Rating: 
Summary: Height Not As Advertised
Review: Actual height of the unit with foot pads is about 3.2 inches (not the advertised 2.6 inches) It didn't fit into the slot that I had wanted it for. The actual box is about 2.8 inches, but I see no practical way to remove the foot pads (which probably serve a purpose anyway).
Rating: 
Summary: Had to return
Review: After the unit had more and more problems loading disks (new) it finally stopped all together. Had to send it back for refund.
Rating:
Summary: P401 does play MP3s
Review: Despite what one reviewer has said I have had success playing mp3s from a CD-R on this unit.
Rating: 
Summary: Quit 2 weeks after the warranty expired
Review: First of all, one of my selection criteria was I had 3 1/4 slot to put this in. The specifications said" Slimline - 2.6 inches tall". Reality - it is 3.375 inches tall. Must be using a different kind of ruler...Now the design specifics: * Very slow to load disks compared to my Sony downstairs - on the order of magnitude level. * Frequently hangs up when playing CDs. Seems to be the first time through the CD after waking up. The solution is open the drawer and close it again. Doesn't even error-correct, just sits there and clicks the stepper motor. * The remote control is awkward to use, especially if lights are low. For example: The big arrow buttons don't change the volume, you have to hit a tiny volume mode button that's mixed in with two rows of identically sized and shaped buttons. Then you can change the volume. But make sure to get it right, the volume mode times out and you'll have to find that little button again... I could go on and on, I hate thoughtless bad design, but I have other things to do...
Rating:
Summary: Poor Quality Design
Review: First of all, one of my selection criteria was I had 3 1/4 slot to put this in. The specifications said" Slimline - 2.6 inches tall". Reality - it is 3.375 inches tall. Must be using a different kind of ruler... Now the design specifics: * Very slow to load disks compared to my Sony downstairs - on the order of magnitude level. * Frequently hangs up when playing CDs. Seems to be the first time through the CD after waking up. The solution is open the drawer and close it again. Doesn't even error-correct, just sits there and clicks the stepper motor. * The remote control is awkward to use, especially if lights are low. For example: The big arrow buttons don't change the volume, you have to hit a tiny volume mode button that's mixed in with two rows of identically sized and shaped buttons. Then you can change the volume. But make sure to get it right, the volume mode times out and you'll have to find that little button again... I could go on and on, I hate thoughtless bad design, but I have other things to do...
Rating: 
Summary: Maximum Quality - Minimum Price
Review: Having just purchased a Samsung Digital TV (Tantus Dynaflat, 27"), I wanted to take advantage of the progressive scan and 4:3 pulldown ability. The logical choice was to purchase a Samsung VCR with these attributes (to maintain remote compatibility, etc.). DVD players on the market are strikingly similar... and most often, you do truly get what you pay for. This Samsung has been a startling exception. [the money] for a DVD player with 4:3 pulldown and progressive scan? Amazing! However, enough about the theory... how did it work in practice? After hooking up the player to the Digital TV and then via a switch on the back of the player enabling 480p, the 480-line progressive scan mode, the picture clarity jumped from the run-of-the-mill DVD we're all used to, to something more resembling film quality (See the explanation on 4:3 pulldown in the manufacturer's comments). Putting this DVD player through its paces meant pulling out a DVD from my collection which looked like, on the playing surface, someone used it to sharpen cutlery. This copy of "The Matrix" has more scratches on it than a prison wall- which makes it a good test for the dual-laser pickup. Most DVD players skip badly on this DVD; my second-generation Sony DVP-S530D even refuses to play certain chapters. The Samsung DVD-P401 did not hesitate, skip, or give any indication it was not dealing with less-than-pristine media. As a DVD player, it delivers more than expected, and much more adequately than many other DVD players which cost twice as much. .... This is a great little player at any price- and at [the price], the bang-for-buck-ometer is off the charts.
Rating:
Summary: Best so far..
Review: I have owned a few DVD players since they became popular, others being Toshiba models and such. I have to say that especially for the price this is the best one I have owned so far. The progressive scan is of great quality, I love component output, and the menu seems self explanitory to me. It supports all the MP3s I've burnt so far, and VCDs for that matter. All you have to do is put them in, so I don't see what's so difficult, or what you'd need a manual for. I have owned my player for almost 2 years I believe (longer?) and have never had any problems. I noticed some people have had problems with it not reading disks, and I absolutely have to include the following: If your disks are NOT playing, make sure they are clean, and of the correct format. If this is not the problem, you must clean the lens on the DVD player itself. Yes, this is normal and should be done periodically, otherwise it will not function in time. This player does a great job of providing a smooth layer transition (that little glitchy part in the middle of some movies), and is quiet and doesn't tend to overheat like others I've had. I highly reccomend this player, as I've used others and know how good this one is compared to others of same/similar price. And just to let you know I'm not some bonehead on a computer either. I'm a CS major and have extensive knowledge of audio/video equipment. Of course if you don't believe me, you can just check it out yourself.
Rating:
Summary: Samsung DVD-P401 is Missing...
Review: I just received my P401 unit yesterday and had the opportunity to hook it up and watch parts of a couple of DVDs and try out some of the features. Picture and sound quality on my non-digital (non progressive scan capable)TV were both very good. I listened to some audio CDs and CDRs and quality was as expected. Then I decided to carefully read the User Manual and figure out how to playback CDRs with MP3 files. Guess what, no mention of how to do this. Then I went to look at the original box and there is no indication that MP3 is supported! I got back onto the Amazon website and reread the two customer reviews that preceded the one you are now reading and they both indicated that the P401 plays MP3s. .... Bottom line: I like the unit for its DVD, CD and CDR performance, aesthetics and compact size but I expected (and need) MP3 support and now am trying to decide do I send it back or keep it.
Rating:
Summary: Wow!
Review: I sure don't know much about this new fangled technology sonny
but I hooked this new DVD player to my 10 year old Sony Triniton
and look-a-here boys we done got ourselves one heck of a picture
Now I can watch "Smokey and The Bandit" over and over and over-truly a nice perty machine you got there boy!
Rating:
Summary: Had to return
Review: I was looking for an inexpensive DVD player with Progressive Scan and MP3 support. I found it in the Samsung P401 PRO's
1. The unit is the good looking, and has execllent video & audio output.
2. I have played 5 DVDs and had no issue at all.
3. The Video, SVideo, and Component Video outputs all performed as advertised.
4. The zoom (2X & 4X) functioned properly and responsively.
5. I had zero issues with the load times (unlike others experience)
6. MP3's play well, but Samsung needs to improve its funtionality and documentation (see CON's).
7. Added Bonus Feature - N-2-2 Spatializer 3D sound option adds dimension to two speaker stereo set ups and functioned well. CON's
1. The manual is very short, and doesn't provide a lot of detail about the advanced features (doesn't explain the features well enough).
2. The manual doesn't mention the MP3 capability of the player, with one very small exception (a brief "Note" on p.6 General Features It states that to make sure that your MP3's are recorded at a bit rate of 128Kbps or greater, and that if your MP3's are recorded with Varible Bite Rate (VBR) that your sound may come and go. (My VBR MP3's ran fine))
Other than that the manual doesn't mention MP3 capability at all.
One last note on MP3 capability there doesn't seem to be a way to randomize MP3 playback (hopefully Samsung will add this when they do a firmware update), and song titles are limited to 8 characters.
3. Remote control is smallish, and is not backlit. Otherwise this is a great player, and in my opinion a great value for a Progressive Scan player. J. Murphy
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