Looking for a decent DVD player that also plays PAL DVD's

[Barnabas]

I am looking for a DVD player that can play also play PAL DVD's well without cutting off the top and bottom. I have an Apex DVD that can play PAL DVD's, but it always cuts off the bottom and top of the displayed screen by showing black bars on any PAL DVD.

Looking for something a bit better.

Thanks

[jman98]

I wanted to warn you that most players do this because it is fast and easy to do. The Philips DVP-642 most definitely does this, as I discovered when I tried to play a commerical PAL VCD I bought from China that had English subtitles at the bottom. The subtitles were almost completely cut off and then I realized that the player was chopping off the top and bottom of the PAL image to display it in NTSC. DVD players that truly try to conert the image by rescaling it are very expensive I've read and offhand I don't know of any. Denon MIGHT do it, but that is only a guess.

[cpotoso]

Use a PC.

[Barnabas]

Use a PC.

I want to watch it on my 52 inch, NOT the little computer monitor.

[lordsmurf]

Toshiba 3980.

The best PAL playback I have ever seen comes from LiteOn DVD recorders. And honestly, they're not much more expensive than a good DVD player. About $150 on sale, somewhere like Radio Shack.

[Noahtuck]

Phillips suck.

http://www.220-electronics.com/

I picked one of these up for around $120.00 shipped.
http://www.220-electronics.com/dvd/pioneer578.htm

Excellent player with tons of format support, i don't remember if it does divx or WMA but i never mess with that garbage anyways, pretty much buoght it for the SACD/DVD-A & PAL to NTSC.

Use a PC.

I want to watch it on my 52 inch, NOT the little computer monitor.

Amen to that!!!!!!

[Barnabas]

Thanks for the replies. Just need something that won't cut off the top and bottom of the picture on PAL disks.

[FulciLives]

JVC is good but must be bought pre-modified.

Pioneer is also good (the 578/588 models in particular) but again must be bought pre-modified.

220 electronics (metioned above in aother post) usually is the cheapest place around (that I have found) for multi-system video equipment.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[ZippyP.]

The best PAL playback I have ever seen comes from LiteOn DVD recorders.

Bought mine at Costco. Hacked it so it's region free and ignores macrovision. Very happy to find that it plays Pal too.

[Noahtuck]

I picked one of these up for around $120.00 shipped.
http://www.220-electronics.com/dvd/pioneer578.htm

Pioneer is also good (the 578/588 models in particular) but again must be bought pre-modified.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

Thanks for the replies. Just need something that won't cut off the top and bottom of the picture on PAL disks.

There ya go 8)
Looks great on my 54"

[Blazey]

Toshiba 3980.

The best PAL playback I have ever seen comes from LiteOn DVD recorders. And honestly, they're not much more expensive than a good DVD player. About $150 on sale, somewhere like Radio Shack.

Again, I must thank LS for his advice. I didn't even know my Lite On could play a pal DVD - but after reading this thread, I tried it. PERFECT. It is way better than my Daewoo and Cyberhome cheapies in Pal conversion. Best I've ever seen.

[Barnabas]

Blazey,

What model Lite-on do you have?

[Blazey]

LVW 5005

The new model is a 5005X - so I can't attest to it's quality, but chances are it's the same. I run a hacked firmware on it to make it region free (VERY easy mod from LS's site and I highly recommend it)

I just tried 3 dvd's that play "choppy" on my Daewoo and Cyberhome on it and the playback is AWESOME!

The 5005X retails for $137 right now from Amazon - a total bargain. The recording quality is outstanding as well and the hacked firmware allows you to backup your priceless rare VHS's too.

I'm watching my Amicus Coffin box set from Anchor Bay right now and the playback is flawless. I'm in love. No other player has allowed me this quality on the TV.

[MJA]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000AN5DT0/qid=1127573081/sr=8-4/ref=sr_8__i4_xgl23/1...onics&v=glance

I read few bad reviews here and there about the Toshiba
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007RB1WM/002-7468426-4945615?v=glance&n=172282

[oldfart13]

Hmmm...never noticed that the 642 cut the subs off the Japanese and HK DVDs I got from my friend's video store. VCDs? Ikkk! You can still get commercial VCDs? I haven't seen one in years. As for cutting the subs off, heck most of my Chinese LDs had the subs cut off and it wasn't because of the players but because the outfit making the discs didn't do a good job transferring a print that was meant to be watched by Chinese speakers only and the subs were there only because it was the law at the time in HK when the Brits still ran it. And those translations...the less said about those discs the better...

[mech1]

^^
I haven't experienced subs being cut off either with the dvp 642. the only thing I did notice was the sides of the film being cut off, but I think that had more to do with not having a widescreen tv. it didn't effect playback of the film in anyway, I only noticed it when the end credits were rolling.

[cpotoso]

Use a PC.

I want to watch it on my 52 inch, NOT the little computer monitor.

I watch on a PC connected to a NEC LT-10 XGA projector. Your puny 52" screen pales in comparison to my 3 m (118 ") one

[Barnabas]

Blazey,

What sort of zoom functions does your lite-on have? Sounds like the Lite-on would be a pretty good choice.

[Barnabas]

Decided on the Lite-On 5006 from the local Radio Shack. It does indeed play PAL stuff great, with no cutting off of the picture like my Apex does on Pal stufff.

Thanks

[Krispy Kritter]

I haven't had any issues with my Oppo ODV971H. Playback is very good (I also have the Philips DVP-642). http://www.oppodigital.com

[Blazey]

Decided on the Lite-On 5006 from the local Radio Shack. It does indeed play PAL stuff great, with no cutting off of the picture like my Apex does on Pal stufff.

Thanks

How much was the 5006? Is the firmware hackable to remove MV?