DVD Player brand recommendation

[majax79]

Hello all,

I can't really afford a bluray player at the moment so I'm looking for a DVD Player. I just moved into a new place, bought a 32" Samsung LCD TV and would like something to play DVDs. The only requirement I have is that it play divx/xvid avi movies.

I'm just trying to find out which brands are most reputable. The only three name brands that I see are making dvd players are Sony, Samsung, and Toshiba.

[victoriabears]

pioneer

[V Bot]

I have a Samsung Plasma, it had some minor issues, Samsung is not good at all when it comes to customer service. I would listen to victoriabears. I myself was going to buy a Samsung bluray player, not now.

[orsetto]

The only three name brands that I see are making dvd players are Sony, Samsung, and Toshiba.

The smaller cheaper Sonys are made by a low-end third party, probably Coby or worse at this point. Sony DVD recorders are now made by Samsung, so possibly some of the DVD players are as well- look closely and then walk away. Most of Toshibas video products are now made by Funai, meaning you may as well shop for a Phillips/Magnavox which is the same thing but much cheaper. Phillips players are very popular with the DiVX/xVid crowd, because they usually play those formats reliably and convert PAL to NTSC on the fly with little fuss. The newer Toshibas have a nice proprietary video enhancement circuit which can make regular DVDs appear fantastic on some displays: worth a look now that they sell for well under $100.

Pioneer is dead in the water and out of the video business entirely as of last year, but their players and recorders were very very good and victoriabears recommendation is sound. You might still find leftover new Pioneers at some stores or online vendors. Good players, solid, nearly as good with DiVX/xVid as Phillips.

Panasonics are a contradiction. They can be excellent and durable (I have one from 2001 that still works great and plays burned discs well). They can also be a huge disappointment, because they have a stunningly faulty drive design that attracts dust like flies to honey, causing error messages galore. If you're handy, there are instructions online describing how to self-maintain and clean out the dust, which can make Panasonics last a l-o-n-g time. But they aren't as good with non-DVD formats as Phillips or Pioneer.

Consider a used player sourced from Craigs List or eBay: some very good deals on sturdy older models can be had from all the gearheads moving up to BluRay players. Just shop carefully to be sure a given model will play nice with your DiVX/xVid discs. If you see someone letting go of an Oppo for under $100, grab it: very high end.

[majax79]

@ orsetto

Thanks for the awesome post. So basically Samsung or Phillips is what you're getting at? The Samsung LCD TV that I have is awesome. I don't know how great their other stuff is though. I will be buying it at walmart.com or amazon.com. I get a 10% at walmart.com and I have a lot of coupon codes for amazon so those are my only two choices as where to buy. I think that gives me a sufficient choice though.

[victoriabears]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=sr_in_-2_p_4_34?rh=n%3A172282%2Cn%3A!493964%2Cn%3A1266092 011%2Cn%3A172514%2Cp_4%3APioneer&bbn=172514&ie=UTF 8&qid=1279323560&rnid=15784691

there must be a lot of old Pioneer stock around, I have the 420K and for the price here and its region free is very good

[orsetto]

So basically Samsung or Phillips is what you're getting at? The Samsung LCD TV that I have is awesome.

Sorry if I was unclear, the Samsungs are on the "no" list, along with the Samsungs relabeled as Sonys. Samsung televisions are stunning enough in performance to merit buying even though their customer service is atrocious, but there are better DVD player choices. You hadn't mentioned earlier you were limiting your sources to Wal*Mart and Amazon: thru Amazon I would go for the Pioneer linked by victoriabears, at Wal*Mart look for a Phillips or Magnavox.

[majax79]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=sr_in_-2_p_4_34?rh=n%3A172282%2Cn%3A!493964%2Cn%3A1266092 011%2Cn%3A172514%2Cp_4%3APioneer&bbn=172514&ie=UTF 8&qid=1279323560&rnid=15784691

there must be a lot of old Pioneer stock around, I have the 420K and for the price here and its region free is very good

This is definitely the player I'm not leaning towards.

[dfisher052]

Make sure you find one that has an HDMI output & upscales to 1080p. I have a Philips with this feature plugged into a Samsung 40" LCD & I love it. My DVD's & AVI's look great. I've got a lot of old movies (30's & 40's) in AVI format & they look better on my Samsung then they did on my Panasonic 27" CRT, and that had an excellent picture. I still have it in a spare room.

[jagabo]

The Philips 5990 and 5992 aren't great DVD players but they have pretty good Divx/Xvid AVI playback and aren't hard to find. Probably the best compromise for someone who needs Divx/Xvid compatibility. They're easily made region free with a few button presses on the remote. They can play files off a USB hard drive or thumb drive (FAT file system only).

[jman98]

Make sure you find one that has an HDMI output & upscales to 1080p.

I disagree that this is a must have. I have a Samsung LCD HDTV that supports 1080p and I have an old cheap DVD player sending 480p to it via component. It looks terrific. Samsung HDTVs have upscalers that are as good or better than most DVD player upscalers. Remember the HDTV will scale input video to its display resolution, so it's not strictly necessary for the DVD player to do it.

[lordsmurf]

My Samsung DVD player in the kitchen is fine. Bought from Target for $30 in Dec 2009.
Skips on TY media, however. (Not uncommon for TY media.)

Sony not suggested, never was, not for DVD players.

Philips (with Divx) is good.

Toshiba = Magnavox = Philps (no Divx) = LG = Funai = not the best, not the worst. Very basic functions.

[victoriabears]

what is your reason for not wanting the Pioneer?

[handyguy]

I used a few Philips but they each mysteriously drop AVI subs sometimes during playback & you have to turn them back on. Otherwise they are fine.

Also use a Seagate Theater with a HD so I can just make my disk into an ISO & put it on a HD & it can read that & it reads a ton of other formats but does not play dvds.

[lordsmurf]

Hmmmm... I may take back my defense of Samsung.
Last night it skipped on my Verbatim DVD-R. I know those are fine. (8x MCC)

[majax79]

I've decided to wait until xmas time and buy a bluray player. It's stupid to buy a dvd player for $60 now when I'd just replace it a few months later with a bluray. Thanks for all the advice just the same.

[EdT586]

The Toshibas are the underdogs, they lack all the bells and whistles like the other big brands, but the only thing that counts is the PQ and multi-format playback capabilities, slick aesthetics and good hardware layout and usually the lowest costing of the larger brands. Remember Toshiba was pro-upconverting when they lost the Blu-Ray war and have made in roads in the UK with their "upscaling" players like their XDE series.

[MJA]

Target was selling the Philips BDP5012/F7 Blu-ray Disc Player w/ 5ft HDMI Cable for a low $99.99 Free Shipping few days ago

http://www.techbargains.com/news_displayItem.cfm/216886

[classfour]

I managed to get one of the last MIJ Pioneers - excellent machine. Only downside - does not upconvert.

[Seeker47]

Hmmmm... I may take back my defense of Samsung.
Last night it skipped on my Verbatim DVD-R. I know those are fine. (8x MCC)

I hope their Blu-Ray units turn out to be pretty good, as I recently got a BD-6500.
The built-in networking and feature set supposedly vaulted it to the front of the pack, or so I was told. Seems fine -- so far -- and the PQ looks very good, but most everything about it is SLOW, starting with turning on and disc loading. Routine performance wise, I much prefer my Oppo 980. (The Oppo Blu-Ray priced itself out of the market, at around double the cost.)

I had not owned a Samsung anything since two cell phones ago. This business about the lousy customer service has probably gotten me to drop Samsung from consideration, in regard to an upcoming laptop purchase. Too important, with too much money on the line. Are you listening, Samsung ? (Though I think in terms of poor customer service reports, they now have way too much company. Consumers may be looking for the elevator, but they're far more likely to get the shaft.)

[V Bot]

I recently read Samsung was going to give free phones to Apple I Phone users, wow, take care of your own customers Samsung. I still need to try and get my TV fixed.

[crowheart]

I would recommend the Panasonic DMP-BD85K you can get it at Panasonic Direct.com for 137.50! That is if you act quickly. This Blu Ray players handles Divx quite well and is a very good all around unit.

Check it out here http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMP-BD85K-Enabled-Blu-Ray-Player/dp/B0038KR8WM/ref=sr_...4390150&sr=8-1

Panasonic direct.com http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-electronics/shop/Video/Blu-ray-Disc-Players/model.D...00000000005702

For the money this is the best deal going right now!