buying dvd player - DVDfile.com forum for DVD, Blu-Ray, and HD-DVD

abyss_andrew · 11-12-2001, 08:22 PM

Hi. i am fairly new 2 dvds, and currently have a dvd playr on my pc (near enough top of the range pc). I am considering buying a dvd player, and would like to know the following things if poss

1)Is a dvd player much better than on a pc?
2)how much should i spend? I would like to buy a budget £120 one, but if i need to spend £200 i will.
3)What should i look for, other than the actual piicture qualoty? I saw a goodmans that had output for 5.1 (4 speaker, sub and centre). I only have 2 hi-fis at home that r positioned round the room, so i can get surround sound with a 5.1 decoder (use pc at moment). WHat would i need to do to plug in a centre speaker and sub?? i have no option for this on my hifis.

***1138*** · 11-12-2001, 08:44 PM

Welcome to the forum abyss_andrew!

PC vs standalone: well, the computer plays the DVD's in a progressive scalable manner. this makes for some really nice picture quality. In fact, the best DVD players are actually Home Theater PC's that have their VGA outputted to a HT display. But the nice thing about a standalone is it's ease of use and (other than the rare case of a HTPC) is what's you'd use in your HT setup. So getting a standalone allows you to watch it on what is undoubtedly a biiger diaplay than that of your computer.

How much?: It depends. $200-$300 will usually get you a quality player. You can do the conversion to £'s.

What to look for?: It depends on your needs. I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "2 hi-fis". The 6 channel analog outs you describe are really only used in conjunction with a receiver that can accept them for 5.1 playback but lacks it's own decoder. As for what else, well, if you have a progressive/HD capable TV, a progressive player would be nice. Other than that, a major brand name is really all I'd be concerned about.

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1138 - DVD File Forum Greeter/Moderator
The defense department regrets to inform you that your sons are dead because they were stupid.

abyss_andrew · 11-12-2001, 09:06 PM

ok thanks. What i mean by 2 hifis, is i have a hifi plugged into the front output, and a hifi pluggeed into the rear output, so using my pc i can have surround sound. Currently my television is no bigger than my pc monitor (both are 21 inch), but i am hoping to get a new tv soon. Would it be better to spend more on the tv, and connect it directly to the pc using s-video, instead of buying a stand alone dvd player?

***1138*** · 11-12-2001, 09:14 PM

No, a stand alone will defintely provide a better DVD picture than your computer's display hooked up through S-Video.

I'm still unclear on what exactly a hi-fi is. You mean a stereo?

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1138 - DVD File Forum Greeter/Moderator
The defense department regrets to inform you that your sons are dead because they were stupid.

abyss_andrew · 11-12-2001, 09:22 PM

ahh, uk v american language

hifi plays music, so yes ud probably call it a stereo. in uk a stereo is usually what u have in a car, and a hifi what u have at home.
So, if i had say $400 to spend, am i better to get a $400 tv and use my pc for dvd, or a $250 tv and $150 dvd player?
What connection will i be best to use for a stand alond dvd player, scart?

***1138*** · 11-12-2001, 09:32 PM

In that case, I'd probably spend more on the TV. Does you PC DVD have a decoder card that has S-Video out? If so, then, yes. I'd definitely spend more on the TV and continue to use the computer for playback and sound since it already has some surround sound type capability that works. You can always buy a stand alone later.

------------------
1138 - DVD File Forum Greeter/Moderator
The defense department regrets to inform you that your sons are dead because they were stupid.

abyss_andrew · 11-12-2001, 09:36 PM

yes, i have an ati graphics card that has s-video output with it (hehe, i had a fiddle and saw how PPPOOORRRRR the composite is in comparison

). Thanks 4 ur help m8, i think i'll go out and buy myself a $400 tv tomorrow, what makes do u reccomend? I am a sony fanatic, but i have seen a nice toshiba 28 inch widescreen in a magazine i just got for £300 (bout £420 i think)

abyss_andrew · 11-12-2001, 09:37 PM

*$420

***1138*** · 11-12-2001, 09:38 PM

I too am a Sony fan, so I'd second your first thoughts.

------------------
1138 - DVD File Forum Greeter/Moderator
The defense department regrets to inform you that your sons are dead because they were stupid.

abyss_andrew · 11-12-2001, 09:40 PM

ok, lol, looks like its gonna be another sony product to add to my collection, hehe.

11-12-2001, 08:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
abyss_andrew Supporting Actor Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: UK	buying dvd player Hi. i am fairly new 2 dvds, and currently have a dvd playr on my pc (near enough top of the range pc). I am considering buying a dvd player, and would like to know the following things if poss 1)Is a dvd player much better than on a pc? 2)how much should i spend? I would like to buy a budget £120 one, but if i need to spend £200 i will. 3)What should i look for, other than the actual piicture qualoty? I saw a goodmans that had output for 5.1 (4 speaker, sub and centre). I only have 2 hi-fis at home that r positioned round the room, so i can get surround sound with a 5.1 decoder (use pc at moment). WHat would i need to do to plug in a centre speaker and sub?? i have no option for this on my hifis.

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11-12-2001, 08:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
*1138* Producer/Admin Careful, or I'll ban myself... Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: San Jose, CA	Welcome to the forum abyss_andrew! PC vs standalone: well, the computer plays the DVD's in a progressive scalable manner. this makes for some really nice picture quality. In fact, the best DVD players are actually Home Theater PC's that have their VGA outputted to a HT display. But the nice thing about a standalone is it's ease of use and (other than the rare case of a HTPC) is what's you'd use in your HT setup. So getting a standalone allows you to watch it on what is undoubtedly a biiger diaplay than that of your computer. How much?: It depends. $200-$300 will usually get you a quality player. You can do the conversion to £'s. What to look for?: It depends on your needs. I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "2 hi-fis". The 6 channel analog outs you describe are really only used in conjunction with a receiver that can accept them for 5.1 playback but lacks it's own decoder. As for what else, well, if you have a progressive/HD capable TV, a progressive player would be nice. Other than that, a major brand name is really all I'd be concerned about. ------------------ 1138 - DVD File Forum Greeter/Moderator The defense department regrets to inform you that your sons are dead because they were stupid.

11-12-2001, 09:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
abyss_andrew Supporting Actor Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: UK	ok thanks. What i mean by 2 hifis, is i have a hifi plugged into the front output, and a hifi pluggeed into the rear output, so using my pc i can have surround sound. Currently my television is no bigger than my pc monitor (both are 21 inch), but i am hoping to get a new tv soon. Would it be better to spend more on the tv, and connect it directly to the pc using s-video, instead of buying a stand alone dvd player?

11-12-2001, 09:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
*1138* Producer/Admin Careful, or I'll ban myself... Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: San Jose, CA	No, a stand alone will defintely provide a better DVD picture than your computer's display hooked up through S-Video. I'm still unclear on what exactly a hi-fi is. You mean a stereo? ------------------ 1138 - DVD File Forum Greeter/Moderator The defense department regrets to inform you that your sons are dead because they were stupid.

11-12-2001, 09:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
abyss_andrew Supporting Actor Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: UK	ahh, uk v american language hifi plays music, so yes ud probably call it a stereo. in uk a stereo is usually what u have in a car, and a hifi what u have at home. So, if i had say $400 to spend, am i better to get a $400 tv and use my pc for dvd, or a $250 tv and $150 dvd player? What connection will i be best to use for a stand alond dvd player, scart?

11-12-2001, 09:32 PM	#6 (permalink)
*1138* Producer/Admin Careful, or I'll ban myself... Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: San Jose, CA	In that case, I'd probably spend more on the TV. Does you PC DVD have a decoder card that has S-Video out? If so, then, yes. I'd definitely spend more on the TV and continue to use the computer for playback and sound since it already has some surround sound type capability that works. You can always buy a stand alone later. ------------------ 1138 - DVD File Forum Greeter/Moderator The defense department regrets to inform you that your sons are dead because they were stupid.

11-12-2001, 09:36 PM	#7 (permalink)
abyss_andrew Supporting Actor Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: UK	yes, i have an ati graphics card that has s-video output with it (hehe, i had a fiddle and saw how PPPOOORRRRR the composite is in comparison ). Thanks 4 ur help m8, i think i'll go out and buy myself a $400 tv tomorrow, what makes do u reccomend? I am a sony fanatic, but i have seen a nice toshiba 28 inch widescreen in a magazine i just got for £300 (bout £420 i think)

11-12-2001, 09:37 PM	#8 (permalink)
abyss_andrew Supporting Actor Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: UK	*$420

11-12-2001, 09:38 PM	#9 (permalink)
*1138* Producer/Admin Careful, or I'll ban myself... Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: San Jose, CA	I too am a Sony fan, so I'd second your first thoughts. ------------------ 1138 - DVD File Forum Greeter/Moderator The defense department regrets to inform you that your sons are dead because they were stupid.

11-12-2001, 09:40 PM	#10 (permalink)
abyss_andrew Supporting Actor Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: UK	ok, lol, looks like its gonna be another sony product to add to my collection, hehe.