Looking for the BEST PLAYER OUT THERE!

[thudo]

This may seem like a super-generic question to ask the masses but I looked at the list of DVD PLAYERS and most top-rated don't support DiVX or Xvid but some, like the Yamada DVX-6100, do but only got a rating of 8.3.

I need a home player that supports:

- CD/DVD (usual compatibility especially with burnable DVDs)
- VCD/SVCD/DivX/Xvid (last two don't have to be perfect but reasonable)
- MP3 (long filenames would be nice but not a deal breaker)
- JPG (PhotoCD capability)
- S-Video Out and regular Video Out (Composite would be okay)
- Supports both PAL and NTSC
- Works in N. America !

Is there such a player that is of reasonable build quality that is ~$100-170 CDN ($80-150 USD) ?

Please respond so I can make an informed choice. Your opinions are important!!

[jameshgross]

Well, this is a little simple but , you take your list of requirements and match against the feature list of the player. The player that has the most matches is the one you buy.

There is no "best".

[indolikaa]

I'm not so sure an 8.3 is a 'bad' rating.

[BJ_M]

8.3 is a freaking good rating

[thudo]

Well true enough.. match the specs with my requirments and bingo.. ya get a match but I think you and I know that because it says one thing doesn't mean it has or works "as directed".

Essentially, I want the player we all want: plays everything, robust on-screen GUI, good build quality (both unit and remote), well featured audio/video outs, and is affordable. HELL, I wish they made such a player with at least a 3-Disc CD Changer! Grrrr!!! Why haven't they?!?!?!

My original question was just to get an impression from the community what they felt, in their professional opinion, was the best player that does all mentioned above? Having leading-edge DivX and Xvid is highly desirable!

So all in all, the Yamada DVX-6100 seems to be the one I want. Granted, its only available in Europe but I probably may try to ship it over.

[Dimmer]

So all in all, the Yamada DVX-6100 seems to be the one I want. Granted, its only available in Europe but I probably may try to ship it over.

That would be very unwise. For one thing, they have different power and the plugs in Europe. You'd rather go best of all to the nearest Costco/Sam's Club or alternatively to a Wal-Mart, Best Buy, or other outlet store and buy the cheapest player you can find (~$60 CDN). If it doesn't work as desired even after flashing the firmware, return it and buy another cheap model.

[Hardcoreruss]

A new player just came out in the UK quite cheap Pioneer 575a

[flaninacupboard]

i'm not convinced you'll get good build quality in the price range you suggest. you certainly wouldn't over here (but i suppose build quality is subjective too.)
a modded Xbox would suit your needs, especially if you stick in a large hard drive. they'll also play network referred files, so your movie collection is as big as the NAS device you can afford.

[Dimmer]

i'm not convinced you'll get good build quality in the price range you suggest. you certainly wouldn't over here

Not to worry, over here (in N. America) it should be fine. Sometimes you might come across a unit within the price range defective right out of the box so it has to be exchanged. Surprisingly, the more expensive the player, the harder it could be to make it play PAL DVDs.

[DVD_Ripper]

I've always like reviews done by consumer reports organization. They always denote the latest features and extras for each device, car, washer, etc.

reviews available via mag and online

[thudo]

Okie here's the deal WHY I WON'T GO TO CHEAPO STORES like Costco or BestBuy: I'm a learned individual. I like to do my research. I'm an IT Consultant who prefers to do the groundwork before hand then make an educated decision. Of course I don't have all the facts about ALL players because each one has a strength and a weakness (even minute).

Back in the day I bought a Pioneer DV-343 for my mom and that was great (except no MP3 playback). About a year ago I acquired a Citizen JDVD3818 from a DrugStore because a good friend told me it was about $60 CDN and would play everything (except DivX and Xvid). I liked it for a week then found out it constantly went out-of-synch with VCD/SVCD audio. Grrrrrr!

Today, I going back to doing my research and am looking around for the best most accessible player rather than running to a local box store and getting some half-arse crap. I want something rated well because I VALUE ALL YOUR OPINIONS even though its soo much to take in. Everyone has had something to say about a player whether good or bad. We all nitpick and thats what's good about being a discriminating customer - if only the firmware devs of these players actually listened and revised their code, that would be another wish!

So now its come down to either the Lite-On LVD-2002 (or to wait for the upcoming LVD-2010? Arghhhh!!!) which I can get locally, or the Yamada DVX-6100 (or DVX-6600 although they took some minor features out of the 6600 but its no biggie) but is in EuroLand and would take up to 3 weeks to get to Canada with gawd knows what kinda of BS import/duty shiet that comes with it.

Decisions.. decisions.. just wish they made such players with a minimum 3-Disc CD Changer and all would be lovely.

[Madz]

Just to fling in 2¢: Quite a bit of electronics made for Continental Europe (that uses the wall plug w/ two round pins) often have a 110/220 dual-voltage switch on the rear. That was true of alot of stereo gear, but I'm not sure about video. You may wanna check and see if that Yamaha does, and if so, you'd only have to go to RadioShack (have them in Canada?) and get a EU-US plug apapter. Otherwise, you'd need a stepdown transformer. That is, of course, assuming that the Yamama can output NTSC or you have a TV that can accept a PAL signal directly.

[flaninacupboard]

i haven't met a dvd player yet that won't ouput both pal and ntsc, and almost all gear i see is autosensing 100-250v these days

[Roundabout]

So now its come down to either the Lite-On LVD-2002 (or to wait for the upcoming LVD-2010? Arghhhh!!!) which I can get locally

...if you can still find the LVD-2002. They were discontinued several months ago, though some still show up from time to time on dumpinggoods.com and other sites (best bet: find one on Ebay). The LVD-2010 has been cancelled AFIAK, and won't be released.

Most people are buying the Philips DVP-642 right now (~$70.00USD) from Amazon.com or in the local Target/Wal*Mart/CompUSA stores for the same approx. price. It has DivX/Xvid etc. and you can read more comments about it in the DVD player forum on here.

Still not a lot of choices out there as yet, unfortunately.

[thudo]

Thanks all for the replies! Here are my choices sofar:

Lite-On LVD-2002 (or LVD-2001 or wait for the new LVD-2010)
Yamada DVX-6100 (or 6600)
Phillips DP642 (looks real good but..)
RJTech RJ1500

Check this out.. compares the last two from the above list:

http://www.onlybestrated.com/features_compare.htm

Prices range from $100-200 w/tax and their capabilities are pretty much the same with only minor tweaks/features that vary.

Here is a REAL GOOD list of all such similar-class players (world wide) to compare (sorted on user rating):

https://www.videohelp.com/dvdplayers.php?DVDname=&Submit=Search&vcd=1&svcd=1&divx=1&Sea...orderby=Rating

Hmm.. looks like the top one of them all is the Neuston Maestro DVX-1201 but its been discontinued. Ebay or elsewhere probably has it but bahhh.. not worth the hassle.

[Dimmer]

Yamada DVX-6100 (or DVX-6600 although they took some minor features out of the 6600 but its no biggie) but is in EuroLand and would take up to 3 weeks to get to Canada with gawd knows what kinda of BS import/duty shiet that comes with it.

The import/duty "shiet" is at least 15% sales tax + 6% customs duty.

Okie here's the deal WHY I WON'T GO TO CHEAPO STORES like Costco or BestBuy: I'm a learned individual. I like to do my research. I'm an IT Consultant who prefers to do the groundwork before hand then make an educated decision.

Please don't offend Costco members by implying they are not learned individuals. Plus, people in the IT area in Canada know that "IT Consultant" is a name for a computer guy who got fired and can't find a new job due to the downfall in the economy.

[thudo]

Please don't offend Costco members by implying they are not learned individuals. Plus, people in the IT area in Canada know that "IT Consultant" is a name for a computer guy who got fired and can't find a new job due to the downfall in the economy.

Costco is decent. Perhaps the statement wasn't incorrect HOWEVER.. I do take extended offense to your wording of IT Consultant.. Actually, allow me to reexamine: Its more a case of "someone who got fed up with the current IT BS going on in the last 3 years and decided to "take the bull by the horn" and create a super-niche for themselves rather than flow with the usual lemmings." IT, unlike other stagnant professions, is based on creativity, savy, and down right a case of making a career a "labour of love". Granted, many of us get our certifications and then don't enjoy what we do (present company excluded) and then others just excel because its a joy and the technology becomes a massive hobby we share with others willing to indulge in. So yes I am a little offended by that statement but then again we're all anonymous here so its not like we can directly make mortal stabs at one another. Its all good.

[offline]

IT, unlike other stagnant professions, is based on creativity, savy, and down right a case of making a career a "labour of love". Granted, many of us get our certifications and then don't enjoy what we do (present company excluded) and then others just excel because its a joy and the technology becomes a massive hobby we share with others willing to indulge in.

I farted.

[thudo]

I farted.

Your welcome!

[lordsmurf]

I'd also vote on a modded xbox.

[thudo]

I'd also vote on a modded xbox.

Agreed. Plus you get the added bonus of playing the latest games! Then again.. I'm not up to spending $300 then having the fact its like opium to me tempting me to play yet another gaming platform! I mean, I'm already inundated with too many games as it is. :P

[Dimmer]

Costco is decent. Perhaps the statement wasn't incorrect HOWEVER.. I do take extended offense to your wording of IT Consultant.. Actually, allow me to reexamine: Its more a case of "someone who got fed up with the current IT BS going on in the last 3 years and decided to "take the bull by the horn" and create a super-niche for themselves rather than flow with the usual lemmings." IT, unlike other stagnant professions, is based on creativity, savy, and down right a case of making a career a "labour of love". Granted, many of us get our certifications and then don't enjoy what we do (present company excluded) and then others just excel because its a joy and the technology becomes a massive hobby we share with others willing to indulge in. So yes I am a little offended by that statement but then again we're all anonymous here so its not like we can directly make mortal stabs at one another. Its all good.

My apologies, didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I guess whatever I tried to say didn't come out right.

Anyways, one more reminder just for a case: if you order a foreign region-free player, be sure that it also allows to select a specific region manually. Otherwise it won't play RCE protected discs.

[thudo]

My apologies, didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I guess whatever I tried to say didn't come out right.

Anyways, one more reminder just for a case: if you order a foreign region-free player, be sure that it also allows to select a specific region manually. Otherwise it won't play RCE protected discs.

I shouldn't have become passionate. My bad. IT Consultant is just a label but it means alot to the clients I have who expect and GET good work from yours truely! 8)

As for Region-free player.. the player I choose will be local (shipping outside of the continent is not practical to me as I need the player REAL SOON) and the one I do go with WILL HAVE a REGION-FREE hack + other little hacks (ie. Macrovision removed). Its coming together.. looking forward to ditching my crap Citizen player.. Passhhhh!!

[Jackinbox]

Anyways, one more reminder just for a case: if you order a foreign region-free player, be sure that it also allows to select a specific region manually. Otherwise it won't play RCE protected discs.

That's actually incorrect. My JVC that I got from Lasersedge.com is auto-switching and defeats RCE perfectly.

[thudo]

I picked this one up:

http://www.onlybestrated.com/RJ1500.htm

Its the MarkII edition with all the firmware upgrades and its superb! Better than I expected! Macrovision and Region-code Free!

PLAYS EVERYTHING! Tried VCD/SVCD (video and sound are top notch!), plays a PhotoCD containing 15mb JPGs(!!) fast (each JPG reads in about 10sec), plays MP3 CD and now MP3 DVDs with ease and FAST too! (unfortunately no shuffling or long filename support for MP3s BUT very very few players out there support that anyway.. bahhhhh!!), build quality of the unit is as good as any mid-to-high level player (ie. Pioneer) which is A GOOD THING! Unit has TONS of video and audio outputs on the back + it even has VGA out! WoW!

I will be testing DivX and Xvid playback soon!

[Nilfennasion]

That's actually incorrect. My JVC that I got from Lasersedge.com is auto-switching and defeats RCE perfectly.

It actually varies from player to player and disc to disc. Note that RCE may evolve over time, too, so players that play the discs now may not always play them. The big advantage of manual region-switching is that it cannot be circumvented or detected. Once you set the player to a given Region, no software programming can tell the difference.

[GabeB]

Philips DVP-642 - does about everything you ask for and easily hackable. Toshiba sd4900 does about all but DIVX and XVID.

[thudo]

One thing I noticed about this player (RJ Tech RJ-1500DVX-II) is when playing back Xvid movies there is artifact ghosting where something is moving on the screen and sometimes it leaves a "pixel trail" or if a scene is not moving some parts of that still scene will flash for no reason. Weird.

Here are the movie characteristics that this occurs with:

ViDEO : 815 kbps xvid
AUDiO : 448 kbps AC3
RESOLUTiON : 608x256

[pudds]

Id go for the yamada 6600 , i have one and there excellent. Main problem is that they can sometimes clash with the iinfared on your other appliances , luckily i have no problems with mine.

[thudo]

Id go for the yamada 6600 , i have one and there excellent. Main problem is that they can sometimes clash with the iinfared on your other appliances , luckily i have no problems with mine.

A little late now.. Have this player and love it. Only has "some" issues with certain Xvid. No biggie as ALL CURRENT PLAYERs will have certain codec problems with a video/audio format that keeps on evolving!

Further, the Yamada 6xxx line is REAL HARD to get here in N. America: it has to be shipped from overseas and I can't wait that long. I would have liked to but since the main contenders here are the Philips DV-642 and RJ Tech RJ-1500DVX-II then I went with the latest RJ TECH and its superb!