DVD Combo - In The Lab Page 3

Neon NTV-2500
DIMENSIONS 17 inches wide, 3 inches high, 12 inches deep WEIGHT 9 pounds PRICE $649 MANUFACTURER Neon Technology, Dept. S&V, 87 W. Montague Expressway, Milpitas, CA 95035 www.neontech.com 408-934-5816
IN THE LAB

DVD-VIDEO PERFORMANCE Maximum white-level error: -7 IRE Setup level: +12 IRE Luminance frequency response: (re level at 1 MHz) at 4 MHz +0.43 dB at 5 MHz +0.43 dB at 6 MHz -1.9 dB at 6.75 MHz (DVD limit) -3.1 dB Onscreen horizontal resolution: 540 lines In-player letterboxing: poor

CD AUDIO PLAYBACK Frequency response: 20 Hz to 3.78 kHz +0.35, -3 dB Noise level: (re -20 dBFS, A-wtd) -62.3 dB

There are two problems here. The visible one stems from the way-off setup level (it should be no higher than +7.5 IRE) and the low maximum white level (which may be a deliberate attempt to minimize picture "burn-in" with picture tubes). Combined, these traits produce a flat-looking picture lacking sparkling highlights and missing blacks as well as the darkest grays. It may not be possible to correct for these traits with the picture controls in every TV. On the audio side, the frequency response starts rolling off in the low treble, which is a serious limitation. - D.R.

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