# First DVD player. Recommendations? Suggestions? Comments? Advice? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 6, 2002, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-dvd-player-recommendations-suggestions-comments-advice/112679 "2002-06-06T15:04:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-dvd-player-recommendations-suggestions-comments-advice/112679/41 "2003-06-09T15:14:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by WordMan \* > \*\* > > 1. **zev** - you have already stated you have no desire for home theater sound. Obviously, your call. I want to say, however, that the improvement in sound from a home theater system has turned out to be _at least_ as important to our family as the improvement in image and flexibility from DVD’s. It’s not just for action films. It can be a subtle, immersing quality that adds to any type of movie (especially modern movie with appropriately designed sound). > > \*\* Thanks for the advice **WordMan**. However, as this thread is a year old, the advice is a bit late… 🙂 In any event, I’m very happy with my DVD player. For me, the main reason to switch was the first reason I listed, the content available on DVD which is not available on VHS. Maybe next time, if we have the $$, we’ll consider an upgrade to our sound system. But for now, it’s not that important to us. Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-dvd-player-recommendations-suggestions-comments-advice/112679/42 "2003-06-09T15:30:18Z")
**Zev** indicated it’s a 1991-vintage TV set, which probably means only the conventional coax analog-video cable input (terminal on the back of set looks like a big headless threaded screw with a tiny hole in the center, cable is thick with a wide hollow terminal with a thin wire sticking out in the center), which will require the RF Modulator converter switchbox (Note: RFMod box needs its own power source). If it was top of the line at the time it may have the composites – Red/White/Yellow RCA plugs/wires that look like they belong on a stereo. In any case: the RF modulator is itself an A/B switch. The configuration I use on one of my TVs is – TV feed: Conventional coax from wall into VCR then ConvCoax from VCR to ConvCoax coax input on RF box; DVD feed: RCA composite from DVD to RF boxs RCA input. Feed RF box to the TV. When DVD is off, TV signal feeds thru VCR as usual. When I turn on the DVD, the RF box (cheap Magnavox) automatically drops the on-air signal and povides instead DVD on channel 3. **zev** : reserve $20 off the budget for a simple RF box (you don’t want anything too fancy for that kind of TV, by the time you replace it it’ll have something to plug the DVD directly); do make sure the box can take the conections of all gear you’ll actually plug into it. As others have mentioned, there are very, VERY well-featured major-brand players within your range. Progressive scan is worth the price, a sensible remote-control unit should be a decider between similar values. The high-q and digital outputs are standard on almost anything but the cheapest units these days. **Space Vampire** and **Optihut** are correct about the status of multiregions vs. RCE, the industry’s grating presumption that we are all thieves, and the availability of info on what units are remote-hackable into being truly multiregional. But **MeanJoe** is right in that it’s only an issue for one in a thousand customers; OTOH all these hurdles slow down the real video pirates by, oh, about ten minutes. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-dvd-player-recommendations-suggestions-comments-advice/112679/43 "2003-06-09T15:35:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by zev\_steinhardt \* > \*\*Thanks for the advice **WordMan**. However, as this thread is a year old, the advice is a bit late… 🙂 > Zev Steinhardt \*\* D’oh! I guess that’ll teach me to post replies with checking the freshness label on the OP! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Optihut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/edb3f5/32.png) [@Optihut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Optihut)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-dvd-player-recommendations-suggestions-comments-advice/112679/44 "2003-06-09T15:39:12Z")
**Wordman** I never checked the date either… Silly me, heh. ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-dvd-player-recommendations-suggestions-comments-advice/112679/45 "2003-06-09T15:48:09Z")
It’s easy to make that mistake, because the thread is just about _exactly_ a year old. It’s easy to see that the thread started on June 6, but not realize that it was _last_ June 6. In any event, **kung fu lola** , I ended up getting a middle-of-the-line Sony model. I have had no regrets. Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![MeanJoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanjoe/32/5693_2.png) [@MeanJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanJoe)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-dvd-player-recommendations-suggestions-comments-advice/112679/46 "2003-06-09T18:26:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Optihut \* > \*\*That is true, however it’s the principle that’s annoying me. Forcing regional codes on the customers is something that gives me the creeps. It’s especially annoying, since I am one of the 0.01% that actually has got DVDs from both region 1 and region 2. \*\* Ah, principles… I used to have them until someone offered me a price I could not refuse. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-dvd-player-recommendations-suggestions-comments-advice/112679.md?page=2)