Online Shopping - Buyers Guide For DVD Players
The DVD player is by far the most advanced addition to the home entertainment system. The DVD, which stands for Digital Versatile Disc offers superb picture quality, multi-channel digital surround sound, plus an array of additional features and functions. Designed to appeal to a wide range of consumers, the DVD is quite simply a dream come true for movie lovers. Portable DVD players are also available and these come with an LCD screen for viewing discs when you are on the move.
A DVD is similar to a CD but it has a much larger data capacity. Many DVD discs also come in Widesceen format and the majority of DVD players available will play, music CDs and Video CDs as well as DVDs. The most advanced DVD players will also have a CD-RW and MP3 playback function. DVD also offers all the advantages of disc technology including instant access to favourite scenes, easy storage and durability as the DVD discs will not wear out like the conventional VHS tape.
DVDs Offer Advanced Picture Quality
DVD's utilise the MPEG-2 video compression system, which offers superior picture quality. Picture quality is improved when the horizontal resolution is higher. The horizontal resolution is the number of fine vertical lines a video system can resolve. A video cassette recorder can resolve around 250 lines whereas most DVD players have a horizontal resolution of over 500 lines resulting in a much clearer and sharper image.
DVDs Offer Advanced Sound Quality
Advanced Sound Quality enables a DVD player produce better sound quality than the audio CD and the surround sound system exceeds the sound produced by Dolby Pro Logic. DVD can use the same format as audio CD's but have a higher bit rate. DVD players also offer Dolby Digital (AC-3) sound and may also include MPEG-2 audio and Digital Theatre System (DTS) soundtracks. Most DVD players available offer two or more audio formats adding to their versatility.
Surround Sound
Dolby Digital, DTS and MPEG-2 are discrete sound systems, which means that they have dedicated sound channels for more focused sound reproduction. They all offer 6-channel sound known as 5.1-channel sound. 5.1-channel sound is comprised of the following: left channel, centre channel (for dialogue) right channel, left surround, right surround and subwoofer. This enables the cinematic audio experience to be recreated in the home.
Virtual Sound
Some DVD players also offer virtual surround. Virtual Surround is as close as you can get to genuine surround sound through only two speakers. Many DVD players now provide connections that offer a variety of ways to feed the sound to an audio system. Many TV's also offer connections for external speakers to be added to intensify the surround effect.
Surround Sound Outputs
Surround Sound outputs allows the DVD player to be connected to a Surround Sound speaker system producing that sought after cinematic effect. The DVD decoder extracts audio signals and directs these signals to the appropriate channels. Some DVD systems have a simulated Surround Sound effect from two speakers. Other DVD players have Surround Sound speaker outputs that allow you to add an extra pair of rear speakers to your DVD system.
Regional Coding
DVDs are coded according to region, so a DVD player from one region will not play discs from another. This is done for several reasons. Firstly it prevents new movie releases being viewed in certain countries before they have been officially released in that country. It also protects intellectual property rights as well as protecting the different censorship laws of different countries. The DVD formats split the world into six regions. The two most common regions are Regions 1 (North America) and Region 2 (Japan and Europe). DVDs from one region will not work on a player from any other one. A 'Multi-Region' DVD player is one that can be told to either ignore the region coding altogether. It is possible to decode your DVD player to make it regional free so that it will play DVD discs from all over the world. However it is important to note that chipping or decoding a player after you've bought is likely to invalidate its warranty.
DVD PLAYERS - OTHER FEATURES TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING A DVD PLAYER
CD-R Compatibility
CD-R compatibility allows playback of CD-R discs on the DVD player. These discs can only be recorded on once.
CD-RW Compatibility
CD-RW compatibility allows playback of CD-R and CD-RW discs on the DVD player. CD-RW discs allow for data, commonly music, to be repeatedly recorded onto the disc.
MP3 Compatibility
MP3 compatibility allows playback of discs containing recordings made from MP3 files on the DVD player.
10 or 20 Bit D/A Converter
10 bit is the standard speed at which the digital information is transformed for playback. The higher the rate the better the quality. Some DVD players will come with a Bit Rate indicator to allow you to see the speed of conversion.
16.9/4.3 Selectable
This function on a DVD player allows you to choose whether to view the DVD picture in widescreen or conventional format.
Multi Channel Decoders
Most DVD players now have built in multi-channel Dolby Digital Decoders and some also have a DTS decoder too. This enables the six audio channels to be directed to the correct speakers. If the DVD player does not have a decoder then the DVD player may have a Downmix Converter. This converts Dolby Digital sound into a two channel Dolby Surround Sound encoded signal. Allowing you to experience surround sound with just two speakers.
v 24bit/96Khz Audio DAC (Digital Audio Converter)
This transforms the signals from all DVDs into digital stereo format, which produces clarity of sound that is of superior quality to normal CD recordings.
S-Video Output
S-Video output on a DVD player ensures superior quality video playback by adjusting the video signal into chrominance (colour) and luminance (light and dark).
Digital Converter
This digital converter feature allows the DVD player to convert digital audio signals to analogue audio signals.
Digital Audio Output
Digital audio output allows you to send digital data to alternative digital products such as a mini disc player without the sound quality being impaired.
Chapter Stop
Chapter stop acts like a bookmark allowing you to select points on the disc for the DVD system to gain instant access.
Chapter And Title Search
This feature allows the DVD player to split the DVD into titles and then chapters allowing you direct access to both by selecting your choice from a menu. This means that you can locate your favourite scene or song at the touch of a button.
NTSC Compatible
DVD players with this function can be connected to NTSC compatible TVs.
Remote Control
DVD players are operated by remote control using a series of on screen menus. This allows you to utilise the numerous features of the DVD disc such as subtitle selection, language selection, frame advance, book marking and many others.
On-screen Display
The OSD appears as a menu screen on your TV, which makes the selection process of your DVD much easier.
Shake Reduction
The shake reduction feature on a DVD player reduces the variations in the digital signal, which increases the video and audio quality and guarantees that the picture does not shake.
Parental Lock
Some DVD players may be locked to prevent children viewing undesirable DVD's. This is usually in the form of an identification code that must be entered to unlock the DVD Player.
Variable Roaming Zoom
Variable roaming zoom feature on a DVD player allows you to zoom in and out of a specific point in the picture to 1.5, 2.5 or 3.5 times magnification.
Multi-Angle Selection
Multi-angle selection feature on a DVD player allows you to view the scenes on a film from different camera angles that have been recorded on the disc.
Twin Tray Facility
DVD players may have two disc trays that allow you to insert both a DVD, CD or Video CD at one time, rather like a multiple CD player.
Dual Laser Drive
DVD's can have dual layers rather like a video can play long and short play. This allows the DVD to hold much more information than a single layer DVD. Only DVD players with a laser drive will be able to read both layers of the DVD.
DVD PLAYERS - EXTRA FEATURES ON DVD DISCS
Multi language soundtracks
DVD discs can offer up to eight different language soundtracks.
Multiple Subtitles
Each DVD disc can offer up to 32 sub-title tracks, which may be in different languages. This is especially useful for users who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Different Aspect Ratios
Different aspect ratios allows the viewer to select the aspect ratio that matches the ratio of their television set.
Interactive Titles
Some DVD titles may offer branching programmes which allow the viewer to choose the way that a film progresses.
