Samsung DVD-P401 Progressive-Scan DVD Player

Having just purchased a Samsung Digital TV (Tantus Dynaflat, 27"), I wanted to take advantage of the progressive scan and 4:3 pulldown ability. The logical choice was to purchase a Samsung VCR with these attributes (to maintain remote compatibility, etc.).

DVD players on the market are strikingly similar... and most often, you do truly get what you pay for. This Samsung has been a startling exception. [the money] for a DVD player with 4:3 pulldown and progressive scan? Amazing! However, enough about the theory... how did it work in practice?

After hooking up the player to the Digital TV and then via a switch on the back of the player enabling 480p, the 480-line progressive scan mode, the picture clarity jumped from the run-of-the-mill DVD we're all used to, to something more resembling film quality (See the explanation on 4:3 pulldown in the manufacturer's comments).

Putting this DVD player through its paces meant pulling out a DVD from my collection which looked like, on the...Read more

This is my first DVD player - looked long and hard for progressive because I have recently purchased Sony XBR-400 - 36" (WOW) and wanted to take full advantage of its capabilities. I agree that the load time seems slow, but what's 30 seconds when you're getting ready to watch a movie! Otherwise, the unit delivers, I've played many DVD's so far and none have had issues, Gladiator looks spectacular. For the money, I would highly recommend this unit. I have not used nor care for any of the other features. When I purchased (2 months ago) this was the only sub-200 true progressive player out there. (3:2 pull down and all). Worth the money considering the cheapest of the cheapest are only 80 dollars less! *****
*****Update, I now have had many issues with load time, It seems to take an increaingly long time to load a disk and sometimes even errors out saying that there is no disk loaded!!! All my DVD's are brand new out of the box and clean, I've had many problems with new Disney...Read more

Despite what one reviewer has said I have had success playing mp3s from a CD-R on this unit.