DVD Player---what to buy? - DVDfile.com forum for DVD, Blu-Ray, and HD-DVD

Snurfer · 12-03-2002, 08:52 PM

What are some of the best DVD players to buy in the $100-$200 price range? I'm helping a friend of mine pick out a unit this evening.

He's not looking for a lot of bells and whistles---just a good, bare bones unit that does the job well. The DVD player will be used with a small two-channel stereo (mini-system, actually) and a 32", traditional TV set. I don't foresee him getting into 5.1 channel audio or HDTV technology for a long time, so the DVD player doesn't need to support that.

Any recommendations?

Thanks!

Robert

***SeanL*** · 12-03-2002, 09:14 PM

I think just about every manufacturer has players in that price range, that are very good... with a good list of features.

My advice would be to get the best quality player he can afford. If he decides to do some upgrading in the future, he'll be glad he has a dvd player up to the task.

tomdkat · 12-03-2002, 10:32 PM

In this thread, I list a number of DVD players that are $250 or less:

http://www.dvdfile.com/interactive/f...threadid=25134

This is a good list to start from. If you want a player for $150 or less, check out these:

Toshiba SD-2800
Pioneer DV-353k

The street prices of these interlaced only players is well below $150 even...

Good luck!

Peace.....

metallica50 · 12-04-2002, 06:53 AM

get the pioneer. that toshiba has got some problems with rewinding and fast forwarding. and the picture aint that great

***chlngr1970*** · 12-04-2002, 07:44 AM

Quote:

that toshiba has got some problems with rewinding

I dunno about you, but I never rewind my DVDs

j

tomdkat · 12-04-2002, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by metallica50
that toshiba has got some problems with rewinding and fast forwarding. and the picture aint that great

I've seen the SD-2800 in action on a small TV (like 19" if not smaller than that) and the picture was just fine. I've seen the SD-2715 in action on a 27" Sharp and the picture was beautiful.

I haven't heard of ANY FF/REV problems with the SD-2800. Can you name any particular DVDs that are problematic?

I've used the FF and various play speeds on the SD-2715 and they worked just fine.

Peace....

sub780lime · 12-04-2002, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by chlngr1970
I dunno about you, but I never rewind my DVDs

j

you mean they dont go in that VCR thing

**aintnosin** · 12-04-2002, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by chlngr1970
I dunno about you, but I never rewind my DVDs

Blockbuster must not like you.

Cap42086 · 12-04-2002, 11:57 PM

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the Panasonic RV-32 a pretty good player? Last time I checked, it's only $100 with the mail-in rebate, which I don't think is too bad.

tomdkat · 12-05-2002, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cap42086
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the Panasonic RV-32 a pretty good player?

I would say it's "good", but the RV-80 is "recognized" as being a great interlaced-only DVD player.

From a reliability standpoint, a Pioneer is my recommendation (at this price point). The only "real advantage" the Panasonic RV-32 brings to the table is no chroma bug (I think).

Still, at this price point the RV-32 would definitely be worth investigating.

Peace.....

Cap42086 · 12-05-2002, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by tomdkat
I would say it's "good", but the RV-80 is "recognized" as being a great interlaced-only DVD player.

From a reliability standpoint, a Pioneer is my recommendation (at this price point). The only "real advantage" the Panasonic RV-32 brings to the table is no chroma bug (I think).

Still, at this price point the RV-32 would definitely be worth investigating.

Peace.....

So basically, if he wants better quality, go with the RV-80, but if he wants a lower price, go with the RV-32. Either way he's getting a great deal.

tomdkat · 12-05-2002, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cap42086
So basically, if he wants better quality, go with the RV-80, but if he wants a lower price, go with the RV-32. Either way he's getting a great deal.

If he's wanting to go with a Panasonic unit, then yeah. I don't know how the RV players are priced as compared to the RP players.

Peace.....

limacharliewhiskey · 12-05-2002, 01:20 AM

I have the Panasonic RV-32K, and it's a nice player that works fine and looks great. The only minor knock against it are a slightly noisy motor when loading up a DVD and moving around menus and somewhat slow load up times to menu screens (in comparison to my previous RCA player).

My only other criticism is that the remote control is somewhat unintuitive. But since I mostly use a master universal remote, this isn't an issue for me.

Video quality looks superb. In fact, it's so sharp that I recently connected my S-video connection (after using composite connections mostly), and I can barely tell the difference between the two. Video images look good both ways to me.

I'm not sure what the chroma bug is, so I can't comment if my player has that or not.

$100 is indeed cheap. I picked up mine for $140 just 6 months ago.

Cap42086 · 12-05-2002, 02:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by limacharliewhis
I'm not sure what the chroma bug is, so I can't comment if my player has that or not.

The chroma bug is to DVD what the Spice Girls are to music. Does that answer your question? No? Didn't think so. Well, basically it's a "bug" in your player that causes some colors to streak in a movie. That's basically what it is. If you want more info on it, read the thread that's at the top of this board. It's very helpful.

By the way, Panasonic players nine times out of ten don't have it and I'm pretty sure your player was one of the nine, so don't worry.

12-03-2002, 08:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
Snurfer Supporting Actor Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Seattle, WA	DVD Player---what to buy? What are some of the best DVD players to buy in the $100-$200 price range? I'm helping a friend of mine pick out a unit this evening. He's not looking for a lot of bells and whistles---just a good, bare bones unit that does the job well. The DVD player will be used with a small two-channel stereo (mini-system, actually) and a 32", traditional TV set. I don't foresee him getting into 5.1 channel audio or HDTV technology for a long time, so the DVD player doesn't need to support that. Any recommendations? Thanks! Robert

12-03-2002, 09:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
*SeanL* Producer/Admin Got BMG? Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: NW Florida	I think just about every manufacturer has players in that price range, that are very good... with a good list of features. My advice would be to get the best quality player he can afford. If he decides to do some upgrading in the future, he'll be glad he has a dvd player up to the task. __________________ Forum Administrator "You can never go home again, Oatman... but I guess you can shop there."

12-03-2002, 10:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
tomdkat Official Forum Warmonger "Dial Tone" Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Hayward, CA, USA	In this thread, I list a number of DVD players that are $250 or less: http://www.dvdfile.com/interactive/f...threadid=25134 This is a good list to start from. If you want a player for $150 or less, check out these: Toshiba SD-2800 Pioneer DV-353k The street prices of these interlaced only players is well below $150 even... Good luck! Peace..... __________________ My DVD Aficionado List "At last we shall reveal ourselves to the Jedi, at last we shall have revenge!"

12-04-2002, 06:53 AM	#4 (permalink)
metallica50 Actor Join Date: Sep 2002	get the pioneer. that toshiba has got some problems with rewinding and fast forwarding. and the picture aint that great Last edited by metallica50 : 12-04-2002 at 07:53 AM.

12-05-2002, 01:20 AM	#13 (permalink)
limacharliewhiskey FryMaster Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The O.C.	I have the Panasonic RV-32K, and it's a nice player that works fine and looks great. The only minor knock against it are a slightly noisy motor when loading up a DVD and moving around menus and somewhat slow load up times to menu screens (in comparison to my previous RCA player). My only other criticism is that the remote control is somewhat unintuitive. But since I mostly use a master universal remote, this isn't an issue for me. Video quality looks superb. In fact, it's so sharp that I recently connected my S-video connection (after using composite connections mostly), and I can barely tell the difference between the two. Video images look good both ways to me. I'm not sure what the chroma bug is, so I can't comment if my player has that or not. $100 is indeed cheap. I picked up mine for $140 just 6 months ago. __________________ "Believing oneself to be perfect is often a sign of a delusional mind." - Data in Star Trek: First Contact DVD Aficionado collection.

12-04-2002, 11:57 PM	#9 (permalink)
Cap42086 Actor Join Date: May 2002 Location: Rhode Island	Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the Panasonic RV-32 a pretty good player? Last time I checked, it's only $100 with the mail-in rebate, which I don't think is too bad.

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