Considering the utter mess which is the Region 2 launch of DVD, it's amazing that some of us still live in hope. While I would love to castrate the Hollywood execu- no, make that the slime-sucking, low-life, bottom-feeder, pond-scum lawyer who cooked up regional coding, I've gotta admit: every time I see a film via DVD, I forget all about it. Quite simply, the myriad negatives of Region 2 are outweighed by the benefits of DVD in general. And I don't mean the difference between handling a 5in disc instead of a 12in laser disc, nor the frills, nor the cinephile extras, nor even the humane elements like foreign language subtitles. Quite clearly, DVD is more fun than any previous video format.

But DVD has already suffered the sort of polarisation which is inevitable when a new technology is the product of multinationals with absolutely no concept of quality, homogeneity, design potential or anything above the bottom line. A backlash has already appeared through laserdisc supporters* who - even if they grant the edge on visuals to second-generation-plus DVD - will argue convincingly that laserdisc offers better sound. DVD packaging sucks almost as badly as the CD jewel box. There's no consistent use of the promised facilities or options, e.g. widescreen vs 4:3 on the same disc. All in all, DVD was launched before it was perfected. Surprise, surprise.

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Specifically for Zone 2, the catalogue is embarrassingly tiny and the presentation an afterthought. I mean: what complete asshole thought it was OK, let alone even releasing a major new film like in 4:3 format? Why does every Region 1 CD go straight to its correct audio mode, while nearly every Region 2 disc seems to require delving into sub-menus to get the right sound or screen layout? And why do we get swill like when the Yanks get ?

But that's beyond the hardware makers. What Theta's DaViD addresses is the need, even this early in the game, for a no-compromise device rather than the lowest-common-denominator standard which hamstrings the vast majority of players. Price dictates that they remain unconscionably low-end because DVD (the eventual high-end audio-only variant aside) has been treated by its makers as an appliance which must appeal to trailer-park trash and Essex girls. Which tells you that corporate heads don't read Ruskin. What Theta tells you is that the standards of the high-end guys, the taste-makers and trendsetters, have to be invoked from the outset. It parallels exactly the creation of 'audiophile' CD players early on, when a handful of manufacturers responded to the mouthy anti-CD brigade with actions rather than mere words.

I suspect that Theta is using the DVD transport from Pioneer, as good a base as any from which to mount a high-end assault. Its action is smooth, silky and rapid as DVD gets. (Score '1' for laser disc's faster scanning.) DaViD, therefore, can exploit every form of DVD and every function so far developed, though I wasn't able to test its 96kHz/24-bit capability; my Pro Gen Va DAC was away being updated. DaViD's remote control is as comprehensive as, if less elegant than the Pioneer's and you need never touch the player save for inserting a disc. It has enough sub-menus to make you think that you're looking at Windows '98. It can be tweaked and tuned to one's heart's delight. But, when necessary, it's still as straightforward as a toaster.

Given that, like all high-end transports, DaViD is lamb dressed as gourmet lamb, Theta engaged in normal high-end practice by making everything attached to the OEM core element a no-compromise alternative. It's how one justifies a price tag of £4650 over, say, £599. It has to mean more than a sexy front panel. And, as Theta is primarily an audio company rather than a video company, you can rest assured that sound quality - one of the most controversial DVD issues - has been shown as much attention as the video output.

A brief aside: Paul Miller has likened the inside of a DVD player to the hostile environment inside of a PC, so opting for a separate transport like DaViD might be the only way that you can enjoy DVDs and audio CDs in the same transport mechanism without suffering the compromises experienced in single-box DVD players. It would be interesting, then, to learn what a DaViD player would sound like, compared to the DaViD transport. Enough idle musing.

Continue reading about the DaViD on Page 2.