Acoustic Solutions DVD-421 Review

Overall Rating

Great Price,
Compact Unit,
Multi-region Hackable,
RCE Hacked,
Macrovision disable function,
Auto detect DVD/VCD1.1,2.0/SVCD/MP3/CD-R & CD-RW.

Unresponsive buttons on unit,
Differcult IR link with unit.

I just bought this Acoustic Solutions DVD 421 DVd player from Richer Sounds at London Bridge (www.richersounds.co.uk) for £69.95. This unit is so compact that the box that it came in is as big as some of the DVD players that I've seen!

On opening the box it comes with manual and remote plus batteries but no connections, although for the price you can't really quibble about. 40x30x5cm thick it's one of the smallest DVD players around, setting up was easy having that it had a number of different connections (1x scart, s-video, coaxial, Dolby Digital & DTS Sound, MP3 player)I placed a gold scart > scart TV.

Placing a CD-R video into the player it auto detected the type of disk and played after a few seconds delay. This was pretty impressive since other more expensive brand name models you would have to set-up the type of disk manually. The same with DVD films.

One of the more impressive functions is the ability to go into "set-up" mid-film without having to start the movie again from the begining. As well as the normal setting on offer (multi-angle, zoom, slow motion, upto x32 f/forward or rewind, PBC) RGB & YUB is offered as standard as well.

Using "The Matrix" to test the player I paused and zoomed into the frame to find minimal distortion and playing at x4 zoom had the same results.

One of the only bug bears that I have is the remote IR connection which has a very narrow margin of operation and the need to press the buttons firmly. I can see the remote malfunctioning reasonable soon. The buttons on the player are not much better either: to operate the buttons you press so hard as to move the whole machine, but these are small prices to pay when you consider you can region select and can play RCE disks. The player is macro-hackable. If you want to watch an MPEG video on a CD single you won't be able to. Instead the player recognises that it is a "CD-DA" and will only play the audio part of the disk.

The region hack is as follows:-

1. Open the disk ray, then press "SET-UP"
2. Press the "NEXT" key
3. Press the "PREV" key
4. Press the "NEXT" key
4. Press the "PREV" key

Enter "Region code setup"
VER255 = Region free (under this setting your DVD Player should play most discs, except those with RCE)
VER1 = Region 1
VER2 = Region 2
Press "LEFT" (<) or (>) "RIGHT" key

To Disable Macrovision:-

Press "DOWN" key twice
VER4001 = Macrovision enable
VER4000 = Macrovision disable
Press "LEFT" (<) or "RIGHT" (>)

On the whole, this is one of the best DVD players available at the price with the expanded range of hackable functions to play almost anything you want (except the enhanced section on Audio CD's). For another £20 you can have Dolby 5.1 out. Richer Sounds offer you an insurance policy for £9.99 for 3 years including 50% buy-back if you wish to upgrade with them or if you don't use the policy they'll refund the money back. You can't lose. All that would complete the package would be a second scart socket.

Don't delay BUY this DVD player now. Each store only has about 30-50 units and once they've gone. THEY'VE GONE!

Members' Comments onGarch.'s Review

• scoop. on 16th Jan 2003

  I use a 421 in the bedroom and entirely agree with this review. I've had problems reading sections of a few disks (an exchange machine was just the same), and the remote control needs to be accurately aimed. It did however, play a scratched DVD-R (that a Toshiba SD220 refused) without problems. DVD+R again no probs. (even my old Panasonic A350 plays them). I can't get it to read DVD+RWs though, it just sees them as data CDs no matter what settings I try. The SD220 plays DVD+RW without problems. Overall, what more can you expect for the money?? It's truly remarkable value at £69.95 and knocks most other budget players into a cocked hat!! John WoodMBKS Cinema & Theatre Engineer

• Switch. on 17th Mar 2003

  I bought one of the dvd 421 for my son just because it was cheap. My one is a slim line sony but the dvd 421 is just as good if not better so glad i got my hands on one. I got it at richer sounds glasgow

• Jules. on 8th Apr 2003

  Very truthful and accurate review. Just got two from Richer Sounds for relatives. Inexpensive, small, compact and simple to operate. Fine by me!
  
  Does anyone happen to have the 'One For All' set up code for this device? Apparently the one glitch with this unit is the narrow beam from the remote control which means you actually have to point the control at the device SHOCK HORROR!! One For All remotes resolve this apparently.

• Central.FM. on 21st May 2003

  Very good review.
  The only little problems I've had with the player are that the picture on zoom x2 has a few lines across it, but it is much better on zoom x4.
  And some times the screen saver/startup screen (with the picture of the dolphin) turns black and white, if its been turned off, and not put on stand-by.
  This is sorted by just inserting any disc...
  
  But I must say that on the whole, I'm very happy with this player...

• pompey on 19th Aug 2003

  Really helpful and honest reveiw.
  
  I do have one question though: Richer Sounds sell a Region 2 and a Multi-Region version of this player, does the remote hack work with the R2 one, or only with the one sold as multi region?

• stevewrd on 30th Aug 2003

  It seems that Richer Sounds sell two DVD 421 units, one advertised as region 2 and the other multi-region. The multi-region version arrives as region 2 by default but the region can be changed using a hack (supplied with the unit). The region 2 unit can't be changed as far as I can tell.

• mjbh on 12th Sep 2003

  Very content with the 421 but for the life of me I cannot Disable Macrovision - and this is not to copy anything, as the 421 is on our second TV which only has one scart, the appropriate feed is through the video hence the problem - any ideas would be gratefully received.

• kouya on 27th Nov 2003

  I bought my machine from Richer Sounds. It was advertised as multi region, but having just returned from a work trip the US, with a bundle of DVD's I can't get them to work. The remote hack for the multi region thing doesn't work. I don't actually get the option of changing the region. Does anyone have any bright ideas?