Best price/performance "real" DVD player?

[Biggs]

I'm talking about the one that you couple with a good home audio entertainment surround sound equipment. No exact budget but not the really expensive or really cheaps ones. Something in the middle or that is just right hence price/performance.

 

[Ruark]

Panasonic RP 91 - progressive scan, DVD-A, MP-3, DVD-RAM, no chroma bug, $449 @ ecost.

Panasonic RP 61 - most of the same features as the above, available in ~2 weeks for $300.

 

[yellowperil]

Toshiba is about to release a progressive scan DVD player for under $300 (SD4700). Couldn't find any info on their website, but here's a product info page at J&R

 

[randomlinh]

DVD-A == DVD audio i pressume?

 

[Noriaki]

If you don't want progressive the Pioneer DV333 or DV343 are good choices.

I can get them for about $300canadian, so they should be $200US at most.

They will do DVD and VCD

If you want progressive, I think Panasonic is released a fairly cheap DVD player...RP-61 I believe...about the middle of next month for about $300US I think. Progressive is better, but it's useless if you don't have a progressive capable TV. However, if it's only $100 more I'd spring for it, then you can keep the DVD player for later.

Ed: Oops it's already june lol.

I think Ruark's right, it's about 2 weeks off.

 

[Pabster]

APEX 703 ... 3-disc changer, plays all formats on any variety of media. Upgradeable firmware, karaoke, etc. - around $180 almost anywhere.

 

[Shmorq]

I find the Pioneers to be one of the best. I have the DV-434 and it plays everything I've thrown at it.

It's compatible with CD-R, CD-RW, and DVD-R according to vcdhelp.com

 

[TunaBoo]

Can you tell the difference with progressive scan over normal?

 

[Ruark]

<< DVD-A == DVD audio i pressume? >>



Yes, not DD or DTS, it's 6 channel audio.

The Panasonics are also CD-R/RW compatible (which can be inferred from the MP-3 capability).

A progressive display draws every line of a frame with each scan, as opposed to an interlaced picture which draws every other line on the first scan, and then fills in the skipped lines with the next scan.

A progressive display is much clearer, brighter, and sharper than interlaced.

Your computer monitor is progressive, while a standard TV is not.

 

[Pariah]

If you don't plan on buying a progressive scan TV in the near term future, don't pay extra for the ability, or at least don't make it a deciding factor. Sony, Pioneer and Toshiba all make very good players in the $200-$400 range.

 

[Kingofcomputer]

any china brand china made region free, marcovision free, vcd/svcd/mp3/cd-r/cd-rw capable dvd player.