Part GQ, part IMHO, but since it involves movies, I’ll try it in this forum.
I’m thinking about buying a DVD player in the next couple of weeks. For someone who watches as many movies as I do (and has a really nice surround system set up at home), I am woefully ignorant of DVD technology. In fact, I’ve never even seen a DVD movie. I’m looking forward to the improved visual/audio quality that I hear about.
First off, what’s with the different “regions.” Is there a choice involved on my part while shopping? I am an afficionado of Asian movies, especially Chinese. I’ve bought my share of VHS off eBay. Would Asian DVDs be coded for a different region? I don’t want to limit my viewing options.
Price ranges for DVD players range from $70 to several hundred. My guess is that the higher $$ gives you more bells and whistles, but that you can get the same technology/quality with pretty much any unit, same as a CD player. So, what am I looking at in the different price ranges? What are your opinions on what I should expect for my money? Any brands stand out?
I heard somewhere that a Playstation 2 can also be used as a DVD Player. Is this true? If so, I guess I could pay $199 for the PS2 and get a game system as well. Or is $200 way out of line if playing games is not primary reason for the purchase?
Also, I’ve heard about the “commentary tracks” on the DVDs. Do they talk over the movie itself? That does not seem attractive to me. If I wanted to hear someone talk over the movie, I’d go to the theater (unless it is MST3K). I’m hoping that most of the DVD commentaries involve interviews after the movie is over.
One more question: do most foreign DVDs code for subtitles AND dubbing? One of the interesting things about Asian movies is how different the dubbed/subtitled version are (I actually own dual versions of several VHSs–double the fun!). I generally much prefer subtitling, but sometimes it is so poorly done you can’t even read the titles. Having the viewing option on a single DVD would be worth the price of admission right there!
Region Coding: If you’re buying a lot of Chinese and other Asian movies, you’re definitely going to want a region-free player. There are a lot of websites that sell region-free (I bought mine from www.planet3000.com), and a lot of local dealers who will modify your player (if possible) to defeat the region coding for the player. The latter usually voids your warranty, though, so it’s better to just buy a region-free player to begin with. FYI, the U.S. is Region 1, Europe and Japan are Region 2, Korea/Thailand/Vietnam are in Region 3, Australia is Region 4, and China is Region 6.
Video Quality: Pretty much any player is going to have at least an S-Video output, so if your TV has an S-Video input, you’re in good shape. They also will have a composite output, which is the single yellow RCA plug that your VCR also has for its video output. That will carry lower-quality video, and you won’t me getting the most from your player.
Many players will have component video outputs as well, which carries each of the three color channels separately. Unless your TV has component inputs as well, don’t worry about those.
Audio Quality: At the very least, you’ll be able to get regular 2-channel stereo sound from your player by using the L-R outputs. If you have a receiver with a built-in Dolby Digital 5.1 and/or DTS decoder, you can use the digital output from your player to get full5.1 surround.
Audio commentaries: Don’t worry–discs with commentaries give you the option of having them on or off. You can listen to the movie as usual, or you can turn on the commentary and the subtitling, so you can still read the dialogue while listening to the commentary track.
I’d recommend a region free player. However, not that R2 (Europe) DVD’s are generally PAL format, so unless your TV can accept a PAL signal (unlikely in the US) you will not be able to play PAL discs.
Unless you are a real cinephile (sp?) it is very, very difficult to tell the difference between the different connector types. S-Video or Composite Video will be just fine.
If you’re home theatre is DTS equipped then you can play pretty much any disc out there and get great sound. Most discs are Dolby 5.1 but some are DTS also. Many people think DTS sounds better (including me)
DVD’s have a menu system which allow you to change the dialogue language, subtitle language and ususally commentary. You have the option of watching the movie with, or without, the commentary in any language available with subtitles in any language. Most people just watch the movie though
There are a whole bunch of magazines/websites devoted to reviewing DVD player. In my experience, paying more money gets you better features, not better quality. I have a Yamaha player which was about $250 a couple of years ago and I think the quality is terrific. As prices have come down, anything around $150 to $200 should be just fine.
If you have a HDTV, you may want to pay a bit extra for a progressive scan DVD player as you will get a better picture.
On the PlayStation issue, as I understand it, you would need to purchase the PlayStation and then the DVD adapter to use the Playstation to play DVDs and then the quality still isn’t as good as a dedicated DVD player. I think it more for junior to use in his room. You can get a pretty decent DVD player for around 150 bucks. I paid about this much for a Panasonic a couple of years ago, and have had no problems. Definitely go for the Svideo cable if you can. Stick with recognizable brand names and you’ll be fine.
Thanks for the replies so far. Much helpful information. It seems like “region free” is the way to go, given my preferences. (I seem to recall a thread about converting a region coded DVD player to region-free; I’ll have to look that one up during an off-peak time).
Ixnay on the PS2. Good to know.
The way my system is set up, I run the video connection from the VCR straight to the TV (Sony 32"; not HDTV). However, I run the audio into the A/V receiver, which is set up in the “typical” home theater manner (2 front channel L/R; center channel; 2 rear; and subwoofer). I will need to upgrade my receiver in time. It’s a Nakamichi, but somewhat dated (Dolby Pro-Logic rather than something newer like DTS or DD5.1).
PS2 uses a controller as a remote but you can buy the real remote from Sony.
GameCube doesn’t play dvds.
Xbox plays them but ONLY with the remote adapter, about $20. Also has a HD that
might make some noise when playing dvds, or so some said.
Frankly an Apex for $60 should be fine. It plays all you can throw at it, mp3s, vcds, svcds,
dvds, etc, check with the store on the model you have & what it plays specificially.
If you’re serious about watching dvd’s, don’t get the ps2 or xbox just to watch dvd’s. Get an actual dvd player.
Just out of curiosity last night, I was over at a friend’s house who had a high quality 36" tv, an xbox and a ps2. I noted artifacting on both…plus the ps2 controller is kinda annoying to use as a remote. Just my 2 cents here…
I would be warry about region free players since the corporations are currently working on RCE (region code enhancement) a nasty little program which would stop DVDs from playing in some region free players. DVD Demystified FAQ. I think at the very least it would be smart to have a player whose region you can easily manipulate on your own. I have a Zenith and can change my region by entering a set code. My mother has a JVC which in order to change the region requires you to mess around with the mother board. My sister had an Apex which you can use a CD modchip to play and make it region free and back to region 1. Personally I think the code is the simplest. But having no region restrictions is not as great as one might think. The companies that make DVDs seem to be aware of this and seem to like to release DVDs only in the PAL format in varying regions. They do this with popular movies like Robin Hood: Men in Tights, The Rescuers, Sleeping Beauty, etc. I think the main benefit for freeing yourself from the shackles of the region system is that you are able to buy small movies on DVD from Japan, South Korea, the Phillipines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Myanmar, Mexico, Cuba and most of the Carribean and Central America and the west coast of South America. The NTSC countries.
This is an essential site. People here make known what they found to work on varying players. So if you have a Pioneer DV-353 you can play both CDR and VCD, whereas a Sony DVP-S336 will only play VCD and a Sharp DV-S1U wont play either.
I’ve followed the DVD player threads with great interest because I’m considering this purchase. My situation is that I live in a one-bedroom condo and don’t want to destroy my eardrums, if the sound quality is as good as my stereo VCR I’ll be happy, and I have a lot of VHS tapes that I still want to watch. Would one of those combination DVD/VCR players be a good option? I’ve seen ads for one of those for around $170.00-$200.00.
The OP could have been mine as well. Thanks, divemaster.
I’ve read (with no real elaboration) that those hybrid DVD/VCR units can have real problems with Macrovision (yuck, ptooey) copy protection, much like certain VCRs do. Specifically, I’ve got a 7-8 year old RCA 4-head that plays certain tapes horribly. (Yes, I clean the heads. It’s a bright/dark/bright/dark Macrovision problem.) Not being the kinda guy who does much international bootlegging, but would like the convenience of a single unit (the VCR could stand to be replaced) I’m a bit bothered by this. Can anyone shed any light on the matter?
(Yeah, I’m also a movie geek who likes to put together my own “clip tapes” every once in a blue moon, for parties n’ suchlike.)
Also, one thing that I was completely ignorant of until after I’d already bought a DVD player: at least as of a couple years ago, you cannot run a DVD player through a VCR or other recorder-type device. So you have to have a TV that accepts RCA inputs, S-Video, or composite video inputs. A coaxial jack alone won’t work.
Apparently this is obvious to everyone else, because it’s never mentioned in those “DVD for Idiots” type FAQs. So I went out and got a Toshiba something-or-other (which I like, have never had a problem with at all) for my TV that had a coaxial jack only, thinking I could just run it through the VCR. In the end, my $145 good deal on a DVD-player ended up setting me back a few hundred dollars more because I had to get a new TV as well.
You also may want to keep in mind to check if the player plays MP3 cds, I’m not sure if they all do, it’s nice to burn 50+ songs on a cd and have a nice menu on your TV to look through them and then listen to them through your stereo system.
“you cannot run a DVD player through a VCR or other recorder-type device.”
Sure you can, I’m doing it myself. If I get some films I made & put them on dvds, then I can copy the dvd to vhs.
I know some other people who connect their dvd player through their vcr & the macrovision only comes in if they
try to COPY a macrovision protected disk. But just watching them through the vcr is okay. Depends on your vcr make.
They won’t let anyone service their broken DVD players and won’t sell components to any other servicer.
They require you to ship in your DVD to them
In my case (and I’ve heard from a bunch of other people with similar problems) they won’t return it. See here for my sad tale of woe (I still don’t have it back.)
Sure, others may have had good experiences, but IMO they can’t be trusted.
In addition, the Apex has a lot of reported problems with playing Region 2 PAL format DVD’s.
In the case of a PAL dvd being anamorphically enhanced, the Apex will lock into anamorphic mode and output the picture in squeezed mode, and there’s nothing you can do to change it. This problem may have been fixed with new models, but I know I was hearing a hell of a lot of bitching about it a few years ago.
A good quality all-region PAL-capable player is the Malata, which go for about 250-300 bucks on average.
(unless it is MST3K). I’m hoping that most of the DVD commentaries involve interviews after the movie is over.