DVD Player Buying Guide

DVD player types

DVD players play DVD-formatted discs with movies, television shows and concerts. A basic DVD player, also known as the single-disc console, connects to any of the newer televisions and, often, a stereo receiver. Their audio and video applications are far superior to the old VCRs. Most DVD players will play back one movie or one music CD at a time. To record data, upgrade to a DVD recorder. To play DVDs and your old VHS tapes, choose a DVD VCR combination player. The following paragraphs include information on those kinds of DVD players.

DVD recorders record video onto a disc. For a while after DVD players came on the market, many consumers needed to keep separate DVD and VCR players in order to play old tapes and record television shows. Then, the ever resourceful consumer electronics industry introduced the DVD recorder.

DVD recorders are available in three styles: the standalone DVD recorder, the DVD recorder VCR combo and the recorder/hard drive combo. Any of these units record video onto writable blank DVDs, and most are decent DVD players.

Many DVD recorders feature several record modes and playback modes, supporting DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R and DVD+RW DL formats. A DVD recorder VCR combo lets you easily transfer the video from your personal, homemade VHS tapes onto space-saving DVDs (technology prevents the recording of copyrighted VHS movie tapes). Choose a DVD recorder with a hard drive if you love to edit your DVDs. Record that TV show or home movie to the hard drive and edit it before placing in on the DVD.

DVD changers, also called multi-disc players, accommodate two or more discs (usually five) for continuous play. Consider this feature if you plan to play CDs on your DVD player. The DVD changer can replace separate DVD players and CD changers in a home theater system.

Portable DVD players, especially top-end units, are loaded with features and let you watch movies, listen to music and view photographs. Many portable DVD players increase the convenience with built-in LCD screens and built-in stereo speakers. They use rechargeable batteries and some use AC/DC adapters so you're never without electronic entertainment. For more options, choose a portable DVD player that accommodates CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, CDs and MP3s. Be sure to check the outputs on any new portable DVD player so you can connect it to televisions anywhere.

DVD/VCR combination players combine the best of old and new home entertainment technology. The DVD player offers sound and pictures of amazing clarity while the VCR player still records your favorite TV shows. Also, the DVD VCR combo lets you view the VHS movie collection you acquired prior to the DVD era. A DVD recorder VCR combo lets you transfer non-copyrighted VHS tapes to space-saving DVDs.

DVD player terminology and features

• Digital Versatile Discs (DVD): CD-sized discs (12 mm) that store enough data for a two- or three-hour movie, plus a few extra minutes of special features such as director commentary, deleted scenes and extra language options. DVDs, like CDs, are available in different formats, and these formats effect how you use your DVD player. Before making a purchase, consider which DVD formats your machine must accommodate.

DVDs, technically known as DVD-ROMs, are preprogrammed with the program you wish to view or hear. Any DVD player will accommodate the preprogrammed commercial DVDs and CDs on the market. DVD-R and DVD+R are formats for blank discs that you program at home. If you wish to view your own home videos, images or downloads from legitimate Internet sites on the DVD player, choose a player that accommodates these DVDs. The DVD-R and DVD+R DVDs can only be written (programmed) one time. Rewritable DVD discs are also available in the DVD-RW and DVD+RW formats and can be programmed many times (giving you the convenience of the old blank VHS tapes that you copied over many times). Many of the latest DVD players will play all formats of DVDs and CDs. Overstock.com lists the acceptable formats in the product description of each DVD player offered on our site.

• Aspect-ratio control: A feature that accommodates the different viewing formats of traditional televisions and the new wide-screen TVs. Older, conventional TVs have an aspect ratio of 4:3 (4 inches wide for every 3 inches high) while wide-screen sets have an aspect ratio of 16:9. The aspect-ratio control lets you choose the correct viewing format for your television.
• Chapter preview: The DVD format divides the data (movie, TV show, whatever) into sections, called chapters, making it easier to search for scenes, features or information. The preview quickly accesses information by playing the first few seconds of a chapter. In other word, you can find the car chases and sinking ships while bypassing the slow "talking" scenes (or vice versa).
• Decoder: A function for accessing multi-channel surround sound formats on DVDs such as Dolby Digital and Digital Theater System (DTS). Access of multi-channel audio requires that the DVD player be connected to a receiver and, thus, a speaker system. The receiver should have this feature that decodes the multi-channel format. If your stereo receiver is older and doesn't have the ability to decode multi-channel sound, then choose a DVD player with a built-in decoder.
• DVD region coding: A compatibility system used by the movie industry to protect copyrighted material and fight against piracy of entertainment products. Basically, the system uses digital codes to divide the world into regions and then formats DVDs with these codes. Only a compatible DVD player can play a coded DVD. For example, a region one DVD player (US/Canada) cannot play a region two (Europe/Japan) DVD. Companies release DVDs with the proper code for the country where they will be sold.
• HD-ready: A DVD player that reads discs with a blue laser to create high definition resolution. Blue laser technology is available in two formats, Blu-Ray and HD DVD, each with compatible DVD discs. The entertainment industry now releases movies on both standard and high definition discs, though they often do not release films in both Blu-Ray and HD DVD formats. It is important to know that these formats are not interchangeable -- a Blu-Ray DVD will not play on a HD DVD player. However, both types of players will play standard discs. Either of these DVD players must connect to a HDTV to take advantage of the technology.
• JPEG photo viewer: A DVD player feature that displays digital photographs saved to a disc. The JPEG viewer creates a slide show on the TV screen.
• Multi-angle: This function allows audience to view action scenes in a DVD movie from different angles (with a disc that includes this feature).

DVD player care

DVD players do not require much care. Simply place the DVD player, along with other audio and video equipment, in a well ventilated area to prevent overheating of the electronic components. Dust the machine exterior occasionally with a cloth and clean the interior and DVD tray with a can of compressed air.