DVD Players

DVD players have revolutionized home entertainment. If you plan to buy a DVD player, the good news is that you will pay far less than what your friends probably paid for the similar model a few years back. The challenge is to decide which model best meets your requirement. So it is important to know what your needs are and how much you plan to spend before you embark on buying your next DVD player. There are a few kinds of DVD players available including

What to keep in mind

When evaluating features of the players, regardless of their format, pay closer attention to how you choose since it may make a difference in picture quality. A few key factors to keep in mind when choosing a DVD player:

Multiple Disc Formats

The more format the DVD player supports the better it is (and more expensive). The DVD players available today support multiple-disc formats, such as CDs, Video CDs, CD-R with MP3 files, CD-RW, WMA, DVD-R, SACD, and DVD-Audio formats. Depending on what your current and future needs are you can decide. Most of the time we play DVDs and CDs.

Scan Type

When evaluating features of the players, regardless of their format, pay closer attention to how you choose since it may make a difference in picture quality. A few key factors to keep in mind when choosing a DVD player:

Recording

If you plan to record your favorite TV shows to view them in future the recording is a must-have feature. Standard DVD players can't record shows from TV, but many high-end DVDs support recording. DVD recorders are available in three styles: the standalone DVD recorder, the DVD recorder VCR combo and the recorder/hard drive combo. You can use any of these types to record video onto a writable blank DVDs.

Audio Outputs -

The DVD players have two types of audio output – coaxial (analog RCA) and optical (digital). If you plan to use your DVD player with an AV receiver, ensure that the DVD player you pick matches your AV receiver. If you are ready to spend a little more then you should get a DVD player that has at least one coaxial and one optical connection for the most flexibility. The coax connection provides better audio than the optical connectors.

Video Outputs -

The DVD players have three types of video outputs - composite video, S-video and component video. There is also an HDMI standard. Each type of output requires specific matching cables which usually don’t come with the DVD player and you might need to buy separately.

Composite video

Composite video sends the complete color picture information to your TV with one signal via a single cable (sometimes called an "RCA" cable). The three pronged cable includes the yellow female RCA jack and two red and white audio jacks.

S-Video

S-Video provides a better quality picture signal than composite video. Most DVD players will have at least one S-Video output.

Component video

Component video provides the best picture quality signal to your television. If you have a high-end television or plan to buy one, you'll get a better picture using component video signal, which uses red, blue, and green 3-cable connectors.

HDMI standard

High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) standard support carrying both video and audio signals via one cord, so if you plan to connect your DVD player to an HDTV then go for a DVD player that has HDMI. The HDMI will ensure that you’ll use the television’s HD capabilities.

Video Features

To maximize the benefits of DVD's high quality picture, pay attention to the video processing circuitry and look for certain special effects capability, zoom capability, progressive scanning capability, and the array of video outputs.

Video processing

For good video reproduction, most DVD players use 10-bit video digital-to-analog converters (DAC) and video processing chips that runs at 27 MHz. The picture from a 10-bit DAC model more closely resembles the fine light gradations and color fidelity of the film source. The 27 MHz video processing speed allows for detailed decoding of the compressed MPEG-2 video signal. DVD players with these features will produce pictures that will still vary in terms of quality and characteristics, partly due to video processing for output to a 4:3 aspect ratio TV. The Sony ES DVP-NS999ES reference quality progressive scan DVD-Video player ($1,000) pushes the state-of-the-art to 14-bit DAC and 108 MHz video processsing.

Almost all DVD players allow you to pause playback with a crystal clear picture. Most models have forward and reverse scan capability (with multiple speeds) so you can quickly search for a specific scene. Many will feature slow motion effects and frame-by-frame advance in the forward direction. Some will allow you to see slow motion effects and frame-by-frame in the reverse direction as well. Sony DVD-Video players have set the industry standard for the best and smoothest picture quality during slow motion and frame-by-frame in either forward or reverse viewing. Panasonic DVD-Video players are equally impressive in this regard.

Zoom

Some DVD players feature a picture zoom capability, with different magnification levels, so you can study the scene in detail. Some will even allow you to pan up/down and left/right in order to enlarge specific areas of the screen. If you have a conventional 4:3 aspect ratio TV, some DVD players have a 4:3 TV zoom feature that will enlarge the letterbox format picture to get rid of the black bars at the top and bottom of your TV screen. Just like "full screen" DVD version of widescreen movies, you lose about 33% of the picture area due to cropping of the sides, but at least you will no longer have those black bars that can be annoying to some viewers. This works well for DVD-Videos with 1.85:1 aspect ratio, but the 2.35 aspect ratio still would have some black bars. The Panasonic DVD-RV32 DVD player is one of these DVD players.

Audio Features For Home Theater Surround System

If you have a home theater surround sound system or thinking of putting together a system someday, be sure to pay attention to the DVD player's audio digital-to-analog conversion capability, surround sound features, and audio outputs.

Audio digital-to-analog conversion

For good audio reproduction, many current DVD players use 24-bit audio digital-to-analog converters (DAC), operating at 96 kHz sampling rate (that's 96,000 times per second). The 24-bit/96kHz DAC ensures that the maximum audio resolution from the DVD's soundtrack has been extracted. This feature is useful only if the analog outputs (e.g., stereo analog outputs or 5.1-channel analog output) are used to connect the DVD player directly to a TV, a stereo/Dolby Surround Pro-Logic receiver, or a "digital ready"/"5.1-channel ready" receiver). This feature is not important if an external Dolby Digital decoder (e.g., receiver or preamplifier) is used via one of the digital audio outputs.

Surround sound: Dolby Digital and DTS

All DVD players include support for Dolby Digital surround sound, since Dolby Digital is part of the DVD-Video standard. At the minimum, all players pass the "raw" digitally encoded signal out (for out-board decoding by a receiver or preamplifier) via one (or more) of the digital audio outputs.

Some DVD players can perform on-board decoding of the Dolby Digital signal and pass out the 5.1-channel decoded analog signals (five full frequency channels and one low frequency effects".1" channel). This feature is worthwhile only if you have a "digital ready" or "5.1-channel ready" receiver or preamplifier. If you have a Dolby Digital receiver or preamplifier, then you should use one of the digital audio outputs and let the receiver or preamplifier perform the decoding. One reason is that the digital signal is less likely to be degraded when passing between the DVD player and the receiver or preamplifier.

Almost all new DVD players also feature DTS surround sound compatibility. This means the unit can output the "raw" DTS digital audio signal for outboard decoding by a DTS capable receiver or preamplifier. A handful of DVD players can perform on-board DTS decoding and output the 5.1-channel decoded analog signal via its 5.1-channel analog output. Again, this is useful only if you have a "digital ready" or "5.1-channel ready" receiver or preamplifier. Otherwise, it is better to pass the DTS digital audio signal out for decoding by a receiver or preamplifier.

For backward compatibility, DVD players include analog stereo outputs which can be used for stereo-only systems (TVs and stereo receivers) or Dolby Surround Pro-Logic receivers.

If you have no interest in building a surround sound system, or don't have the budget to build one for some time, you may want to consider a DVD player with a "virtual surround sound" feature. This feature simulates surround sound effects with just a pair of stereo speakers (or your TV's stereo speakers). While we think the result is a more expansive soundstage with better ambiance, we have not heard one that comes anywhere close to resembling a true surround sound system.

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. If you're into game consoles, the Sony PlayStation 2 and the new Microsoft Xbox both feature DVD-Video playback capability.

Usability

Even if you get all the features from the DVD you zero in on, it is very important to ensure that the player you pick is easy and intuitive to operate. Especially the user interface and the remote . The remote should be simple in design and layout

In addition to standard DVD players, there are high-definition units, DVD/VCR combo units, DVD recorders, and portable players, from brands like LG, Phillips, Panasonic, Sony & Samsung.