Thinking of buying a DVD player - Suggestions?

[thebestMAX]

Now looking at the Panasonic rv-30. $250 w/ a $50 rebate. About the right price range

Any comments or other suggestions appreciated.

 

[StageLeft]

playstation 2

 

[luv2chill]

man you should have considered it a week and a half ago. I bought the player from Mercata at ~$230, minus 20% Mercata discount and 20% MSN discount - $50 rebate I'll end up paying $99 bucks for it.

It arrived last week and I've been using it ever since... excellent player. Super clear, sharp, rich picture quality. Remote is good. It has a virtual surround function if you're not DD or DTS ready. It's also got a dialogue enhancer which raises the volume of the center channel to make dialogue easier to hear (I found that quite useful).

It's got component video, which is a plus. It does lack coaxial digital audio out, but it does have optical, and most receivers offer both anyway, so not that big of an issue.

Only feature I would have liked to see would be zoom. But I have a feeling I wouldn't use it too often.

Any other questions, just ask. I would definitely choose it again, even for $200.

l2c

 

[thebestMAX]

Thanks, Luv2

Just the kind of info I wanted. Will look into the deal you got and see if still avail.

Does it lack any other features that you know of?

 

[Namuna]

MAX,

IMO, there are only a few MUSTs when purchasing a DVD player...

* Reliable Name Brand (Sony & Toshiba being at the top)
* AC-3(Dolby Digital) & DTS out
I made the mistake of spending extra on a DVD player that had
AC-3 decoding built in, the Receiver I bought shortly after
already had AC-3 Decoding making the DVD decoder redundant
* Component Video output (ONLY if you've got a TV with the inputs)

Anything else after that, is PURE FLUFF!

My recommendation; The Toshiba SD1600. It has all the features I stated, and with some bargainhunting saviness you should be able to get this badboy for WELL UNDER $200

Good luck Amigo, once you've got that DVD player you'll NEVER go back to VHS!

 

[Fathom5]

I second Namuna I've got the SD1600 and have been very happy with it with one exception.

It does not play CD-R's but I have a CD player anyway so it's not that big of a deal.

 

[thebestMAX]

Thanks, Namuna

My VHS is only used for time sliding and movies off the dish. Have a high Q Mitsubishi, $900 new and have gotten my moneys worth more than but no comparrison to satellite or dvd.

Have to keep it for taping network comedies and dramas Id miss.

 

[Imported]

Pioneer DV-333. I have the 525, which the 333 replaced and it's been really really good so far. It also plays CD-Rs and CD-RWs.

Of course, my PS2 is going to be my primary DVD player since it'll be in my room.

 

[Doggiedog]

Go here for info to the Pioneer.

Scroll down to the middle. I'm not sure if the deal is any good still but WTH its $215 for the 545 and $145 for the 333.

 

[CinderElmo]

I too have the Pioneer 525 like Illkid and recommend that product line...however, my personal regret is that my DVD player doesn't play MP3's. It may not be important to you, but it sure would be nice to play hours and hours of music on one.

 

[AndrewR]

I second the Panasonic DVDRV30 -- excellent player. It's my first so I do not have a large basis for comparison, but I've been pleased so far. I did consider the Toshiba, but I was bothered by some of the negative impressions over at audioreview.com which intimated that Toshibas do have some problems skipping with some movies and have trouble with CD-Rs. The second part does not matter to me, but the lack of any similar reported problems with the Panasonic convinced me to go with that one.

Namuna's list is a good one and that's what my research concluded, too. On the component video out, it's not necessary, but if you're planning on upgrading your TV in the next couple years (I would like to), it doesn't hurt to include it if the price is right.

 

[luv2chill]

yeah I would highly recommend going to audioreview.com and epinions.com and looking at the ratings for the various models you're looking at. I did that and opted for the Panasonic (got slightly higher ratings than the Toshiba and Pioneer) and I can't think of any drawbacks other than what I already mentioned.

Of course, I've only had the player for a week, but it is my second player (have a Sony 500 out in the living room) and I like the Panny better--paid about $300 less for it too.

l2c

 

[Namuna]

Hey MAX,

You can pick up the Toshiba SD1600 at Amazon.com for $150 (Shipping is free!)

Check the deal out at T&chbargains.com.

Good luck

Edit: HOLY SH!T! That DVD you want is like $130 with this deal!

 

[Mister T]

I just picked up an SD1600 and its pretty nice.
only 150

 

[billandopus]

DvdTalk

is a great place to check out DVD info right from the horse's mouth. The Forums are very good. Having said this I have a Panasonic which works well for me but certain early Panasonic models like the A-110 and so forth have problems with layer changes ie. skipping the last and first chapters on side 1/2 which has happened to me once on the Matrix DVD which is supposedly common for many people. There's an ongoing website chronicling this somewhere. Present day Panasonics may be good and this a non-issue ... I don't know.

All in all, I hear that Toshiba makes very good DVD players among others.

 

[AndrewR]

I heard the problems about the early Panasonic players also (there was one on clearance at Target several months ago, a 5 disk changer). I shied away from them as a result. So, when I saw this current deal with the RV30, I did very extensive research to find out if the problems were fixed. From what I read, they have indeed been fixed.

I think I'll watch a movie tonight.