| Brand Name: | Konka |
Product Specifications
Technical Details
- Coaxial digital-audio output
- Dolby Digital output
- S-video output
- Plays CD-R discs
- Supports up to 8 different languages for soundtracks and up to 32 languages for subtitles
Product Details
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Product Description
Amazon.com Review
The name is Konka, and judging from the KD-1800U1 DVD player, this Chinese company has done its homework.
The KD-1800U1 is extremely well made. In fact, it weighs 10.5 pounds--roughly four pounds more than competing models. Although weight isn't necessarily a barometer of good build quality, if you're attracted to metal, you'll love this machine, which has a solid brushed-aluminum faceplate wrapped around a metal chassis lid.
Although the KD-1800U1's silver finish is prone to reflecting light, Konka seems to understand that big, bright display lights are a distraction when you're watching a movie in a darkened room. Konka uses small, faint-blue LCDs to display disc information such as chapter, track, and elapsed time. An unobtrusive red DVD logo appears in the center of the display, while a tiny, green standby button resides in the left corner.
Front-panel controls include Open/Close, Skip+ and Skip-, Play, Pause, and Stop, along with a Power button that rests flush when engaged. Unlike some front-panel buttons, which feel like they'll fall off if you jiggle them too much, Konka's controls are strong and reliable. The shiny, silver disc tray opens and closes smoothly, without hesitation.
Glancing at the back panel, we were disappointed to learn that Konka has eliminated the optical digital-audio output on the KD-1800U1, the model that replaced the older KD-1800U. Fortunately, we prefer using coaxial digital cables--they're less expensive than fiber-optic cables and are less prone to disconnecting.
Although the KD-1800U1 doesn't have component-video outputs, we had no qualms with this omission, given that most consumers who are searching for a bargain DVD player don't own TVs with component-video inputs. However, Konka did include an S-video output, which should please most home theater enthusiasts.
Another omission is the lack of DTS-compatibility. Depending on your point of view, this is either a gross oversight or a wise decision. We think it's smart, given our experience with several sub-$200 DVD players that carry the Digital Theater Systems logo but are unable to satisfactorily pass the DTS signal onto an audio-video receiver. Kudos to Konka for playing it safe and recognizing that most consumers shopping in this price range will not fret at the absence of DTS compatibility.
Konka's player performed flawlessly on all the Dolby Digital discs we played--from action flicks to high-drama to U2's Rattle and Hum 5.1-channel concert DVD. Although the KD-1800U1 doesn't offer any video-enhancing circuitry, such as black-level expansion, we were satisfied with the player's ability to produce accurate images on our 54-inch rear-projection TV. Contrast levels, colors, and image depth were impressive during both daylight and nighttime viewing, with no digital artifacts or other anomalies that could be attributed to the player's video decoder.
In 5.1-channel Dolby Digital, the KD-1800U1's audio D-to-A converters were equally impressive. On music CDs, the KD-1800U1 was able to reproduce the audio spectrum--from the highest highs to the lowest lows--better than most DVD players we've heard. Granted, Toshiba, and Sony DVD players still reign supreme when it comes to offering exceptional digital-to-analog audio converters, but the Konka KD-1800U1 is the best music machine we've auditioned in this price range.
When it comes to ergonomics, Konka has also demonstrated it understands consumers. The remote control isn't fancy, but it is intuitive. The Select button and navigation arrows are located in the center of the remote, where they're easy to access with a thumb. Stop and Play buttons are located just above the Select button. A "trap door" slides open on the bottom of the remote to load the batteries. It also reveals a Setup button, which gives you quick access to the player's most important functions, such as choosing Dolby Digital 5.1 audio and selecting the screen's aspect ratios (standard 4:3, 16:9 widescreen, or 4:3 letterbox). Konka also included a Return button, so you can get out of the Setup menu with ease.
The Power and Eject buttons are isolated at the top of the remote, where they're easy to find. Disc Skip, Fast-Forward, and Rewind buttons are clustered together near the upper-left corner of the remote. A Subtitle button enables you to glide through the options available on a given DVD, while an On/Off button makes it easy to get rid of the subtitles if you fail to deactivate them when you start the disc.
The onscreen menus are distinguished by large letters that are very easy to read--just one of the many thoughtful features that make the KD-1800U1 a bargain.
Other features include the ability to play CD-Rs; the ability to play DVDs encoded with up to eight audio tracks, including Chinese, of course; and the ability to display up to 32 subtitle languages--from Afar to Zulu. (The audio language and subtitle features depend on whether the disc itself offers these options.)
For consumers who may have concerns about purchasing an electronics product made in China, rest assured the KD-1800U1 is well-built. One might also consider that 40 years ago, up-and-coming Japanese companies were greeted with great skepticism when they decided to compete with the Western giants that dominated consumer electronics. If the KD-1800U1 is any indication of the kinds of products we can expect from Konka--which has been manufacturing TVs since 1980--this rising star is about to change America's perception of the words "Made in China." --Eric Gill
Pros
- Extremely impressive build quality
- Attractive brushed aluminum design
- Remote control is simple to use
- Good sound and image quality
Cons
- No headphone jack
- No backlight on the remote
Customer Reviews
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
53 of 54 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Impressive!,
By
This review is from: Konka KD1800U1 DVD Player (Electronics)
This DVD Player is great! Although when it arrived it didn't exactly look like the picture displayed. It apprears to be all silver, but the only silver part is the face plate, the rest is gray. I did a lot of research before I decided on the Konka. The set-up was easy, the machine is quite, and the picture and sound is great! I don't have dolby digital, I still a pro-logic surround sound, so I can image how much better it will sound when I do upgrade to digital. The remote control was the only glitch, it sometimes has a delayed response. But for the price, the quality is exceptional. I am glad I didn't spend a lot more money for a brand that I am familiar with, like Sony or Panasonic. This DVD Player has all the features one needs. So far, I am very satisfied with this product. I would recommend it to anyone who is not willing to spend a lot of money. It also has other features not mentioned. It does support DTS and it has extra audio and video outlets. The first DVD I played was the Matrix, because I heard from people that some DVD Players have trouble playig that particular disc. It was flawless. Konka definatley did their homework.
28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
So far so good!,
By A Customer
This review is from: Konka KD1800U1 DVD Player (Electronics)
I was very nervous about buying a lower priced DVD player by a company I'd never heard of before and was SURE that some sort of problem was inevitable. Not at all! I've only been using it for a little over 2 weeks but so far it's been easy to use (VERY important to me!), easy to hook up, solid, w/ nice picture quality. No problems at all, yet. Very pleased. Contrary to some of the other reviews I've read, I don't find the remote to be terribly slow. In fact, I find the control buttons to be well distributed and easy to use. The less glancing down the better for me! So far I'm really quite pleased with the unit. I didn't want anything fancy, I just wanted it to work well and this really does. Hope this helps someone else. There were only two reviews when I bought mine and I was definitely second-guessing my choice at the time but for those considering the Konka, I've had a VERY nice experience.
26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good value in a low-end unit.,
By
This review is from: Konka KD1800U1 DVD Player (Electronics)
The Konka KD1800 is exactly what is purports itself to be; a budget-priced, reliable, low-end DVD player. The 'low-end' tag applies more to the units electronic response than to its sound or video reproduction.The Konka is simple to install, using either analog or digital connections. It produces a high quality video image and very impressive sound. There are a variety of fancy visual options which will intrigue some users but probably be ignored by most, such as the variable view angle capability. The only significant drawback to the KD1800U1 is its extremely slow response to the remote. As almost all of the control features are on the remote, this can be quite a nuisance. The functions are reliable and perform as advertised, they simply take forever to activate. If this is the only problem that manifests itself, however, it is a small price to pay for the dollar savings in the purchase price. The final determination on any video system should be the quality of the image it provides. In that area, the Konka is superb. The DVDs I have viewed have been everything I expected. They are clean, stable, and visually impressive. In a word, the visual product is excellent. If you want a high-end electronic toy with which to manipulate your DVDs, this unit is not a good choice. However, if you want a DVD player so that you can enjoy the visual clarity and dynamic sound of DVDs, there is no reason to spend more money. The Konka KD1800U1 will satisfy your needs.
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