Samsung DVD511 DVD Player

by Samsung

Product Details

Product Manual [495kb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 11 x 17 x 3.2 inches ; 6.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 10 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B00004TETU
• Item model number: DVD511
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #235,661 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

If you're seeking a good value in a budget DVD player, the Samsung DVD511 deserves serious consideration. Despite its Spartan appearance and modest price, this model does the DVD medium proud, and also proves a surprisingly sweet player with audio-disc recordings.

In our tests, it tracked even the trickiest action video disc (The Matrix) with aplomb and delighted the ears with accurate playback of acoustic jazz, classical, and folk CDs.

All the essentials of a versatile player are on board. You'll enjoy clean-looking, multispeed fast scan and slow-motion picture modes in both forward and reverse directions. Plus it has sharp still frames, which are user selectable by field or frame, or automatically chosen by the machine for whichever looks best with the image grabbed. There's even an auto-resume feature that picks up right where you stopped if you turn off the player and then come back to a movie later.

We were also happy to discover some useful features here that are usually lacking even on much more expensive machines. For example, during double speed (2x) fast scan, this Samsung samples and plays snatches of dialogue in normal speed and pitch. The sound is out of sync with the picture, and some of the conversation is lost. But the gist of the dramatic matter usually comes through and the voices don't sound like Mickey and Minnie. (In case you're not into hearing the audio while the video's in slow-mo or fast-forward mode, the sound-play mode is defeatable.)

Picture zoom on the Samsung DVD511 is also better than most DVD players. Mr. Home Director (that's you) can go in for your own private close-up either on the fly (with the program running) or more easily, after hitting the still button--with a frozen image already locked on screen. Move the cursor over the segment of the picture of special interest, tap the zoom button, and up it grows to fill the screen (but beware of the digital blur.)

The menu system is unusually versatile, as well. This DVD player displays operating modes, not only in the expected, user-switchable English, Spanish, and French languages, but also in Italian, German, and Dutch.

A screensaver goes on automatically (fading the opening screen in, then out) whenever the player is stopped for more than one minute. That's an especially important feature to have if this DVD player is going to be connected to a big-screen rear-projection set that's more susceptible to image burn-in. The player shuts itself down if abandoned for more than 30 minutes.

Samsung stands behind the DVD511 with a full one-year warranty on parts and labor for the original owner. Most brands usually deliver one-year free replacement on parts, but only 90 days coverage on labor.

You might notice a couple of small shortcomings on the rear jack-pack, though it's nothing too serious. There's just one set of analog audio-video outputs, and only one digital sound output (fiber optic) to funnel the PCM audio stream coming off Dolby Digital, DTS, and CD discs. However, although the DVD511 doesn't offer component video outputs, the single S-video output jack delivers quite the pristine picture.

Since most users will start off plugging this player into a conventional stereo rig, stereo TV, or Dolby Pro Logic Surround Sound receiver, we went the analog sound route in our tests. The DVD511 did an extremely good job of down-converting DVD's native 5.1-channel Dolby Digital soundtracks to 4-channel matrix Pro Logic. Channel separation was still very clear and dramatically tingly when fed some well-engineered content.

And some surround-style kicks are obtainable even when you're listening in a two-channel (stereo) setup. Just tap the 3-D button on the remote, which activates the Spatializer circuitry. This "psycho-acoustic" surround effect tricks the brain (with time delay cues) into thinking that sound is coming from the sides of the room as well as the front, where the speakers are situated. Just remember to sit dead center between the speakers for the ultimate, killer effect. However, you may also notice a tradeoff in body (signal) warmth when the 3-D is engaged.

All in all, as bargain machines go, the Samsung DVD511 is a honey.

Pros:

• Winning sight and sound performance
• Easy zoom operation
• Longer warranty than most players

Cons:

• Small remote, not backlit
• Minimalist jack pack
• Plain Jane styling

Product Description

Black Stereo Spatializer N-2-2 Virtual Surround 1 year warrantyHave you ever wondered how you can create a home theater in your own home? Here your imagination becomes reality. Lets build our own Home Theater ourse

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

114 of 118 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Spend your money elsewhere..., June 10, 2000

By 

Matthew Szymczyk (Manhattan Beach, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Samsung DVD511 DVD Player (Electronics)

I recently purchased this player at a store and was disappointed to find that not only did the frames skip on not 1, 2, or even 3 DVD's but every SINGLE DVD I had (over 40) - so I brought the player back and was given a new model but a month later I started experiencing unexpected power losses within the unit. I normally associate Samsung with lower end Electronic units and after this experience I will continue. I purchased a Panasonic DVDA115 which I am completely happy with and would suggest to anybody that's ready to make the jump from VHS to DVD.

46 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This thing ships defective! But you can fix it, February 8, 2001

By 

Bruce Aguilar (Hollywood, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Samsung DVD511 DVD Player (Electronics)

I bought this player (my first) because I was on a budget and it seemed to have a lot of features. I immediately liked the slight demensions of the unit and the small remote. Once it was hooked up (which only took a minute or two) and a disc was played, my spirits fell. I experienced the same skipping problems that most others have mentiond here. I was really frustrated, but didn't want to go through the hassel of returning it and researching for another player, so I brought it to a Samsung service center for repair. It seems the darn thing was shipped defective! The laser eye had a problem and needed to be replaced. OK, I thought, I'll go for it because it's under warranty. Two weeks later I had my player back and it hasn't skipped on me since. Not once. The repairman told me that he's been getting a lot of the Samsung DVD 511 & 611 with the same skipping problem. I'd suggest taking your's in for this repair if your having troubles with skipping (especially if it's still under the year long warranty).

Now that it's running properly I am enjoying the 3X zoom, crisp picture, big sound and instant access that DVD affords. My initial approval of the small remote has vanished though as I find it a bit too hard to find the correct button without staring at the thing for a moment or two. A back light would help as would a scroll wheel for scanning forward and backward.

Taking it all into consideration, I'm still gald that I bought this player. Is it the best? Not by a long shot, but it does allow me to watch films in the best possible way and it does so at a price I can afford. So I'd recomend this player if you're on a budget don't mind that you'll probably have to get it serviced before you're really able to enjoy it. Just keep in mind that the replacement laser eye works just fine and hasn't skipped on me once. Yes it's a hassle, but I ended up with a great mid-priced DVD player. I'll eventually upgrade to a more full featured model but until then, I'm content with this basic model.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I Really Like My DVD Player, June 4, 2001

By 

Nick Danger (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Samsung DVD511 DVD Player (Electronics)

Before I bought this machine, I did a lot of research. I was on a budget and I didn't want a total piece of ..., so I made sure to find something with (relatively) good ratings.

A lot of folks said they had problems with this particular player, especially skipping and types of distortion. I've had my DVD511 for only three days now, but so far, it's been a real delight. I the DVD I ordered (from Amazon!) along with the player plays perfectly. I've also watched 2 others with no problem. So maybe Samsung fixed whatever was wrong with its player before.

The only reason I would suggest paying more is for the features not included that may be important to some. I tried playing a VCD with no luck. But those things are bootleg anyway, so who cares. Also, I couldn't play a CDR, but I don't recall ever reading it could.

Also it has limited video output (only RCA and SVideo) and it does NOT have Dolby 5.1 audio.

But for the bucks, what do you expect?

The options it does feature are really cool. The remote, though small, is so simple to use. I had no problems manipulating languages and subtitles, as if I needed to. Also, the search function can go very fast without Alvin and the Chipmunks-esque voices.

If you're poor like me, and you want a good machine, I highly suggest this one.