mjb7001

I currently own an old RCA 5240P DVD player which just happens to play both NTSC and PAL region 1 or region free DVDs. (It somehow converts PAL movies to my NTSC TV!!)

I am looking to purchase a new system, and although we live in New York City, we are originally from Europe.

I would like to buy a new DVD player that can read all regions and play PAL/NTSC on my NTSC TV.

Any suggestions??

Thanks,
Mjb7001

Frank S

Look for the Phillips 727 which is one of the very few players that correctly keeps the aspect ratio of Anamorphic DVD's when converting from PAL to NTSC. Most of the PAL to NTSC players will inproperly display Anamorphic DVD's. It also offer very nice video and audio performance as well. The best part is it can be found in the upper $50 or lower $60 range.

mjb7001

Frank S-

Is the Philips 727 region free? (Or can it be made so?

mjb7001

Frank S

It can be made so by pushing a sequence of buttoms on the remote and/or player itself. There are insructions on the web, do a search for it.

Psych1

Sometimes I feel that Malata should be sending me a commission because of all the stuff I've sold for them. Anyway, here goes - again.

I've owned a lot of tech stuff but my best buy was a Malata 520. It is a bit pricy (<200$) but it does everything I've ever asked it to and I've asked a lot of it.

f you want to go cheap - look at Apex. Or, forget the brand just find something from China and search the forums on how to tweek it. Most of the stuff from China tweeks well and can easily be made multi-system with some key presses.

buckee1

Koss KD365 $49 @ Sears
Simple code renders this deck region free.

Frank S

The problem with the two players listed above is they do NOT properly display the aspect ratio of Anamorphic DVD's when converting PAL to NTSC.

Numanoid

Philips DVP-642.

http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthr...hlight=philips

undergradsfan

Some nice ones:
JVC XV-N512s
Pioneer DV-578A
JVC XV-NP10SL
JVC XV-FA95GD DVD Changer

dyerjp

momitsu. got one a weeks ago, IT ROCKS!!!!!!!!

milo bloom

I'm not that interested in Region free, but I am keeping my eyes open for a new player. Basically what I want is a rock solid player. Something that will play any piece of crap authoring job I throw at it. Is there anything that good that's region free? PAL isn't that important.

thanks

chente

I'm very pleased with my Toshiba 4900. It plays everything I've ever thrown in it including R2 Pal DVDs.

ShagMan

I just picked up a $37 Daewoo 9200 from Target... it plays everything, cd/dvd+-r and +-rw, all region, PAL w/ correct anamorphic, also plays mp3's and/or jpg's from any cd/dvd... it loads large jpg's too, which a lot of players won't... plays a set of starwars vcd's I have too, which my old player (Fisher) wouldn't.

DoogieHowser

walmart has a cyberhome that is only $40. it does pal to ntsc conversion and is progressive scan.

Chill Pill

How did you tweek this? This sounds like a good one to go with. Thanks.

ShagMan

http://www.videohelp.com/ and use the menu on the left.

indycohiba

Which one did you get and does it have zoom to correct overscan and does it have x/y scaling? How is the video/audio and PAL to NTSC conversion. I want to buy a back-up player. I currently have the Malata 520 and have loved it except for the lack of a digital power on/off button.

Does the up conversion to HD make much difference on the video playback quality?

Thanks

The Exister

Amen - I love my 727!

Tempermentalist

i see a few players im gonna have to check into listed in this thread...but it seems the ones people are listing have to be hacked....whats a good PAL/NTSC player region free out the box?

FantasticVSDoom

Another vote for the 727 here...Can you still find them? I may pick up another one as a third player. Its pretty much region free out of the box, you just have to punch in the code before playing the disc you want, but a 4 year old could do it, takes all of 5 seconds.

Yug

I've began to search for the 727 and nothing but an amazon market place seller's got one for $150. is the dvp-642 close in quality? i believe 3:2 pulldown and progressive for that matter won't make a diffence on my non-hdtv sony 27" wega. will then the 727, it's larger cost and the extra effort to find it at a retailer be worth it? one last question my panasonic dvd-rv31 just crapped out after 2 years but since day one it broke up the picture if the disc was slightly less then mint condition. this made rentals very frustrating to play. i remember my even older jvc which i foolishly sold for the panasonic could handle scuffs, scratches and finger prints with ease. would you say the philip's is more like the latter in this respect?

BuddyRevell

I pretty much looked all over the bay area for the 727 with no luck. I settled for the 642, but haven't recieved my Dungeons & Dragons cartoon set yet, so I can't check the quality of the PAL transfer.

It was on sale at Best Buy for 64.99. Just glad the search has ended.