's guide, registration card, and warranty card.

Slim-Design, Big Fat Disappointment:
This unit quickly developed a problem of freezing in mid-DVDs. There'd be a short freeze of a few seconds, then another, frequency increasing. At times, the problem would seem to correct itself -- it seemed, in fact, a question of overheating. It got Progressively worse. Finally unworkable. Sending it back for a partial refund. Recommend Philips' slim-lines instead. I have two of them, comparably priced, and no problems.

Works Fine:
Bought this DVD Player many years ago and it's still going strong. It is Progressive scan, but not upconverting. I eventually moved up to a home theatre in a box, with an upconverting DVD and 5.1 surround. However, this upgrade was 99% for the surround sound as the Zenith was producing a beautiful picture.

Well, at least it has progressive scan:
I got this player to upgrade my old DVD player and get beautiful progressive scan capability. The support for MP3/JPG/DVD-R was an extra bonus--I hoped. Well, I haven't done an A/B comparison with my old player, comparing interlaced with progressive, but it clearly wasn't earth shatteringly different. Watching JPG slideshows is PAINFULLY (and ridiculously) slow, even on the fastest setting. I made a DVD-R disc full of MP3's ripped from my CD collection. That works. So, the fancy features are there, and do work after a fashion. What about just sitting down and watching a movie (this is a DVD player, after all). Certainly, the picture is clear and sharp, with fewer jaggies or flickering lines you're used to seeing with the composite video of yesteryear. But, too many times this player has failed me. Some discs won't play at all, but when I pull out my old Toshiba, they play fine. The audio regularly gets out of sync with the video--very disconcerting. There is no excuse for this kind of failure. I hoped to used Zenith's "Upgradeable Software" feature, but their technical support site has no mention of it, or any kind of upgrades for that matter. Finally, some buttons are very slow to respond. I guess Zenith was trying to save you from accidentally performing functions, so they make you press and hold the buttons (on the player itself as well as the remote) for up to 1 second before anything happens. This can be particularly annoying when fast forwarding/rewinding. If you don't hold the button long enough, you'll do a whole chapter skip. Please, Zenith, add the two more buttons to distinguish between fast forward and chapter skip! Depending on what you are looking for, however, this player may still be a good choice. If you don't mind its flakiness, and are wowed by the extra bells and whistles, but don't have a lot of money, the Zenith is a good choice. For myself, I would have been happier spending a bit more, getting fewer features, and having a stabler player.

Strikingly Zenith:
I recommend this Zenith DVD player. It may not be the best player, but for the price and the features it provides, it's worth your blood, sweat, and tears. I've had this DVD player for three years (Christmas 2003) and I haven't had a problem so far. Those people who had a bad experience with this DVD player should be kept away from electronics definitely. Either they're impatient, careless, abusive, or overall just plain idiots.

Good buy:
This is the first Dvd player I have bought I can play Dvd's on my computer but wanted a more relaxing way to watch them. I have had this unit for about a year and it is fantastic I watch an average of 45 Hrs. of DVD's a week and have not had a single problem with this system, my roommate had a more expemsive Sony unit that lasted 6 months and couldn't beleave how good my player worked and the picture quality I got for the price I paid. He has since bought the same unit. For the price this is a GREAT player and works as good as some twice the price.