With such a wide range of DVD players and recorders on the market, it can be quite tricky to choose the right match, especially for one with a high end TV or AV system. Well, an article by E-Commerce times aims to make it a less tedious job with 10 tips for choosing the best Player or recorder. The first obviously is to know whether to go for a player or a recorder. When it comes to players, check out your TV and AV's capabilities to find one that most closely matches each. For example if the AV receiver has a digital optical in, then ensure the DVD player has an optical out, etc. For digital TVs, go for a player with DVI or HDMI out, depending on which type the TV supports. Otherwise, aim for one with progressive-scan if the TV supports this.
For recorders, aim for a model with time slip capability, as this allows playback of a programme while it is still recording or to play a recording while recording another. When it comes to combi DVD / Tape / HDD models, also look to see if it can record on one medium while playing another. For those with cable or satellite, aim for a recorder that can control the cable / satellite receiver as this ensures it is set to the correct channel just prior to recording. For those interested in editing, look for useful editing features such as the ability to edit out content (such as ads) and merge & split recordings, especially on HDD models.
When it comes to any DVD player or recorder, either look out for well-respected brands or at least check consumer reports and user reviews to see how well a particular model and brand is doing. When purchasing, use a credit card as this allows you to dispute the purchase within 60 days of purchase if there is a problem. Finally, do not take up an extended warranty, since the warranty that comes with DVD players is generally all one ever needs.
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The full article can be read here. |
While some assume that any budget DVD player will do the job, I have come across a few cases where this does not turn out to be the case, such as one case where someone purchased a DVD player that was incompatible with their 5.1 surround sound system! There are also a few other points not covered in the article that would be worth checking out. For example, if you are interested in playing DVD's from different regions, look for a model which can be 'de-regioned'. I encountered a few who insisted on buying a more expensive model from a well known brand name, only to be disappointed that they were unable to 'deregion' it.
Finally, when it comes to European models, ensure your TV has a free SCART connection or look for a model with two SCART sockets such that the DVD player connects directly to the TV. Some set-top boxes and especially most VCRs cannot loop-through a Macrovision encoded signal, let alone record it, so to be on the safe side, aim to configure the DVD player as the first in the chain, unless you come across a model where Macrovision can be disabled.
Feel free to discuss about DVD players and recorders in our DVD Recorder & Home Entertainment forum.
Source: E-commerce Times
