Other Source Component Reviews

The V20's menus aren't quite what I expected. Although they get the job done, they're clunkily basic. Basic is also how I'd describe the nicely laid out owner's manual. It's not at all unusual, but I was hoping for a bit more. It's true that most of us (men, in particular) don't read owner's manuals until we have to. I didn't read this one until after I'd hooked up the V20. Still, I think one reason that a lot of people don't read owner's manuals is because there's nothing there to read. Give me an owner's manual that talks about the equipment and why it functions the way it does. I want it to speak to me as the owner of the piece, rather than just the operator.

Ultimately, the reason that I became so fond of that old Volvo was the satisfying experi-ence of driving it. It felt good, and it felt solid. It didn't matter where it was built or which materials were used. The only thing I was interested in was the ride. Ditto for the Primare V20. The design and build of this $2,200 DVD player are excellent, if you're into how these things get put together. For most folks, though, the real impact will be made when the picture pops on the screen and the sound flows out of the speakers.

Whether it's the stout power supply, the use of high-quality parts, or the factory's proximity to the Arctic Circle, the quality of the picture the V20 produces is excellent. On a variety of DVDs, including Video Essentials, AVIA, Gladiator, X-Men, Farscape, and U-571, the picture was alive, with a vibrant range of colors and a surprising sense of depth. Some of the scenes in Gladiator were maybe a bit too alive, but that's not the V20's fault.

There were times when I found myself taking the long way home just to enjoy the drive a little longer in that old 740GL. Such behavior is a good indication of an emotional connection you've made with a fine machine. The same thing happened with DVDs I placed in the V20's drawer. Instead of the usual skipping from one illuminating scene to the next, I found myself lingering over the picture, soaking it in. It somehow seemed unfair to press "next" on the remote and tear my eyes away from the brilliant canvas of light that the V20 depicted on my television.

The sound quality of the V20's analog audio section is equally stunning. You'd have to spend much more on separate digital-to-analog conversion to get any worthwhile improvement in sound. It was clean, smooth, and detailed. I especially liked the way it handled the depth of the multiple voices on Cry Cry Cry's version of "Fall on Me." Several cuts from Mark Knopfler's latest, Sailing to Philadelphia, were outstanding re-creations of his gravely voice and soaring guitar work. And (back to the subject of a smooth ride) "Sex Without Bodies" from Dave's True Story was perfectly ethereal.

The Primare V20 is a first-rate DVD player that plays CDs, CD-Rs, and even MP3-encoded discs. Before you fork over $2,200, however, you should be aware of a couple of omissions you might not expect on a player in this price range. For starters, the V20 is not a DVD-Audio player. That's understandable, since the format (as evidenced by the lack of bass management on the first-generation players) is in its infancy. Rumor has it, though, that the company will be coming out with a $1,000 DVD-Audio add-on component in the near future. More potentially troublesome is the absence of progressive-scan outputs. Primare's take is that there are more televisions out there without progressive-scan inputs than with them. Although I certainly wish the V20 had these features, their absence doesn't diminish the exceptional way in which the V20 reproduced mainstream audio and video. If you are not ready for DVD-Audio or progressive-scan outputs, you'll find little to fault with the V20.

It's funny that we often sense a personality in the machines we surround ourselves with. When a machine is capable of creating a beautiful experience, there's often an emotional connection—a genuine bond—that you develop with that machine. Primare's V20 is one of those machines you'll develop a close bond with. I know I did. In fact, I'm really going to miss this Swedish beauty when she's gone.

Highlights

• Stunning picture quality

• Exceptional analog sound output

• Built like a tank, but with flair