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    My Oppo multi-regions DVD player finally died after nearly eight years, and I need help to pick a replacement. It had the special features called 'freeze-frame' and 'frame-by-frame advance', so if at all possible, I would want that. Most important though is I need it to play French DVDs (I assume these are in SECAM), and my new DVD player must be able to play them. My old Oppo would only play NTSC and PAL DVDs (I didn't know that when I bought it). I don't know if this means I also need a special (all-regions?) TV, or converter, or what....but I been collecting French DVDs for five years, and not been able to watch one! Can anyone suggest a brand/model to buy? I would like to keep the DVD player price under $350 (as under as possible), and I'm in USA, so I would be buying from B&H Photo, NewEgg, Amazon, etc. Thanks for any help.
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    No such thing as a Secam dvd player. Secam is just an analog tv system. Digital tv from France is also PAL.

    French DVDs are PAL. Even without a player that internally converts from PAL to NTSC, unless you have a multi-system tv, you should still be able to play them in on a PC with a software player.
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    Originally Posted by Senex View Post
    My Oppo multi-regions DVD player finally died after nearly eight years, and I need help to pick a replacement. It had the special features called 'freeze-frame' and 'frame-by-frame advance', so if at all possible, I would want that. Most important though is I need it to play French DVDs (I assume these are in SECAM), and my new DVD player must be able to play them. My old Oppo would only play NTSC and PAL DVDs (I didn't know that when I bought it). I don't know if this means I also need a special (all-regions?) TV, or converter, or what....but I been collecting French DVDs for five years, and not been able to watch one! Can anyone suggest a brand/model to buy? I would like to keep the DVD player price under $350 (as under as possible), and I'm in USA, so I would be buying from B&H Photo, NewEgg, Amazon, etc. Thanks for any help.
    The consumer electronics industry stopped producing high-quality DVD-only players not long after Blu-ray arrived, and many Blu-ray and DVD players made for N. America don't have region-free hacks available. Oppo players include a number of features that lesser brands do not have, especially now.

    You might want to look at region-free specialty stores (examples: 220-electronics.com and bombayelectronics.com) and consider buying a Blu-ray player to get at least some of the playback features that you want. The Sony BDP-S6700 is one of the more deluxe models available that is priced for ordinary consumers. Note that region-free Blu-ray players sold at these stores are typically only region-free for DVD, and if it is possible to make them region-free for Blu-ray as well, that costs extra. The product description for items sold by these stores also say whether or not the player can convert from PAL to NTSC for TVs that do not support input at PAL DVD resolutions and frame rates.
    Last edited by usually_quiet; 16th Mar 2018 at 12:17.
    Ignore list: hello_hello, tried, TechLord, Snoopy329
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    Originally Posted by DB83 View Post
    No such thing as a Secam dvd player. Secam is just an analog tv system. Digital tv from France is also PAL.

    French DVDs are PAL. Even without a player that internally converts from PAL to NTSC, unless you have a multi-system tv, you should still be able to play them in on a PC with a software player.
    Thanks, I did not know about the SECAM. So is 'Region code 2' is the only requirement for an all-regions DVD player to play French DVDs? Do I need a multi-system TV too? Or some sort of converter?
    I'm aware of the software that lets one play all-regions on the PC, but its not an option for me yet. My custom-build PC is nowhere near finished (when it is it will be able to handle this). Right now all I have is a used Dell Optiplex 755 I am using as an interim PC, and its onboard graphics is awful...DVDs look like the old analog over-the-air broadcast, on a CRT TV.
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    Originally Posted by usually_quiet View Post
    Originally Posted by Senex View Post
    My Oppo multi-regions DVD player finally died after nearly eight years, and I need help to pick a replacement. It had the special features called 'freeze-frame' and 'frame-by-frame advance', so if at all possible, I would want that. Most important though is I need it to play French DVDs (I assume these are in SECAM), and my new DVD player must be able to play them. My old Oppo would only play NTSC and PAL DVDs (I didn't know that when I bought it). I don't know if this means I also need a special (all-regions?) TV, or converter, or what....but I been collecting French DVDs for five years, and not been able to watch one! Can anyone suggest a brand/model to buy? I would like to keep the DVD player price under $350 (as under as possible), and I'm in USA, so I would be buying from B&H Photo, NewEgg, Amazon, etc. Thanks for any help.
    The consumer electronics industry stopped producing high-quality DVD-only players not long after Blu-ray arrived, and many Blu-ray and DVD players made for N. America don't have region-free hacks available. Oppo players include a number of features that lesser brands do not have, especially now.

    You might want to look at region-free specialty stores (examples: 220-electronics.com and bombayelectronics.com) and consider buying a Blu-ray player to get at least some of the playback features that you want. The Sony BDP-S6700 is one of the more deluxe models available that is priced for ordinary consumers. Note that region-free Blu-ray players sold at these stores are typically only region-free for DVD, and if it is possible to make them region-free for Blu-ray as well, that costs extra. The product description for items sold by these stores also say whether or not the player can convert from PAL to NTSC for TVs that do not support input at PAL DVD resolutions and frame rates.
    I have no interest in Blu-ray, so that is a non-issue for me. Also not open to doing any hacks. My previous Oppo came ready to go out of the box, and that's what I am wanting. I have been looking through the various suppliers, but the devil is the details, and I'm not seeing any mention of special features like 'freeze frame', whether you have to screw around with hacks, etc. Just finding out whether it has component/RCA connectors is a struggle. I'm way over my heard with this, and don't want to get stuck with a model that does not do what I need, or is a piece of junk. I bought my last DVD recorder (Polaroid DRM-2001G) based solely on what I read here:
    https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/245965-DVD-Recorder-Polaroid-DRM-2001G-tests
    Its never given me a problem for over ten years, which shows me this site knows what its talking about, so I'm looking for recommendations (the more the better) of models that will do what I need done...and if it turns out to be an indestructible workhorse like my Polaroid, I wouldn't be heartbroke about that.

    Regarding the Sony, it does not appear to have the right connectors according to its specs:
    https://www.cnet.com/products/sony-bdp-s6700-blu-ray-disc-player/specs/
    and once again no mention of 'freeze-frame' or 'frame-by-frame advance'. According to Crutchfield blurb it "plays Region A Blu-ray discs and Region 1 DVDs" which means it is not even a multi-region player. Its way under my $350 limit, but that's about it.
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    Originally Posted by Senex View Post
    I have no interest in Blu-ray, so that is a non-issue for me. Also not open to doing any hacks. My previous Oppo came ready to go out of the box, and that's what I am wanting.
    You won't find a current model DVD or Blu-ray player made for the N. American market that is region free out of the box, not even an OPPO. Players made for N. America must either be hacked, given new firmware, or physically modified (chips replaced) to remove region restrictions.

    Originally Posted by Senex View Post
    I'm not seeing any mention of special features like 'freeze frame'...
    It is necessary to download the manual from the manufacturer's website and read it to find out what kind of operational features a player has.

    Originally Posted by Senex View Post
    Just finding out whether it has component/RCA connectors is a struggle.. Regarding the Sony, it does not appear to have the right connectors according to its specs: https://www.cnet.com/products/sony-bdp-s6700-blu-ray-disc-player/specs/
    I previously wrote that there are no high-end DVD players anymore. To reduce costs, analog connections on current model DVD players are often limited to composite video and stereo audio, with HDMI replacing component video connections for 480p or upscaled output, and if there is a set of component video connections on a DVD player, there is no HDMI port. Analog connections on Blu-ray players were gradually phased out over time per the Blu-ray Disc Association's licensing requirements. All Blu-ray players licensed after 2012 are HDMI-only

    Originally Posted by Senex View Post
    and once again no mention of 'freeze-frame' or 'frame-by-frame advance'.
    The Sony BDP-S6700 has a "Pause" button, which freezes the video at the current frame. Once paused, briefly pressing fast forward or fast reverse allows the video to play one frame at a time. There is no dedicated button for 'frame-by-frame advance'.

    Originally Posted by Senex View Post
    According to Crutchfield blurb it "plays Region A Blu-ray discs and Region 1 DVDs" which means it is not even a multi-region player. Its way under my $350 limit, but that's about it.
    True, a Sony BDP-S6700 won't be region free unless you buy from a region free store. The players sold by region-free specialists may have been physically modified (chips replaced) to remove region restrictions or they are gray-market imports made for other countries where the inhabitants demand region-free players. There is no manufacturer warranty.
    Last edited by usually_quiet; 18th Mar 2018 at 10:41. Reason: typo
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  7. Member DB83's Avatar
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    Originally Posted by Senex View Post
    Originally Posted by DB83 View Post
    No such thing as a Secam dvd player. Secam is just an analog tv system. Digital tv from France is also PAL.

    French DVDs are PAL. Even without a player that internally converts from PAL to NTSC, unless you have a multi-system tv, you should still be able to play them in on a PC with a software player.
    Thanks, I did not know about the SECAM. So is 'Region code 2' is the only requirement for an all-regions DVD player to play French DVDs? Do I need a multi-system TV too? Or some sort of converter?
    .
    Some DVDs, like any country, will be Region-free but most will be Region 2. So, yes, a multi-region or region-free player is one part of the equation.

    Since I am on the other side of the pond I do not know the capabilities of modern US TV's (our tvs have always been able to handle NTSC). I read one post only a few days ago that a modern digital tv should handle 25 fps and any color issues. In the past one had to have a multi-system tv or a player that handled conversion internally. I guess your OPPO did just that.
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    Originally Posted by usually_quiet View Post
    Originally Posted by Senex View Post
    I have no interest in Blu-ray, so that is a non-issue for me. Also not open to doing any hacks. My previous Oppo came ready to go out of the box, and that's what I am wanting.
    You won't find a current model DVD or Blu-ray player made for the N. American market that is region free out of the box, not even an OPPO. Players made for N. America must either be hacked, given new firmware, or physically modified (chips replaced) to remove region restrictions.

    Originally Posted by Senex View Post
    I'm not seeing any mention of special features like 'freeze frame'...
    It is necessary to download the manual from the manufacturer's website and read it to find out what kind of operational features a player has.

    Originally Posted by Senex View Post
    Just finding out whether it has component/RCA connectors is a struggle.. Regarding the Sony, it does not appear to have the right connectors according to its specs: https://www.cnet.com/products/sony-bdp-s6700-blu-ray-disc-player/specs/
    I previously wrote that there are no high-end DVD players anymore. To reduce costs, analog connections on current model DVD players are often limited to composite video and stereo audio, with HDMI replacing component video connections for 480p or upscaled output, and if there is a set of component video connections on a DVD player, there is no HDMI port. Analog connections on Blu-ray players were gradually phased out over time per the Blu-ray Disc Association's licensing requirements. All Blu-ray players licensed after 2012 are HDMI-only

    Originally Posted by Senex View Post
    and once again no mention of 'freeze-frame' or 'frame-by-frame advance'.
    The Sony BDP-S6700 has a "Pause" button, which freezes the video at the current frame. Once paused, briefly pressing fast forward or fast reverse allows the video to play one frame at a time. There is no dedicated button for 'frame-by-frame advance'.

    Originally Posted by Senex View Post
    According to Crutchfield blurb it "plays Region A Blu-ray discs and Region 1 DVDs" which means it is not even a multi-region player. Its way under my $350 limit, but that's about it.
    True, a Sony BDP-S6700 won't be region free unless you buy from a region free store. The players sold by region-free specialists may have been physically modified (chips replaced) to remove region restrictions or they are gray-market imports made for other countries where the inhabitants demand region-free players. There is no manufacturer warranty.

    1."analog connections on current model DVD players are often limited to composite video and stereo audio, with HDMI replacing component video connections for 480p or upscaled output, and if there is a set of component video connections on a DVD player, there is no HDMI port."

    I assume by composite video you mean the Red/Yellow/White (RCA) connectors which is okay. I prefer 'component', but RCA connectors are good enough. I just don't have any use for the other junk (DVI, HDMI,USB etc.).

    2. "You won't find a current model DVD or Blu-ray player made for the N. American market that is region free out of the box".

    So far as I can tell, all the sources I'm aware of (BombayElectronics, 220-Electronics, CodeFreeDVD, etc.) advertise all their models as ready to go. I don't know if true or not. Maybe you can tell me. Like I said, my Oppo I got near ten years ago played NTSC and PAL DVDs... I did no flashing, input of esoteric codes or anything.

    3. "It is necessary to download the manual from the manufacturer's website and read it to find out what kind of operational features a player has."

    And that would be something I have not tried! Thanks! The manufacturers sure do not want to make it easy to buy from them, do they? I notice now one must deal with a crappy 'captcha' to shop at Penny and Sears; sure do got a high opinion of themselves.

    4. "The Sony BDP-S6700 has a "Pause" button, which freezes the video at the current frame. Once paused, briefly pressing fast forward or fast reverse allows the video to play one frame at a time."

    Close enough. I'll look for this brand/model at the sources I am aware of.
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    Originally Posted by DB83 View Post
    Originally Posted by Senex View Post
    Originally Posted by DB83 View Post
    No such thing as a Secam dvd player. Secam is just an analog tv system. Digital tv from France is also PAL.

    French DVDs are PAL. Even without a player that internally converts from PAL to NTSC, unless you have a multi-system tv, you should still be able to play them in on a PC with a software player.
    Thanks, I did not know about the SECAM. So is 'Region code 2' is the only requirement for an all-regions DVD player to play French DVDs? Do I need a multi-system TV too? Or some sort of converter?
    .
    Some DVDs, like any country, will be Region-free but most will be Region 2. So, yes, a multi-region or region-free player is one part of the equation.

    Since I am on the other side of the pond I do not know the capabilities of modern US TV's (our tvs have always been able to handle NTSC). I read one post only a few days ago that a modern digital tv should handle 25 fps and any color issues. In the past one had to have a multi-system tv or a player that handled conversion internally. I guess your OPPO did just that.
    So then I need to make sure the DVD player I buy handles "conversion internally". Any idea what the wording on the specs would be to indicate this? For example, this one:
    http://www.codefreedvd.com/sony-bdp-s1500-region-free-blu-ray-dvd-player.html
    It says 'Internal Pal / NTSC Conversion'. Is this it? It also does not mention having Component or RCA connectors....should I assume it does not, or its just not something mentioned? Further down it mentions:
    NTSC/PAL (60Hz/50Hz): Yes (NTSC only)
    Should I be concerned about this? Sorry for all the questions, but specs have gone a lot more complicated since I bought my last player.
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  10. Originally Posted by Senex View Post
    It also does not mention having Component or RCA connectors....should I assume it does not
    As was pointed out earlier, Blu-ray players made after 2012 are not allowed to have any analog outputs. No composite. No s-video, No component.
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    Originally Posted by Senex View Post
    I assume by composite video you mean the Red/Yellow/White (RCA) connectors which is okay. I prefer 'component', but RCA connectors are good enough. I just don't have any use for the other junk (DVI, HDMI,USB etc.).
    Then you need to look at the DVD player models at a region-free specialty store and find one with component video connections. It is possible that you won't get frame-by-frame advance (or the equivalent) because the DVD players without HDMI are the less expensive models, which tend to have fewer features.

    Originally Posted by Senex View Post
    So far as I can tell, all the sources I'm aware of (BombayElectronics, 220-Electronics, CodeFreeDVD, etc.) advertise all their models as ready to go. I don't know if true or not. Maybe you can tell me. Like I said, my Oppo I got near ten years ago played NTSC and PAL DVDs... I did no flashing, input of esoteric codes or anything.
    No consumer electronics manufacturer makes players that are region free out of the box for N. America anymore, including Oppo. Even Oppo was forced to comply with region coding as a condition for licensing.

    I'll repeat myself: The players sold by region-free specialists may have been physically modified (chips replaced) to remove region restrictions or they are gray-market imports made for other countries where the inhabitants demand region-free players. There is no manufacturer warranty.

    Originally Posted by Senex View Post
    4. "The Sony BDP-S6700 has a "Pause" button, which freezes the video at the current frame. Once paused, briefly pressing fast forward or fast reverse allows the video to play one frame at a time."

    Close enough. I'll look for this brand/model at the sources I am aware of.
    You must buy it from a region-free specialist if you want region-free playback, and since it is a Blu-ray player, it has no analog connections.
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