Helios Labs was very kind in sending me their H2000 upscaling multi-function DVD player, which is region free. The device playbacks just about anything you can throw at it, and can upscale standard definition content to high definition – functionality you really want when you have a high-definition ready television.The H2000 supports playback of DVD, VCD, SVCD, MPEG1/2/4, DivX, and Xvid in the video department; in the audio department it supports normal audio CDs as well as .mp3 files. It also handles just about any recordable format under the sun; CD-R, CD-RW, DVD+R/DVD-R, and DVD+RW/DVD-RW. It plays back the video content with the ability to upscale standard definition content to a high(er) definition resolution of your choice; you can change these ‘on the fly’ (480i/576i/480p/576p/720p/1080i). The device is completely region-free.
It has a scaring amount of output options for both audio and video. Composite, s-video, component, HDMI/DVI, and standard VGA for video, and analog stereo, 5.1 surround, optical, and coaxial for audio. The box itself contains the DVD player itself (I am so happy companies include the main product in the box), a user manual, an analog audio/video cable, an HDMI cable (thank you!), and a remote control. The power cord is attached to the device, and this is the first downside: power cables should be detachable, so I can easily replace the American cable with a proper European/Dutch one (interesting note: the device was shipped from Germany, but still had an American power connector). The device weighs 1.5kg, which is actually quite light for audio/video equipment; my Technics CD player weighs at least three or four times that (over 15 years old, but still unbeatable by anything else I ever had).
The design of the device is not exactly my cup of tea, but don’t look at me, I am ridiculously anal about these things. Audio/video equipment should be plain matt black, with square angles, and no frivolities. The H2000 has a piano-black front bezel, and an off-white top cover. Sadly, the physical controls of the device are located at the top, which kind of sucks if you stack your HiFi equipment (like I do). It also has a master power switch on the back, similar to many PSUs in computers. Sadly, the device does not respect ‘standard’ HiFi component sizes, and has quite long ‘legs’, so it stands out like an eye-sore. I do not really know why manufacturers try to individualise ‘design’ like this, since I suspect most people do not stare at their DVD player all day in awe. But hey, that’s just me.
The remote control is excellent; minimalist and to-the-point. The labels on the buttons are clear, and the buttons themselves even glow in the dark – and let’s be honest, which self-respecting geek does not totally dig things that emit light. What I like about the remote is that it allows you to change so many things on-the-fly; I already mentioned the resolution switches, but the same applies to PAL/NTSC and 50hz/60hz switching.
I am not so enthusiastic about the on-screen-display. The fonts are not anti-aliased, and the Dutch translations make the Language Union shiver – but at least there are Dutch translations, which in itself is a good thing. The menus are sorted logically, and it is never a problem to find a specific setting.
Video quality is, especially with the upscaling technology, astonishing. Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride never looked this good; very sharp and vivid (please note that the best video quality is delivered through HDMI. If your TV cannot interface with HDMI, component is your best choice). Quite a few definite steps up from my previous DVD player. I also played a random selection of films I had burnt from DivX/Xvid files onto CDs, and they all worked just fine, albeit on some the volume was a tad bit too low, but that is nothing my amplifier could not solve. The H2000 also includes zooming technology, but apart from zooming in on Fiona Apple’s face while playing the DVD side of the dual-disc version of Extraordinary Machine (real fans have the dual-disc, of course), I see little use for a zooming feature on a DVD player.
Overall, for 89 EUR, this is a very capable low-end DVD/video player; however, an HDTV is a requirement for a device like this, else the upscaling technology is rather useless.
Product: H2000 upscaling DVD player
Manufacturer: Helios Labs
Price: EUR 89
I’m curious, is that player region locked, or is that something you have no way to check?
Ah, good addition. It’s completely region-free. Let me add that to the review. Thanks!
Can it skip annoying advertisements and “don’t steal” bull**** (which just make me think that maybe i should go for pirated copies after all?
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My current DVD player (old Sony) does not allow me to skip that crap
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My el cheapo Konzert can skip that stuff
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Wow! Thom, that player’s input options are wicked! And yes, I also prefer matted black finish for my ‘appliances’.
Shouldn’t that read “component is your best choice”? Composite maxes out at SD, while component can do up to 1080p (assuming your TV will support 1080p over component).
Duh! You’re right of course, fixed. I mix them up all the time.
Good… I’m glad I’m not going any more insane than I already am.
I did side by side testing on my new Vizio GLV42 using a couple of copies of the same dvd showing the same scenes..I used a $29 standard DVD player over component at 480p, and a 4x more expensive ‘upscaling’ dvd player at 1080i/720p.
My Conclusion… if your TV handles SD content well already with its built-in upscaling, then the DVD players upscaling is worthless. Maybe if your TV sucks as upscaling SD content like if you have one of the older LCDs or Plasmas, then maybe it might be worth it.
But, in my experience the new Vizio GLV series LCD’s are AMAZING with their quality of SD content. Regular DVD’s and SD channels look VERY good on these LCD’s so there is no need to use an upscaling player, they are a waste of money.
About the translation to Dutch: Some native English speakers may not be aware of this, but the language in localized versions of AV equipment is often horrendous. Both in the manuals and on screen menus / info. This is true even for some high-end equipment. There are _lots_ of times that I’ve laughed out loud at some translations, and I believe there are even websites dedicated to collecting funny translations.
I set all my devices to use English because I’m fed up with horrible translations to Swedish. (And English looks cleaner too, without the “a and o with dots on” crap. ;-))
[q]About the translation to Dutch: Some native English speakers may not be aware of this, but the language in localized versions of AV equipment is often horrendous.[/]q
The English on this products is getting just as bad – E.g., I recently picked up a LCD monitor/TV for a client, the marketing blurb on the box described it as “Heart touching” and the bag around the monitor itself had a sticker saying “The content is made in China.”
Oh yes, and I forgot a particularly good bit of “English” I read recently in the install app for the “ULi AGP Driver”:
“You should install this driver before the installation of graphy driver, we recommend you to reinstall graphy driver later if you have installed graphy driver before the installation of this driver.”
I set all my devices to use English because I’m fed up with horrible translations to Swedish.
I have come acoss a few devices that came with manuals which had just been translated by word-for-word translator program. The result: total gibberish which made no sense whatsoever. Apparently they couldn’t hire anyone to just translate the manual… >_< It just amazes me sometimes how cheap some companies can be..
Does this player handle video files that are already HD resolution, and so don’t need to be upscaled?
No, the device does not playback HD files.
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