Home Theater/HDTV/et al...

[groink]

Yo!

I'm in the market for a new DVD player. The features I'm looking for specifically are:

- CDR, CDRW read
- DVD+/-R, DVD+/-RW read
- VCD, SVCD, DivX/XviD/MPEG-4 (version 3.11 and later)
- Progressive scanning
- NTSC

The one model that has great reviews and does everything I'm looking for is the Technosonic MP-101. Unfortuantely, I can't find any US based source that sells this model. Here's the DVDRHelp web site listing the features of this model:

http://www.dvdrhelp.com/dvdplayers.php?DVDnameid=2594&Search=Search&#comments

Any other recommendations on make/models and places to buy them are appreciated! Thanks!

--- groink

[bmwracer]

Groink, you can't go wrong with a Sony. Unless you plan to hack the Region code or the copy protection. Then you might consider LITEON.

Gimme a minute and I'll dig up a review...

[arnel98]

bmwracer, a friend of mine has a sony dvd player (dont know the model though) but there are some anime dvds he has (R1) that he cant play on it. (an example would be x tv disc 4) But it works on PS2 and on my panasonic dvd. Dont know if its isolated to his equipment or not though.

Panasonic is good too (you have to praise what u have right?) hehehe. It usually is cheaper than other brands having the same features. You can also have it default to using jap audio if its available which is very handy when watching anime dvds. (well, this might be a feature common to all dvds though, dont really know). Never had any problems reading dvd-rs/cdr/cdrw
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[bmwracer]

arnel98 wrote:

bmwracer, a friend of mine has a sony dvd player (dont know the model though) but there are some anime dvds he has (R1) that he cant play on it. (an example would be x tv disc 4) But it works on PS2 and on my panasonic dvd. Dont know if its isolated to his equipment or not though.

It would be nice to know how old his player is. I've got a 2-3 year old Sony and I had to go into the diagnostic program and run a laser alignment diagnostic for a couple of discs that wouldn't play, and it corrected the problem. I can give you the link if you're friend is interested...

Quote:

Panasonic is good too (you have to praise what u have right?) hehehe. It usually is cheaper than other brands having the same features. You can also have it default to using jap audio if its available which is very handy when watching anime dvds. (well, this might be a feature common to all dvds though, dont really know). Never had any problems reading dvd-rs/cdr/cdrw

Can you remote hack the Panasonic? I'm looking for one that you can hack, so that I don't have to use my PC to view R2 discs...

[arnel98]

bmwracer wrote:

Can you remote hack the Panasonic? I'm looking for one that you can hack, so that I don't have to use my PC to view R2 discs...

my friends dvd was like a yr old - the one with progressive component video out. But send me the link anyway, that might help.

I dont know anything about remote hacking on Panasonic. I just know there are shops that will convert ur dvd player to multi-region. I never mess with non-pc hardware though. I just use my pc-dvd to play non-r1 discs.
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[bmwracer]

Groink:

Here's the review of the LITEON DVD player that some people have recommended:

http://www.kitsapcomputers.com/lvd2001.htm

[bmwracer]

arnel98 wrote:

my friends dvd was like a yr old - the one with progressive component video out. But send me the link anyway, that might help.

Here's the link: http://209.145.176.7/~090/awh/sonydvd.html

Hope it helps your friend.

Quote:

I dont know anything about remote hacking on Panasonic. I just know there are shops that will convert ur dvd player to multi-region. I never mess with non-pc hardware though. I just use my pc-dvd to play non-r1 discs.

If I could get my hands on the chip, I'd do the mod myself (I have access to that equipment at work. One of the few perks.)...

The thing is, I'd rather playback the DVD on my big TV and audio system rather than on my dinky PC... "Thus the search for the perfect hackable DVD player..."

I'd better make and eat dinner... I'm getting delirious.

[groink]

bmwracer wrote:

Groink: Here's the review of the LITEON DVD player that some people have recommended: http://www.kitsapcomputers.com/lvd2001.htm

Hey, this unit may be THE ONE!!!! There's even a hack for region-free via remote control:

http://www.dvdrhelp.com/dvdhacks.php?select=LiteON+LVD-2001

Here's the details and reviews:

http://www.dvdrhelp.com/dvdplayers.php?DVDnameid=2509&Search=Search&#comments

Now I need to find a place on-line to buy it. Any recommendations?

--- groink

[PERTU]

I recommend the Malata DVP-520. Its one of the best DVD player out there, for multi region and PAL / NTSC conversion. I don't know about DVD-R support.

[bmwracer]

groink wrote:

Hey, this unit may be THE ONE!!!! There's even a hack for region-free via remote control: http://www.dvdrhelp.com/dvdhacks.php?select=LiteON+LVD-2001 Here's the details and reviews: http://www.dvdrhelp.com/dvdplayers.php?DVDnameid=2509&Search=Search&#comments Now I need to find a place on-line to buy it. Any recommendations? --- groink

Groink:

Try checking out PC Club: http://www.pcclub.com/

We have a buncha these stortes in SoCal... I would think they'd ship it to Hawaii... Check for availability as well... I don't know how recent that model is... Good luck!

[Voort]

there are region-free players available *can get those in his favourite DVD store*

[bmwracer]

Voort wrote:

there are region-free players available *can get those in his favourite DVD store*

Yep, there sure are. The thing is, they're not direct from the factory (for legal reasons, I'm sure), so they've been hacked by some third-party shop which is sorta risky unless you've had experience with them before or know them from a recommendation...

[ntlover000]

I said it before but I'll say it again - Norcent DP300

Plays everything - NTSC/PAL - DVD/VCD/MP3

[arnel98]

bmwracer wrote:

If I could get my hands on the chip, I'd do the mod myself (I have access to that equipment at work. One of the few perks.)... The thing is, I'd rather playback the DVD on my big TV and audio system rather than on my dinky PC... "Thus the search for the perfect hackable DVD player..." I'd better make and eat dinner... I'm getting delirious.

thanks for the link.
Anyway, I do watch non-R1 on my home theater system as well since i got my pc and hts hooked up.
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[stargirl]

i heard there are some DVD players which can play avi files. is this true?

[arnel98]

yup, here's one i saw some time ago
http://www.tomshardware.com/consumer/20030124/index.html
but u wont have the flexibility and control u get with softwares like ffdshow though.
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[bmwracer]

ntlover000 wrote:

I said it before but I'll say it again - Norcent DP300 Plays everything - NTSC/PAL - DVD/VCD/MP3

Is it reliable?? I've heard some horror stories about these China/Taiwan DVD players... Sure they're remote hackable, but what good is it if they don't work? That's why I'm a bit leery about these off-brands...

[stargirl]

is samsung available there? the one i have is a samsung and it plays dvd/vcd/svcd/mp3 and is region free.

[bmwracer]

stargirl wrote:

is samsung available there? the one i have is a samsung and it plays dvd/vcd/svcd/mp3 and is region free.

Cool. What's the model number? Is it a recent model?

Of course, Region-free players may be more accessible where you're at than here in the States...

[niko2x]

Hey groink, I think somewhere in dvdrhelp.com, you can even find dvd players that can play divx (avi) files. It also connect to the web so if you need a certain codec for playback, it'll go automatically to search out that codec. I've seen it before on the site, but I forgotten where. . It's in there, tho.
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