NeuNeo's $245 HVD2085 1080p DVD player
By Thomas Ricker 
posted October 19th 2005 10:05AM
posted October 19th 2005 10:05AM
Yeah we know the $4k Denon 1080p-capable player is too
beaucoup for most of our readers so here's the NeuNeo HVD2085. Like the Denon, this high def DVD player pumps 1080p
over HDMI. Sure, you have to update the firmware yer damn self but for a mere $245 you can afford the risk, eh?
[Via HD Beat]
How do you pronounce the first half of that company's name??
#1, I think that it is pronounced "New".
"Upscale any DVD playback into high definition resolution. High-end level upscale engine delivers astonishing high definition video quality"
All it's doing is scaling up NTSC content. Big deal.
I'd be really interested to see just how much different a 480i/p DVD looks scaled to 1080p vs 1080i. I get the feeling that, in the case of SD-DVDs, the difference between 1080i/p will be virtually nonexistent. Video scalers do nice work (I love my 1080i upscaling DVD unit on my 1080p set), but they simply can't create data that was never there. I'd love to see this compared to, say, the Zenith DVB-318, which is about $100 cheaper and will do 1080i over DVI or component (with the right firmware).
I have the 2081, the previous version of this player. The picture quality is amazing, both in comparison to a normal interlaced and progressive players. The quality difference is also very noticeable when switching the player mode from HD to normal resolution. Like Tucker says, it can't create information out of nothing, but it does do a good job at cleaning up what is there and making it look good. Note that this player also plays HVDs, which is a China-only 720p standard, available on the web. These look great on the 2081 player as well. On the Zenith, the newer versions have HD output via component disabled in firmware (in response to strong request from Hollywood). Don't know if you can still find the old version.
Is it region free?
Yes, it's region-free.
If anyone's still reading this post, yes you can get the old firmware. If you do a search for the zenith player on AVS Forums you'll find more information than you need, including download links for the firmware.
It seems to be great. But what about working in Europe? Voltage/PAL system?. Thx & Bst rgds
I have a Momitsu v880 which upscales dvd 2 1080i thru component output. It's not true HD but it's hands down the best picture I've ever seen(Mitsu 55inch display).
title: HVD2085 Player Continues to Disappoint!
I've purchased the subject player and have viewed it on the following sets at 720p and 1080i over component video:
toshiba 50HX70, rear projection CRT
toshiba 72MX195, DLP
I've set up the subject player using the THX optimizer test patterns for contrast and grey scale. I've observed the following serious problems, or deficiencies:
- on source video that is dark like; room interiors, caves, night the video this player
produces is an unwatchable mass of black with very little visible detail ( observed in
several movies but very noticeable in Raiders of the Lost Arc opening scenes, etc ).
- player will not display 1080p on my 1080p capable toshiba 72MX195
- player "skipped" a minute of the arrival in venice in Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade.
It did this repeatedly. I was not able to watch that minute of the movie. Then, through
out venice, and after, the movie would stutter over seconds of video. It would also lose
video and audio sync ( voice and mouth movement would not match ).
I am astonished at how badly the HVD2085 player performs on video that is dark. Of the several DVD players I've had ranging from $25 to $600, i.e.: several toshibas, an apex, a koch, and the panasonic RP-91, this NeuNeo player is by far the worst I've ever seen when it comes to reproducing blacks and dark scenes in general. The remote is weak, difficult to use, and generally the worst remote I've ever tried to use.
Conclusion: Avoid this player and this company.
Contacting Neodigist technical support was equally frustrating. I sent them an email, waited for two weeks, and recieved no reply. I finally recieved a reply to an email the seller of this player sent on my behalf.