DVD players: How we test
Each model is tested by independent experts
Picture perfect?
Viewing and listening tests in our purpose-built room form the backbone of our DVD player testing. Each player is connected via Scart sockets to a Best Buy TV and compared to a benchmark Sony DVD player connected to an identical TV.
Picture quality is assessed by our expert 5 person panel with extracts from Sense and Sensibility, James Bond and the Matrix looking for vivid pictures with natural colours and lots of detail. Fast-moving, sports clips check for blurring and test cards reveal any underlying weaknesses.
Sound quality is rated by our expert 5 person panel using classical, pop and jazz pieces together with speech and sound effects from film material.
HD up-scaling
Our viewing panel in action
To check any up-scaling claims, we watch the same clips with the player connected via a high-definition HDMI socket. This gives you the option to watch different types of video signal – either 576p or 1080i/1080p The number represents the number of horizontal lines that make up a picture, and the letter the way it is transferred to the screen. It’s natural to assume that the higher the number, the better the picture. But our experts preferred the standard-definition 576p option every time. Using this setting means the TV carries out the digital processing instead of the DVD player. Because our Best Buy TV has topnotch software, this makes for the best possible picture.
If you don’t have such a good TV, experiment to see which picture you prefer. For high-definition players, we watch both high-definition and normal DVD discs.
No bias
We mask out brand names to eliminate any bias and sneak in the same products twice to ensure consistency. No conferring is allowed and they each complete a lengthy score sheet that our statisticians analyse to ensure the ratings we publish represent real differences.
Real life
Every machine is put through a battery of tests
Underpinning this is a raft of over 50 technical tests that explore the player’s capabilities and limits, plus around 250 feature checks, where we test and log what they can do.
Our ergonomics experts then go through an extensive process trying out their various functions and features in the way consumers would use them - assessing how easy and intuitive each is to use and whether there are any significant drawbacks that would prevent us from recommending the product.