Norcent/Citizen MULTIREGION will play PAL, SECAM and NTSC ?

[AnitaPeterson]

Hi there,

I am looking for a good multiregion player.

I have seen the Norcent DP-300 and the Citizen JDVD 3838 at the same price ($78 CDN)

On the case of the Citizen it says NTSC/PAL...

Both these players are hackable to become multi-region able.

So, my question is: will I be able to watch my European (Region 2, PAL) DVDs using either one of these players connected to my regular North American (i.e. NTSC only) TV set?

Thanks much

[Tommyknocker]

You have confused multiregion with multisystem.

Look up multisystem, then look up region coding.

[SLK001]

The quick answer is no.

You need a multi-standard capable TV, which exist in Europe, but are as rare as hen's teeth in NTSC country. Your DVD player will play PAL DVDs fine, but you will see nothing but a rolling screen on your NTSC TV.

Your PAL DVDs will play fine on a computer.

[j1d10t]

SLK001: Is that true for VCD and SVCD as well? Or is that only for NTSC/PAL DVD's?
Anbout needing a multi-standard capable TV...

[SLK001]

It's true for VCD and SVCD as well. My DVD player doesn't have any problem playing them. However, my TV does.

You not only have framerate differences (25 vs 29.97), but size differences and color space differences. Other that this, they are almost the same!

[yx]

In US, as I know, most of APEX, Mintek, Daewoo, JVC, Pioneer DVD players take both NTSC and PAL discs, and APEX, Mintek, Daewoo let you select the output format, JVC always use NTSC as output, Pioneer's output is the same as the input.

[j1d10t]

That is pretty weird - my DVD player will play PAL SVCD's, and my TV will play them too. My DVD player isn't listed as playing PAL - it says that it is region 1 only. But it played a PAL SVCD I made, and my TV played it too. It's an older TV - about 9 years old, and it's a Daewoo. Interesting... Either I got a weird TV, or I lucked out. Maybe both

[xxiangg]

You need a DVD player which converts its output TV signal to NTSC.
Many cheap DVD players has this function built in. I do not have
experience with SECAM DVD disk. But I have tried PAL DVD disk on
several players.

Pioneer 888(5 years old): will play PAL DVD disk, but will not output
NTSC TV signal.
Apex1500: will play PAL DVD disk and will output NTSC
TV signal (without hacking).
Sampo611: will play PAL DVD disk and will output NTSC
TV signal (without hacking).
Venturer DVD/VCR comb: will play PAL DVD disk and will output NTSC
TV signal (without hacking).

[j1d10t]

My Player is an RCA, and I haven't found any setting that will let me choose how to output the video. Maybe it's just built in, and does it automatically...

[AnitaPeterson]

OK, I've edited the thread title for more clarity.

I know the difference between multiregion and multisystem, but I am still confused as to whether the two players in question will be able to display anything on my TV...

Does anyone here know these two players?

[SLK001]

Okay, so you need a little more clarity.

If your television is MULTI-STANDARD, the answer is yes (which means you probably bought it in Europe).

If your television is NOT MULTI-STANDARD, the answer is no (which means you bought your TV in the USA).

It is a fairly trivial task for a DVD player to be able to play either version. Not so for the TV.

[zleepy]

STK001 is wrong !!!

Your player WILL play PAL on your NTSC.

Problem occurs with 16:9 or anamorphic dvd's played on standard 4:3
NTSC tv's, as the wide-rectangular picture is squeezed to become almost
square 4:3. Result is circles become oval, standing people look thin.

see my next post

[zleepy]

On a forum devoted to Norcent/Citizen players at:
http://www.nerd-out.com/forum/

Your Norcent/Citizen does play PAL on your NTSC tv.

The anamorphic plays on your model with SQUISHED images IF:

"Serial # starts with AE1112, HE111, JE111 Norcent DP-300, Citizen JDVD3830 and Electrohome EH8160 = CANNOT do pal anamorphic widescreen with correct RATIO on standard NTSC TV.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The anamorphic plays CORRECTLY IF:
"Serial # starts with AE1113, HE112, HE113 Norcent DP-300, Citizen JDVD3830A, and Electrohome EH8160A = CAN do PAL Anamorphic Widescreen with correct ratio on standard NTSC TV."

Check the Norcent/Citizen/Electrohome FAQ

[lechtin]

Here's a suggestion - since you're quoting CDN$, I'll assume that you saw the Norcent at Wal-mart (that's where I bought mine). Get one and try it. They have a good return policy.

[Tommyknocker]

SLK001 said:

If your television is MULTI-STANDARD, the answer is yes (which means you probably bought it in Europe).

If your television is NOT MULTI-STANDARD, the answer is no (which means you bought your TV in the USA).

For grins, I typed in "multisystem TV" in my search engine, and the very first hit made a liar out of you i.e., multisystems are sold in the U.S.

http://shop.store.yahoo.com/qualitysecond/jvcav29flats.html

[SLK001]

Well, I never meant to say that these multi-standard TVs weren't available in the US, it's just that they aren't very popular. Notice that your "link" shows "220 Volts" TVs - this is obviously for the export market - not for use in the US (but it could be). However, at $700+, it would not be very popular because of the cost.

Also, I believe if you look closely, you will see that I said that a PAL disk will easily play on most DVD players, so

STK001 is wrong !!! (SIC)

Your player WILL play PAL on your NTSC.

doesn't make much sense to me - I said that they would, and zleepy agreed with me, but I am wrong???

But, no problem. I'll say it again. If your TV is not multi-standard, then a PAL DVD won't be viewable on your TV.

In a later post by zleepy, he is indicating that the Norcent/Citizen players are STANDARDS CONVERTING DVD players. If this is the case, then a PAL DVD will be viewable on a NTSC TV.

[Tommyknocker]

Amazing how those who are so blind they will not see:

"220 Volts" TVs - this is obviously for the export market

The link said 110/220 volts, so these sets are for any market.

[SLK001]

The link said 110/220 volts, so these sets are for any market.

This is true (like I said), and I saw it. However, their primary market is overseas. (How many people in the US have general outlets that are 220V? I'll answer that - none! It doesn't meet the NEC - National Electric Code.)

[Tommyknocker]

Shooting from the hip again? Remember, some Americans have to live in homes that are 110-volt, then have to move to homes that are 220 volt -- several times in their lifetime. So it really pays to have a multisystem set. As a matter of fact, they are wasting money to buy anything other than a multisystem set.

[SLK001]

Well, here comes another from the hip. I've moved many times, and not once, did I ever have to have a 220V television - nor a PAL TV. So a multi-system TV for me would have been a waste of money - as I suspect it would be for most in the US.

[Tommyknocker]

Well, I have to several times myself. Twice my house had 220 volts, and three times it had 110 volt. Not all American families live in America.

[SLK001]

Well, I have to several times myself. Twice my house had 220 volts, and three times it had 110 volt. Not all American families live in America.

In that case, you would have been foolish to not have purchased a multi-standard set, because you obviously need one. Likewise, I would have been foolish to purchase one, since I obviously do NOT need one.

When I was moving a lot during my "globe-trotting" days, I only purchased stereo equipment that was multi-voltage capable (which cost a bit more). But I hope that you'll agree that most people in the US do not need the PAL capabilities.

[p_l]

So, my question is: will I be able to watch my European (Region 2, PAL) DVDs using either one of these players connected to my regular North American (i.e. NTSC only) TV set?

My Norcent DP300 (HE112xxxx...) plays European PAL DVDs fine to my NTSC TVs. It plays "All Region" PAL DVDs without the need for a region hack. To play Region 2 (or other region) DVDs, the Norcent DP 300 can easily be hacked via the remote to be region-free.

[Tommyknocker]

I would never be so presumptuous to speak for most American people. Neither am I clairvoyant enough to know what their particular television needs are. That is the main reason I respectfully disagreed with any assertion of lumping most American families into one category of what they need.

I can only speak for my family. And on that issue, let me paraphrase the pro-gun lobbyists and say you can only get my multisystem remote by prying it from my cold, dead hand.

[AnitaPeterson]

OK, time to update...

I got myself today the Norcent DP-300 from Wal-Mart.
Serial HE113....

The 8888 hack worked like a charm, and I can now see my European PAL DVDs (French "Pacte des Loups", long version of "Dune" etc...) perfectly on my regular North American TV

By the way, the machine also plays "unfinished VCDs" - MPEG files recorded on a CD-R directly an without headers...

All in all, this is probably a steal... great machine!