Buying A New DVD Player

Whether you are buying your first DVD Player or replacing an old one it’s important to know what’s available on the market at the moment. It’s also useful to know what some of the terminology means – many of us think terms like HD and Progressive Scan sound impressive but don’t actually know what it does!

The fact is these days there is so much more to DVD Players than just watching movies. The newer models offer high quality audio and video connections providing crisp clear images and impressive surround sound. As well as playing recordable and rewritable CD’s they can handle your MP3 mix discs, some can also play WMA (Windows Media Audio) files. Some Players have SACD (Super Audio CD’s) or DVD audio decoding for high resolution multichannel music.

Obviously the perfect DVD Player for you is the one that best meets your needs – it should have the features that matter most to you. For instance, if you still have (and watch!) a lot of VHS tapes then a DVD/VCR Combo Player is a good choice. These are extremely affordable and provide the familiarity of a VCR Player with the enhanced music and movie quality of DVD. You can use it to record your favourite TV shows on VHS, watch movies on DVD and listen to your audio CD’s. If you want to archive your VHS tapes consider a DVD Recorder which offer convenient tape-free recording with the functionality of a DVD Player. You can also back up home movies onto DVD. There are a variety of writeable and rewriteable formats available to enable you to use the right disc for the right job.

If you travel a lot a Portable DVD Player could be the answer. These are compact and lightweight and some also offer dual headphone jacks enabling more than one person to listen at the same time. Many of these portable players are car-friendly – as well as having rechargeable batteries some also come with features like cigarette lighter power adapters and car mounting kits.

If you have a High Definition TV HD DVD is a high definition disc format designed to maximise your viewing experience when using HDTV. Another option is a DVD Player with Video Upconversion which will convert DVD video to a resolution that more closely matches that of your High Definition Television. The signal remains digital as it travels through the connections to your television for the cleanest possible transfer.

If your TV is Enhanced Definition (EDTV), High Definition or HDTV-ready a Progressive Scan DVD Player is an option. In fact, even if your existing TV is not progressive capable your next one almost certainly will be which means you would get a great picture now and an even better one when you upgrade your television. So what is Progressive Scan? Progressive Scan displays the entire frame in one sweep (unlike Interlaced Scan which splits each video frame into two fields) and since the whole picture is displayed together it has less flickering and clearer details. To view the progressive scan signals you need a progressive capable TV so if you don’t have one at the moment choose a DVD Player that allows you to select either 480i interlaced scan for use with a conventional TV or 480p progressive-scan output for compatible TV’s.

A big part of choosing the right player is ensuring it has all the necessary connections to perform with your other audio visual equipment. Nearly all current DVD Players have at least three video jacks – composite, S-video and component. Component inputs are typically only found on mid-priced to high end TV’s made in the last few years. The component connection provides the best picture quality. If your TV only has an antenna style RF input you will need to install an RF modulator between the TV and DVD Player. Also a DVD/VCR Combo might be worth considering as some can pass DVD signals through their RF output.

Current players have a digital audio output – coaxial, optical or both. This enables them to send Dolby Digital or DTS signals to your receiver for multichannel surround sound. All DVD Players include standard stereo audio jacks for connecting to stereo receivers and stereo TV’s. Some players also have built in decoding with 5.1 channel analog outputs to connect directly to 5.1 ready receivers. These models usually also play multichannel DVD Audio or SACD discs. Some high end players have IEEE1394 jacks (known as FireWire or i.LINK); these single cord connections carry 5.1 channel music to a compatible receiver.


This article was written by Lorraine Simpson, Director of Fifth Ace Ltd. who sell DVD/VCR Combos, Progressive Scan, In Dash DVD and HDTV on their website http://www.amplechoice.com

Electronics Guide: How to Choose a DVD Player

Whether buying for yourself or a gift for a loved one, finding just the right DVD player isn't as easy as it seems. There are so many formats, sizes and added features for DVD players today that you might sift through hundreds of players before finding the right one at the right price. Use this quick guide to compare the types of DVD players available on the electronics market.

DVD Player Sizes

Determine what size player you will need. If you're adding a DVD player to your home entertainment system, determine where you will put it and how much space is available. Normal-sized DVD players can be rather wide so you'll want to be sure of your available space before shopping. DVD players are also very thin in height and most have a slot on the front that slides in and out for inserting the DVD. This is great if you have a wide space that is limited in height.

For odd-shaped spaces or very tight spots, there are different sizes and shapes of DVD players. These are usually available at electronics stores online so you'll have plenty of styles to choose from. The vertical DVD player, for example, sits upright similar to a vertical computer drive. It comes with a stand to hold it in a sturdy position. If you still have your old VHS collection, there are DVD/VHS combo machines that play both formats. This saves space as well. Also available are super slim DVD players and "space saver" DVD players to fit your personal needs.

Types of DVD Players

Once you determine the size you'll need, you're ready to compare name brands and features at the electronics store or website of your choice. You can often find many different brands and styles of players at one single electronics mall online. This will allow you to compare without spending hours searching through many websites.

Some of the features you'll see include progressive scan, time-slip recording, EZ editing, zoom, slow motion, HD (high definition) DVD, front audio/video input jacks, CD-R/-RW playback, MP3-CD playback, D/A converter, favorite scene selection, TV Guardian, and many others. You may not find one particular DVD player that carries every feature, so it's wise to determine which features are important to you before selecting a player. Which features will you likely use the most? Which will you probably never use?

You'll also notice there are many brand names for DVD players. Some of the well-known brands include Philips, Coby, Emerson, Toshiba, Magnavox, Sanyo, and Panasonic. Pricing for DVD players can range from around $50 to $500 depending on the features you choose.

If buying a DVD player for your child, there are also players with children's themes. The player will actually look like the child's favorite cartoon character!

To find the DVD player that's right for you, search online by brand name, features, or price to compare. Or, you can visit an online mall to compare all in one location. Besides electronics, you can also find other great items at an online mall such as computers, laptops, lingerie, pets, automotive products, telephones, jewelry, household products, toys, and more. Take your time to find the DVD player that will meet your needs. You'll enjoy years of quality entertainment!