DVD Player Recommnedation (1 Viewer)

[Rob.melone]

Can anyone give me some advice on buying a decent dvd player? I would like to stay under $300 and would appreciate if you would explain your rationale.

Thanks.

 

[Don_Berg]

The best advice is to get one with a top-rated de-interlacer like Faroudja. The cheapest new models with Faroudja are the Mitsubishi DD-8040 ($249) and the Denon DVD-910 ($299) at stores like Tweeter or Good Guys. Even better are the older discontinued models like the Panasonic XP30, but you have to look for a leftover unit in stores like Sharper Image or buy one on EBAY. I got one EBAY a few months ago for $250 and it was in like-new condition and is the best picture quality I've seen.

 

[Rob.melone]

Don, thanks for taking the time to give me advice. I am surprised that, so far, others have not done the same.
Rob

 

[Don_Berg]

Glad to help. I went thru the same search last year for months and did lots of internet research and tested a lot of different models from stores with 30day return priviledges and I used test equipment and DVD tests such as AVIA and Video Essentials. The best model hands down was the XP30 and I'm lucky I managed to get one finally.

 

[Rob.melone]

Don, I am not using progressive scan. Would the Faroudja de-interlacer improve s-video? Thanks again. Rob

 

[Don_Berg]

No the de-interlacer is only used to convert to progressive output. If you are only using an analog TV set with interlaced only, you might as well get an el-cheapo under $100 unit unless you plan on upgrading your TV to digital/HD soon.

 

[Ted Lee]

don's right - you won't see any major advantage of using a de-interlacer if you're only using s-video.

but it may not hurt to "future-proof" yourself.

fwiw, i have the samsung 931 - it also has the faroudja chip.

 

[Lew Crippen]

Actually I consider Don to be pretty current in this area and don’t really feel that I can ever add after he posts.

But if I did, I’d write, ‘what Don said’.

 

[Don_Berg]

The samsung 931 only uses a Faroudja scaler on its DVI port output, not on the component video output for your information. I prefer a native 480p component video output for HDTV CRT sets, so the Panasonic XP30 is the best for that with Faroudja de-interlacer. I've heard the best interlaced output with great scaling features is the old Panasonic RP91.

 

[Ted Lee]

sorry...should have mentioned that. as a matter of fact, i think the component outputs are disabled when the dvi is connected ... but not sure...

 

[Page Ferrell]

Very helpful information. Don, you are a sage. My dad would've been proud (a TV repairman for 30 years).

Anyhow, I, too have an older set (36" Mitsubishi 4:3...with a very nice picture though thanks to my dad picking up off of someone's scrap heap and giving it a new picture tube -- that was 6 years ago, too) and a Pioneer DV-444. I am running an S-video line to my TV as it predates component. I was intrigued by yours and everyone else's strong endorsement of the Panasonic XP-30. I would have gone after one to improve my picture, but your previous posts have confirmed that it would not add any value to my current viewing display. Thanks.

Looking today, I see there is Panasonic XP-30 on E-Bay, a "former store model" (so the user claims) that has no reserve and is only at $13.00 right now (and supposedly has a 48-hour guarantee). I would have bidded on it (and maybe I still should, if I get it for a low-low price, it would be good to have and to hold until I upgrade(?), but a new HDTV is not in cards for me in the near future (a renovated apartment is, instead...that's okay!). There's still 5 days left to go with this bidding, if anyone is interested.

 

[Don_Berg]

I'm sure that XP30 if its in decent condition will go up to $300 or so near the end of the bidding. Its very typical to not bid up until the end unless their is a minimum price which there usually is for Xp30's.

 

[Page Ferrell]

Aaaaaaaaaaaah, understood. Thanks, Don. I did notice the other XP-30s on Ebay are all between $270-$340 and yet are refurbished. Clearly, the market is dictating a premium price for these highly sought after commodities. Wild.

I surely have the "bug," here for a new TV and corresponding new DVD player, but alas, I am going to have to enjoy them vicarously through these postings for a while (however, that'll make the pain-related envy worse!), and consider it part of the education process. On the one hand, I have been part of the video edge for my whole life (given what my dad did for a living), but on the other, the explosion of multiple formats with advanced technologies in the video/TV world over the last 3-5 years has been enormous (and it saddens me that my dad is missing it; he was sooo knowledgeable and honest and good and "into" this stuff). Alas, I will try and carry the sword for him (albeit that I have zero tech skills), and acquire the right TV (the one with the best picture at a "reasonable price") when the timing is right.

Sorry for the ramble...a little personal ventilation never hurt.

- walkman

 

[Rob.melone]

Then, can anyone recommend an el-cheapo player for an analog set using s-video?

Thanks for all your input, thus far.

 

[MuneebM]

Rob, the Toshiba SD-4900/SD-3900 is a very good "el-cheapo" player. I am curently using an SD-5700 with my HDTV and its great, but I do plan to upgrade to one of the Faroudja-equipped players.

 

[Andre Bijelic]

If you're using a 4:3 set, I'd reccomend either the Pioneer 353 or the Sony 325. I've found that Pioneer and Sony do the best job of downconverting 16:9 material for 4:3 displays.

 

[Don_Berg]

For the best interlaced output quality look for a deal on a Panasonic RP91. For under $100 players I favor the JVC models they have more features than others and are reliable with very fast

 

[Jason Green]

Hi Rob, FWIW Kenwood has a dv-6050 with the faroudja chip and it also plays most formats including DVD-A, and is a five disk carousel. I haven't had it very long but it seems like a pretty good deal for the 180$$ canadian that i paid.