DVD Players: What to Buy & A Question

[DW]

looking into a standalone (non-computer) DVD player (for me' TV). stuff i want it to have/play/do:

DVD-R
DVD+R
DVD+RW
DVD-RW
Audio CD (ACD)
Video CD (VCD) [and preferably SVCDs, if possible]
CD-R
CD-RW
MP3 CD
WMA CD
DVD Audio
DivX/xVid/MPEG-4 encoded CD & DVD
Progressive scan
Up-convert SD to HD

Now, many of the above seems quite common. Pretty much all players can do progressive, from what i see. I want the HD upconversion just in case i decide to get an HD television sometime in the near future. I know its not true HD, but hey, at least im gettin some extra lines of res in there. I know Sony makes a player (but i think its a home theater package).

if anyone has any recomendations, i'd just love it!


question: is there any solid reason to have a (non-computer) dvd player play DVD-RAM? i've never seen any except ones listed here on dvdrhelp.com.

muchos gracias!!

[x21x]

Holly Cow! you just want everything dont you . Have you tried looking in the DVD players section of this site? You can put in all the features you want and it will give you a list of DVD players.

[gitreel]

Why not go to the electronics store? Look at the players. They have the specs of what they play right there. If you have questions, ask one of the employees. Asking in a forum is not a really effective way of finding out which to buy. I am not trying to be rude, it just seems that would be the better way to go.

[indolikaa]

Asking in a forum is not a really effective way of finding out which to buy.

You're kidding, right?

[gitreel]

No I am not kidding, beacuse you are going to get a whole lot of different answers.

[indolikaa]

You know, we have a section over there (<----) dedicated to DVD players. Users report their successes and failures with each particular model so that others can gauge whether the unit would be the right purchase for them or not.

This forum thrives because people give input. And I trust our people here a hell of a lot more than I'd ever trust a salesperson in an electronics store. At least the people here 1) generally know what they are talking about, and 2) have hands-on experience with the hardware.

[makntraks]

Why not go to the electronics store? Look at the players. They have the specs of what they play right there. If you have questions, ask one of the employees. Asking in a forum is not a really effective way of finding out which to buy. I am not trying to be rude, it just seems that would be the better way to go.

Just do what I did.. take a disc or discs "you've" made and try the different players.. I've actually gone as far as making a salesperson hook up the various DVD players I was interested in to a tv in the store...
Can't always trust the manuals...

makntraks

p.s. gitreel - agreed

[DW]

hey mates, thanks for the replies!!

x21x,
heehee.. kinda do want everything. but a lot of that stuff is pretty common, it seems, like the basic DVD and CD types support. I DID take a look at the DVD section and player search feature, but i wanted something more discussion-based, rather than just a list with a few responses. Besides, there's no HD specification in the DVD player search.

gitreel,
I've been to stores. Many stores. You go, look at the shelves, read the little descriptions. Not much more helpful than a crappy commercial or the manufacturer's web site. I'm looking for some REAL input. As for employees, i've learned over the years they dunno crapola. LOL... imagine walking into Best Buy and asking them what xVid is!!
No way... forums are the way to go!

makntraks,
Heh, well, i dont really have any home-made discs yet. I dont have a DVD burner!! This player will be my first step into the DVD world (at least at home).


anyone have any good models that match the specs?




[oh yeah... and anyone have any good responses to my DVDRAM question?]

[gitreel]

DW, to each his own. I did go. I have gone to fry's electronics, and bought about 5 dvd players. Then again I knew what I wanted, I did not have to ask for help.

[x21x]

Well I got a Pioneer DV-656A and It plays dvdr/w+- (S)vcd & mp3. This is all I need for the moment . My sugestion is to look on the DVD player page and find a player that somewhat meets your demands. Then see if you can find that same player at a retail store near you. Then you can buy it and see how it works and if you like it then keep it, if you dont, then return it. I would not worry to much over the HD upconverion because like you said

its not true HD

. Plus, by the time you get this DVD player, a month will go by and a better one with more features will be out for sale.

[DW]

gitreel,
no Fry's where i live btw, which 5 DVD players did you get? Did you like them? anyone youd recommend over others?

x21x,
that Pioneer DV-656A seems pretty cool (pricey, though!). Is it a Europre-only device?? i could only seem to find it on .uk or -eur pages. Is there an american version?

[gitreel]

Yes. I bought two yamakawas. They play video cd, super video cd, dvd, dvdr, cd, cdr,mp3cd. I have a terapin that plays all that plus photo cd. I bought a Coby that also plays photo cd. All of them also play cdrw as well. My panasonic was the first one I bought that played cd,cdr,dvd, and dvdr. That was it. I do not have that one anymore. My advice is to get one of those cheapo ones for about 50 dollars. They play almost everything under the sun.

[x21x]

I bought mine at Best buy for around $190. here in Atlanta GA. Im not sure if they still sell that exact model anymore. Like I said DVD players come and go. By the time people review them and post feedback the prouct is already off the market. One pice of advise though, DONT BUY A SONY( ). I had a model 360 something and it sucked. Now the Sony amplifier that I bought 3 years ago is also going bye bye. Anyways, good luck.

[Synergy]

question: is there any solid reason to have a (non-computer) dvd player play DVD-RAM? i've never seen any except ones listed here on dvdrhelp.com.

The main reason for a standalone DVD-RAM compatible player is to playback discs recorded by standalone DVD recorders using DVD-RAM as the re-writable media. Currently only certain recently produced Panasonic DVD players have the DVD-RAM compatibility.

As for your listed criteria for a DVD player, I really doubt you could find one single model which has all the features. But if you remove the following two features: "DivX/xVid/MPEG-4 encoded CD & DVD" and "Up-convert SD to HD", then you'll be able to find some models for less than $150. Samsung seems to be the only name brand which has released a standalone DVD player with the HD upconversion feature, and you can read a few users' comments at the bottom page from the following link:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00009RTBX/inktomi-ceasin-20/ref%3Dnosim/102-8028930-1923301

In addition to the cost of an HDTV set, a $100 DVI cable is also required just to have the HD upconversion signal output from the player.

[DW]

thanks for all the replies, buds!! very helpful!

Syn, ok... the HD might be asking for a bit much. What can you recommend that has all the regular specs + just the DivX/xVid/MPEG-4 support?

[lordsmurf]

A Cyberhome CH-300 will do most of that for $40 at Walmart.
The DIVX is only real exception. Maybe few others.

[Hardcoreruss]

Cheapy players that offer progressive scan will just not cut it if you upgrade to HDTV in the future. You will need to aim towards the higher end of the market, a cheap player is great for playing all formats but it only plays them very poorly.

For a truly great picture especially through progressive you will need to spend a lot more cash than some of the suggestions on here.

[DW]

For a truly great picture especially through progressive you will need to spend a lot more cash than some of the suggestions on here.

any suggestions?

[i can definately afford to pay more than 40 bucks... heehee.... i'd like to stay under that $11,000 player i saw somewhere tho!!]

[Hardcoreruss]

Denon make some very good players 2200,2900, A11 I have the 2200, plays most in your list and the picture is perfect. Cost me £450.

[DW]

that Denon is a sweet machine (heh, did you see the new 5900!?!) ...but still just a bit too expensive for me. I wanted to spend around $300 USD max... and that one doesn't even have DivX/Xvid support.

[Hardcoreruss]

I would post your question on www.avsforums.com they are clued up, I get all my advice from the UK equivalent www.avforums.com.