The best... DVD Players

Got my copy of the Consumers Association 'Which?' magazine today and noticed that they've reviewed DVD Players (as well as other stuff), so I thought this might be of interest in this festive season. Obviously can't quote it verbatim, so I'll just list the best buys. Online prices are in brackets

90% - Panasonic DVD S35EBS £90 (£77)
83% - Hitachi DV-P335E £80 (£78)
83% - JVC XV-N33SL £100 (£78)
81% - JVC XV-N55SL £130 (£103)
80% - Panasonic DVD S75EBS £130 (£107)

All play MP3 discs and all play JPEG picture discs apart from the Hitachi. In addition, the only DVD Recorder recommended was the Panasonic DMRE50EBS with 86% £350 (£246).

Sadly they seem to only have stuck to the 'main' brands which means that a lot of equally good and possibly cheaper machines were left out. Also no mention of SVCD/VCD playback. The quoted online prices were from www.hughesdirect.co.uk/which

Hope thats of some use... ;)

Toshiba SD220E and SD330E are two of the best budget DVD players you can buy. Also the Pioneer DV-565 I think it is.

And all those players will play S/VCDs.

Nice informative post about a highly interesting topic though, well done that man :D

You're welcome... :D

The Toshiba SD330E came in with a respectable 76% but there weren't any Pioneer machines in the test. :(

Quote:

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Toshiba SD220E and SD330E are two of the best budget DVD players you can buy. Also the Pioneer DV-565 I think it is.

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I've got a Pioneer DV-656 and it's a godly piece of kit. Looking at Pioneer's website, the 565 is just a cheaper version of it.

It's not cheap (£300 multi-region from Empire Direct) but it'll play any disc you throw at it and the picture quality is on par with Pioneer's £700 DVD player.

It plays:

• DVD-Video
• DVD-Audio
• SACD
• VCD (including SVCD)
• MP3 CD

I wouldn't be surprised if the 565 isn't just as good. A big DVD player comparison without Pioneer really isn't worth paying attention to, IMO.

EDIT: The 565 is under £200! :O

nice one been looking at cheap DVD players to buy my brother for christmas

Yup the 565 is incredibly cheap. Even £300 is cheap for what it does, really.

I'm considering buying one myself sometime in the future :P

sorry but i'd like to just through another contender in the ring...

Xbox.

£139.99 from Gamestation with 4 Games ( Midtown Madness 3, Halo, Conflict Desert Storm & Hitman 2) + 2 month Live Trial. + DVD Remote = £160.

You'll have the best DVD player and Games console money can buy :)... with built in hard drive, Album copying facility etc etc etc.

Ben

I have a toshiba of some description.

Pretty much the same as Aarons Pioneer but with multi load DVD
(I can stick 2 discs in at the same time (in different trays of course))

And its region free!!!!!!!! Always a bonus

If you want a CHEAP but well featured DVD, ideal for parents etc.

Check out the Cyberhome 400 at whsmiths.

49quid and it is multi region capable too after a remote control/menu hack.

Plays Mp3 and SVCD too

Bargain at 49 if you ask me :)

Quote:

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Originally posted by CocoPops
If you want a CHEAP but well featured DVD, ideal for parents etc.

Check out the Cyberhome 400 at whsmiths.

49quid and it is multi region capable too after a remote control/menu hack.

Plays Mp3 and SVCD too

Bargain at 49 if you ask me :)

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Hey yeah that sounds pretty cool!!!!

I might have to check that out for one of my brothers!

another alternative is the Umax Yamada DVD2500. You can get it for 30 quid from online stores. But i wasnt luckly as i got a duff one when amazon deliver it to me. :(

can any of them play xvcd, which can be more like dvd quality as non standard bitrates etc..?

is the xbox a good dvd player? can films be copyed to its tiny hdd? also can you chose the games with it? think i saw simniilar offer in game few days ago

I too got one of the duff Yamada DVD2500s - and I finally got my refund today.

The Xbox is a good idea if you don't mind getting it chipped and want to play a whole range of media (DivX, etc), but personally I'd prefer a standard DVD player under my TV just for the way it looks... :\

Hi PriestJPN

i'm still trying to sort out my refund. I tried to order a collect and deliver company to send it back to amazon. however, they didnt show up even after 1 week. i just cancelled it and posted it by special delivery.

the counter was shocked to see me posting a DVD player via special delivery at 18.50. He asked if it is the most expensive DVD player? I told him it costs me 26 quid delivered to my home. You should see how he's looking at me :D

Wiltonson: I got pretty much the same reaction when I sent mine... :) Once it gets to Amazon it take them a few days for them to actually acknowledge it has arrived back...

I've had a quick look around for other cheap alternatives and found these:

GVG DV-995 DVD Player - 49.99 - WHSmith
CyberHome CH 400 DVD Player - 49.99 - WHSmith (as CocoPops mentioned)
LG DVD5253 DVD PLAYER - 49.99 - Currys

These are either available online or in the store, so have a check first. WHSmith does store delivery so that can save the on P+P if you have a branch near you.

PriestJPN

btw why didnt you ask amazon to send a new replacement to you instead? is it not possible or you dont want to take the risk anymore?

i think we're the only two who got faulty ones you know. :D

Hey yeah i forgot about LG! if you look in the right places you will find a pretty decent DVD player with all the trimmings at not such a high price as Sony e.t.c.

Ive had a couple of cheapy dvd players and got fed up withthem in the end.
1st was a goodmans, bloody annoying, subtitles always came on if the unit has been switched off. Also the tray was crap and nearly fell off.
2nd a LG. Didnt like disks with any imperfections and would pause.
3rd acoustic solutions. This one went back after a week. Picture quality was average, again subtitles would come on if it had been switched off and it displayed standby on the LCD if it was in standby mode.

Have now got a Toshiba. Am much happier, picture quality is better, better build quality, in stanby it doesent do anything dim and its recognised by my AMP's remote. You can now get a Tosh dvd from richer sounds for £60, well worth it.

Flibb

wiltonson: I did think about it, but I'll probably pick one up after Xmas...