Need DVD-player advice: Good progressive + PAL/NTSC + Region free (1 Viewer)

[Amdi]

I need some advice with regards to DVD players. I've done some research and looked through some of the old posts but I couldn't find anything about this.

I would like to purchase a progressive-scan DVD player with top-notch image to go with my Mitsubishi HDTV. I'm very picky about image quality, and as I found out with the Cyberhome DVD fiasco, some DVD players are just very poor.

However, I would also like to be able to play PAL (and natively NTSC) DVDs, as well as being able to play DVDs from any region. I'm interested in European movies, and they are often either not released in the US, or they are butchered with terrible transfers and baked-in subtitles (like Jean de Florette).

So, my question is, can I really get both in one DVD? Does such a beast exist? I'm almost getting to the point that I think I might be better served with two DVD players: A good progressive-scan one, and another one for PAL/Region free DVDs, even if the quality suffers.

Anybody has some advice? Feel free to point me to some web site with a comprehensive review comparing current progressive DVD players. The only one I saw was from December 2000 considering how fast progressive scan DVD players are changing and new models coming out.

Thanks from a new member

 

[Patrick Sun]

I did a search on "region free" in this area and here are some promising threads to read through.
Your best bet is the Malata 520 or the modded JVC 500 or the older JVC SA-XV6x series (I have the JVC SA-XV65GD which I modded by soldering the 10 or so leads from a little bitty eprom to various points on the circuit boards inside the player). One of the threads also mention a promising Philips player as well, but you'll need to hunt down that info.
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...hreadid=105075
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...hreadid=104460
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...threadid=85727
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...threadid=82804
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...threadid=81087
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...threadid=67177

 

[Craig_Kg]

On AVS, the Phllips 963SA is all the rage for progressive scan PAL & NTSC plus it handles multichannel SACD. US street price is $399, I believe.

Do a search for it in this forum and the AVS DVD one.

 

[Mark E J]

Are there any B&M stores that sell the Malata 520?

 

[Amdi]

Your best bet is the Malata 520 or the modded JVC 500 or the older JVC SA-XV6x series

Thanks for the replies. I was familiar with the Malata, but I haven't read any detailed commentaries on the quality of their progressive scan. Especially after reading that their latest model was a step backwards I started being concerned.

I will do a bit more research on the other two models you mentioned? Anybody has any input on the quality of the progressive scan of those two models? Is the image as sharp as it can be? Any combing artifacts?

Thanks!

 

[ManW_TheUncool]

Amdi,

I was actually thinking about getting a Cyberhome 500 just for PAL DVDs. What did you not like about it?

BTW, I asked similarly over on AVS, and Matt Stevens (not sure if he still frequents here) suggested waiting another month or two for a new/better Malata player to come out. Seems like plenty of people are happy w/ their Malata players.

_Man_

 

[Craig_Kg]

If you want top notch image quality, the Phillips 963SA wins hands down according to everyone I have spoken to about this. A friend told me the difference between his Skyworth and the Phillips was staggering and he felt that the Skyworth, Malata (Omni over here), Sonken 2600 and Nintaus 979 were all very comparable.

 

[ManW_TheUncool]

Craig,
Is this using the new Faroudja 2300 chip that incorporates good scaling capability?
There doesn't seem to be much info on this player here in the US. Sounds like it might be coming out next month.
How is Philips' track record w/ players though? I haven't heard much, if anything, about their players since the early days of DVD.
Thanks.
_Man_
[Edit: OK, I just found the info myself. The new Philips 963 player will have the new Faroudja 23xx chip!
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/qa/qa2002/qa317.html
It also sounds like it's remote hackable for perfect PAL->NTSC playback.
http://www.videoasylum.com/ht/messages/13475.html
Guess I'm gonna wait afterall. ]