Samsung  Click to enlarge. Slew of new DVD players Samsung displayed an impressive lineup of new DVD players at this year's CES. The new product offerings start with the advanced Tantus series. The top of the line DVD-R2000 is a DVD-RAM recorder with 4.7 gigabyte capacity and 480 progressive scan output. The DVD-R2000 boasts a flexible bit rate for up to four hours of recording time, plus a time base corrector for perfect analog transfers. The new recorder features two-channel Dolby Digital audio recording and will shop in April 2001 at a suggested retail price of $2,999. For the DVD-Audio inclined, the new DVD-A901 features both DVD-Audio and HDCD compatibility along with true 480 progressive scan output. The DVD-A901 will be available in August 2001 for $399. Finally, the DVD-M401 features dual digital outputs and dual laser pickups for use with DVD, CD, CD-R or mp3 discs and sports a new slim design. The DVD-M401 will be available in March 2001 for $349. Click to enlarge. Samsung's most economical progressive scan player is the DVD-P701, which also features a true 3:2 pull-down system, component video output, dual laser pickups and full remote control. The DVD-P701 will be available in August 2001 for $299. Other DVD models released this year are the DVD-C601, a five-disc carousel due in April 2001 for $249; the single-disc DVD-M301 with dual-laser pickup and MP3 compatibility available in February for $229; the DVD-M201 which drops MP3s for $199; and, finally, the basic DVD-M101 with component video outputs for just $179. The final DVD product released this show by Samsung was the convergence DVD-V1000, which is a combination DVD and VHS VCR. The DVD-V1000 is one of the first products of its kind that can plays DVD, CD, CD-R, VCD, MP3, VHS and S-VHS formats. The player includes component video outputs for DVD, composite outputs for the VCR, a joystick remote control and full-size audio chassis design. The DVD-V1000 will be available in April 2001 for $399. Click to enlarge. New CRT HDTVs The new TSL-3099HR 30" 16:9 direct-view television is Samsung's flagship model of the Tantus Dynaflat series. The widescreen TV can natively display a 1080i video signal but is just 17.9" deep. The set uses a new type of shadow mask called the "Advanced Tension Optimized Mask", which provides the electron beam with higher precision than ever before. The TSL-3099HR covers all bases with input compatibility with 1080im 480p and 480i inputs and includes dual NTSC tuners for Picture-in-Picture and Picture-and-Picture (two video sources side by side). Various 4:3 viewing options enhance regular television, while on the audio side the set includes Samsung's internal subwoofer audio system and a built-in Dolby Pro Logic decoder. The TSL-3099HR also uses a Pro Chip 16X Progressive Scan Line Doubling System that enhances the picture quality from all HTSC video sources and also includes a 3D Y/C digital comb filter, velocity scan modulation, vertical compression and a number of other picture improvement technologies. This new 30" model will be available in June 2001 at a suggested retail price of $2,999. Other high definition televisions announced this year are the Tantus 32" TSL-3295HF and 27" TSL-2795HF 4:3 direct view sets, plus the TSL-3095WHF 30" 16:9 set. All three include a Pro Chip NTSC to progressive scan line doubling system, two-tuner PIP and PAP, 3D Y/C digital comb filter, velocity scan modulation, vertical compression, plus component video inputs for 1080i, 480p and 480i signals. The three new models will be available in the second quarter of 2001 for $1,599, $1,199 and $2,199 respectively.

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