DVD Player, what to look for

S

scott475

Joined
Apr 25, 2000
Messages
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What do I need to look for in a DVD player? I do not want to spend a fortune on one, but from what I have seen, they do not look too expensive anyway. I see a lot of them in the $140-$170 range, is this normal?

Also, my VCR is having touble ejecting the tapes. From what I can tell, it is not because the tape itself is getting caught up on anything, more along the lines of something wrong with the carrier itself. I have taken it apart, but cannot find anything obviously wrong to my untrained eyes. Any suggestions? I hate to buy a new one because it is a good Sony and is only about two years old.
 
I've always heard that the cheapest ones are fine unless you want tons of features and digi-super-quality-stuff. My uncle has a $100 DVD player and it works just fine.
 
Check Consumer Reports or one of the electronics magazines/wbesites, they usually have buyer's guides.
Beyond there ratings the most important thing to consider is how the player will interface w/ your existing entertainment equipment. If your existing reciever/amplifier is Dolby 5.1 compatible w/ an onboard decoder then look for a model w/o a decoder ($50 - $100 savings). If not and you plan on getting a new reciever soon the decoder is standard on most decent model. If its not and your not then a dvd w/ onboard decoder and powered subwoofer should give you Dolby 5.1.
Note: This information is a year old and from my memory, checkout everything I wrote as it may wel be backwards or the paradigm may have shifted...
 
The second question first. Is it a Sony? I had the same problem; after hitting the "eject" button, the motors would move, but the tray would not shift upwards to allow the tape to escape. Until I took it to a repair shop, I had to unplug and replug the power cable. I had it repaired twice before I smashed it with a hammer out of frustration. I really wanted to execute it a la Office Space. I now have a Mitsubishi that has worked fine. What's with the poor quality of consumer electronics? It must be the "consume" in Consumer Electronics...

As far as DVD players are concerned, it depends on your setup or what will be your setup in the near future. There are 3 types of DVD video output: Composite video (single RCA plug), S-video (multi pin bus that was used for S-VHS), and Component video (3 RCA plugs, each carrying a seperate portion of the video signal). If you have or are going to have a large screen TV (>27"), then try to find one with component video output and progressive scan. Your TV will have to have component video inputs and progressive scan capability for this to do you any good. For 27" and smaller, S-video will give you a better picture than composite video. The improvement from composite video to S-video is greater than the improvement from S-video to component video. Most DVD players also play CD's, CD-R's, VCD (video CD's), and some play SACD or MP3 formats. If you use those formats, look for a player that will support them. If not, then don't worry about it. I found that a DVD player is slower in CD track access and is harder to navigate than a dedicated CD player, but that's me.

As an example, I'm going to buy a Sony NS-300 DVD player (~$180). It has component video out and matches the Wega TV that I'm going to buy next year. I nixed the progressive scan DVD player NS-700 because I'm not going to buy a compatible TV in the near future.

Here's a link to an article that descibes Progressive scan:
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_7_4/dvd-benchmark-part-5-progressive-10-2000.html

Here's another link that describes a problem with almost all the DVD palyers on the market:
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_8_2/dvd-benchmark-special-report-chroma-bug-4-2001.html

Despite the problems that are described int he article, a DVD player is still a vast improvement over magnetic media. You price range is perfect to get a good unit.

gm
 
Gadgetman:
We are getting a Sony Trinitron TV this year, flat screen (obviously) 27". I am currently running S video out to the TV and L/R adio directly to my reciever (not D5.1). The model we are getting has the 16:9 enhanced viewing mode (wish I could just buy a 16:9 TV). Should I stay with this arangement or is there a better way?

PS The reason the audio goes directly to the reciever is that it was so low if it went through the current TV as to be imperceptible below 3/4 volume adjustment. Works great now (below 1/4 volume gives GREAT sound).
Incoming TV signal is routed through the TV and then to the reciever. This requires 1/2 volume adjustment for daily use (not real loud, more like it puncuates the sound from the tv), and is highly dependent on the volume setting of the tv.
What am I doing wrong or do I just need a new reciever?

Thanks for all the info.
 
Just to address a few points in this thread:

1. I highly recommend NOT paying extra $$$ to get a dvd player with onboard decoding.

2. When connecting a dvd player always connect the audio straight to your receiver/processor/preamp NEVER route it through the TV.

3. IF you dont have a HDTV [or HDTV ready] a progressive scan player will NOT have any benefit on picture quality.


ExMB - if the TV you are buying supports component inputs definately use them.
 
I would definitely not go for the cheapest one you can find. I did that about a year ago, and wound up taking it back and getting a Sony within a month.

The cheap one (Orbitron) did not support closed captioning (important for me as I am hearing impaired), would not play DVDs that had even the slightest smudge, froze up during scene selection, etc.

Point is, that cheap DVD players can play DVDs. Just may not play them well, or play consistently. Spend a little extra to get a quality brand with a good feature set.

Matthew
 
This may be a REALLY silly question, but given the know-how around here, someone might know:

I've got a Sony DVD player, a year old. It's specifically marked to play DVDs, CDs, and video CDs (aka VCDs). I just bought a Japanese import VCD, which it won't play--reads "no disc." The seller advised me to try & "disable PBC on the player" but I can't for the life of me find any such name/acronym on my setup menu, and like a dunce, have lost the manual.

Does anyone know what this is & how to disable it? Any help/links appreciated!
 
If I were buying another DVD player in the price range you said. I would make sure and check the Warr. For example I like the Sony models better than the Pioneer models. But I just bought a new Pioneer unit to replace my old unit because it had a year parts and labor warr. The Sony only has 90 days parts and labor. Just my thoughts

V-man
 
I'd say it's worth spending a little more for Multi-region encoding. That is if you're like me and have to have the movies as soon as they come out.
 
If you want to get something to play games with and play DVDs, get a Playstation 2. It has an extra bay in it, don't know what it is for.
Mabey it's for an another CD drive.
My friend has one and he likes it, haven't seen him play any DVDs though.
 
Originally posted by ExMB
Gadgetman:
We are getting a Sony Trinitron TV this year, flat screen (obviously) 27". I am currently running S video out to the TV and L/R adio directly to my reciever (not D5.1). The model we are getting has the 16:9 enhanced viewing mode (wish I could just buy a 16:9 TV). Should I stay with this arangement or is there a better way?

PS The reason the audio goes directly to the reciever is that it was so low if it went through the current TV as to be imperceptible below 3/4 volume adjustment. Works great now (below 1/4 volume gives GREAT sound).
Incoming TV signal is routed through the TV and then to the reciever. This requires 1/2 volume adjustment for daily use (not real loud, more like it puncuates the sound from the tv), and is highly dependent on the volume setting of the tv.
What am I doing wrong or do I just need a new reciever?

Thanks for all the info.
Click to expand...

If you're getting one of the Wegas, it will have component video inputs, which you should use. As far as I can tell, all the mainstream name brand DVD players have component video output (Pioneer, Sony, Denon, Philips, Toshiba...etc.). The Wegas have better sound from the TV since the speakers face the viewer. I have a 20" Sony on which the speakers are mounted on the sides, and I'm always turning up the volume. The sound is louder next to the TV than in front of it.

How you arrange your audio depends on the type of equipment you have. From your description, I couldn't tell if you have a stereo only or an AV receiver. Ideally, you would have the audio (surround signal) out from the DVD player to the receiver. The receiver would work the decoding and power the 5 (plus the subwoofer if it's not powered) speakers. I don't see anything really wrong with having the DVD player decode the surround sound, but most receivers have the capability, and it would decrease the number of cables that run from the DVD player to the receiver from 6 pairs to 1 pair. Whether your receiver has Dolby Digital decoding and how much you want to spend will probalby determine if you want to spend money on a DVD player with decoding or upgrade your receiver (if necessary).

I used to run the audio from my TV to my receiver because the receiver didn't have a remote. It's not advisable to do this because the TV's audio signal isn't as "clean" as a line source (CD player, DVD player, VCR, etc.). You'll end up amplifying more noise. Audio should always run from the source to the receiver first, then to the TV. I don't, however, see any benefit from running your video signals through the receiver before the TV.

eda-koppo: DVD players are coded for geographic regions. The US is region 1. There are multi-region players available if you want to play import VCD's or DVD's.

gm
 
1. Try looking at this site for some good information on DVD and associated information:

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htforum/forumdisplay.php?forumid=3

2. Always connect the DVD player directly to the Receiver/ Amp - this give much better quality and will allow you to benefit from the surround sound options (what DVD was made for!!!).

3. Make sure that any player that you buy is capable of multi-region playback. Our friends in the movie industry have devided the world up into 8 regions to enable the phased release of movies etc. Although you live in the USA (region 1), sometimes the best version of a film will be from another region. This is due to additonal time to create the release and differing priorities.

Regards,

Ed
 
Gadgetman: I asked the seller if the VCD was region coded and he did not respond. Others in this country have it and apparently play it on Region 1 players, so I don't think that's the problem. The seller did indicate that Sonys had problems with "version 2.0 VCDs," though. Thanks for input.

Ed: Thanks for the resource--will check it out now!
 
Originally posted by eda-koppo
Gadgetman: I asked the seller if the VCD was region coded and he did not respond. Others in this country have it and apparently play it on Region 1 players, so I don't think that's the problem. The seller did indicate that Sonys had problems with "version 2.0 VCDs," though. Thanks for input.

Ed: Thanks for the resource--will check it out now!
Click to expand...

VCD's are MPEG-1 and are not region coded...this is what makes them the bootlegger's choice of media/medium. DVD's are region coded but the region coding can be disabled.
 
From DVDangle.com:

Festive Poem: Here's a home theater-themed poem I put together to help bring in tonight...

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even mouse;
The stockings were hung 'round the home theater with care,
In hopes that DVD-man soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions in widescreen danced in their heads;
And ma and I had just hit the sac,
Getting set for a commentary track

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
I tripped on the TV and fell flat on the sub,
Crawling up to the window I gave my hiney a rub.

The moon shimmering off the new-fallen snow -
Looked like it was encoded with that awful glow,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature remote pulled by something unclear,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment this wasn't a trick.
More rapid than fast-forward he flew through the sky,
It looked like a scene from American Pie.

Dodging and moving at a lightening fast pace,
I was reminded playing that fun game Space Ace.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the bag full of goodies, and DVD's too.

And then, out of nowhere, like the MGM roar
I could hear the jingle of presents galore.
As I looked back inside, and was turning around,
Down the chimney a Receiver came with a bound.

Following that was this cute little guy,
And his clothes were all tarnished - I was wondering why;
A bundle of gifts he had flung on his back,
I hoped The Sopranos were tucked in his pack.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to work,
And filled all the stocking; then turned with a jerk,
After he wondered and marveled at my DVD rows,
He gave a nod of his head, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his remote, and at a thundering pace,
Launched off of the roof with the sound of LFE bass.
But I heard him exclaim, as he flew out of sight,
"MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!"


Regards,

Ed
 
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