Psst!
Hey, you! That’s right — you! You wanna hot deal on a DVD player?
I’ve got an SUV full of factory-fresh hardware. There are a few scratches
and dents, and maybe some broken glass inside, but I’ll give you my full
lifetime warranty. Any problems — just bring it back to me here, in the
alley off Broadway.
Since you’re a nice-looking person, I’ll give you my special deal: pick any player you want, and I’ll sell it to you for only $500 or less. Trust me — a year ago, players that do the same things were going for twice that. You won’t believe how many features you’ll be getting. What a steal!
What? Can’t decide exactly which features you really need? Well, just pick a player that has everything! (Ha! That’s an inside joke.) For the best deal, you still have to figure out what’s most important to you. Let me clue you in.
All players provide the same basic features. Fast forward, reverse, slo-mo, and freeze frame are standard. Most players have hardly any front-panel controls. The action is handled by the remote control — another standard feature. So, are all players alike? No way.
As you’ll see from the product listings beginning on page 00, “DVD” doesn’t just mean video. And it doesn’t mean your machine has to be limited to playing the discs you rent from the local video store. There are changers, portable players, DVD recorders (although not in the sub-$500 range), and players that can handle multichannel Super Audio CDs (SACD) and DVD-Audio discs.
Listings
& Comparisons
Listings Compiled by Peter Pachal
Changers, especially megachangers, decimated the single-disc CD player market,
but the demand for DVD-Video changers is less fervent. If you’re mainly
interested in watching movies, a changer might not be worth the extra cost.
But if you also intend to listen to CDs often, especially for background music,
it might be. (In this price range, though, don’t expect to find a changer
that can handle more than five discs.) DVD portables are cool, but pricey. Only
a few fall below the $500 mark. Personally, I use my laptop for movie viewing
on the go. ‰
All players have composite- and S-video outputs. (Use S-video whenever possible,
though, since it will give you a much better picture.) A component-video output
— which supplies the best quality of the three kinds of connections —
was formerly the dividing line between cheap and expensive players. Not anymore,
since many low-cost models sport this elite connection.
Composite video uses a single traditional RCA connector, S-video uses a distinctive four-pin connector, and component video uses three RCA cables to carry the signal. While most recent TVs have at least one S-video input, component video is just beginning to become common on mainstream models, so you may not be able to take advantage of the three-cable connection until you buy a new TV.
Not only is component video becoming more common in inexpensive players, but
the next step up — progressive-scan component video — is beginning
to appear in the sub-$500 realm as well. Look for a progressive-scan player
that features 2:3 pulldown — it’ll deliver consistently better image
quality than players that lack it. Of course, you’ll also need a digital
TV to get the full benefit. So if you have a DTV, or are thinking of getting
one soon, it’s well worth a look.
All players have stereo analog audio outputs as well as either an optical or
coaxial digital audio output or, more often, both. Many also have 5.1-channel
analog outputs, which means they have an onboard Dolby Digital/DTS processor
that can decode a DVD-Video’s multichannel soundtrack (one of the things
that makes movie watching at home so exciting). But since most current A/V receivers
already include Dolby Digital and DTS decoders, this isn’t an essential
feature.
But here’s a twist: If your player can handle DVD-Audio discs, it will definitely have six analog outputs (one for each of the recording’s six channels) since DVD-A’s copy protection won’t let you send the signals digitally. Wait! There’s another wrinkle. A few machines will play Super Audio CDs. While some high-end machines only play stereo SACDs, you’ll find that all of the ones priced $500 or less play the newer multichannel discs.
Here’s yet another subtlety: If your system uses satellite speakers that can’t provide deep bass, the player or receiver can be set so that the higher frequencies in Dolby Digital and DTS soundtracks are sent to the five main speakers (front left/ center/right and surround left/right) while the bass is sent to a subwoofer (the “.1” in “5.1”). But with multichannel DVD-Audio and SACD discs, most players simply send the full frequency range of every channel to the receiver. Since few receivers provide a way to limit bass response on the signals sent to their analog six-channel inputs, you need bass management in the player to hear these recordings with all of their deep bass. Very few players provide this, though, and, based on the information we received, none of the ones listed here do. (Some players offer bass management for Dolby Digital and DTS signals, but that’s not as crucial since most receivers also provide that.) The other option is to invest in an outboard bass-management box. Keep in mind, though, that recording engineers are aware of this issue, and many compensate for it when doing a multichannel mix.
Speaking of disc formats, let’s not forget that a DVD-Video player can potentially handle a variety of flavors. They all play CDs, and virtually all of them play Video CDs (a format that’s popular in China). But if you’re into burning your own discs, make sure it also plays write-once CD-Rs and rewritable CD-RWs. Not all players can, because they need a dual pickup to accommodate both disc types. A quick caution: manufacturers’ claims aren’t always reliable on CD-R/RW compatibility, so bring some discs to the store and try them yourself. And don’t forget to check if the player can also handle discs with MP3 or WMA (Windows Media Audio) music files. These compressed-audio formats are great for stuffing hours and hours of music onto a disc.
And then there are recordable DVDs: the write-once DVD-R format and the three incompatible rewritable formats, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, and DVD+RW. If you have a DVD burner connected to your computer and are transferring home movies to disc, check the player’s compatibility carefully, and make sure it plays the disc formats (and data capacities) your burner is recording. Speaking of computer stuff, there are some DVD-Video players and recorders that even offer connectors like RS-232 ports for external control and operating-system upgrades.
Finally, before I take down your credit card number, let’s touch on player perks. Personally, I like remotes with some kind of jog wheel or shuttle control — a knob that lets you quickly scan through tracks or chapters on a disc without having to punch a lot of buttons. It’s also a good way to cruise to the spot in the movie where Cameron Diaz shakes her . . . uh, well, never mind. Some players have jog wheels on the front panel, and that’s okay, but they’re best located on the remote itself.
Here’s another convenience: backlighting on the remote. Who wants to break the mood in the movie room by turning on the lights so you can find the pause button? Universal remotes are also favored by many folks. They can make life a lot easier, if you take the time to program them. And they can allow you to consolidate that coffee table full of remotes into one master controller. More important, make sure the button layout is logical and operating the remote feels right, with buttons falling comfortably under your fingers.
More usefully, you might pick a player with video adjustments like an enhanced black-level setting (although most TVs supply almost all of what you need), virtual surround sound if you have a two-speaker setup (but nothing beats the real thing), and zoom (for checking to see whether any of the extras in The Patriot are wearing wristwatches).
Here’s the bottom line: if you’ve been waiting to buy a DVD-Video player, or want a second one for your bedroom, you can wait forever, or you can realize that prices have dropped enormously and there are terrific players with the most important features to be had for $500 or much less. Now, let’s have that credit card! Hey, you need some software? I’ve got Gladiator, I’ve got The Fast and the Furious. You need Windows XP Professional?