Geofferson

^ on the Samsung HD950. First off, are there 2 versions of the 950 -- one region-free and one not? I've seen it advertised as being region-free here while Amazon has no mention of it.

Also, what are the keystrokes to make it region-free if that's the case?

Geofferson

Also, I've read good things about the Toshiba SD-4980:

http://www.samstores.com/details.asp?ProdID=4220

sldvd

I got the Norcent DP-220 earlier this year for $42. I found a region-hack for it on videohelp.com, and it has built-in PAL to NTSC conversion, so it has no trouble playing the Anchor Bay Region 2 PAL Phantasm set that I got recently.

The one problem I noticed with it is that it can't play my SAW UNCUT discs for some reason. The picture is blocky and sound is shaky for some reason, but the discs play fine in my computer's DVD-ROM drive.

reefa

I'll vouch for the Tosh. I'm a light RFree user, but used the hack on this, and so far so good. And since I went to HDTV, that's one less component I've gotta worry about.

buckee1

I had one of these at the start of the year. I applied the requisite remote hack and all hell broke loose. It showed that the change took but then whenever I loaded an R1 or R2-6 disc the player refused to present and image.

I guess if you purchase it modded you should be OK, but I'd stay away from remote hacks for this particular unit.

yoshiben

Does the Yamaha DVS5750 peform correct PAL conversion when the disc is anamorphic, i.e. not squeezed on a 16:9 tv? Also does the Samsung have a built in PAL/NSTC convertor in the region 1 version of the machine? Thanks

randall

Regarding the Yamaha, I have widescreen Buffy the Vampire Slayer PAL discs that fill my 16:9 display upon play. I answer this way because I don't have other PAL discs and, unbelievaby, have yet to fully understand the anamorphic term (although I'm pretty sure my system takes care of it, whatever it is).

Josh Z

Read this:

http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articl...c/welcome.html

yoshiben

Thanks that's the information I was looking for.

onabudget

SOunds like your player went into PAL mode and your TV couldn't handle it.

Same happened to me when I did my HD841 to HD741 "downgrade" to make it region-free, HDCP-free and Divx-ready

I suggest before a new DVD player is bought, trying to hack your existing player that is unless in addition to region-free capability you are also looking for the flexibility and video tweaking available on players like the Oppo or Momitsu.

Here's a good source for hacks: http://www.videohelp.com/dvdhacks

asianxcore

so what player would everyone recommend that does the PAL-NTSC conversion correctly, has really good P/Q and plays 720p?

I'm interested in getting a new player.

chente

It depends on how much you want to spend and what you are going to play it on.

I'm probably going to get an OPPO OPDV971H in the next couple of months. Read Josh Z's DVDTalk review on it.