Canadian multi-function DVD players

[exekutive]

Hey guys.

Is there a such thing as a DVD player that supports subtitle files? (.SRT, .SUB, .IDX etc.)

Thanks.

[exekutive]

I did a bit of reading, and it seems that such units can be found fairly easily.

Howabout a player that supports subtitle files, and is able to convert PAL and NTSC FILM* sources (both DVD and DIVX) into an NTSC signal, and has USB input (SD would be nice too).

(* ie. is able to perform a 2:3 pulldown )

[jagabo]

Philips DVP 5990, and 5992.

[exekutive]

Philips DVP 5990, and 5992.

That product is not listed on the Philips Canada website. It's probably not available in stores here.

[jagabo]

There are some Toshiba Divx/DVD players that some people seem to be happy with. At the higher end you'll find the Oppo players. Also consider a USB/network media player like the Western Digital WDTV Live.

[exekutive]

I didn't see any Toshiba candidates in Canada, I definitely want the DVD reader, and Oppo is ridiculously priced. Thank anyways.

Saw a Coby DVD298 for $50 at Best Buy. It does DIVX, PAL and has USB+SD but I'm not sure about SRT.

The Pioneer DV420 seems capable too, displays SRT subtitles, but I'm not sure if it does PAL.

[johns0]

Coby=crap.

[exekutive]

Coby=crap.

What do you recommend?

[johns0]

Bring a pal region free dvd and try the The Pioneer DV420 at the store.From what i read in a google search it will play pal on an ntsc tv.

[jagabo]

Oh, sorry, it was the Pioneer DV420 I was thinking of earlier, not a Toshiba. The problem with the Pioneer is that it's not easily made region free.

[jman98]

If it plays Divx, it probably plays SRT subtitles. But do note that most only support a restricted character set (often only Latin and Cyrillic) and I have yet to find any device that could correctly play SUB/IDX files. SRT is the only external subtitle format that I've found to be fully and correctly supported on DVD players.

[exekutive]

Bring a pal region free dvd and try the The Pioneer DV420 at the store.From what i read in a google search it will play pal on an ntsc tv.

If you go to the Pioneer website and read the brochure and the manual, it doesn't mention PAL anywhere. I will take a disc with me to the store to be sure.

[exekutive]

Saw a Pioneer DV-420V-K at Future Shop for $89.99.
I brought my PAL DVD disc along and it played fine.
Also brought a USB stick with a AVI & SRT files and it played too.
No SD slot unfortunately, but I think I'll get this one.

[scharfg]

Can't you put your SD card into a USB card reader and use it that way...?

Sorry newbi here.

[exekutive]

Can't you put your SD card into a USB card reader and use it that way...?

Sorry newbi here.

I'm sure you could. It's just not as nice as having one built in. (like the Coby players). It's a compromise I made.

Anyways since I'm here: an update...

Bought the unit for $90 + tax = $100 @ Future Shop.
Installed the YKB9326C_V1.1_CP1252 firmware update. It went smoothly without any problems at all.

I highly recommend installing the multi-region firmware for 2 big reasons: (besides the obvious one)

1. The firmware it comes with only shows about the first 8 characters of a file name (which is incredibly dumb). v1.1 will allow the file browser to display the ENTIRE name.
2. Out of the box, the subtitles are MICROSCOPIC! You have to put your nose against the screen to be able to read them. v1.1 makes them a bit bigger (still not big enough I think).

It also has nicer menu graphics (woop de doo!)

[scharfg]

Ah good point.

Hey while I have your attention any idea where I could purchase a Philips 5990/02 in Canada? Based on my limited research it looks like a good unit to plan .avi off a 2.0 USB port. I searched and searched but all I could find were a bunch from US only sources?

Or should I spend the extra ~$30 and get the Pioneer at FS....?

[exekutive]

I searched also, and I don't think the Philips is available in Canada.
You have a few options..
1. Get it shipped from the US (likely will cost you at least the $30)
2. If you live close to the border like me, you can have it shipped to a place like packageexpress.com and go pick it up (will cost you gas $$ and tax/duty if you declare it.
3. Try to find a Canadian dealer who imports them (good luck).

4. Just get the Pioneer at your local FS and be done with it

[scharfg]

Sounds like sage advice given I live ~8hrs north of the border!

Hopefully the Pioneer will do everything the Philips will do and will be a higher quality unit to boot.

Thanks again you've been most helpful!

[victoriabears]

https://forum.videohelp.com/topic376202.html?highlight=canadians

[oldfart13]

Best Buy Canada used to sell the 5992. I got one last year from them. They and Future Shop seem to sell less and less each year and more and more of their own brands like Insignia. You could have got one of those Insignia Blu Ray players at Boxing Day for $80. Alas, I have no BB where I live and FS never sold them that low. At least that player will do Divx, Xvid, MKVs, etc. Currently, I use my modded Xbox (the original one) that I got from the pawn shop for $20. That one will allow me to play MKVs to 720p, Xvid, Divx, WMV, etc., stream video from the computer and still play some great games. A very cheap alternative....

[lacywest]

I searched also, and I don't think the Philips is available in Canada.
You have a few options..
1. Get it shipped from the US (likely will cost you at least the $30)
2. If you live close to the border like me, you can have it shipped to a place like packageexpress.com and go pick it up (will cost you gas $$ and tax/duty if you declare it.
3. Try to find a Canadian dealer who imports them (good luck).

4. Just get the Pioneer at your local FS and be done with it

Hey ... how about the Samsung ... DVD 1080P9 ... just a quick post ... and the box was behind me ... works great in my living room ... the remote control is taking some effort to get used to ... but it plays Divx and it has a USB port in the front that plays Divx movies ... too !! ... $64 bucks at a Walmart store.

Dont know if it plays PAL ... out of the box ... maybe a hack is available.

I just now tried a 1.3 gig MKV video and ... nope didn't play ... and I renamed it to AVI and still didn't play that way neither.

[lacywest]

Saw a Pioneer DV-420V-K at Future Shop for $89.99.
I brought my PAL DVD disc along and it played fine.
Also brought a USB stick with a AVI & SRT files and it played too.
No SD slot unfortunately, but I think I'll get this one.

I did a search on Internet ... looks like a nice DVD player ... lots of features.

I dont need PAL ... so I think my Samsung unit will work just fine ... has a decent menu for looking at folders and such on the USB stick.

[exekutive]

Nice find.

The only mention of avi subtitles in the manual is the DIVX subtitle language menu. PAL isn't mentioned anywhere (doesn't mean anything. It's not documented for the Pioneer either)

There are some issues with stopping movies.

Here's the region hack: https://www.videohelp.com/dvdhacks/samsung-dvd-1080p9/10025

[lacywest]

Nice find.

The only mention of avi subtitles in the manual is the DIVX subtitle language menu. PAL isn't mentioned anywhere (doesn't mean anything. It's not documented for the Pioneer either)

There are some issues with stopping movies.

Here's the region hack: https://www.videohelp.com/dvdhacks/samsung-dvd-1080p9/10025

I processed a Divx / Xvid movie with ConvertXtoDVD 4 ... to a DVD and it played just fine.

I had ConvertXtoDVD 4 process it to a DVD9 and then I had to use DVD Rebuilder ... 3 Passes ... to make it fit on a DVD5 and it played just fine on the Samsung unit ... 2.5 hours long and it was our entertainment on New Years Eve.

[exekutive]

Huh? You converted a divx movie into a DVD, and then played it on your divx player?

[lacywest]

Huh? You converted a divx movie into a DVD, and then played it on your divx player?

Yes ... I sure did ... what I do in my home ... is ... what I do in my home.

If you want to watch a Divx video in your home ... on your Divx player ... feel free to do so.

The other people in my home are not Divx player savvy ... I cannot be around 24/7.

It was also a test to see if the new Samsung DVD / Divx player would freeze up and such ... the Panasonic EZ27 kept messing up trying to play a home brew burnt DVD.

[exekutive]

You spent 2.5 hrs for 1.5 hrs of entertainment LOL!
It's not like they're THAT hard to use. Would probably take 5 mins to learn.

[lacywest]

You spent 2.5 hrs for 1.5 hrs of entertainment LOL!
It's not like they're THAT hard to use. Would probably take 5 mins to learn.

I've got a great system in the living room. Pioneer VSX 1015 Receiver ... All the speakers are Acoustic Research ... connected in a 7.1 Dolby Digital arrangement.

And a ... Sony 51 inch HDTV.

I do have two more systems ... one in the bedroom and the one I'm on ... in the garage. HDTV in bedroom - Panasonic 42" Plasma and in the garage ... Sony 32" LCD ... Pioneer Receivers and Acoustic Research speakers in both places.

[lacywest]

You spent 2.5 hrs for 1.5 hrs of entertainment LOL!
It's not like they're THAT hard to use. Would probably take 5 mins to learn.

The movie was 2.5 hours long ... we had to take a break from watching it ... well I did anyway ... smoke break.