Quick
Guide to DVD Players
Click here for our Quick Guide to DVD Players
We can help you find the right DVD player based on your needs
and for the best possible price. We realise 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. 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.
In addition to DVD-Video playback, many DVD-Video players
can also play back audio CDs and Video CDs (a video format
popular in Asia). Some are able to playback audio CD-Rs and
CD-RWs, if you're into recording such media. A few can even
play HDCD enhanced audio CDs. Some can play the new Super
Audio CD (SACD) format, a new high-resolution and multi-channel
audio format that supports up to six discrete channels of
music. DVD-Audio/Video players can play back DVD-Audio discs
as well as DVD-Video discs. DVD-Audio is the other high-resolution
and multi-channel audio format that is based on the DVD physical
specification. (Since the DVD-Audio market is still emerging,
we will produce another buying guide later to cover DVD-Audio
players when the time is right. Until then, you can read our
DVD-Audio Tutorial.) If you plan to use your DVD player for
extensive audio CD playback, do realize that the quality of
audio playback can vary considerably among DVD players, particularly
if you have a good audio or home theater system.
In addition to the single-disc DVD player design, some models
feature multi-disc capacity, from two, to three, to five, to
six, to 200, to 301, and even to 403-disc DVD mega-changers.
Since DVD players can also play audio CDs, some of you may want
to replace your current CD changers with a DVD/CD changer or
mega-changer/jukebox design. There are other types of DVD players
besides the typical dedicated home-based component models. Portable
DVD players with built-in color LCD screens (up to 10-inch diagonal)
allow you to take the fun virtually anywhere. Some are transportable
units that allow you to move it from one place to another, but
do not have built-in screens. For those interested in home theater
sound, but don't want to bother with shopping for a separate
receiver and surround sound speakers, there are integrated DVD
home theater systems that come with a DVD player, built-in amplification,
and surround speakers (all in one box). There are models that
combine a TV and DVD player in an integral unit, or a VHS VCR
and a DVD player combination unit.
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