Recommend me a DVD Player!

[ChrissyBoy]

My current DVD player is a trusty Dansai 852. It is close to giving up the battle as my son watches Toy Story/TS 2 etc all the time & never remembers to power it down!

So I thought I'd ask SVCD2DVD users to recommend me a new one. Yes I know there is a DVD Player DB here @ DVDHelp, but it doesn't contain DVD-VCD/SVCD compatability.

My main criteria is to play:
- NTSC/PAL
- DVD-VCD/SVCD
- All media +/- R RW - both DVD/CDR
- VCD
- SVCD

Nice to haves are:
- DVD audio
- mp3

basically it must play everything (as my dansai does) but be of better build quality.

It must be 100% compliant with SVCD2DVD DVD's - Multi VTS, Menus, mixed NTSC/PAL/VCD/SVCD content.

Cost is not an issue but must be availiable in the UK.

So who has something that does this already & can recommend it to me?

TIA

CB

I think this JVC XV-N44SL

http://www.jvc.com/product.jsp?modelId=MODL027014

is just right for you.

[iooi]

Could be worth a trip to a local computer fair to see whats on offer.
Have seen a few at my local fair (yorkshire) but cant remember what make etc as i wantn't really looking for one.

[Falco43]

Aso worth looking on this site, http://blankdiscshop.co.uk

[aramo]

I don't know about audio DVDs but for everything else

Apex 1100WB (dabs) and the Ronin P215 (dabs, svp.co.uk) - right now I'm having some problems with the P215 & svcd2dvd output so the apex is a safer bet, it's also quieter and does RGB over scart with gives a much better picture especially for animated movies - you did mention Toy Story

aldi are doing a nice number £38.50
kwick save are doing slimline model what plays svcd/vcd/mp3 also at £37.50
regards phil

[turk690]

Sony DVP-NS530. Sony DVP-NS730 with NTSC progressive scan.

[ChrissyBoy]

Thanks guys.

Remember I'm not looking for where to buy dvd players - I'm looking for people to recommend a particular DVD player which, from their experience, has 100% compatability with SVCD2DVD & has your normal "plays anything, on anything" status.

The JVC is out as i recall JVCs have an issue with the menu highlight text.

Apex is out as i need something which has a better than average build quality (apart from that i like Apex's). Therefore i'm not really interested in budget players.

The sony sounds interesting. Does it handle the multi VTSs ok?(my mate's sony has issues but I'm not sure of the model)

Thanks and keep 'em coming

[turk690]

Except for SACD and DVD-A the Sonys will play DVD, VCD, SVCD, CD, MP3, and properly recorded DVD-R, +R, -RW, +RW, and CD-R, -RW (of a wide variety of media types). They respond quickly to remote control key presses. If u have an external amplifier with built-in DTS/DD, the only link required is digital out. Comparing with a previous JVC XVS62 I had, the Sonys allow digital out as PCM on MP3 CDs (the JVC allows only analog L + R for MP3 CDs, muting the digital output); on the 730 progressive scan is available even on PAL material (the JVC allows progressive only on NTSC); and progressive scan IS ONLY available on the Y/Pb/Pr component outputs, with composite and S-video ALWAYS normal interlaced (the JVC distorts the S-video when progressive is chosen). Outside North America, these Sonys are available PAL/NTSC, and region-free.

[ChrissyBoy]

turk690: the 730 sounds very good. Whilst its arrray of versitility is impressive - how does it handle DVD-SVCD/DVD-VCDs from SVCD2DVD?

If it handles SVCD2DVD authored DVD's - Multi VTS, Menus, mixed NTSC/PAL/VCD/SVCD content - then i will hunt one down.

Thanks

I don't know about SVCD2DVD. But I have tried the Sony 730 with DVD authored from DVD-lab (consisting of a single VTS and elaborate motion menu, which stumped the JVC), and from Sonic MyDVD (in which I input the same 6 MPEG-2 clips as that with DVD-lab, but instead of getting lumped together into one VTS as in DVD-lab, six separate VTS were created; this the JVC was able to play). I have never tried creating DVDs with mixed NTSC/PAL content, and mixed different resolutions (submitting different resolution clips to the authoring program); although I think the Sony will play such a DVD, when faced with different types of clips I choose a system beforehand (PAL or NTSC) and convert required clips to it, as well as make them all D1 (720x576 or 720x480) before giving them to the authoring program.

[ChrissyBoy]

Ok.

Whilst the sony does sounds good I need a player 100% compilant with SVCD2DVD. For obvious reasons. So, fellow SVCD2DVD users - do you have a DVD player which you would recommend to me?

[spursrule]

Ok.

Whilst the sony does sounds good I need a player 100% compilant with SVCD2DVD. For obvious reasons. So, fellow SVCD2DVD users - do you have a DVD player which you would recommend to me?

I thought you were looking for a JVC a while back to make SVCD2DVD 100% compatible with all DVD players.

[ChrissyBoy]

No - I'm looking for a replacement for my Dansai.

[duhmez]

Hi Chrissyboy. I personally own the JVC XV N44
So far it has played eveyrtihng ive thrown at it. VCD/SVCD/MP3
Pal VCD no problem. SVCD2DVD of seinfeld and married with children episodes all good. Ive not yet tried a mixed ntsc/pal DVD2svcd. I will give that a go shortly for giggles.

It specifically suports DVD-R/-RW, I've not tested +R/+RW yet.
One interesting thing about it: it will not play VCD's on "Optimum" branded disks. WTF.

Also of note, DVD-MpegISO not supported. (tested with an mp3 disk I made on my DVD-R, dammit 4 gig of mp3 woulda been sw3et....

I made an SVCD2DVD disk, accidentally it has 2 VTS, I cant figure out how to play the second VTS. what is the method that one normally does to select another vts? if you can tell me this then I CAN TEST THIS feature for you.

[Don2050]

I like the specs on the Philips DVD 726. It can play raw MPG 1/2 files. Reviewers say it plays both NTSC and PAL. No more authoring necessary. Just burn the discs as raw data.

https://www.videohelp.com/dvdplayers.php?DVDnameid=2733&Search=Search&#comments

looks cool anyway...I'm getting one

[duhmez]

Don2025, beware. Burnng mpg's on a cdr is MUCh more common than burning onta a DVD-R. So watch out.

[Bill H]

I have recently purchased a Cambrige DVD53 from Richer sounds for £119, they had two other models £149 and £199 with extra features. I took a couple of DVDR's and CDR's into the shop and they let me play them to confirm compliance. It has played everything that I have thrown at it on cheap discs 60p DVDrs and 14p CDR's. It was recommended to me and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to anyone else

Bill

[Callan]

Dear Chris,

Though I have read that you're not necessarily looking for a low-priced player, as long as it plays everything you throw at it, but especially (S)VCD-DVD's. There is an advantage, though, with (relatively) inexpensive players: it's not that painful to buy another after, say, a year.

Two days ago, I bought this Yamada DVX-6000 (6100 is for UK) which looked rather plasticky on the photographs, so that I was pleasantly surprised when I found that it is for the most part made of metal. Its price was EUR 115,- (ca. GBP 80.-).

It has all the usual outputs, plus a SCART. And it does play SVCDDVD's well. In fact, it brings up a menu on an (ISO, data) DVD full of MP3's or JPG's or MPG1/2 files, and DivX AVI's (3.x, 4.x and 5) even if mixed, sorted into Folders or not. If you start with the first of, say, four files, an MPG-1, it continues with the next file, whatever it is. In this case it was a DivX 5, which it played so well that I wasn't sure any more whether it was not an MPG. (So I could have done without SVCD2DVD, you might say, but my niece's player doesn't take loose DivX's, so I go the long way through TMPGEnc.)

Well, for what it is worth..

Callan

[ChrissyBoy]

Callan - that sounds very interesting. Do you get navigation (FF/REW on MPG ISO on DVDR)? Also the review on Amazon says progressive scan? Is this the case and if so on PAL and or NTSC (it does play NTSC?)

Bill H - I may try RS - with a couple of DVDR.

Thanks guys.

[Callan]

Hi Chris!

>Callan - that sounds very interesting.

>Do you get navigation (FF/REW on MPG ISO on DVDR)?

Yep. 2x, 4x, 6x, 8x ahead and back. Only it is not fluent like on a VHS player, but in jumps.

>Also the review on Amazon says progressive scan? Is this the case and if so on PAL and or NTSC

Isn't that something for HDTV? Even if it were present, I would not be able to see it.

>(it does play NTSC?)

I am European. Continental at that. So I don't have that much NTSC stuff. And what I have is DVD. Region One, so I suppose it's NTSC. My (old-fashioned 4:3) TV is supposed to be able to cope with it. It does, but it still isn't a delight as the Yamada suffers from Macrovision. And yes, the connection, for any number of reasons though not the one they use Macrovision for, is via a VCR.

(One my old machine Macrovision can be switched off. I have noticed an option called Preferences in the Yamada's Setup, -but it is greyed out..

There is a FAQ at http://www.umax.de/support/yamfaqsUS.php#cat0_2, but it is rather a mixed bag. Not only about the DVX-6000/6100, that is.

Wish I had more answers for you.

Callan

[ChrissyBoy]

Still tempted by the Yamada.

I am also looking at this: http://www.panasonic.co.uk/dvd-player/dvds75ebs/index.htm

Anyone got any experience of this player?

I thought I'd give the dvdrhelp dvd player database another visit today. I entered my requirements & ordered by Top user rating. My current player came out on top!!! (pity they're not made anymore)

[Master69]

Hi Chris, I recommend the Yamaha DVS5650 DVD player. I bought it about a month ago and it has been working flawlessly. Zoom, 32x FF/REW are some basic functions it has. It plays all media DVD-/+R, CD-/+R and 100% compatible with SVCD, VCD, MP3, JPEG (also play raw MPEG-2), basically it plays everything i have thrown in. And it is also able to play both PAL and NTSC. Region hacked is easily done by pressing a code from the remote control. 54Mhz/12bit video D/A converter and progressive scan plus pure digital DTS/Dolby Digital 5.1 sound provide awesome quality. I used to have many cheap DVD players like Apex and finally came to realize they will all die after a little while or the laser head just becomes weak. Just my 2 cents.

I have pioneer 105 never any probs... works a dream!

[creeper]

Daewoo DVDS600 Code Free DVD

region free baby


http://dvdoverseas.com/store/index.html?catalog86_0.html

[ChrissyBoy]

Ok finally made my mind up. Went for the Panasonic S75 for £108 from comet. Why, well mainly on the back of some reviews & the fact that my parents have the panny dvd recorder which plays all my disks.

First impressions are very encouraging. Plays everything I've tried so far( +R backup DVDs, SVCDs, SVCD2DVD stuff (yet to try menus)). Will try +RW, VCD & some more SVCD2DVD stuff today.

Picture quality is far better than the Dansai. & tons more features. I will let you all know if any issues arise.

Thanks to everyones input on this thread.

Callan: I nearly went for the Yamada but i thought it would lead me to be lazy & neglect DVD-SVCDs a bit. Also i give my disks to friends & family so i don't want to be tempted to do the mpg iso or divx thing as noone else would be able to play them.

Thanks again.