LG DV298H

The LG DV298H DVD player is an attractive and affordable solution for those looking for an easy to use, upscaling DVD player. Despite not delivering high-end performance or true, 1080p upscaling, the DV298's ease of use, attractive design, and highly competitive price point make it a very attractive player for beginners.

DVD quality on this player is fairly respectable, but we did notice occasional display aberrations and minor artefacts during testing, although these were relatively uncommon. The player's upscaling capability, which converts the low resolution DVD image to a higher, 720p or 1080i resolution high definition image, is quite respectable. Upscaling removed most display flaws in our tests, and provided a sharper, clearer picture. Owners of 'HD ready' TVs (i.e. those that can support a 720p signal at native resolution) will be happy to know that they'll be able to enjoy their DVD collection in high definition with the DV298H.

The interface is a simple affair, and quite easy to operate. Our only gripe is a slight issue with menu layout, whereby adjusting one particular value covers the values of others in the same category. A minor annoyance at most, the interface is otherwise intuitive and easily navigated.

Design is quite a big feature on the DV298H, which boasts not only the now-standard "slim-line" profile, but also a much shallower case, making it a more convenient addition to the living room for those with limited space. An attractive black case and a smallish but well laid out remote control help to round out the design as simple, yet successful. The front panel houses an OLED display and power and eject buttons, whilst connections on the back panel include composite, component, coaxial, optical, S-Video and HDMI; everything most users should need.

Although it's not a powerhouse unit, or a convergent masterpiece that performs multiple functions at once, the DV298 is a well designed player that performs a single function quite respectably. And at this price, we can definitely see it being a popular product for those looking for a no-fuss, upscaling DVD player.