Readers,
I have just spent hours comparing my DVD25 with a Cambridge Audio 640C V2 - results compelled me to post a review here. I am an avid audio enthusiast with years and tons of equipment and comparisons behind. After all the top reviews about the Cambridge I picked up a fantastic unit and was expecting to be blown away. ( I am currently constucting a second "purist" system for Stereo Music only). I could not detect a single difference between the 2 units. The CA sounds fantastic, but so does the DVD25 ! Everytime I listenend to a piece on the CA where I thought, wow now this is good, the DVD 25 came up and performed just as well ! Really a fantastic piece of equipment and you can pick them up at a steal these days. So the CA is being sent back today and the DVD25 will take its place in my system as CD player together with 2x Parasound HCA 2200II + Linn Kolektor + Linn LP12 + Infinity RS2b.

Clean image, excellent progresive output, easy user interface, multitude of formats supported.

chasis a bit light (added Dynamat sheets to the inside to dampen vibrations and make it heavier).

Wow! I was just looking for a suitable replacement for my aging Sony 560D (great product). Perhaps something that supports MP3s, recorded CDs and DVDs. I looked at the high-end Pioneer 47i and Sony SVP-999ES at length and even borrowed them from the store to test at home. This HK player blew me away with its looks, the quality of the images and the simplicity it offers the user. Setup Harman Kardon AVR7200 receiver Sony 34XBR800 TV B&W 602s, LCR 60 and ASW 600 surround InFocus Screenplay LS110 projector

Similar Products Used:

Sony SVP999ES, Pioneer 47i, Sony 560D, Sony SVP900

Picture really nice Player easy to configure, to use . Silent. Nice and elegant design. Looks real quality . Analogic sound is fantastic.

Just to mention that bass could be a little bit more consistant and spatialization a bit better defined . Otherwise, no significant weaknesses .

Just bought this player last september after having gone through all possible reviews (including this website), reports in magazines, ...and strong headaches when taking the final decision (I hesitated between SONY DVP-NS930 and this player) . My goal was to find a good dvd player with nice acoustic performances when playing cd's through its analogic outputs ... and of course without having to spend thousands of euros on it, as I had to buy a dvd player and to replace my old cd player at once . I have now a strong feeling I found this rare pearl with this HK DVD25 . Picture is really nice ... of course I am an absolute beginner with dvd's . This player is easy to configure and to use . Moreover it is silent and the fact its panel lights turn off automatically after some secunds if you don't use the remote control is really a great idea . Design is great in black, just underlined by the silver tray (I saw recently the same HK player in silver, it seems to me so poshy, almost kitsch) . All plugs seem good enough . Moreover, for a player produced in China, it looks real quality and hopefully should prove to be reliable . Then sound is fantastic for the music lover I am . No matter if it is classical music, jazz, ethno or whatever you listen on this player, sound is great, with a high-medium well present, rich with details . So, for me, one of the best possible and reasonable (in terms of pricing) combinations dvd/cd player . Congratulations to Harman Kardon for this great achievement . And as you can see, we, French, are able to do not boycott American products ... if they are good !!

Similar Products Used:

None .

Multiple Formats Video Options On-screen CD/MP3 Picture Quality

It's too good for my $1000 TV.

Best all around player. This thing plays EVERYTHING (except DVD-audio). I am so impressed. SETUP H/K DVD-25 DENON 1801 Reciever PSB Alpha Front Wharfedale Surr, Sub, Center Toshiba 36" flat tube Even with just S-Video, the player is night and day better than my 3-yr old samsung piece of crap.

Similar Products Used:

None. It in a catagory of its own.

Picture and Sound Quality

GIANT multi-angle icon pops-up on my TV screen.

Great picture and sound for the money. I was looking for a replacement for my aging Sony DVP-S550 with support for MP3, DVD+R and DVD+RW. I was convinced that I had found it, that is until I loaded up my Tomorrow Never Dies SE DVD. Nothing like a giant camera icon poping up on my TV screen each and every time another angle is available on the disc. All of the newest Bond films including Die Another Day and my U2 Elevation Tour muti-angle concert are two examples that show this poor design decision. I wish HK would release a firmware upgrade to kill the angle icon. Looks like the Sony will still be used on multi-angle discs.

Everything. GREAT looks, killer build quality. Awesome picture. Amazing sound, AWESOME to set the display to turn off automatically - really enhances the "movie expereince!" Remote is very nice compared to most if you plan on using it. Excellent GUI for setup Exudes quality wether the unit is on or off

Absolutely none that I can think of!

I would consider myself pretty picky when it comes to PQ. This is mainly a forced pickiness due to my upgrade to a 42” plasma. A bad player will look really good on a regular set, but on a large plasma looks horrible. I am proud to say the Harman Kardon delivers about a perfect “10” as I have seen so far, at a great price. I will also attest to the other reviewers here. I emailed all of them and they ALL still stand by their player! The audio is excellent, AND it excels in the video department. I have tried many players including the mid range Denon 1600 (with the “famous” Faroudja DCDi) and with NONE had I been truly happy with what I saw. The H&K has a very REAL look to the image – movies are clear, sharp, with no harsh edges or “processed looks” Like looking through a window!! Colors are vivid yet real, blacks deep yet detailed. As a bonus, the player looks amazing – not cheap like MOST players in the same or less price range. Having the display go COMPLETELY dark after 20 seconds of play AUTOMATICALLY is awesome. No lighted display to distract me! I am simply and finally in love with a DVD player! Why this player does not get more airtime in the US is beyond me. A hidden GEM! PLEASE email me if you have any questions!

Similar Products Used:

Toshibas (SD3750 and various other earlier models) Denon 1600 JVC 600 Panasonic

Great performer for DVDs and CDs with reasonable price

Lower build quality than expected with HK reputation. My disc door doesn't open fully. No SACD

Previous unit died after eighteen months of casual play which did not include CDs (because it couldn't do it well) and video suffering (lots of flicker on older recordings). The HK was priced right and I have had trusty performance with my old HK CD player, but upon unpacking I realized the unit seems cheaply built. The unit was advertised at 12 lbs, but turned out to be only 8.5 lbs. Then I found the disc door won't fully open! After tucking in the DVD, the video was rough for the first five minutes. Since then I'm constantly amazed by the brilliant video/audio performance of my DVD collection. After using the HK test screen to optimize, this should look even better. Fast loading, no DVD flicker or CD blips, and the remote is very good. Progressive scan on my digital TV is far tighter than the old Samsung was. Best I've owned, but I probably should have bought the 17 lb Panasonic 963 for the extra $100.

Similar Products Used:

Samsung w/ progressive scan HK CD player

Video Sound and appearance

Yeah right none

My search is finally over. The best damn dvd player on the market. No hype all substance. I read review from the misled and uninformed about the quality and picture of mass marketed chain store equipment. It fulfills all of my audio and video needs. The picture is flawless on my hitachi 43 widescreen. Sony uses hype and cheap 12bit 108 mhz ratings to fool the average consumer. Dvd 8 bit no more hk 10 more than enough 12 bit what left to do ? nothing I viewd this against the sony 755p and not only did the hk dominate but no bleed of colors and yse the chroma bug is there check out toy story if ya dont believe me. No need for multiple picture modes. Why if you have quality and I stress quality components need no masking by multiple views and light outputs and color saturations. Crap in still a golden turd out. Sound simply breathtaking and with clarity and authority. Only sound rival is the ? None. Ive spent alot of time and retuned many a dvd player including the famed panasonic rp82. This is the best in performance and looks I love it all in wonder

Similar Products Used:

Denon 1600 junk sony 715 sony 755 panasonic rp82 jvc 75gd great but could be better onkyo DR-C500 onkyo 5 disk

Progressive scan for PAL & NTSC Seperate Scart RGB and component output Simple firmware upgradeabilty Looks & Build Quality

None at this price!

Yes I work in the industry and yeh I'm probably bias to a degree but I actually did buy this unit and at it's price I do not believe you can do any better. After having it for only a month I was able to download a new firmware upgrade onto a disc and wala....it now it even does Progressive scan for PAL. I don't use it for CD's only for movies of which it does a fantastic job and is certainly an improvement over my old Toshiba. I'm not going to give a technical run down on the unit as at the end of the day I think that means squat! If you are in need of a new DVD Player then I cannot recommend this unit highly enough.At least check it out!

Similar Products Used:

Marantz DV-6200 Onkyo DV-SP500 Pioneer DVS655A

Great value Well built Quiet Excellent video performance Excellent audio performance

Funky dispaly for some Remote could be a little better

After purchasing mostly middle/high end Denon products, I was excited to try the new line of Denon DVD players. They were a big dissapointment to say the least. I went into the closest AV store and asked for the best player they had and he pointed me to the DVD-25. All I can say is THANK YOU to Harman Kardon. This is a great DVD player and a screaming deal at this price. It has excellent video display and spot on audio performance. The tray seems solid and the unit as a whole feels well built. Being a Denon enthusiast, I am not sold on the front panel display and the remote is only fair/good. I can't believe this unit does'nt get more press, especially at this price.

Similar Products Used:

Denon, Kenwood