One of the most welcome trends in DVD players is the inclusion of MP3-playback capability. Combined with a CD-R/RW drive on your PC, this system lets you create CDs that can hold more than 10 albums' worth of music. The DVD-N501 did a good job playing the MP3 CDs we tested, recognizing the discs' folder structures and letting us navigate to the music we wanted with an onscreen display. There's even an added bonus of a light show on the TV that pulses psychedelically in tune with the music. Unfortunately, there's no way to create a custom playlist of songs, nor can it read track tag information--leaving you to glean whatever you can from a filename.
Currently selling for as low as $170, the Samsung DVD-N501 is especially compelling if you can make use of its MP3-playback capabilities, enjoy dissecting your DVDs frame by frame, or want to take advantage of a number of other features. However, bear in mind that while you will get a good deal--and a good picture--this isn't a progressive-scan DVD. Serious home-theater enthusiasts won't get the full bang for their buck here.
What You'll Pay
- Set Price Alert
