# Need help choosing a region free DVD player **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 9, 2007, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-choosing-a-region-free-dvd-player/411040 "2007-07-09T13:46:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![melvin\_coznowski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b487fb/32.png) [@melvin\_coznowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melvin_coznowski)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-choosing-a-region-free-dvd-player/411040/1 "2007-07-09T13:46:01Z")
Last year, I bought the boxed set of Michael Palin’s travels (Around the World in 80 Days, Pole to Pole, etc.) from Amazon UK because I couldn’t get it in the US. I knew it was PAL format, and all I have are NTSC players, but I’d planned on buying a compatible player. Now I’m a bit of a procrastinator, and also other obligations came up, but I’m determined to get a region free DVD player. The problem is I’m a bit wary of buying from a website I don’t know about. I’m tempted to go through Amazon again, but I have multiple questions: 1. I’ve seen region free players fairly affordable (from $50-90), so price isn’t the problem, but the brand/model is (I don’t know which to buy). Which would you recommend? 2. I’m fairly useless when it comes to electronics; I’d rather be able to hook it up and put the DVD in, and that’s it. With a region free player, is it as simple as plugging it into the wall, connecting the wires, and off I go? Or are there programming/special cables I need to have? Thanks very much ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-choosing-a-region-free-dvd-player/411040/2 "2007-07-09T14:10:06Z")
Moved to In My Humble Opinion. **Gfactor** , General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-choosing-a-region-free-dvd-player/411040/3 "2007-07-09T14:30:59Z")
Just Google \ + \ + “unlock” for the player you plan on buying and you’ll soon find out how easy it is to make it region free. Many DVD players can be unlocked using the remote control handset. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-choosing-a-region-free-dvd-player/411040/4 "2007-07-09T14:45:42Z")
Pity it’s the wrong location - in Europe, the general consensus is “the cheaper, the better. Yes, you may have to replace it in one year. But United Chinese Manufacturer brands can read DVDs you’ve burned from your computer or bought during your Orlando honeymoon, while Toshibas and Philips will refuse to.” ---
**Author:** ![Dante](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dante/32/9673_2.png) [@Dante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-choosing-a-region-free-dvd-player/411040/5 "2007-07-09T14:51:51Z")
Check out [www.videohelp.com](http://www.videohelp.com). Click on DVD Hacks on the menu on the left hand side and then fill in your make and model number. The “hacks” aren’t really hacks, they’re just ways of making the unit region free. Now, whether your TV can play a PAL signal is a different matter. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-choosing-a-region-free-dvd-player/411040/6 "2007-07-09T14:55:25Z")
[QUOTE=Nava] Pity it’s the wrong location - in Europe, the general consensus is “the cheaper, the better. Yes, you may have to replace it in one year. But United Chinese Manufacturer brands can read DVDs you’ve burned from your computer or bought during your Orlando honeymoon, while Toshibas and Philips will refuse to.” [/QUOTE] Heh, that’s true. I’ve got a Phillips in the living room that is pretty picky about what it’ll play, and a twenty pound thing in my bedroom from Lidl that’ll play whatever half-arsed nonsense I can burn on my computer. I wonder if there’s a technical reason for this?