My current dirt-cheap CyberHome is getting a bit flaky about what it will play. Oddly, I've gotten it to play backups that I made of several brand new discs that gave it trouble. I'm not sure why it would like a DV-R backup better than a pristine original, but…

So what do you bargain hunters like these days?

ka jot, I still like the Philips I got on Newt's recommendation. I think Amazon's price, though it's gone up a bit, is still plenty competitive:

[www.amazon.com]

... plays pretty much anything you can throw at it.

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Freya says, 'Hello from NOLA, baby!' (Laissez bon temps rouler!)

the fav is the Philips dvp642. ..can be had for about $50 or more


can be hacked to play ALL regions. . .plays PAL. . .plays Divx

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I reject your reality and substitute my own!

Third the motion, DVP-642 all the way. Had to fix a blown capacitor on it after 6 months, but that was a 10 minute fix - all well still.

Amazon, Walmart, wherever is cheapest - had to look for a few days to get mine. Well worth it.

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Good Luck!
Jamie Dresser
Other World Computing

. . .seems to go onsale off. . .and on. . at bestbuy. . .circuitcity. . .and amazon. . .

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_____________________________________

I reject your reality and substitute my own!

I'll keep my eyes peeled for a sale. Even though that will really hurt.

. . .there are "cheaper" players out there but they usually end up like the cyberhome. . .if you really only want cheap in price then target often has cheap ones on sale. . .same with bestbuy and circuit city. . .radioshack. . .etc. . .

I got a Desay player from Circuit city for $25 bout a year ago. . .(it is sold @ radioshack too)

It can also be hacked to be regionfree and also plays PAL. . .it is very similiar to the cyberhome. . .

Check www.videohelp.com for reviews. . .

The philips is the cheapest. . .reliable dvd player. . .

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I reject your reality and substitute my own!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/04/2006 11:19PM by NewtonMP2100.

I have had decent luck with Apex brand players.
Bought one at Microcenter years ago, and have picked up another since.
No problems yet.

Am I safe in assuming the DVP-642 WILL NOT play true surround sound (separate channels) when used with a home theater?

I had the CyberHome ($33ish with tax) and spent about twice that ($70) on a Sony from Sam's Club.

h linamen Wrote:
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> > Am I safe in assuming the DVP-642 WILL NOT play
> true surround sound (separate channels) when used
> with a home theater?

You are NOT safe in assuming that. It has both optical and coaxial digital out.

In fact, I believe in order to be a "DVD" player it has to, by definition, be able to decode Dolby 5.1 sound.

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BT


Signed parental releases are on file for all tattooed minors.

Thanks Baby Tats. I knew it has both optical and coaxial digital out, but didn't teally know how that impacts the 5.1 channel capability. The reason I asked the question, on one player I was researching the specs said: 5.1 channel..... NO, so I assumed a player either has the capacity or does not.

I interprete you comment to mean that with optical and or coaxial digital, that provides the 5.1 channel separation?

h linamen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks Baby Tats. I knew it has both optical
> and coaxial digital out, but didn't teally know
> how that impacts the 5.1 channel capability. The
> reason I asked the question, on one player I was
> researching the specs said: 5.1 channel..... NO,
> so I assumed a player either has the capacity or
> does not.
>
> I interprete you comment to mean that with optical
> and or coaxial digital, that provides the 5.1
> channel separation?

I see where you are coming from. All (and I am pretty sure it is all and not most) DVD players have a digital output of one type or the other (coaxial or optical). You then run this digital signal to your "Dolby Digital" receiver for it to decode and send to each of the 5 speakers and the sub. You must have a home theater receiver with the "Dolby Digital" logo on it to do this.
(outputs on the right of the photo)

Some, but not all (used to be higher end) DVD players have their own Dolby decoders built in. On those players, you will see extra outputs on the back of the DVD player. You can run those outputs directly to an amp thus bypassing the decoder in a home theater receiver.
(outputs on the left of the photo)



Built-in decoding is probably what they were referring to when they said 5.1...no

All players also have regular L/R outputs as well.

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BT


Signed parental releases are on file for all tattooed minors.



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 03/05/2006 08:58PM by Baby Tats.