Looking for the perfect DVD/(S)VCD player

[duck712]

I'm looking for a stand-alone player with the following features:

- Plays DVD perfectly
- Plays VCD/SVCD perfectly without FF/RW-, skipping-, chapter- and subtitle-problems
- Plays MP3 without problems
- Plays all CDR and CDRW-discs
- Plays DVD-R, RW, +RW or at least some of these
- Has RGB scart output (also S-video would be nice)
- Has digital audio output (optical or coax)
- Is easy to make region-free (preferably with remote)
- Can play PAL and NTSC (with NTSC--> PAL conversion)
- Is available in Western-Europe (Netherlands)

X(S)VCD is not important to me, I want to stay within standards.

Of course I have looked at the DVD-players section but there are many conflicting stories and also, perhaps there are brands that I know nothing about. I've been reading this and other sites for months so this is not a lazy post.

I have tried the following players and was not satisfied:
- Philips DVD712 (FF/RW problems on SVCD, skipping sometimes, wrong time display on SVCD, no FF/RW in MP3)
- Pioneer DV444 (aspect ratio problems on 2.35:1 SVCD, vcdimager-chapter problems on SVCD, SVCD playback problems on low bitrates)

So, any suggestions for my new player?

[Greg12]

I like my Apex 660 but it's outdated.

only has S-Video output, the newer apex's have componet

[three_dee]

I like my Apex 660 but it's outdated.

only has S-Video output, the newer apex's have componet

To follow up duck712's question - I'm a current (soon previous) owner of a Nintaus N-9901, and it did all I asked of it, but when I purchased it some time ago, I wasn't aware of the possibility of having subtitles on SVCD. When I found out about it beeing possible, I thought "hey, my Nintaus will do that too..the user's manual say so too" But I tried all sorts; SVCD, CVD and tons of ways of muxing - downloading images here and there that were supposed to work, but no luck- hence why I'm selling it, I want that feature.

That's why I'm currently looking at buying a Mustek v560 as it seems to be the most compatable player ATM regarding subtitles on SVCDs, FF without skip, mp3 cds and LongPlaySVCD (80+min movie pr. cd, which is a wanted feature by me) - but PLZ correct me if I'm wrong. Any link, and/or info that can prove me beeing wrong is welcome, as I have not yet purchased the Mustek v560, but will very soon..

I've been aound the net and back again to get this question anwsered. Even mailed Mustek support a long time ago, but haven't gotten an anwser yet..

tnx in advance

/three_dee


ps, anybody know where to buy APEX players in Skandinavia?

[kjmacke]

Here is apex website: http://www.apexdigitalinc.com

[scottparker]

Try visiting http://dvdplayers.co.uk , many brands available and good prices. I brought a cheap H&B...problem at all

[Cooly-O]

Here is apex website: http://www.apexdigitalinc.com

One of the biggest "posters" who posts at Apexs' forum is a guy called freqmod. He raves about the Daewoo DVD-5700 and 5800.

His latest post is:
"*IMPORTANT: THERE'S NOW A SEPARATE FORUM FOR DVD-5700/5800*"
http://www.nerd-out.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21119

It starts out as:

I have asked Alowishus (owner of this site) to set up a separate forum for the Daewoo DVD-5700 and 5800, as well as the related Hyundai (HDP-380) and Akai (DVP-760S) models:

http://www.nerd-out.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=29
------------------
"Why does everyone like the 5700 so much?"
To answer the above question see:

gardenstate Post: Thu Mar 07, 2002 12:24 pm
http://www.nerd-out.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17560

[three_dee]

@ kjmacke, tnx for the link - looks like I have to stand down a bit, as Apex is planning to make players for Reg2 also.. interesting

@ scottparker, tnx m8, will check out the link

@ Cooly-O, don't get this wrong, but does your reply has any signifigance regarding the thread's original question? Are you suggestion us to look in a Daewoo-direction rather than trying to get hands on an Apex? (eventhough it might be close to impossible in Skandinavia/Europe)

regards,

/three_dee

[Cooly-O]

@ Cooly-O, don't get this wrong, but does your reply has any signifigance regarding the thread's original question? Are you suggestion us to look in a Daewoo-direction rather than trying to get hands on an Apex? (eventhough it might be close to impossible in Skandinavia/Europe)
/three_dee

I know you thought this thread was just for you but there are actually some people interested in DVD players outside of Skandinavia/Europe. The Daewoo 5700/5800 is a good recommendation for many. It would serve one in the market to review some other good players to see why people like them (even if they may be lacking one or two key features to a specific region of the planet). Your welcome anyway.

[three_dee]

I know you thought this thread was just for you but there are actually some people interested in DVD players outside of Skandinavia/Europe.

Why anwser a questions nobody asked in here? and why link to a player that "might be lacking one or two key features".. I don't want such a player.. read the thread's title again, if you're in doubt what's originally beeing asked for help for.

/three_dee

[Big_Jit]

My APEX Ad-1500 was the one for me and at the low price of 79.99 at Circuit City!

Mustek v560, I have the new version of this player 160 euro here in Austria.

Awsome player, plays SVCDS like a dream, all of the features you asked for + has a built in AC3/DTS decoder.

cheers

[aznguy]

xbox mod... because it plays it all... cheap dvdr's ...
all formats to... vcd...dvd... DIVX!!!!
don't believe me... do a search... or liksang website too...

[SatStorm]

My cyberhome M212 rules and is compatible with anything and almost all the features I test it
Then comes that Comet player, it rocks! Has anything and better picture quality
There are also some other choices: Prinotek, Amoisonic (not all the models), pioneer (best picture quality from all) and there others like those yokohama DVD
The market is full of those players, the generall rule is : The cheaper, the better! (for combatibility, not picture quality)
Apex ain't that good as users report, in Europe we have many more better standalones. It is very popular in US, because there the alternatives are not many.

[Proch]

I just bought a Sony DVP-NS715P. It's progressive scan and plays the SVCDs and VCDs that I've been burning from my PC. I'm not sure yet whether or not it plays CD+RW but I'd like to know before I buy a DVD burner. Anyway, for $199, it seems like a good player to me.

[macleod]

apex 1100w (1mb). go to www.nerd-out.com and search for answers to your other questions regarding region free and macrovision.

[thxkid]

Please inform this person that the APEX's really have a problem with audio out of sync with alot of the self burned VCD and SVCD out there. plus any of newer ones 1100, 1200, 1500 are really cheap and flimsy so don't expect them to last long and alot of the Mustek's are just repackaged APEX's.
Plus looking at his original thread, we all would love a DVD player that did everything he is asking for!!! You get some and maybe most what he is asking for in player but there is not a DVD player out that does everything he is asking it to do, APEX's, Mustek's, Daewoo's even some panasonics come close but NONE does it all, Even the Sampo 631CF comes close, but lacks the Scart, does everything else, heck its the only DVD player you can hack the Serial Copy Mangement so you can copy a DVD to DVD-R on a DVD Recorder. To do everything he's asking I ended buying 3 machines to do everything he wants plus more than that also.

[rustolem]

Im not as particular as duck's post but looking something to handle the following: by the way im in the USA have used the search function on the site but dont think its completely accurate... says some handle DVD-R/RW but when you go to players product page doesnt mention DVD-RW ...

Changer/MultiDisc

DVD-R
DVD-RW
CD-R
CD-RW
VCD
SVCD
MP3
DVD-A (Maybe)

[Proch]

The Sony DVP-NS715P does all these plus DVD+R/+RW with progressive scan for under $200. Only thing I tried that I couldn't get to work was X(S)VCD.

http://www.sonystyle.com/home/item.jsp?hierc=9686x8635x8701&itemid=37657

[three_dee]

Mustek v560, I have the new version of this player 160 euro here in Austria.

Awsome player, plays SVCDS like a dream, all of the features you asked for + has a built in AC3/DTS decoder.

cheers

thxkid, I was kind of getting that feeling - no such thing as a perfect DVDplayer exicst -- but.., navorring down to the most important things ppl are looking for atm (incl. me) has to be, flawless handle of SVCD w/subs and menus, one of the recordable DVD-formats, mp3 playback (CBR and VBR), diff. sound standarts (ei dts AC3 5.1) and a variety of A/V outputs.

My question goes (in paticular at D_Head with the Mustek v560) which DVD-player will deal properly with the above?

@ D_Head, falls Du Lust und Zeit hast, darfst du mir gerne direkt bescheid über PM geben. In besonders interessiert's mich, ob er mit SVCD-subs bzw CVD-subs sich problemlos umgeht. Im voraus, danke.


/three_dee