Onkyo DV-SP406 review

Will this buff up your DVD collection?

Onkyo DV-SP406
The DV-SP406 is a high quality DVD player for those on a budget

TechRadar Verdict

Although it's not the best DVD player ever built, the Onkyo offers great value for money and some pretty good pictures as well

Pros

  • +

    Good upscaling

  • +

    Natural colour reproduction

Cons

  • -

    Flimsy build

  • -

    Tiny display

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Although Blu-ray grabs all the headlines these days, people still buy DVDs – and they still buy DVD players. But with brands like Philips, Toshiba and Samsung selling upscaling decks for as little as £40, what's so special about Onkyo's DV-SP406 that it retails for £100?

In short: performance. The DV-SP406 delivers glitch-free upscaled images with clarity and sharpness, and takes fast-moving scenes in its stride. Colour reproduction seems natural too. Compare this with a budget deck from five years ago and you'll be flabbergasted.

Upscaling via HDMI brings definite noticeable benefits, particularly in terms of picture sharpness with resolutions from 576i to 1080p are provided, though it can takes a while to cycle through them.

The front-mounted USB port provides MP3, WMA, DiVX and JPEG support and it's simply a question of jacking in, and navigating around the simple-to-use GUI.

The Onkyo's build quality – particularly the bouncy disc-tray – can perhaps be expected because of its 'budget' price, but that doesn't excuse the bland styling and almost miniscule display.

Toshiba's XDE-powered DVD player is not much more expensive and outdoes the Onkyo in pure picture performance terms.

Latest in Blu-ray
The movie Punch-Drunk Love playing a TV, with a logo saying Blu-ray Bounty
3 new 4K Blu-rays to add to your collection from February 2025
4K Blu-ray action movies splayed out on a kitchen counter
Movie sales – including 4K Blu-ray – fell again last year, but if you're going streaming only, you're massively missing out
The Wild Robot on Panasonic MZ1500 screen with Blu-ray Bounty logo in bottom right
3 new 4K Blu-rays to add to your collection in January 2025
4K Blu-ray action movies splayed out on a kitchen counter
I love 4K Blu-ray and although 2024 was a rollercoaster year to be a fan, I'm hopeful for 2025
Godzilla (1954) image of buildings on OLED TV
4 new 4K Blu-ray discs to add to your collection in December 2024
blu-ray disc in player drive
Bad news, Blu-ray fans: LG just discontinued its entire range of 4K Blu-ray players and I’m really worried
Latest in Reviews
Product shots for the Xiaomi Poco X7 Ultra review
I spent a month testing the Xiaomi Poco F7 Ultra, a top-end mid-ranger that masquerades as a flagship
The Kiwi design K4 Boost Battery strap being worn by Hamish
I test VR headsets for a living, and this affordable headstrap is the first Meta Quest 3 accessory you should buy
Both Kiwi design G4 Pro Performance Controller Grips
I thought VR controller grips were pointless until this Meta Quest 3 accessory proved me wrong
The Kiwi design H4 Boost Halo Battery Strap
Want to upgrade your VR headset? Look no further than my new favorite Meta Quest 3 headstrap
WithSecure Elements EPP and EDR main image
I tested the WithSecure Elements EPP and EDR - read how I rated this Endpoint Protection for small business
The RIG M2 Streamstar.
I wanted to love the new RIG M2 Streamstar, but this pricey gaming microphone fails to deliver