Help selecting highly compatible DVD player

[crazyrunner]

OK, I've been doing some research on dvdrhelp.com and other places for a new standalone DVD player. I'm in the United States. I've got a Toshiba SD-4700 and it no longer cuts the mustard. First, my requirements:

- CD, CD-R(W), DVD-R(W); I've got a Pioneer A05 so DVD+R(W) compatibility is not as important
- VCD, SVCD, MP3, MP3 Long File Names
- DVD-VCD (Multiple VCD MPEG-1 with re-encoded 48K audio on a DVD-R)
- "Major" manufacturer brand (NO APEX, ,etc!)
- Can be purchased either locally (Best Buy, CCity, etc) or through large reputable internet stores (Crutchfield, etc) in case return/exchange is necessary
- Price under $250
- Current production models only
- Compatibility is most important!
- Optical audio output & SVideo out (don't have High Def TV so progressive scan not important at this point)

So far my research so far has lead me to the following players:

- Pioneer DV-363, DV-656 (DVD-A)
- Panasonic RV32, S35/55 (Highmat MPEG-4)
- Sony NS725 (and others)
- JVC (many models)

Any thoughts on any of these manufactures/players in reference to the outlined requirements?

Thanks,

crazyrunner

[FulciLives]

If you will be making your own DVD discs on the computer and want to use AC-3 sound please be advised that almost all Pioneer units do not like 2.0 AC-3 files that are created with BeSweet.

BeSweet is the only freeware AC-3 encoder. There are other options but you will be paying BIG money to use them.

Of course if you only ever use MP2 sound on your DVD discs then it isn't a problem. Making a back-up of a DVD with a 2.0 AC-3 file is fine too since you wouldn't be using BeSweet.

I have an old Pioneer and love it. Built like a tank and it is code free and macrovision free. But it is not very compatible including the BeSweet 2.0 AC-3 problem.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

I don't know if this is important to you but the progressive scan JVC models can be made code free and will convert PAL DVD discs to NTSC. This will give you a WIDE range of movies to pick from ... in short ANY DVD from ANYWHERE in the world