HQV Benchmark DVD Testing Part 1

This is an example of what the HQV Benchmark DVD scoring table looks like. This will appear in all of Audioholics' standard definition DVD player reviews.

Perfect Score is 130
DVD player brand X Benchmark total score: 130/130

We'll usually follow up with some commentary on the benchmark testing and explain any anomalies we discovered along the way.

The Specific HQV Benchmark DVD Tests

Color Bar Test

The significance of this test is the ability to pass the full 480 lines of the DVD. The fine horizontal lines in this pattern should be clearly visible and stable. Note: the images shown here may be slightly blurred due to their size. The blue and gray gradients should also be smooth across the middle, however displays can often be responsible for banding in this area.

Scoring:
10 - Image detail is seen fully in the first two black/white bars. No flicker is observed
5 - Image detail is seen fully in the first two black/white bars. Some flicker is observed
0 - No image detail (blurred)

Jaggies Test #1

The Jaggies Test #1 measures the DVD player's de-interlacing performance. The idea is that interlaced video (essentially what is on a DVD) often times generates scan line artifacts when recombined to progressive output. Motion adaptive deinterlacing is what good DVD players use to process these signals. Some processors have better directional interpolation, which means that they can "look ahead" and generate a smoother line than players that simply rely on flags or the straight mechanics of the deinterlacing process.

Scoring:
10 - No jaggies are seen until the spinning bar enters the green area. (less than 10 degree angle)
5 - No jaggies are seen until the spinning bar enters the yellow area. (less than 20 degree angle)
0 - Player exhibits jaggies when the bar enters the red area (or before)

Jaggies Test #2

The Jaggies Test #2 measures the DVD player's directional filtering capability. This means that it can catch rapidly moving shapes that may change direction, speed or angle.

Scoring:
5 - All three bars have smooth edges all the time
3 - Top two bars have smooth edges
1 - Only very top bar has smooth edges
0 - All bars are jaggie

Flag Test

The Flag test is an indicator of how good the DVD player can process real-world complex images and not just test patterns. As the flag waves, the stripes will show any jaggies that occur from incorrect deinterlacing. The smoother the edges of the stripes are at all angles, the better the DVD player's chipset is at processing the image. The processor must also maintain image detail instead of blurring the image - especially the brick texture in the background building.

Scoring:
10 - No jaggies anywhere and fine detail is exhibited
5 - Some jaggies are seen and/or the background appears soft
0 - Jaggies are visible along edges of the red/white stripes