NeoDigits Launches HD Upscaling DVD Player

NeoDigits has announced the Helios HVD2085, a DVD player which can upscale standard DVDs up to 1080p high-definition resolution.

Billing it as the Swiss Army Knife of the DVD player world, NeoDigits has taken the wraps off its HVD2085 DVD player which, in addition to playing back standard DVDs, CDs, MP3 CDs, Photo-CDs, VCDs, and other formats you’ve come to expect from premium DVD players, can upscale output for high-definition monitors. The HVD2085 claims to offer 11 video modes via HDMI output (from 480i all the way through 1080p and 1280 by 1024), and 720p, 1080i, and 1080p via component interface. The upshot is that users with high-definition sets will be able to watch more content from standard video sources at upscaled high-definition resolutions: not as good as true high-def in many cases, but at least users would be getting some benefits from the capabilities of their spend HD displays.

Even better, the player ships region-free, so it will play all DVDs regardless of the part of the world in which they were purchased.

The HVD2086 offers HDMI, Component, S-Video, Composite, and Component outputs, although not all of the device’s 11 output resolutions are available on every output. For instance, only 280i and 576i are available via Composite, VGA gets standard pixel-measurement resolutions (VGA interface in 640 by 480, 800 by 600, 1024 by 768, and 1280 by 1024,) while the HDMI output offers all 11 resolutions). NTSC signals can be handled at 720p, 1080i, and 1080p at 60hz; PAL signals are supported at the same resolutions at 50 Hz.

NeoDigits says they’re using high-quality audio and video capacitors, and include a full-featured, easy-to-use illuminated remote, and a UOP-off function to bypass trailers.

NeoDigits has priced the HVD2085 at $199, and they ship worldwide. NeoDigits’ DVD players have been rebraded “Helios,” the previous brand name was “NeuNeo,” which still adorns the units (at least in the product images).