Samsung HD841 and HD931

AsSiMiLaTeD

Anyone know the difference between these two players and which one is supposed to be better?

Also, anyone know how either of those compares to the Denon 910 in terms of picture quelity?

Thanks guys...

TechChallenged

The 841 comes with a DVI cable. 931 add $100
The 841 will play SACD and DVD-A. 931 Nope
The picture quality of both is supeurb and identical.
The most significant difference is that the 841's remote is equipped with dedicated ff/fr and ch f and ch r buttons. The 931 remote is the single most frustrating remote I have ever had the displeasure to own. With the 931 you will most assuredly chapter advance when attempting to ff.

You may want to consider waiting until Sept when the HD941 becomes available. for an extra 70 bucks it utilizes HDMI digital-video output. That means you can use a single connection to your TV for all your HDMI connections. It's like firewire

AsSiMiLaTeD

Originally posted by TechChallenged
You may want to consider waiting until Sept when the HD941 becomes available. for an extra 70 bucks it utilizes HDMI digital-video output. That means you can use a single connection to your TV for all your HDMI connections. It's like firewire

What does that mean?

TechChallenged

I'm sorry but could you be more specific.

AsSiMiLaTeD

What is HDMI and why would it be better to hold out for the unit that has that?

jefft1314

I think all tech meant was that an hdmi connection carries both the audio and video signal through one digital cable, kind of like firewire. I think he mistyped and meant to basically say that you could just run one cable from the dvd player into the tv. Of course, unless the tv also has an optical or digital coax out, you'll still need one of those cables to hook up the player into a surround sound receiver effectively making the hdmi connection, two cables, and really, no better than dvi for people with surround sound systems, unless recievers or preamps start including hdmi inputs and outputs. (Probably not likely to happen for a while). It would be pretty cool if one day the only kind of digital cable you could buy would be hdmi (since it carries both digital video and digital audio). It would sure as hell simplify things. Of course, for the audiophiles, rca cables would still have to be produced for music reproduction.

jefft1314

Sony doesn't include dvi connections on their new model hd tv's, only hdmi. I wouldn't be too surprised if other companies decide to follow suit effectively eliminating dvi entirely.

TechChallenged

http://www.molex.com/cmc_upload/0/000/-11/981/topology_hdmi.gif

http://www.hdmi.com/pdf/Connected_eprint.pdf

Hope this helps.

AsSiMiLaTeD

OK thanks...the HDMI stuff doesn't do anything for me, so won't hold out for that?

So is the 841 a newer model of the 931? Is the 931 supposed to be a higher end player? Looking at the model numbers, here's what I'm thinking:

The 931 is the 2003 model in the 900 series (maybe a higher line than the 800 series)

The 841 is the 2004 model in the 800 series (maybe a lower line than the 900 series)

The 941 is this year's model of the 931 from last year, with various upgrades of course, meaning that the 841 is NOT this year's version of the 931...

So I'm wondering if the 900 series is better (i.e. uses better components, a different decoding chip, etc)

Any perspective you can provide on that would be extremely helpful...

I had my heart set on a Denon 910, but Ecost backed our after I placed my order becuase they 'ran out', so I never got it. Any clue which would be the better of the units???

Kpt_Krunch

Polkmaniac - in addition to the differences already discussed between the 841 & 931 (and now the 941) the 941 will have the faroujda chip for video processing (the 841 does not).

What this means from what I have gathered is that the 941 will process then send the pure 720p signal to your display - and since your display (if it is equipped to handle this signal of course)does not have to upconvert the signal, you will get a "better" picture.

I quote "better" as this is strictly speculative. I too am waiting (very patiently ) for the 941 player to use with my Samsung 61" DLP (the 941 will also come with an HDMI to DVI adaptor). I will also pick up an 841 to do side by side tests. If I find there is no difference between the 841 and 941, I'll keep the cheaper 841. I'll post about it here once I get it, that is unless someone has already beat me to it, in which case I would just add my comments. I have a feeling it will be the latter, as neither player has been released yet in Canada .... pity

AsSiMiLaTeD

Ah...I knew there had to be something else with the 941 bedisdes HDMI

Thanks

fireshoes

The Faroudja processing won't be used if you are using the DVI/HDMI connection, IRRC.

You're not missing much on the Denon 910. It's is very soft. Yoo'd be better off finding a good deal on the Denon 2900 or Yamaha 2300.

dcorrea

The 931 uses the Faroudja chip as well.

HD 931 specs

wrxmy02

Have the HD841 .
Video:Suffers from "black crush" on the DVI port. Well noted in other groups. Overall PQ is quite good on 1080I.

When hooking up DVI you MUST have the composite video also attached or it will not go into DVI mode.

Audio: Quarks-Some how It has a mind of its own on bass mgt.
SACD VS DVD-A big diff of -5 on DVD-A. Playing a cd on rca outs also gave rather low bass. Some days it did,,others it was ok?
SACD+DVD-A sound great, regular cd have heard better.

$188 on sale at Best Buy. At that price " a good buy"

dcorrea

Video:Suffers from "black crush" on the DVI port. Well noted in other groups. Overall PQ is quite good on 1080I

What exactly is black crush?

wrxmy02

Black crush-Blacks are more on the compressed side. Some find it to dark...make sure you consider a good return policy and give it a trial run on these units.;)

goingganzo

ok guys also the old one has the futaba de interlacer and the new one dusent saw what it is. and it dont have the blue bekon on the front of the new one.

Early B.

I was looking for weeks for a cheap CD player for my low budget 2-channel system in my upstairs office. I couldn't find one, so I eventually ended up buying the 841. Glad I did. Audio is excellent, especially SACDs. I'm running it on a Cambridge Audio A300 Integrated Amp, Rti28's, and a $100 AR sub. Bought the 841 for $155 from www.ecost.com with free shipping. Arrived in three days.