The best... DVD Players

[PriestJPN]

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...

[Howard]

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

[PriestJPN]

You're welcome...

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

[Aaron]

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

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

[5cupa]

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

[Howard]

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

[Bunjiweb]

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

[Colonel Ames]

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

[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

[Colonel Ames]

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

Hey yeah that sounds pretty cool!!!!

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

[wiltonson]

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.

[SilentDeath]

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

[PriestJPN]

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... :\

[wiltonson]

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

[PriestJPN]

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.

[wiltonson]

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.