I just got a JVC DVD player (it's progressive, silver and plays CDR/Ws, and mp3s). I got it for $169. It plays VCDs fine when they are recording with whitebook VCD standards. It will play noncompliant home VCDs made with NERO fine. But it will pause for no reason (sometimes) while playing a VCD. I love this player, but I would like to own a player that plays DVD and VCD without these kind of these flaws. The files that I place on this VCD are within VCD standards though (Video- 1150, Audio- 44100/224, 352x240 NTSC). The video and audio look great on the VCDs, I just wish the player would not pause for no reason during playback. Based on this forum, it sounds like the Hitachi and Pioneer are excellent players.