Looking for DVD player with EVERYTHING

[bigkahunaps2]

Guys, I just bought an HDTV and now I'm looking for an alternate to my APEX AD1500. I'd like to get a player that does SVCD, DVD-R, DVD+R, and has component outputs. Any recommendations? Thanx

[Kubrick]

Norcent DP-300, you get them for ultra-cheap at Wal-Mart.

These babies are incredible! Oftentimes, I just burn MPEG1/2 VCD/SVCD right onto the CD/DVD-R (Basic data storage) and my Norcent will play them back no prob with it's 'SMART-NAV' menu!

I love this DVD players so much...I now own two!

- Kubrick

[MOVIEGEEK]

You want a progressive-scan player to get the most out of your HDTV.JVC XVN44SL is progressive-scan and plays all formats,you can get one at CompUSA or online for under $100US.

[Skylooker]

Norcent DP-300, you get them for ultra-cheap at Wal-Mart.

These babies are incredible! Oftentimes, I just burn MPEG1/2 VCD/SVCD right onto the CD/DVD-R (Basic data storage) and my Norcent will play them back no prob with it's 'SMART-NAV' menu!

- Kubrick

What about CD-RW and DVD-RW? And if I understand correctly, you're burning VCD onto DVD-R? How does that work out? Can you put over 4 gigs of VCD material on a DVD-R and play it all back on this Norcent player? That would be totally cool. I'd have to run out and get one in that case?

What about MP3 playback?

[Popee]

I have the Panasonic DVD-S35. It plays everything I can throw at it. (DVD-R, -RW, +R, +RW, VCD, SVCD, SVCD with menus, MP3, JPG, etc.

In addition, it has progressive scan and sells for about $100. Everywhere.
Only limitation that I know of is that for Dolby 5.1 or DTS, you have to use the optical outputs.

Ron

[Skylooker]

That sounds pretty sweet. I was going to buy another Memorex player like the one I already have but that one doesn't play DVD+RW. I think I'll spend the extra 10 bucks and get the Panasonic at Walmart.

[henk schuifkaas]

How about the KISS 450? It also plays divx...

[jolo]

Cyber Home CH-500 for $79 at cyberhome.com is progressive, plays VCD, SVCD, audio, MP3, has three video selections, s-video, RCA and that newer one with three jacks, also supports 5.1 stereo and any type of audio.
Can do PAL and NTSC output and formating.

Jon

[Jeomite]

I'm interested in getting a DVD player that plays everything as well. The Norcent DP-300 looked like a great option, but one of my personal criteria for my new DVD player is that it has to be a DVD Changer (5-Disc)...

In general, I'm looking for a DVD player that can play VCD/SVCD on CD-R, DVD+R, MPEG1/2 files without authoring, Progressive Scan, and 5-Disc Changer. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I'm looking into the JVC XV-F80BK at the moment. Is that a good pick?

[snarfo]

Pioneer DV-C36

Best. Player. Ever.

It plays EVERYTHING, it's a 5-disc changer, it has a killer warranty, and it's a Pioneer Elite-model unit. Just awesome.

[Jeomite]

Pioneer DV-C36

Best. Player. Ever.

It plays EVERYTHING, it's a 5-disc changer, it has a killer warranty, and it's a Pioneer Elite-model unit. Just awesome.

I own a Pioneer 5-Disc deck right now but it's not Progressive Scan... and I'm getting in a new HDTV in the following weeks...

But, wow $300 Deck... anything maybe under $200?

[jolo]

OOOOh, a 5 disc changer.
Good luck, they will be expensive and my experience is that they break down a lot becuase of the mechanics of it. I have had 2 multi-disc changers break on me.
I wouldn't get anything but a one DVD/CD changer.

But there is one route that will play EVERYTHING !!!!!!
That route would be to get a PC with a good sound card, a good graphics card, something like Windvd or Z-player (which is free), media jukebox or one of a thousand good audio players. It needs to have a DVD rom to read DVDs and CDs.
Then connect the sound card to a sound card to a) a receiver b)amplified speakers from Cambridge Speakers, the only one I know of that connects it speakers with conventional speaker cable that is amplified (I have just ordered my second set).
Have your graphics card connect to your TV and hopefully you wil have at least s-video there.
Your audio files, movies, etc can then play ANYTHING through your software including DIVX movies. If you have something like a 80-200 GB disk drive, no limits.
My 19 year old had a party recently where he made a four hour audio program in advance which played on two floors. At the end of the party, I was able to give all of the kids a CD containing his music program as well as some pictures I took with my digital camera.

Many people are looking at small boxes that have Shuttle motherboards which are small and attractive.

Another option is to get a DVD player that plays everything and insert a disk drive in it. Finally some are coming out with them already installed like that, but my friend has one model that is meant to be opened up and he has installed a 120GB western digital drive in it. Loaded music and audio files into it and has it connected to his receiver.

Jon


In my experience stay away. A couple of questions:

1. Why do you need a 5 disk changer ?
2. For music, you can compress about 150-200 5 minute songs on 1

[Jeomite]

OOOOh, a 5 disc changer.
Good luck, they will be expensive and my experience is that they break down a lot becuase of the mechanics of it. I have had 2 multi-disc changers break on me.
I wouldn't get anything but a one DVD/CD changer.

But there is one route that will play EVERYTHING !!!!!!
That route would be to get a PC with a good sound card, a good graphics card, something like Windvd or Z-player (which is free), media jukebox or one of a thousand good audio players. It needs to have a DVD rom to read DVDs and CDs.
Then connect the sound card to a sound card to a) a receiver b)amplified speakers from Cambridge Speakers, the only one I know of that connects it speakers with conventional speaker cable that is amplified (I have just ordered my second set).
Have your graphics card connect to your TV and hopefully you wil have at least s-video there.
Your audio files, movies, etc can then play ANYTHING through your software including DIVX movies. If you have something like a 80-200 GB disk drive, no limits.
My 19 year old had a party recently where he made a four hour audio program in advance which played on two floors. At the end of the party, I was able to give all of the kids a CD containing his music program as well as some pictures I took with my digital camera.

Many people are looking at small boxes that have Shuttle motherboards which are small and attractive.

Another option is to get a DVD player that plays everything and insert a disk drive in it. Finally some are coming out with them already installed like that, but my friend has one model that is meant to be opened up and he has installed a 120GB western digital drive in it. Loaded music and audio files into it and has it connected to his receiver.

Jon


In my experience stay away. A couple of questions:

1. Why do you need a 5 disk changer ?
2. For music, you can compress about 150-200 5 minute songs on 1

That's pretty interesting because I already had made pre-plans to use my new Logitech Z680s speakers on my PC and DVD player (it supports simultaneous inputs). Plus I plan on using my TV-Out on my video card to my TV. But I plan on using the TV-Out alternative to playback non-DVD titles like DivX media only. I wish to obtain the upmost quality when playing back DVD titles. S-Video TV-Out is far from Progressive Scan and it put no use to my HDTV set.

To answer your inquiry about the 5-Disc Changer: I want a DVD changer so I won't have to switch disc among DVDs for multi-disc titles such as Television Season Sets or multi-disc movies like Lord Of The Rings Extended Edition. I currently own a Pioneer 5-Disc DVD Changer and it works great. Only problem is that it doesn't support Progressive Scan (and doesn't support MPEG1/2 ISO playback without authoring).

To follow up to your comment about music playing. I already use my PC (with the Logitech Z680s) to play music already (even with surround sound), so why should I go to nthe hassle to find an alternative way to playback MP3s? Right now I have 5 Physical HDs (totaling 600GB; 80GB of being MP3s files only; seriously ) it plays great without any further extra hardware/work. My current music playing experience is far more than sufficient.

[snarfo]

Precisely--- why on earth WOULDN'T you want a changer? They are far more convenient. I paid about $350.00 for my Pioneer and it's the best thing ever. I have been a Sony aficionado up until now (they don't have a progressive scan changer in the same leage as the Pioneer) and have only bought 5-disc cd and dvd changers from them. I have never had any problems whatsoever with any of them. Besides, like all Elite Pioneer products, the C36 has a built-in extended warranty. I had a progressive scan 5-disc Sony (it was only $200.00) when I bought my HDTV, but it stuttered on svcd playback so it had to go.

Jolo's route to 'play everything' by going with s-video will result in nice sound, but inferior video. I have a computer hooked up to my tv (s-video and dvi) for mp3 playback, running an ftp site, games, etc., but that's about it.

[Jeomite]

Precisely--- why on earth WOULDN'T you want a changer? They are far more convenient. I paid about $350.00 for my Pioneer and it's the best thing ever. I have been a Sony aficionado up until now (they don't have a progressive scan changer in the same leage as the Pioneer) and have only bought 5-disc cd and dvd changers from them. I have never had any problems whatsoever with any of them. Besides, like all Elite Pioneer products, the C36 has a built-in extended warranty. I had a progressive scan 5-disc Sony (it was only $200.00) when I bought my HDTV, but it stuttered on svcd playback so it had to go.

Jolo's route to 'play everything' by going with s-video will result in nice sound, but inferior video. I have a computer hooked up to my tv (s-video and dvi) for mp3 playback, running an ftp site, games, etc., but that's about it.

Quick question, does your Elite Pioneer C36 play MPEG-1/MPEG-2 files without authoring? I might just go out and get this one... I looked over the specs and it looks pretty sweet. And I always favored Pioneer when it comes to DVD Players, hence my ownership of the 5-Disc (Non-Progressive Scan) DV-C503 DVD player.

[snarfo]

Without authoring? I don't know... never tried it. Since you have to burn the disc anyhow, you may as well burn it as the mpeg 1 vcd or mpeg 2 svcd that the file is, right? I just fire up Nero and use the vcd or svcd template, drop in my video(s), and burn. Or maybe I'm not understanding your question?

[Jeomite]

What I mean by "without authoring" is that you burn the files onto the DVDR without any templates. Just plain regular data files. And using a file browser on the DVD Player, you can select any of the files and play it back fine. Very few DVD Players can do this... most of the Apex models can as far as I know...

[snarfo]

Oh, gotcha. I don't know, though--- never tried it. When i have multiple clips and I'm feeling lazy, I just order them how I want in Nero and burn tehvcd/svcd. Of course, yuo can chapter skip from video to video that way.

Before I got my hdtv i had a 3-disc Apex changer. it was a marvel of compatibility, but, as with all Apex products, not the greatest build quality.

[Gazorgan]

My Apex 1201 is $53 US and has played nearly everything, from SVCD bitrates up 5000 to random MPG's written as data, mp3, mp2, VCD, DVDR-w+w.....dam near everything but AVI's. Has S-Video out and DTS, but no optical and isn't progressive.