DVD player help.

[EineBeBoP]

So my parents are just now deciding to go buy a DVD player for the living room.

I dont know a lot about them, and dad knows considerably less.
If you'd all help me out, i'd greatly appreciate it.

Few requirements:
less than $130 please.
should Play DVD, DVD-R, CD, CD-R/RW, Video CD, JPEG, MP3, WMA discs.
I'd like 5.1-Channel Output, but dosent matter a LOT i guess.
not a huge machine.
should be able to last a few years (at least).

Thanks for the help!

Eine

[Corrosion]

PS2, if not that, then go to Good Guys and they're very helpful.

[EineBeBoP]

I dont think ps2s do jpeg/mp3s otherwise I might do that.
and I know they dont play burned video cd-rs (i tried on yours)

and you know I try to avoid going "outside" as much as possible, but might need to soon.

[SkunkPunk]

mmmmmm corro do u have ur ps2 modded? also im almost positive ps2 can play mp3, i use mine for it alot, also, why do u want it to veiw jpg?

[Dharkbayne]

How do you play JPG, JPG is an image format.

[Sputty]

Sony, panasonic, whatever. Major brands are all good and safe.

[Onizuka]

I have one that plays EVERY friggin format you could think of. I got it for one reason

[Navaron]

Make sure it has progressive scan and some form of digital decoding - dts or dolby. Go with any name brand and you'll be fine. You can get a good one for 130 these days. Ask sentrosi he know's alot about that stuff.

[SkunkPunk]

Originally Posted by Onizuka

I have one that plays EVERY friggin format you could think of. I got it for one reason

what about... .rar

[Onizuka]

Originally Posted by SkunkPunk

what about... .rar

Umm, no.

[Rayder]

OOooooooh, shot down.

[Spee]

WOAH. Do NOT go with a receiver/DVD player. Those get assloads of noise on the line, so Ive heard, and are BLAH.


If you want a home theatre, get a kick-ass DVD player (any major brand) and, for 5.1, just get a cheapo receiver. Most major brands have the "economy" line of home theatre, but the one I found was a 300$ on sale for 50$

[Squick]

Your needs will be dictated primarly by your A/V reciever, but I will sum up the main options for you.

Video out comes in three common formats and one uncommon:
Composite, this is the single yellow cord, terrible quality, do NOT use this!
S-Video, very good quality, much better then composite
Component, threee composite-looking cables, best color seperation, best in general.
DVI, this is more of a computer monitor format, but also used for HDTV monitors, I doubt you will find a cheap DVD player with that output, but if you don't have a DVD player, I doubt you have a $10,000 HDTV monitor that you would need DVI.

Audio comes in three formats:
Stereo RCA, white and red cords, obviously will not give 5.1 sound, very poor quality, prone to noise
Optical, black cord with a box at the end, when plugged in to one side you can see the laser. This carries a tremendous amount of data and can support far more then 5.1.
Coax, looks very similar to a single RCA, but this is digital, can support 5.1 no prob.

Now in theory Coax is a tiny bit better quality then optical, but with optical you have zero chance of RF interference, distance does not mater at all with optical. I prefer optical.

So now if you want to be safe, find a DVD player with SVideo, Composite, Optical, and Coax audio, make sure to check your A/V reciever to make sure it can take optical or coax.

Other features that I never use are the ability to play MP3s, or the ability to view JPG slide shows.

Hopefully that helps, a DVD player is a DVD player, just make sure you have the outputs you need.

[EineBeBoP]

Thanks squick, thats a lotta help.
Only problem I see is that I'm not sure if my tv has 1/2 thoes cables for input/output. Ill have to check later.

Thanks everyone