DivX DVD Players

[boshu22]

I'm thinking of buying a DivX capable DVD player but I'm not sure exactly how they work.

I download a lot of Asian soap operas and game shows for me and my family to watch. I've been converting the AVIs to DVDs but have been told that just getting a DivX capable DVD player would be cheaper and less time-consuming than doing conversions.

So, how do DivX capable DVD players work? Do I put the AVI files on a DVD data disc and pop them in the player?

Do they just play DivX or do they play xVid, H.264 and x264 as well? Most of the stuff I download is in either DivX or xVid.

Will the $60 to $80 Sony, Panasonic, Toshiba DivX capable DVD players be good enough for my purposes?

[daamon]

So, how do DivX capable DVD players work?

They are equipped with the codec to decode the Divx file and then play it as video.

Do I put the AVI files on a DVD data disc and pop them in the player?

Yes.

Do they just play DivX or do they play xVid, H.264 and x264 as well? Most of the stuff I download is in either DivX or xVid.

Read the specs for the machine(s).

Will the $60 to $80 Sony, Panasonic, Toshiba DivX capable DVD players be good enough for my purposes?

Read the specs for the machine(s). Probably.

[mats.hogberg]

All DivX capable players I've seen, also plays XviD. For H.264/x264 I have no idea. Some chip sets have problem (=don't play) AVIs with QPEL. Can easily be fixed with AVIRecode or AutoGK, but then, the reason for a DivX player is not having to reencode.

/Mats

[jman98]

It is more accurate to say that such players have a chip dedicated to playing back Divx rather than to say that they have the codec necessary. They do have the codec, but it's on the dedicated chip. No chip = no Divx playback.

There are ZERO standalone DVD players currently that will playback X.264/H.264. This will also require a dedicated chip. Such players would be useful and I suppose eventually they will exist, but they don't at this time.

Philips also makes some DVD players that support Divx. I'd stay away from Sony if it was me.

As Mats stated, various options can be problematic for Divx/Xvid playback. You'll have to test individual players, but among the problems you may find are Divx/Xvid encodes with:
QPel (quarter pixel)
GMC with warp points greater than 1 (it's best to just avoid GMC altogether for best compatibility with DVD players)
Packed bit stream (can be removed without re-encoding, but you do have to create a new copy of the file without it)
Resolutions greater than 720x576
Playback of AC3 or DTS audio may have dropouts if the video bit rate is much above 1800 Kbps. It depends on the chip used to decode Divx.

[pwrmngr]

What if the DIVX is 2 parts can I just burn both and watch or do I need to join them?

Thanx

[jagabo]

You'll get a menu with each of the files listed. Just pick the one you want.

http://www.jarnot.com/twiki/bin/view/Public/DVP642LisaBsAVIGuide
http://home.wi.rr.com/ntngod/dvp642_vs_dvp5140/
http://www.phunkyfish.com/article/4/philips-dvp-596012

[pwrmngr]

Thanx mang0 I will give it a whirl

[pwrmngr]

w0rked slick as slug snot, now can I put the divx into folders or do they all have to be on the dvd\cd root?

Thanx

[jagabo]

Most players support folders. There will be some limitations on folder depth, number of files in a folder, the inability to play random order across multiple folders, etc.

[pwrmngr]

I will give it a whirl

Thanx

[handyguy]

Buy something most of us have already. Like the 5960 Philips.

[jduffy]

The DVD compatibility section on this web site states that this DVD player is DivX compatible but most other forums I've read either makes no mention of this or says it's not compatible. I need to know for sure before I purchase one, so can anyone tell me with certainty that it is or is not DivX compatible? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

JD

[jagabo]

The Philips DVP-5960 is probably the most Divx compatible set-top Divx/DVD player you'll find. Note it is "Divx Ultra" certified.

[hummer]

well i can say that i have the phillips dvd player , and also alot of movies in dvix that i use the dvix player/burner to burn all my downloads has dvix and play them in the phillips machine without prob.

cheers