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Introduction
We've been doing DVD reviews for over a year and a half
now at NextGen Electronics, and finally we're able to bring you our first
review on a DVD player - to the satisfaction of many readers who have
emailed us over the past few months asking us what our take was on the
DVD player market. DVD players aren't just for watching movies anymore
- perhaps that was the only need for consumers three to five years ago.
But today, the typical DVD player buyer is highly informed and wants features
way beyond the simple ability to play a movie.
Apex Digital Inc. is a company well placed in retail locations.
Their products range from speaker systems, to televisions, to DVD players
(which is what we're reviewing here). Based in Ontario, California, Apex
Digital is trying to position itself as a market leader in home entertainment.
Electronics Business claimed them as the #1 manufacturer of DVD
players in the US, and Apex's reach is beginning to expand. The AD-2500
player then shall be our first test of this lofty goal of becoming a home
theater leader for Apex Digital.
show me the features
The specifications and highlights of the device ...
Audio Features
Dolby Pro Logic
Dolby Digital/DTS/PCM Ready
Analog Audio Out (Dual)
Optical Audio Out
Video Features
Component Video Output
Composite Video Output
S-Video Output
Special Features
Full Sized Chassis (Silver)
KODAK Picture CD Compatible
JPEG compatible
Plays DVD-MP3-SVCD-CD-CD/R-CD/RW
Microsoft Windows Media Audio (WMA)
Progressive Scan
Component Video Outputs
Karaoke
Video Fluorescent Display
AFF-Active Full Screen Function
Zoom (2x, 4x)
Programmable Playback Sequence
Frame by Frame Advance
Parental Lock
Multiple Language Subtitles (Captions)
Multiple Angle
Slow Motion Forward
Fast Motion Forward
Full Feature Remote Control
Full Size Chassis (Silver)
Performance
There's some specific features
when looking for a new DVD player. The first is what's called "progressive
scan technology" which is far and away better than an interlaced
signal. The benefits of a progressive display are no flicker, scan lines
are much less visible (permitting closer seating to the display), and
they have none of the interlace artifacts usually associated with an interlace
signal (as long as they are fed a real progressive signal).
Another important thing to think about when getting a DVD
player is, what else can it do? People don't just watch movies
on their DVD players anymore - it's also become the musical center of
the home entertainment world. No longer are people purchasing CD changers
and CD players to put in with their home theater - and why should they
when a DVD player can play a music CD? But think ... a music CD is only
good for about 70 minutes of music on the average ... what if you could
throw 175 songs on a CD?? Using MP3 technology, you can. Simply burn your
favorite MP3s onto a CD, and then find a DVD player that plays MP3s, and
you've got yourself a home entertainment center than could play more songs
on one CD than any changer ever could.
The Apex AD-2500 is a DVD player that supports both progressive
scan technology and the ability to play MP3 CDs. Most DVD players support
Dolby Pro Logic surround sound just like this device, but the AD-2500
does have a unique feature in the ability to read karaoke CDs, which should
make some people out in the market pretty happy. You can also throw your
favorite pictures from your computer on a CD (JPG file format only) and
display them on your AD-2500 player. So beyond the impressive progressive
scan ability to watch your favorite films, the AD-2500 player also serves
multiple purposes such as a music center and picture viewer.
One minus with this device is the high dependence on the
remote control - a growing flaw in almost ALL commercial DVD players these
days. So - don't lose the remote!
Value and Usefulness
The suggested retail price of $99.99 is a fair one for a feature rich
progressive scan DVD player. With as many uses as the AD-2500 fills, it's
a highly useful product that belongs in any home theater system. There's
not much more that a DVD player could do outside of video some new formats
such as DivX and MP4 technology. I do like the ability to view JPGs on
the device, allow a nice photoalbum ability that really comes in handy
when you want to show off pictures to a group of people. All in all Apex
has packed a nice punch with the AD-2500.
Overall Impressions
I want to get one thing across on this review - I ran this product into
the ground testing it so much. We used it at a birthday party to play
MP3s, we used it to watch our favorite movies and ones we reviewed ...
we used it every day and night for about a month and this thing didn't
flinch. The quality of the engineering seems to be quite high on this
product, and under stressful working conditions it performed as promised.
A neat feature not advertised on the box include a built
in screen saver. When the unit is paused for more than a minute, an Apex
built in screen saver comes up - a great idea to make sure you don't burn
any images into your TV set with your DVD. Unfortunately this feature
was NOT built in while playing MP3s, which is an addition I hope they
make with newer models down the road. The MP3 playing was tremendous,
especially the shuffle feature which played random songs one after the
other.
Overall the Apex Digital AD-2500 is a well built, feature
rich DVD player that has the latest in technology that a home theater
buff would want. It's priced reasonably, and not at the expense of the
engineering and quality of the product. If you're not familiar with Apex
yet, it's highly recommended you consider them for purchase and check
them out on your next visit to the electronics store of your choice.
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10 / 10 |
OVERALL SCORE
96%
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9 / 10 |
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9 / 10 |
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10 / 10 |
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10 / 10 |
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9.6 / 10 |
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