How
To Buy
a DVD Player ?
Free Advice
Even though they've been around since 1996, DVD (which stands for
Digital Video Disc or Digital Versatile Disc, depending on whom
you ask) players still feel a little bit scary and high tech, but
if you follow the guidelines on this page, your shopping trip
should feel a little less like Aliens and a little more like
Notting Hill.
Don't pay more than you need to. Most DVD players are very
similar in audio quality and identical in video quality. If you
see variations, it's probably in the disc or the TV, not the
player. If you're paying more, it's for extra features like dual
disc trays.
Don't bother with all those next-generation DVD technologies
you may have heard about, like NUON and recordable DVD. Although
there are a few of these machines already on the market, they're
still very rare and very expensive.
Don't worry about letting go of your old VCR. Pretty much every
movie made in the past five years is already available on DVD,
with older ones coming out all the time. Hollywood is committed to
making DVD the home-video format of the future. As for VHS —
well, remember what they had to do to Old Yeller at the end of the
movie.
Buying a DVD Player
:
Are You Beginner
or Advanced
?
You and your VCR used to be happy together. Then along came DVD
players, with their crisp sound tracks and their crystal-clear
image quality, and suddenly you wanted more from your home theater
system. Need help? Here's our guide to help you find the DVD
player that's right for you.
— Beginner
—
The Question
: How
much does this DVD player cost?
Why you asked it:
Players can range in price from $150 to $1,000, but the difference
depends on extra features, not basic performance.
What you want to hear:
"You can pay more, but your average $250 DVD player has all
the essentials most people will ever need."
The Question
: Should
I buy a DVD player that records as my VCR does?
Why you asked it:
Most DVD players cannot record programs, but manufacturers have
recently introduced a few models that do.
What you want to hear:
"Not unless you really need it. DVD recorders are pricey and
not yet fully compatible with regular DVD players."
The Question
: Is
my TV good enough for this DVD player?
Why you asked it:
DVD players have up to three ways of connecting to TVs, but most
older sets take only one of them: analog video.
What you want to hear:
"It will work fine with an older TV, but a TV with S-Video or
component video inputs will give you a crisper picture."
The Question
: Is
my stereo good enough for this DVD player?
Why you asked it:
Many DVD movies offer real six-speaker surround sound, which works
only with the latest home stereo equipment.
What you want to hear:
"You can upgrade, but you don't have to: most players have
virtual surround sound for two-speaker stereo systems."
— Advanced
—
The Question
: What
video features does this player have?
Why you asked it:
Some DVD movies let you choose camera angles or switch to
widescreen, but not all players are equipped for it.
What you want to hear:
"This player can handle widescreen and multiangle views, plus
it has picture zoom, slow motion and bookmarking."
The Question
: Can
this DVD player double as an audio CD player?
Why you asked it:
All DVD players can play audio CDs. Some even come with multidisc
changers, just like a conventional CD player.
What you want to hear:
"Yes, but if you're happy with your old CD player, you can
save some money by steering clear of the carousel models."
The Question
: Do
I need a player with Dolby Digital or DTX converters?
Why you asked it:
Many players costing more than $300 can convert a DVD sound track
into full-fledged six-speaker Dolby Digital or dts sound.
What you want to hear:
"You need it only if your stereo system has six-speaker
output but no converter of its own — usually they go
together."
The Question
: Do
I need the DVD player that comes with six speakers?
Why you asked it:
A few players don't need to be hooked up to a stereo: they have
built-in amplifiers and come with six speakers.
What you want to hear:
"It's great for full surround sound without a major stereo
upgrade, but it's not powerful enough for large rooms." |
