I’m currently looking for a DVD player to put in my room. I’m using an older (15+ years old) Sony TV. I think it’s monoaural (single audio output/channel?) and it has a slightly older Sony VCR (7+ years old) hooked up to it right now.
Advantages/Disadvantages of single vs multi-disc DVD players? Would it be better to get a decent receiver so I can continue to use both the old VCR and new DVD players?
Check out the player section of dvdrhelp.com. Lot’s of useful reviews, lists of features, “mods” and such. Look up the model numbers of what you are considering. You will be amazed at the negative comments the cheap no-name stuff out of China gets. (I’m not amazed.)
I see no advantage to multi-disc DVD players for just DVDs. For SVCDs and such, maybe. (I like the break in the middle of watching SVCDs myself.)
You definitely need to know everything about your existing hardware. No "I think"s will do.
DVD players usually don’t come with RF output. If your TV doesn’t have RCA or S-video connectors, you have a problem. You can feed the DVD in thru the VCR, but then MacroVision protection becomes a headache in some cases. You can get an RF converter for a few bucks. All such workarounds decrease the quality of the signal.
Answer to the most commone DVD FAQ: “Progressive Scan” is of no use to almost anyone who buys DVD players. You need quite advanced hardware to take advantage of it. If you aren’t planning on getting such hardware, forget it. (“Progressive Scan” is the commision salesman’s best friend.)
Progressive scan is only used through Component video, which is pretty much a top of the line type of video connection. I purchased a single tray DVD player 2-3 years ago, and last winter I purchased a receiver nothing high end, but decent stuff.
If I was to do it again, I would get the multi-tray, or even the big stacker. The reason being, as soon as you decide to get a receiver, you now have a one disk at a time player. The price difference between a five disk and single tray nowadays seems neglible.
ftg is right about the outputs, you may want to consider getting a receiver while you are at it. (Look at me spend your money 
)
So it turns out I have a coaxial input for my aging TV but has the kind where you manually screw/twist to secure the coax line. Can a push-on coax line be secured into this kinda of input? I ask cuz the DVD player given to me has a coax output but only uses a push-on coax line.
I would go with a JVC, as they play anything you can throw at them. I’ll check my model number when I get home.
The “push-on coax line” connector on the DVD player is likely an coaxial audio output, and not a coaxial a/v cable which is the “screw/twist” kind.
If you only have coaxial input on your TV, and no composite a/v or s-video, then you will most likely need an RF Modulator to run the DVD player into your TV.
JVC XV-N50
Nice and cheap too, only $90 or so IIRC.
I use my Playstation2. It kicked the ass of the cheap DVD player I had, which cost about $60.
The PS2 plays DVDs fine.
Another question: what’s this “protection” I read about in the DVD player manual? It said something to the effect of not connecting the DVD player to a VCR due to some “protection” feature and would result in the picture not displaying properly.
Is this some sort of anti-piracy function it has?
Probably MacroVision - since ~1985, VCRs have a circuit to scramble the video signal when fed a MV-encoded signal. DVDs use both MV and CSS - if you feed a DVD signal into a VCR, the MV circuit in the VCR (since it assumes you are trying to copy a MV-encoded signal) will distrort the video (MV diddles with the video gain - there are “video stabilizers” (ebay is your friend) which remove the MV signal).
This is what the warning is about.
Get a new TV - it’s easier than trying to adapt new technology to old.
Also consider that you may someday wish to play homebrew DVDs - either DVD-R and/or DVD+R - make sure your player can handle both the pressed (factory) and homebrew formats.
Get a cheap Apex or daewoo (the ones that go for 40-50 bucks). They play everything you throw at them (dvds, vcds, svcds, mp3s, photo-cds, ps2 games, nes cartridges, smartmedia, floppys, toilet paper, carrots, etc.).
Unless you have some fancy progressive scan/hd tv, and/or a kickass sound system in which case I hate you and won’t help.
If I were getting a brand new DVD player, I’d make sure it was all-region. Just a though.
though = thought
Or if you don’t have the cash to get a new TV, spend thirty or so bucks to get an RF modulator that will do a good enough job.
I’ll second Gozu’s suggestion about an Apex. It plays everything that even some of the expensive ones won’t play. Although I’ve heard rumors about overheating problems, mines been rock-steady for three years (about $90 back then). Plus I know how to get into the secret setup menu thanks to some borderline website and flash the EEPROM as well.
I ended up getting an RF mod (4-input switch since I still got some other stuff to hook it up to) and it works well.
Thanks for your recommendations everybody and a Happy New Year!