DVD Player recommendations: Discuss DVD player recommendations here

[tomdkat]

Ok, Kimmo suggested posting a "sticky" thread to be the home for DVD player recommendations, since this topic comes up from time to time.

So, I discussed it with the staff and haven't received any objections (yet) so we'll give it a try.

If you have info on a DVD player you want to recommend to people, please post that info in this thread. Be sure to include the following:

• DVD Player Manufacturer
• DVD Player model
• Is it a progressive scan player or interlaced only
• Is it a multi-CD/DVD changer
• Link to manufacturer product page (if possible)

If you are looking for a DVD player recommendation, please post your request for recommendation in this thread. Be sure to include the following:

• If you have a DVD player already, please post the make/model of that player
• Please post your budget/desired price range for the new player
• Whether you need a progressive scan player or not
• Any features (like Zoom, non-anamorphic scaling, MP3 support, WMA support, etc.
• Whether you need a region-free or multi-region player

The more info we have regarding your "requirements" for a new player, the better recommendations we can make.

You can read the Secrets DVD player shootout report here.

The Secrets report will provide information on various DVD players and how they perform with poorly authored DVDs, among other things. This should be used only as a guide.

Additionally, please read the chroma upsampling error (bug) thread to familiarize yourself somewhat about that as this issue WILL come up when comparing various DVD players.

To help get this started, here are links to previous threads with discussion on this, and related topics:

New DVD Player Needed
Looking for a multi-disc DVD player
Cd/DVD changers
opinions on Panasonic dvd players
Progressive Scan Player shopping help needed
Which DVD player is better?
Progressive Scan
DVD Players with non-anamorphic scaling
Pioneer Elite DV-45A vs. Panasonic RP82
Pioneer SACD/DVD-A Players
New High End dvd player
DVD/CD Changer recommendations?
Panasonic RP82 vs. Denon DVD 1600
Which of the following DVD players should I get my parents?

Let the games begin!

Peace...

[craven1972]

Good idea, I guess I will be the first to post my recommendation since we have just finished a discussion of this very thing in another thread.

I recommend the Denon 1600 Progressive Scan Single Disk DVD player. The player also plays DVD-Audio.

Strong point: Superb Video, Excellent Sound. Great job of dealing with poor DVDs (refer to Secrets report).

Weak Points: Remote could be better, I prefer the jog feature on Pioneers and such. Only single disk. Doesn't play SACD's. Only has fiber connection for digital hookup lacks the coax.

[tomdkat]

Originally posted by craven1972
Great job of dealing with poor DVDs (refer to Secrets report).

By this I presume you mean poorly flagged DVDs vs poorly authored DVDs or DVDs that cause various players to "hang" or exhibit other mis-behavior, right?

Peace...

[craven1972]

Correct! I figured you were gonna point that out, see my lazyness of not wanted to type more.

[Obi-Wan]

Ok so I want to upgrade to a progressive scan dvd player. I currently use a Toshiba SD2200 with my Toshiba 50H81 HDTV.

Over the past year or so the price on progressive scan dvd players has come way down. If I buy a player like the Panasonic RP62 or S35S will I see a huge difference in picture quality? I can get one of these for under $100.00. Or do I need to spend more like $500.00 on an RP91 to notice a difference.

-I am looking to spend under $500.
-I want a progressive scan player with both a DTS and DD.
-Region free is not a must.

Any suggestions?

[tomdkat]

Originally posted by Obi-Wan
If I buy a player like the Panasonic RP62 or S35S will I see a huge difference in picture quality?

It depends on how you define "huge". If you prefer to stick with Toshiba DVD players, check out the SD-4800 or the SD-3900. I don't know if the chorma upsampling error is bothersome to you. If you've been happy with your current Toshiba player's performance, it probably doesn't bother you as Toshiba DVD players use a de-interlacer (I think it's the de-interlacer) that masks the error well (minimizes it).

If you're open to other brands, the Denon-DVD-1600 (link to PDF file) would DEFINITELY be worth looking into. Do you need an optical digital audio connection or can you use an optical or coax digital audio connection?

The Toshiba's will have both and the Denon only has an optical digital audio output.

If you're keen on trying a Panasonic, see if you can find a RP82 or an XP30. Both offer about the same outstanding video performance. The RP82 has DVD-Audio support but the XP30 does not. "I have this very unit [XP30] in my home," to quote "Buck" from Boogie Nights. I'm currently checking out an XP30 along with a Sony DVP-NS715P and comparing them to my Pioneer V-656a. I've got a Toshiba 57HX81, which is one line above your H81 and the XP30 offers a VERY impressive video picture on my set. Even with only a THX Optimode calibration, the picture is great. Very detailed and smooth.

Of course, I'm obligated to mention the Pioneer DV-656a but if you've got $500 to spend see if you can find a Denon DVD-1600 or a Panasonic DVD-RP82 or XP30.

I've found my Pioneer to perform almost on par with the XP30, which says a lot sonsidering the XP30 uses GREAT de-interlacing components and great MPEG decoders.

Of ALL of the players I mention, the Toshibas tend to have the MOST features. I can't comment on the video performance as I haven't seen it (progressive scan at least) first hand.

Why not do this, go to Best Buy and find a Toshiba SD-4800 or SD-3900 and try it out. If you don't like it, return it within 30 days and seek out a Denon or Panasonic. The Pioneer is hard to find in a B&M store. I'm not sure about the Denon. The Panasonics I mention are getting harder and harder to find. I bought mine on eBay. When I'm done doing my testing, I'm going to sell the XP30 so check back with me in a month or two, if you still need a progressive scan DVD player.

As for the Panasonic S35, I've heard the NEW Panasonic DVD players do NOT use the Sage/Faroujda (now Genesis) de-interlacer and I've read where people are complaining about the video performance NOT being "up to snuff" as compared to the RP82 and XP30. The Panasonic CP72 is also worth investigating if you want a DVD/CD changer.

Peace...

[MurDiddlyUrdler]

Originally posted by tomdkat
If you're open to other brands, the Denon-DVD-1600 (link to PDF file) would DEFINITELY be worth looking into. Do you need an optical digital audio connection or can you use an optical or coax digital audio connection?

That seems like a great player, tomdkat. It's got the Faroudja DCDi decoder and it has the two functions I love about my Toshiba SD-4800, zoom for non-anamorphic 4:3 material and a built-in closed caption decoder. Awesome!

I may just have to check this player out. I like my Toshiba SD-4800, but I'm becoming less impressed with the video performance. I didn't notice the chroma bug on the Toshiba when I first got it, but now that I've seen it, I see it all the time and it's kind of annoying. The Denon (with the Faroudja processor) wouldn't have the chroma bug, correct?

A quick search at pricegrabber.com shows that you can get the Denon DVD-1600 refurbished by Denon for $249.99 at eCOST.com. Click here to get this price. Do you guys think it'd be worth "auditioning" against my Toshiba? How do you guys feel about a refurbished DVD player? I've had refurbished equipment in the past and never had problems, but never a refurbished DVD player. I gotta think Denon would be pretty strict on what it refurbishes. The $249.99 price seems to be a great price on this player. Other retailers are selling in the $380-440 range.

I gotta stop buying DVD Players, but I'm rather intrigued by this Denon. I still need to sell my Sony DVP-NS715P and I'm sure I can find a buyer for my Toshiba if I decide on the Denon. I'll keep my Pioneer DVL-700 because it's the only thing I have that plays laserdiscs.


edit - fixed link and bad grammar

[Obi-Wan]

Once again thanks for all the info tom.

I did some more research last night on the Denon 1600 and it is impressive. Most of the reviews I have found on it rave about it. I just might pick this one up when I get back from vacation in June.

[Obi-Wan]

Oh yeah. Yes I do have an optical audio connection and a receiver that decodes both DD and DTS.

[tomdkat]

Originally posted by MurDiddlyUrdler
I like my Toshiba SD-4800, but I'm becoming less impressed with the video performance. I didn't notice the chroma bug on the Toshiba when I first got it, but now that I've seen it, I see it all the time and it's kind of annoying. The Denon (with the Faroudja processor) wouldn't have the chroma bug, correct?[/size]

Wow, I had no idea you had "issues" with the video performance of your Tosh. If you can, definitely pick up and audition the Denon. I've been doing that with the Panasonic DVD-XP30 I have and comparing it with my Pioneer DV-656a and I'm finding my Pioneer performs _very_ closely to the XP30, with the XP30 having the better (sharper, crisper) picture. I'm not sure if I'll keep the XP30 as I'm a "Pioneer man" and I love the reliability of my DV-656a. I'm gonna get a SD-3800 or SD-4800 and check that out to see how Tosh video compares to my Pioneer.

I'm sure my Pioneer has the chroma upsampling error and I can't "readily" see if, thank goodness, when watching various DVDs. I've watched "Fifth Element" (the scene where they reconstruct Lilu) and I _think_ I've actually seen the chroma bug in action. If I have, it's not a bother to be at all. What did I see? Well in that big red button in that scene, I noticed some _very_ thin black lines through the mid-section of the button as if I was watching a low resolution LD or something. With the XP30, I can see the texture of the button and the color was vibrant and amazing.

I also tried "Moulin Rouge" (chapter where you first get to see the "Moulin Rouge" and "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is first heard) and "Toy Story" (scene where Tom Hank's character addresses the toys while standing on that makeshift podeum). I couldn't see any evidence of the error on my Pioneer and the XP30 video and Pioneer video looked identical in those scenes.

Since the Denon DVD-1600 is based on the Panasonic DVD-RP82 and the Panasonic DVD-XP30 has video performance equal to the RP82, I think you will LOVE the DVD-1600. I know I'm VERY impressed with how beautiful the XP30's video is and I'm equally impressed with how well my Pioneer has "fared" against the XP30, at least on my Toshiba 57HX81.

Peace...

[MurDiddlyUrdler]

Thanks for the advice, tomdkat. I'm gonna head to my local Tweeter later today and take a look at the Denon DVD-1600. If I like the way it looks and operates, I'll go ahead and order it from eCOST.com. I'd get it from Tweeter because they're the folks who sold me my TV and sound system, plus I get a discount there, but there's no way they'd come close to that online price of $249.95.

Just one more question: how do you feel about a Denon refurbished DVD player? I gotta think if it was refurbished by Denon, it's gotta be OK.

[Rogue]

I highly recommend Panasonic players. They are great in the bang for your buck category.

I have an RP91. While the deinterlacing performance is not as good as the RP62, RP82, or Denon 1600, it does do a good job with the latest firmware. It has great features that most players lack, such as auto scaling of non anamorphic DVDs and 1.33:1 DVDs. It will display these DVDs at the correct aspect ration automatically, even if your TV locks onto full mode when receiving a progressive signal.

[tomdkat]

Originally posted by MurDiddlyUrdler
Just one more question: how do you feel about a Denon refurbished DVD player? I gotta think if it was refurbished by Denon, it's gotta be OK.

I have no experience with Denon refurbished gear, so I really don't know. If you're "relying" on the Denon "name" to imply a level of quality, they had problems with the DVD-2800 when that first came out and then with the DVD-3800.

I've given TWO Toshiba refurbished players to two different people and one of them "died" a year later. The other was given about a month ago so it's too soon too tell.

If you can get the refurb from a place with a good return policy, I would say go for it. Outside of that, I'm not sure what my personal comfort level would be.

Of course, I'm NOT criticizing Denon's QA or anything. I just don't know what I would do.

Good luck!

Peace...

[MurDiddlyUrdler]

eCOST.com does offer extended warranties on their products so I think it might just be worth it to order from them. They want $249.95 for the Denon DVD-1600. Tweeter wants $499.99 for it.

I'm gonna head to my local Tweeter later today and take a look at the Denon DVD-1600.

Well, I went to my local Tweeter and that was a complete waste of time. They had the player, but nobody at the store could find the remote for it. I wanted to check out the player's features, but most things require the remote. I'm heading out of town tomorrow. Maybe there'll be a store there where I can look at what this player does.

[chogan]

It's very much like a Panasonic RP82. The only difference I can think of is that it has an "audio only" feature which makes CDs and DVD-Audio sound better by turning of the video circuitry. It does make a difference. Don't know if the RP82 has that. The remote and menus are exactly the same. I got a DVD-1600 because I liked the warm fuzzy feeling of having a Denon receiver and Denon DVD player. The RP82 is a smarter buy. Although that online price you have there is incredible!

[tomdkat]

Originally posted by chogan
The RP82 is a smarter buy.

Well, that might depend a little. I _have_ read that the Denon DVD-1600 has some video improvements over the RP82, even though it's based on the RP82. I don't think these improvements were significant, so it might not be worth going with the DVD-1600 over the RP82 (if you can even find one these days) unless this video improvement is noticable to you. I'll see if I can find where I read that and post a link here.

Peace...

[mrkeeling]

I see a lot of you really like Denon DVD-1600, so I decided to introduce a different opinion.

For a short period of time I had both Denon DVD-1600 and Panasonic RP-82 in my system. I can honestly say that there was noting that Denon did better than Pany and it costs twice the money. So if the picture quality is your main concern I would definitely recommend Panasonic.

On the other hand, if you are in Hi-Res music and want the best of both worlds (DVD-a and SACD) and still want good picture performance, looks like that Yamaha DVD-S2300 is the way to go.

Of course if sound is your main concern and you can live with its picture there is (now relatively inexpensive) Pioneer Elite DV-45A, which I am very happy with.

[MurDiddlyUrdler]

The Panasonic DVD-RP82 may be a "smarter" buy than the Denon DVD-1600, but there's one very important feature that the Denon has which the Panasonic doesn't appear to have. The Denon has an internal closed caption decoder.

This is important to me because I have a lot of discs (especially from MGM, Artisan and HBO) that do not have English subtitles but do have closed captions. I like to be able to read along with the movie, but HDTVs cannot decode closed captions from a progressive scan signal so it's useful if the DVD player can do this. My Toshiba SD-4800 can do this and it's quite a nice feature. It may not be an important feature to most people, but it could definitely be the deciding factor to me on the Panasonic and the Denon.

[tomdkat]

Originally posted by MurDiddlyUrdler
The Denon has an internal closed caption decoder.

Wow, I didn't know it had this feature. This sounds like a great feature to have!

Have you purchased your DVD-1600 yet?

Peace...

[MurDiddlyUrdler]

Originally posted by tomdkat
Wow, I didn't know it had this feature. This sounds like a great feature to have!

Yeah, it's a FANTASTIC feature to have. Something I really love about my Toshiba player.

Originally posted by tomdkat
Have you purchased your DVD-1600 yet?

No, not yet. Still waiting for some funds to become available. Maybe next week.

[tomdkat]

For those getting HDTVs with DVI inputs, the Bravo D1 might be a DVD player to consider, especially at the $200 price point.

Here is some feedback on this player from AVS Forum.

Edit: Here is more feedback on this player too.

Peace...

[tomdkat]

Here is a review of the Panasonic DVD-S35 progressive scan DVD player.

Peace...

[tomdkat]

For those getting HDTVs w/ DVI inputs and NO HDCP support, read this thread.

Peace...

[MurDiddlyUrdler]

Originally posted by tomdkat
Have you purchased your DVD-1600 yet?

I picked up the DVD-1600 at Tweeter today. I'll test it out and decide whether I want to return it and get it cheaper online. Tweeter sold it to me for $425 which isn't a bad price, but I can beat that online. Tweeter knows me and they've got a great return policy so this will work for "audition" purposes.

tomdkat's link above from the Denon website lists the DVD-1600 as having closed caption capabilities and aspect ratio functions. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like it has either function. That page has a "tentative" notation at the top. I see no mention of either of these features in the owner's manual and cannot find anything like them in the player's menus.

The lack of these features could be the difference maker for me on this player. My first impression of the video quality is great, however. The DCDi chip does seem to make a difference in the picture. I'll have to test it for a few days to really make a decision on this player. I suppose I could always use this player for anamorphic discs and the Toshiba for non-anamorphic discs and discs with closed captions only.

I will say the Denon is a PRETTY player. Looks awesome on my rack!

[MRSMITH]

Why wait? For those of you who are enamored of
films in hi-def, Samsung within the next 30 days
will offer its new model DVD-HD931 player which
upconverts current-generation DVD material to
high-definition display(720p or 1080i) via the
unit's DVI output. MSRP said to be between $299
and $329. Phillips and one other manufacturer
are also said to be ready to offer competing
models, and some are predicting that the
combined Faroujda dcdi and Genesis FLI2310
chips which accomplish this result in the Samsung
machine will eventually be commonplace in most
all DVD players, of whatever kind, so your stash
of present-day DVDs will be hi-def without being
re-purchased all over again.

For those of you who have not seen films in hi-def
either via HDTV telecasts or via D-VHS, you may be
somewhat disappointed to find the difference
between today's very best reference-quality DVD
transfers, is not all that great. The hi-def versions
look a little "smoother" but, to me at least, that's
about it. If you're expecting the greatest thing
since sliced bread well, don't get all that excited.

In any case, you will now be able to watch your
present library of DVDs in high-def without further
wait.

Milt R. Smith
mrsmith2002@yahoo.com

Originally posted by tomdkat
Ok, Kimmo suggested posting a "sticky" thread to be the home for DVD player recommendations, since this topic comes up from time to time.

So, I discussed it with the staff and haven't received any objections (yet) so we'll give it a try.