DVD-R and new player recomendation!!

[devlyn420]

I need some help. I plan on getting a new dvd burner (AO4), but first i need a good DVD player. This is what im looking for:

DVD-R
VCD
SVCD
MP3
Dolby Digital, DTS
S-Video, Component (at least svideo), Optical


I want something that will play most media that is thrown at it. Was thinking about the Pioneer dv-444, but i heard it was discontinued. I want all of the above specs, but the main thing im looking for is dvd-r compatible. Any help appreciated.

[Benaki]

I recently brought a StarMedia Slimline at £129, plays:
DVD/DVD-R/DVD-RW/SVCD/VCD/CD-R/CD-DA/MP3
Is Dolby 5.1 and works extremeley well. Also plays DVDr MP3 which works out to about 4700 minutes of music! If you want to know where I got it drop me an email. THX.

Other features:
Full compliance with MPEG-2 and MPEG-1 Standard
Dolby Digital (AC-3) 5.1 channel output
Composite video output.
S-Video output
Scart socket for connection to a TV.

[Sugar]

You may want to check out the Malata N996 although it may be discontinued.
I bought it in February because I wanted region free and PAL/NTSC conversion.
Bought the Pioneer A04 3 weeks ago. The N996 read sDVD-R without any problem. Cannot read DVD -RW.

Prior to reading DVD-R was reading without problem VCD and SVCDs burnt in PAL or NTSC.

Very happy with the player.

Good luck.

[ToeCutter]

Most of the mid-range Apex players will play just about anything you throw in them. I have both a Pioneer DVR-A04 and an Apex AD-1500. The only media the Apex wouldn't play was DVD-RW. All the DVD-Rs I've used have played flawlessly on the Apex. I've been using some very cheap ($1.25 per disc) DVD-R media. They've all worked. Most Apex players offer MP3 playback as well. Depending how much you compress the MP3s, you should be able to fit around 1000 titles on one DVD-R! The Apex also plays SVCD and VCD. The AD-1500 is also field-flashable. I flashed mine so it is now a Region 0 player.

The best part: I paid $78 for it at Wal Mart! :P

Media brand seems to play more of a part in compatibility than any other factor. I also have a Toshiba 5109 progressive scan player. The ONLY media it will recognize is Princo (both DVD-R and CD-R). It won't even recognize expensive Pioneer DVD-R media.

I've been considering a Panasonic RP91 Progressive Player for some time. The RP91 will read just about anything, including DVD-RAM. It apparently offers some pretty high video performance as well. I've seen them go for around $450 online.

[Faustus]

Careful, the new Apex do not have VCD support... sad too, it was an awsome lowend player.