DVD Player Upgrade Time... Please Help
 

I've currently got an APEX AD1500 that is Region Free & Macrovision Free. I'm looking to upgrade because when I play PAL movies, the Image squishes & zooms in some.

I'm not looking for a whole lot in a new DVD player other than:

Region Free
Pal Support
Progressive Scan
Support for DVD-R, DVD+R, & +R DL
MPEG Support

I'd like to keep costs under $100. I've recently been looking at some Philips models that play Divx too, but I'm kind of leery about issues playing PAL dvds & recordable media. My very 1st Dvd player from 2000 was a Philips & I had nothing but issues playing anything except real media. The player I get does not need to be Macrovision free & doesn't have to have Divx support.

I've tried looking over vcdhelp.com at some of the players, but there are so many conflicting reports I get overwhelmed looking through the various players. I'd love to just buy a Denon or a good Pioneer player, but I don't have the cash, or a Palm Pilot to hack a player region free.

thanks alot!!

I recently did an upgrade myself and had with similar questions. I started out with a Toshiba 4900 that worked really nice with pal/ntsc conversions. Player was only $70. This player died on me within 1 YR. Next I purchased a Philips Philips DVP 642 which is very easy to unlock region free. This player plays just about everything, but ive heard from many of my friends they only lasted them 6 months or so. My other room I purchased the oppo OPDV971H, this player is more in price around $199.99 but ive not had one problem with it so far, plays everything I throw at it, Pal,xvid,divx.

Best of luck!

For under $100 I recommend the Pioneer DV-588-A. I got mine refurb'd off eBay from Pioneer themselves for $65+shipping and couldn't be happier. It plays DIVX and handles PAL and region free as well. It works with everything I've thrown at it including DVD+R DL, and the PAL conversion is perfect to my eyes.

To enable region free you just have to upgrade the firmware which is pretty simple to do by following the instructions here: http://www.pioneerfaq.info/english/dv585.php

I'd highly recommend one.

The Oppo, thats one of those HDMI players right? I don't have a very great tv, still have a tube television with av & svideo.

If you have another $50 to throw at it, look at the Oppo player. Great reviews, plus upconversion.

The best price universal player to me is the Pioneer DV-588 (~200$), the brother of the european DV-585.

high-resolution 6-channel surround sound from DVD-Audio and SACD discs
Play back full-screen, full-motion DivX® movies on your TV
Play back MP3 / WMA / JPEG files
108 MHz/12-bit Video D/A Converter
Dual PureCinema Progressive Scan
Stylish and slim, only 4.95 cm

Playbacks DVD/SVCD/VCD/CD/CD-R/CD-RW/DVD-R/DVD-RW/DVD-AUDIO/SACD/SACD
DVD-RW recorded in Video Recording Mode Yes
DVD-R/DVD-RW recorded in Video Mode Yes
DivX Video playback Yes
JPEG Viewer Yes
MP3 Yes
WMA Yes
Dual System (PAL/NTSC) (Video output) Yes
Plays DVD-R/RW,DVD+R/RW: Yes
Plays VBR MP3: Yes
Plays XviD: Yes
Plays MP3,WMA,Divx,Xvid.JPEG on DVD-R/RW,DVD+R/RW media: Yes (DVD-ROM ISO format)
Zoom and FF/RW with Divx/Xvid: Yes
Plays Divx/Xvid with AC3 ljud: Yes(decodes to analog outputs and sends digital stream through digital outputs)
Plays VOB fils on DVD-ROM ISO format: Yes

PureCinema Progressive Scan: PAL/NTSC Yes/Yes
Zoom Function Yes
Video Adjust Yes
Video Signal D/A Converter 108 MHz/12-bit
Sends out Progressiv component och S-Video at the same time: Yes

DVD-Audio Compatibility Yes
192 kHz/24-bit D/A Converter Yes (6 ch)
Built-in Dolby Digital Decoder (5.1 channel) Yes
Built-in DTS Decoder Yes
Built-in MPEG Decoder Yes
Super Audio CD Multi Playback Yes
Dynamic Range Control Yes
Bass Management Yes
Delay Adjustment Yes

Big support from hackers, unofficial firmwares and guide to upgrade at pioneerfaq
You don't need a Palm to make it region free, a laptop and an IR interface will do the job (Region free) .

I'm thinking about the $150 Oppo DV-970HD, my only concerns though are:

Am I going overboard for a regular 28" Tube Television?
Does the player support SVideo or AV? I Dont have DVI or HDMI

The reviews on it are really outstanding, as long as SVideo or AV cables will work, then I'd have a great player for when I finally get a better tv.

thx

Cyberhome CH300. Cheap, plays pretty much everything you throw into it. Progressive, PAL, easy change of region, etc.

I used to recommend the Cyberhome but I'm hesitant to do that anymore given my last experience with it.

http://forum.dvdtalk.com/showthread....ight=cyberhome

The Philips DVP-642 is fairly highly regarded and can found for around $30-40.

http://forum.dvdtalk.com/showthread.php?t=463149

Yes, if you don't have DVI or HDMI then an upcoverting DVD player is overboard.

Not exactly overboard since I finally decided to save up for an upgrade on my TV. It may be overboard ATM, but once I have the new TV then it's one less thing to have to worry about upgrading.

This Oppo is sweet guys, thanks for the recommendation. I've tried a whole bunch of different region discs & a few different recordable discs. So far nothing but success on everything. Only complaint is the flimsy dvd tray that most everyone else seems to dislike. Unfortunately it's on the side where my glass component cabinent opens, so I fear I may need to take extra caution & make sure the glass is opened all the way before I eject the tray.

No more squished PAL DVD issues, great sound output, internal DTS Decoder, region free, usb input, internal color adjustment in the setup menus, divx support, SACD, DVDA, this thing is loaded! Can't wait until I get an HD TV!