# Help a home audio-retard find a good DVD player **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 5, 2002, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-home-audio-retard-find-a-good-dvd-player/112442 "2002-06-05T04:27:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BabaBooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dfb087/32.png) [@BabaBooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BabaBooey)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-home-audio-retard-find-a-good-dvd-player/112442/1 "2002-06-05T04:27:31Z")
OK, I’ve been needing a CD player to go along with my home setup (the PS2 to TV for playing CD’s obviously isn’t cutting it). But I’ve noticed that the 5 DVD changers are quite a bit cheaper than I last checked, so I’m going to go ahead and get one of them thingies. So my main criteria are that the player has an S-Video Output, progressive scan, and the pretty simple feature of being able to continuously play songs from the 5 CD’s in the unit. So first of all, any recommendations on the best deal on this product? Also, is progressive scan that important if I don’t have an HDTV television set? I’m having a tough time finding a progressive scan player with an S Video output rather than component (my Trinitron television only accepts S Video). Finally, is there such a thing as an S-Video splitter for the PS2 and DVD player to go into the TV, and if there is, will it hinder the quality of the picture? Merci beacoup… ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Griffin-Kentzel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_griffin-kentzel/32/14787_2.png) [@Larry\_Griffin-Kentzel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Griffin-Kentzel)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-home-audio-retard-find-a-good-dvd-player/112442/2 "2002-06-05T06:25:21Z")
This thread is better suited for **IMHO**. I’ll move it for you. * * * **Cajun Man** - SDMB Moderator ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-home-audio-retard-find-a-good-dvd-player/112442/3 "2002-06-05T13:16:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BabaBooey \* > So first of all, any recommendations on the best deal on this product? Yes. Don’t buy a DVD player to play CDs on if you plan to listen to a lot of CDs. From what I understand in readings at [this forum](http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htforum/) DVD players that get used to play lots of CDs don’t live very long. > [@](#): > > Also, is progressive scan that important if I don’t have an HDTV television set? No. If you don’t have and don’t plan to get soon an HDTV-capable TV, don’t bother with progressive scan. > [@](#): > > Finally, is there such a thing as an S-Video splitter for the PS2 and DVD player to go into the TV You don’t want a splitter for that function, you want a [switch](http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S-jG2cfFAIKW1/ProdView.asp?s=0&c=9&g=15270&I=209VS4++++). > [@](#): > > and if there is, will it hinder the quality of the picture? Probably. Enough to notice? Only you can tell. Hope this helps. Oh, and that “retard” comment in your title … you might want to find you some asbestos long johns. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-home-audio-retard-find-a-good-dvd-player/112442/4 "2002-06-05T22:27:04Z")
There is a “cheapie” DVD player WITH surround sound & 5 speakers for $199 advertised at KMart or Walmart…I got one about 6 months ago and it works great…but I agree, do not use it for CD playing. There are enough cheap CD players out there that you shouldn’t have to wear out the DVD player using it to play music CDs. I was dubious about the difference in quality from VHS to DVD…now that I have a DVD, I never use VHS expect to tape programs. The difference is huge…both in picture and sound. Have fun! ---
**Author:** ![barking\_frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@barking\_frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barking_frog)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-home-audio-retard-find-a-good-dvd-player/112442/5 "2002-06-05T22:28:01Z")
From what I think I know, I believe that progressive scan is completely useless unless you have an HDTV/Ready set. Progressive scan basically means that it can send 480p signals to a TV. You need a TV that can show 480p signals to actually benefit from it. Also, most progressive scan players have component/s-video/composite outputs, but that probably shouldn’t be of much concern to you now since you don’t need a progressive-scan DVD player. As for recommendations, you may get better results from forums such as: > **[AVS Forum](https://www.avsforum.com/)** > > A forum community dedicated to home theater owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about home audio/video, TVs, projectors, screens, receivers, speakers, projects, DIY’s, product reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! > **[Home Theater Forum](https://www.hometheaterforum.com/)** > > Home Theater Forum is a site dedicated to the love of all things cinema and film, home theater equipment and all varieties of home entertainment. > **[Speaker reviews, amplifier reviews TV reviews and buy and sell used audio...](http://www.audioreview.com)** However, take the reviews in the last link with a grain of salt, since it’s a website that’s directed more towards the masses, and not to audio/video hobbyists. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-home-audio-retard-find-a-good-dvd-player/112442/6 "2002-06-05T22:44:28Z")
I have the apex 1500 & just bought my brother an apex too for $64 at circuit city, they play just about anything you can throw at them. The new ones are 1200, no LCD display.