Region-Free/Multi-Region DVD player discussion

[tomdkat]

Ok, there are several threads on region-free DVD player recommendations and this thread will serve as the "unifying" region-free DVD player discussion thread to help consolidate the discussion, just like the "DVD Player Recommendation" thread in Hardware.

Here are links to the previous DVD player recommendation threads:

Best PAL/NTSC Multi-region player?
Are there any decent, region free DVD players for under $100?
Where do i get a Region Free Player?
Need Region-free Portable DVD Player Suggestion.....
Region-free DVD player

Please discuss future region-free DVD player recommendations in this thread.

Thanks!

Peace...

[tomdkat]

Here is another request for a region-free player recommedation:

DVD Player recommendations: Discuss DVD player recommendations here

Peace...

[Pirate]

i dont know where to put this but....


I need a regionless DVD player that has good 16x9 convertion.

Ive heard cyberhome and malta.

did one win over the other?

thanks
-PH

[SidcupMartin]

PH,

Check the threads above for plenty of recommendations. The Malata is a great player and the Cyberhome is great for the price.

Sid.

[Pirate]

I've heard that the malta overheats. Noone in the threads seems to have confirmed this. anyone heard anything?
-PH

[SidcupMartin]

Originally posted by piratehunter
I've heard that the malta overheats. Noone in the threads seems to have confirmed this. anyone heard anything?
-PH

From what I've read that does seem to be a recurring problem with them. You could also check out here.

[Jake_P]

I've had a Malalta (the older dvd-n996) for nearly two years, and haven’t had any problems related to over heating at all. But some of them do eventually develop problems. I keep my player raised and always turn the power off at the player (the remote only puts it in stand-by mode.) I have no idea if doing those things helps, but it might.

I've read good things about the Jaton players, you might want to check those out.

Definitely follow the link Sidcupmartin posted and check out the nerd-out forums, there is SO much good stuff to read its almost information overload.

[MrTony]

Here's a link to AVDeals.com, which is selling one of the Jaton players Jake_P mentioned. I did a search for the Malata player that everyone recommends, but AVDeals now carries the Jaton instead of the Malata. Can anyone else comment on this player?

[Pirate]

I've got an all region apex, but it stretches the anamorphic widescreen!

I just need a pscan all region dvd player that can do 16x9 in a black case (no silver) thats less than $100!

I'm sooo confused, please help!

thanks
-PH

[SidcupMartin]

Originally posted by piratehunter
I've got an all region apex, but it stretches the anamorphic widescreen!

I just need a pscan all region dvd player that can do 16x9 in a black case (no silver) thats less than $100!

I'm sooo confused, please help!

thanks
-PH

Cyberhome 500 (it ain't silver though)

[tomdkat]

Here is another person looking for a region-free DVD player recommendation:

Help Picking a Region-Free DVD Player

Come on guys, give him a hand!

Peace...

[heuresk]

Through doing some online research on all-region playing hacks on existing dvd players, I've come up with some promising tips. The Philips DVD727 model prog-scan dvd player seems to have a hack (without requiring mod chip install) that would enable the player for all regions (as well as automatic PAL/NTSC conversion). And the best news is that you can find this for between 90 to 100 bucks.

I'm going to purchase this model this week and test it out. I will return to this forum with my results. I would mention the hack method, but I don't know if doing so would be kosher with this forum's policies, but rest assured you can easily find it online with a bit of research.

[trespoochies]

heuresk, do you know if the Phillips can disable macrovision? I recently got a Norcent DP1800. I didn't even intend it to be a region-free player, but I did research and turns out it is. The PAL/NTSC conversion is okay, nothing great. Way better than my old APEX 600A. But the 600A does disable macrovision, the Norcent does not. But I do want to get one that the ability to disable macrovision. Anyone know any region-free models that do this?

[heuresk]

Originally Posted by trespoochies

heuresk, do you know if the Phillips can disable macrovision?

trespoochies, as far as I know there isn't any easy way to disable the Macrovision on this Philips player (at least I haven't read anything to this anywhere).

To follow up to my above post on this dvd player, I went to a local Good Guys and purchased the Philips DVD727 (for 99.99), brought it home and hooked it up, and then applied the region hack to it. The hack made it a region 0 player (confirmed by an on-screen display), thus enabling it to play dvd's of all regions. On the way home from Good Guys I stopped by the legendary Scarecrow Videos, and rented the 2-disc set of 'Returner'--a region 2 NTSC Japanese dvd (with dts!). I popped the disc into the Philips and pressed play... and it played beautifully.

I haven't tried a PAL disc yet, but I've read that the player stretches the image just a tad on PAL, so we'll see...another trip to Scarecrow. But if you are in need of a relatively inexpensive all-region player, this model may be the one for you.

[jerico9999]

From what I have learned on my searches for a region-free/multi-region dvd player is that if you can avoid handset cracks DO SO!!!! because sooner or later your player may start acting up. If possible get one with a mod chipped installed. My recomendation to is to get one that is international, in other words one that has a modchip that is all-region,has microvision disabled,plays both REA and RCE discs, has a built-in PAL to NSTC convertor and multi-voltage. you can find one for cheap at www.220-electronics.com, good luck.....

[sirmikael]

Originally Posted by jerico9999

From what I have learned on my searches for a region-free/multi-region dvd player is that if you can avoid handset cracks DO SO!!!! because sooner or later your player may start acting up.

There is no evidence of this being fact. I would assume this myth was brought up by people who sell pre-modded DVD players. When people first started to burn pirated games for the Dreamcast, rumors started about how CD-R discs burned out the Dreamcast's optical drive, but that also proved to be just rumors.

After all, mothers across the world tell their sons that a certain hobby will make them go blind, and we all know that isn't true.

[jerico9999]

Well, I don't have any experience in that arena, and I currently have a rigion 1 dvd player so I wouldn't necessarly know. I figure since it's too early to know if that the case, even if it's only the low-end players, I guess only time well tell. As far as handset cracks go, it all depends on your financial setuation......

[sirmikael]

I do have a DVD player that I've hacked to be region-free, and its been about a year now. I've had zero problems, and its a Philips 793CH (5-Disc Changer with Progressive Scan).

I've performed similar hacks on several players for family/friends and not a single situation has come up with any of them. The important thing is to make sure that a hack has been confirmed to work for your player.

[heuresk]

Originally Posted by heuresk

I haven't tried a PAL disc yet, but I've read that the player stretches the image just a tad on PAL, so we'll see...another trip to Scarecrow.

I finally rented a PAL disc to try out on my Philips player--got "L'homme du train"--R2, PAL. I'm happy to report that there is no squeashing of the image--it played just like any other discs (just like R1 NTSC). The transfer on this dvd is very impressive, as well as the sound mix. Buying European movies directly from the source instead of the U.S. market versions may be the best way to go, since they give them the care they deserve. I also rented R3 NTSC disc of Jet Li's "Hero," with dts-ES mix, and it was a fantastic movie, as well as presented in a superb transfer and surround mix. A real surprise of a movie.

I've had this player less than a month now, but I am happy with it, especially considering I only paid a hundred bucks for it. Now I have a list of foreign-coded dvd's that I can't wait to watch.

[sirmikael]

Originally Posted by heuresk

I also rented R3 NTSC disc of Jet Li's "Hero," with dts-ES mix, and it was a fantastic movie, as well as presented in a superb transfer and surround mix. A real surprise of a movie.

I own this disc and when I viewed it a few weeks ago I was just blown away by everything. The storyline, the fight scenes, the wonderful colors, the acting. If only Hollywood would pay more attention.

I've read that Miramax may release Hero in the US in 2004, but will most likely be a chopped up version, so I'm glad I own the original version.

[Doctor_Mabuse]

I need a regionless DVD player that has good 16x9 convertion.

Ive heard cyberhome and malta.

did one win over the other

Consider a JVC multi-regional DVD player.

[heuresk]

Originally Posted by heuresk

To follow up to my above post on this dvd player, I went to a local Good Guys and purchased the Philips DVD727 (for 99.99), brought it home and hooked it up, and then applied the region hack to it.

I was at the Good Guys recently and noticed that this Philips player's price was reduced to $89.99. So I just brought my receipt and got 10 bucks plus tax back! Hehe. An all-around champ of a multi-region player for 90 bucks ain't too shabby. This Philips player will do just fine, until I get a Denon DVD2900 and apply a multi-region PAL progressive hack to it...

[tomdkat]

Here is more region-free DVD player discussion:

which of these dvd players would you reccomend?

Peace...

[xxjobseyes]

Is this Region Free and PAL/NTSC? If so, how's the quality? I see Best buy has it on the add this week.

[Ashenden]

I was going through the other threads on this subject and did not see this (might have missed it though).....

What is involved in "hacking" a DVD player? Something about downloading software to a CD and then putting it in the player?

Also, what does it matter whether Macrovision can be turned off? I know that Macrovision is to protect against piracy (at least in the old VHS days), but what does it matter today?

At last, it seems the DVD727 is a good cheap choice, I am just wondering if it requires any other devices to play on my Sony KP-51HW40 TV....... does anyone know?

[Morticia]

I just picked this one up for $39.99 at Fry's.

I don't have any non-R1 discs yet, but I ordered the David Lynch 3-pack (Mulholland Dr., Lost Highway, Eraserhead) from Benson's World to try it out.

There are two websites that confirm a handset hack for this unit:
dvdrhelp and regionfreedvd.

I'll check back in next week or so when I give it a try. I went for this one over the model 500 (which was recommended and confirmed by sidcupmartin) because I wanted a smaller player to pack around to friend's houses. I didn't need the extra outputs.

[SidcupMartin]

Tish,

One thing about the 300 is that if the R2 disc is anamorphic w/s then it will be displayed stretched on a 4:3 TV rather than be displayed letter-boxed - this is a symptom of a lot of the low-end players when it comes to PAL/NTSC conversion (if you have a 16:9 TV then this isn't an issue.

This is why I went with the 500 as it handles the conversion the right way.

Cyberhome Forum

[Morticia]

Ah.
Thanks for the head's up (and additional info) Sid. I was really looking for a small footprint player (for the packing around) and for $40 I couldn't resist.

I may have to get the 500 as well -- but I know I wouldn't have packed THAT one around ANYWHERE so I'd be back at square 1, looking for a small footprint player. Make sense?

OR I can just get a 16:9 TV.

You know? This probably should be merged with the "Multi-region player recommendations" thread...and it shouldn't be a terrible pain to do.