New DVD Player

Hello Group.....

I need to purchase a new player and have no idea what to get.....My x
currently has our Sony 7700 along with the 53" Pioneer big screen, so while
I await the final outcome of things, need to purchase something to use
during the mean time. At the moment, I have a 27" Mitsubishi. I also have
an old Sony analog camcorder that I would like to transfer some of those
tapes to dvd, and wonder if a recording type player would be sufficient. Or
should I just get a regular player and hopefully when I'm able to get a new
computer, transfer my old tapes there. I haven't purchased or kept up
much with the ever changing industry in about 3 years, so any help or advice
is extremely appreciated. Thanks.

Terry

SNIP
yes, things have advanced quite a lot in 3 years. You can now get DVD
players for less than $100 ! I think it depends on what your needs
are. You could, when you get your computer, burn a DVD that way. Me not
having a DVD drive, I can't help you there.Standalone DVD recorders are
one option, but they are not really cheap yet. I'd advise you to get
something with progressive scan. Me? I 'm going for something that
should play everything, from Pioneer, including burned cd's, which my
old DVD couldn't. Imagine my chagrin when I found this out-a cheap DVD
player could, but mine couldn't. try www.avsforum.com,
www.ecoustics.com
or even www.hometheaterhifi.com for a bit more help than I can give
you. Above all, let your eyes and ears be your guide. If you can,
borrow or rent a DVD, like, say, Toy Story (gotta check for that chroma
bug) and find a store where a bunch of different players are hooked up,
then go in and play around

good luck

JB

"John b" wrote in message
...
SNIP
yes, things have advanced quite a lot in 3 years. You can now get DVD
players for less than $100 ! I think it depends on what your needs
are. You could, when you get your computer, burn a DVD that way. Me not
having a DVD drive, I can't help you there.Standalone DVD recorders are
one option, but they are not really cheap yet. I'd advise you to get
something with progressive scan. Me? I 'm going for something that
should play everything, from Pioneer, including burned cd's, which my
old DVD couldn't. Imagine my chagrin when I found this out-a cheap DVD
player could, but mine couldn't. try www.avsforum.com,
www.ecoustics.com
or even www.hometheaterhifi.com for a bit more help than I can give
you. Above all, let your eyes and ears be your guide. If you can,
borrow or rent a DVD, like, say, Toy Story (gotta check for that chroma
bug) and find a store where a bunch of different players are hooked up,
then go in and play around

JB:

Thanks for the help and information. Thanks for the links also.

Terry

"Terry" wrote in message news:[email protected]
Hello Group.....

I need to purchase a new player and have no idea what to get.....

See Consumer Reports at library and/or www.consumerreports.org

CR does comparison reviews of DVD players, TVs, speakers, receivers,
and other AV gear.

After you read the reviews and get some ideas, go out shopping and buy
only what looks and feels good to you. IOW, make sure to buy a player
that's easy and convenient to use.

(snip)

"Bill" wrote in message ...
Neil wrote:

Now there's a good idea...buy the player that has the features you want
or need. They all do a good job of producing nice images.

Say what?...now that's a debatable point if I've ever read one.

Sure there are many DVD players on the market, ranging from from $50 to
$4000+. The main point of buying a DVD player is not the features or
gimmicky tricks you'll never use but video/audio/build quality. Most of the
lower end, no-name models just do not make the grade (poor black level;
macroblocking in dark scenes; poor colour saturation and output; poor audio
reproduction; no video output controls; no audio output controls; poor
quality disc assemblies; poor error correction etc....).

Best advice is to:
1. buy a well known brand (Toshiba, Denon, Pioneer etc...);

2. buy they're mid-to high decks (if you can afford it) which gives you
better quality components and are (hopefully) built in Japan and/or
assembled in the US (not some third world country with child labour and poor
QA);

3. if possible check unit in-store with a test disc on a similar set to
yours at home. Best test scene I know of is the opening scene in 'Superman
the Movie' with Brando and the supervillains, most no-name decks cannot
handle the subtle shades of black in the background (it posterises in most
cheap decks); the skintones should be nice and saturated not dull looking;
you should get a full range of grays from pure black (costumes) to white,
most cheap decks do not give you a proper black level on that scene.

--
Italo

On Thu, 23 Oct 2003 07:01:55 +1000, Italo wrote:

Sure there are many DVD players on the market, ranging from from $50 to

Actually, there's one at Circuit City for $40 normal price, $35 on sale
this week...

--
Lenroc

On 22 Oct 2003 10:37:40 -0700, Neil wrote:
"Terry" wrote in message news:[email protected]
Hello Group.....

I need to purchase a new player and have no idea what to get.....

Check out http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/ There are some reviews there
that are kind of old, but a lot of information about what they test,
why, etc. *Much* better info than what you're going to get from
Consumer Reports...

--
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"Lenroc" wrote in message
news:[email protected]
On Thu, 23 Oct 2003 07:01:55 +1000, Italo wrote:

Sure there are many DVD players on the market, ranging from from $50 to

Actually, there's one at Circuit City for $40 normal price, $35 on sale
this week...

--
Lenroc

Yep, **** keeps getting cheaper every day ;-)

--
Italo

On Thu, 23 Oct 2003 20:17:04 +1000, Italo wrote:

Actually, there's one at Circuit City for $40 normal price, $35 on sale
this week...

Yep, **** keeps getting cheaper every day ;-)

LOL... I actually picked one up

I'm a cheap *******, and it's my first standalone DVD Player.

It has Coax Digital Audio out and everything!

Seriously though... the reviews say it's better than Apex....

--
Lenroc

For tranfering tapes to disc, you may want to take a look at the following
product from Plextor:
http://www.plextor.com/english/products/ConvertX.html

Larry

"Terry" wrote in message
news:[email protected]
Hello Group.....

I need to purchase a new player and have no idea what to get.....My x
currently has our Sony 7700 along with the 53" Pioneer big screen, so
while
I await the final outcome of things, need to purchase something to use
during the mean time. At the moment, I have a 27" Mitsubishi. I also
have
an old Sony analog camcorder that I would like to transfer some of those
tapes to dvd, and wonder if a recording type player would be sufficient.
Or
should I just get a regular player and hopefully when I'm able to get a
new
computer, transfer my old tapes there. I haven't purchased or kept up
much with the ever changing industry in about 3 years, so any help or
advice
is extremely appreciated. Thanks.

Terry