DVD-player NAD T535
The first thing you notice - high quality performance. The front panel is made of plastic, but it evokes a feeling of strength and solidity - in the same way as the traditional NAD remote control - large, uhvatisty with powerful rubber buttons that will not be the demolition of many years. The full-size tray loader confirms the first impression of solidity - moving but not very quickly, but quietly and clearly. Rare logically arranged controls on the front panel on the left - all that turns on and off (power button, OPEN/CLOSE, STOP), right - that controls playback (PLAY/PAUSE, and the move by chapter/track forward and ago). I would say that the button layout is designed for people who prefer to use two hands - unlike most modern players, developed under the management of one hand.
A look at the patch panel does not open anything extraordinary: Everything analog video interfaces (except VGA), 5.1 individual analog outputs and stereo, both digital audio interface. In addition to this standard set - connector for external IR-repeater, as well as RS-232 interface, which allows you to control the device from a computer (using special software) or external controllers URC, Xantech, AMX or Crestron. Basic service capabilities embedded in the player itself - it has a sleep timer, automatic power off with the two algorithms work mode and "night" listening.
The HDMI interface allows not only to achieve the best image quality, but also to improve the integration of the display. For example, just select the HDMI input on the TV and in the T535 automatically activates the corresponding output. If such an "understanding" why is not there, an HDMI interface can be enabled with a special button on the remote control. Scaler mode switches to the settings menu, and by default it is set AUTO - this means that the resolution is automatically selected in agreement with the display. By the way, the machine itself goes into STOP mode by pressing SETUP, and does not display a symbol is not available to the operation, as do most of the other players.
Transcoder has only two positions - NTSC and PAL, AUTO item no. However, the special problems it creates, as to change the state of the converter is not necessary to go into the menu - TV system switch separate button from the remote. Have detailed settings of the image, can be adjusted brightness, contrast, tint, two kinds of definition (MID and HIGH), color saturation, color signal delay (for the interface S-Video), gamma, as well as the degree of noise reduction actions. At the same time, I note that the user guide is a detailed table that shows what video interface on which setting is available. Incidentally, the video outputs are switched separate button on the remote.
It's a pity that there is no change in the settings of the black level: if it was, might have been able to "pull" on the test strip PLUGE tables disk "Video Essentials". In principle, it is possible to do without it, but it can more accurately calibrate the display, in particular projectors, whose configuration depends on the accuracy of depth and black, respectively, expression of the picture.
HDMI output, you can switch the color space to enable/disable the transmission of sound, as well as change the way the video format 4: 3 wide screen - most DVD-players, this setting is only available for analog interfaces. And I must say at once that all the complex in this sense fragments, namely DivX files with Anamorphic, the unit plays absolutely correct. Mysterious to the uninitiated menu TIME INTERVAL actually gives the possibility to change the pause between displaying images in a slideshow - such a useful multimedia function have NAD T535.
All the "problem" discs played without difficulty, that is, the device does not belong to a particularly discerning, which often happens to players in this price range.
The picture quality is very commendable. On a relatively small LCD TV looks equally good and analog component, and a digital connection. But on the screen, starting at 50 inches, HDMI is already showing its advantages - the image smoother and more rich details. The device is easy to compete with the reference to our Denon DVD-2930 and hardly inferior to him only because of the fact that it does not switch to the black level, and therefore it is more difficult to set up a display.
Move on to a music CD. Supports CD-Text is not available, it can hardly be considered a fault as this useful function now occurs very rarely. The first step is to draw attention to a clear three-dimensional sound stage - each instrument is its own place in space. Surprising emotional expressiveness - listen to the familiar drive Scandinavian jazz, which was seen primarily as a fairly low-key, "northern" and cool, but here it sounds surprisingly energetic and warm. Singer Lisa Ekdal presented as assertive and devoid of complex young woman seeking love. And on the reference source, built on an external DAC (twice more expensive than the test player), she can be heard in the form of gentle, low-key, thoughtful and mature in experience, as if she gained ten years, but in life there are not only good luck ... Which interpretation is closer to the truth? What kind of person the singer really? I do not know, I personally do not know her. Itself, however, the ability of the player to a purely individual serving musical material seems very appealing.
