Quick Guide
to DVD Recorders
You may have seen a demo at a retailer or at a friend's home.
You've heard about some of the benefits that DVD has to offer.
But you may or may not know where to start, what features to
look for, what the different brands and models offer, and where
to find the best price. We can certainly help you find the right
DVD player based on your needs and for the best possible price.
Before going further, you may wish to read our DVD Overview
and DVD Tutorial if you're not familiar with DVD already.
We realize that you probably have a budget in mind for your
DVD player. That's why after helping you choose the right model,
we'll help you find the best deal. So remember to check our
DVD players on sale page before you make a purchase. Buying
online gives you a wider selection from which to choose, usually
better prices, and sometimes you don't have to pay sales tax
(depending on your local sales tax law). Sure, shipping charges
usually apply.
Many of you may be asking the question, "are there really
picture quality differences among DVD players - it's all digital
data right?"
Well, yes and no. First, the answer to this question depends
on how you plan to use the DVD player. Specifically, we're
talking about your system. Are you connecting your new DVD
player to just a TV or are you planning to make it part of
your home theater system? What size is your TV screen? And
if applicable, how elaborate is your home theater system?
Second, while the data on the DVD-Video disc may be digital,
the video outputs are all analog. This requires video digital-to-analog
conversion, decoding, and additional video processing by the
DVD player. The picture quality and characteristics do vary
among DVD players and the differences are more apparent when
viewing on larger TVs (screens 36-inch and larger).
If you're looking for a basic DVD player to connect to a TV
that is 27-inch or less in size and you don't have
a home theater system, then just about any DVD player will provide
a "good" picture.
Yes, even the budget models will provide a "good"
picture. Really. It is difficult for most "everyday consumers"
to discern the difference in picture quality between different
DVD players on TVs 27-inch or smaller. A similar statement can
be made for sound quality if the sound is reproduced only by
the TV's speakers.
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