Home Theater Review

We have not performed a hands-on review of the DBS-6.9, but here's an overview of the player's features. In terms of connectivity, the DBS-6.9 covers the basics but lacks some higher-end options. On the video side, you get HDMI 1.3a, component video, and composite video outputs (no S-video). For HDMI, the output-resolution options are Auto, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p/60, and 1080p/24. While many players must be set up to output either 1080p/60 or 1080p/24, the DBS-6.9 offers separate 1080p/60 and 1080p/24 modes, so you can easily switch between the two for comparison. For component video, output-resolution options are 480i, 480p, 720p, and 1080i. The player doesn't include some of the advanced image adjustments found in other players, but it does offer basic black-level adjustment (not available for HDMI), as well as MPEG and 3D noise reduction for DVD. As for audio connections, the DBS-6.9 offers HDMI, optical and coaxial digital audio, and 2-channel analog audio outputs, but it does not have 7.1-channel analog audio outputs. The player can pass the Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio formats in their native bitstream form over HDMI, for your A/V receiver to decode; however, it lacks internal decoders for these high-resolution audio formats. The DBS-6.9 can pass 7.1-channel PCM audio over HDMI, and the setup menu includes speaker settings to adjust size, channel, and delay for a 7.1-channel setup.

The DBS-6.9's disc drive supports Blu-ray, DVD, CD audio, and MP3 playback; there's also an SD card slot on the front panel that supports MP3 playback. The Integra website and press release state that the player supports WMA, JPEG, and Divx playback; however, the owner's manual lists all of these formats in the "unplayable" section. Because this is not a Profile 2.0 player, it lacks an Ethernet port for quick firmware updates and BD-Live Web access. It also lacks advanced control ports like IR and RS-232.

Read about the high points and low points of the DBS-6.9 on Page 2.