cheap v expensive players

[zak_swan]

what are the advantages of an expensive DVD standalone player over a cheap one?
i've got a cheapo and it plays anything, even floppy discs! well not quite.
would u need a good TV and surround sound stuff to notice a difference?
how much better is having good DVD player, great TV and good sound system than watching it on ASDA TV and DVD player?
but another question springs to mind is it not the movie that makes it worth watching? e.g. pulp fiction on cheapo system or tomb raider on I just won the lottery system?

[guns1inger]

The differences in output quality are not as pronounced as they once were, but are still there for those that appreciate such things. If you are the type that says DVD Shrink at 60% is the same as the original, then you wont see the difference between a cheapo no-name and a more expensive player.

Other differences include the number and type of connections (some cheapos don't have component output, for example), snr on the audio output, and general build quality is often lower, so don't expect them to last as long.

[zak_swan]

DVD shrink at 20% is same as original! lol

[lenti_75]

and general build quality is often lower, so don't expect them to last as long.

who cares....you replace them after a while anyway.....

[Nilfennasion]

The basic difference is that expensive players tend to have a lot of features that, while unnecessary, can result in a more pleasant viewing experience.

I once reviewed a Denon player that went for about $1500 in Australian funds, compared to an entry-level price of about $300. There were two main differences that I found:

1) The picture quality it produced on an 80cm display was such that I felt like I was stoned. It made some discs that seemed flat and ordinary look like oil paintings. Basically, it made me aware of how much detail you could pack into a 576i frame.

2) It had an audio decoder that could decode literally anything you threw at it in its native format. Even the long-deceased MPEG soundtrack format. DTS was also included in the audio decoding system. Try finding an audio decoder, leave alone one that can decode DTS, in a $99 player.

Another plus that seems to have diminished in the last couple of years was that it could play back DVD-Audio in its proper MLP format.

There has been nothing added to players since that I would trade this model for, either.

[RottenFoxBreath]

shoot,the dvd players in ASDA UK,are like £29,i got one in my bedroom(that i never use),one in the kids rooms(2 of),and i gave one to my mum and dad,who never wanted one to begin with,but as my dad likes his movies,he took it,perused it,and now has a large library of almost every type of classic made.
IMO,i prefer to use my XBOX,and XBMC installed on it,and the dvd player function for viewing in my bedroom.
i think the picture and sound on it are really good.
but i wouldnt want a cheapo in my living room,ive seen and heard some of the pacific,alba,shneider,et all systems on my theatre setup and compared to the Sony sytem i have now,there ok,but nothing special.
i still believe that "you get what you pay" for when it comes to movies.
fine for a bedroom,kids room,elderly person,parents xmas pressies,etc though.