DVD Player Buyer's Guide

Znews.com --
Whether you're looking for a budget DVD player for under $100, a state-of-the-art progressive scan DVD player for $1,000, a DVD player for your PC, or a portable DVD player, we'll help you determine your DVD needs to find the best system for your budget.

DVD is not simply better image and sound quality VHS. A DVD may offer many other features besides the same old movie you've rented before -- such as the ability to freeze and zoom in on a picture, alternate endings to movies, special director's cuts, music soundtrack-only listening, and multiple language options.

This article is an overview of the DVD player information you'll find at Znews.com, with links to more in-depth articles.

DVD Player Overview
Prices for good quality DVD Players have come way down and today you can find a good basic DVD player for less than $150, or an excellent DVD Player with all home entertainment system features you'll need for under $500.

When purchasing a DVD player, think about what you want to use it for. If you just want to watch movies from time to time, get a good quality basic name-brand DVD player -- you can get good model for under $150. Today, prices are so low that if you find it's not enough, you can always upgrade later. Here are some things to think about when deciding what to purchase:

Budget DVD Players
Multidisc DVD Players
Progressive Scan DVD Players
Component DVD Players
PowerDVD: DVD for Your PC
Portable DVD Players
DVD Burners

Other features to consider are:

Multiple Disc Formats (Mp3, CD-R, CD-RW)
Enhanced Audio Connections
Enhanced Video Connections

Budget DVD Players
Good basic players cost about $100-200. If you're upgrading from VHS and all you want to do is enjoy the wider selection of movies available, and get a better picture quality with DVD, then a basic DVD player should work out just fine. Read Budget DVD Player Reviews. Read on if you want to learn about other available DVD player features.

Multidisc DVD Players
Do you want a single DVD player, or a Multidisc player that can hold anywhere from a few discs, to over 300? Carousel Multidisc models are most reliable and usually hold 5-6 discs, while those with a tray tend to hold 2 or 3 discs and are slower and noisier. Think about a Multidisc player if you plan to use the unit for listening to music. For more information, read our Multidisc DVD Player Reviews.

Progressive Scan DVD Players
If you have a High-Definition TV (HDTV), consider a progressive scan DVD player for better picture quality. For more information, read Progressive Scan DVD Player Reviews.

Component DVD Players
Component video connections provide the highest quality home theater connection available, giving the picture better contrast levels and truer color. Only higher-end new TV's may have component connection, so check your TV first. Today, many DVD players provide component connections.

Multiple Disc Formats
Today, many DVD players support multiple-disc formats, such as CDs, VCDs, CD-Rs with MP3 files, CD-RWs, DVD-R, SACD, and DVD-Audio formats. If you think you'll be using any of these, you can pay a bit more money to keep your options open. If you know you'll just be renting DVD's, get a basic player and save some cash.

Enhanced Audio Connections
If you plan to use your DVD player with an AV receiver, check to see if your receiver has digital or optical inputs. All DVD players have an analog stereo output, and many DVD players come with both optical and digital outputs, but not all do. Make sure you get a DVD player that matches your AV receiver.

If you are an audiophile, you should get a player that has at least one coaxial and one optical connection for the most flexibility. The coax connection should provide better audio than the optical connectors. "Virtual Surround Sound" emulates the surround-sound effects of a theater using only two stereo speakers, but it doesn't quite compare with the real thing.

Enhanced Video Connections
Most DVD players ship with a composite video cable (usually color coded yellow) that allows you to connect your player to a TV through the composite video jack. This is the most basic video connection. Other players may come with S-Video, which separates the color from the B&W signals. All DVD players come with the yellow S-video connection, which is better than a composite video connection, but not all players come with the cable.

If you have a high-end television, you'll get a better picture using component video signal, which uses red, blue, and green 3-cable connectors. This will provide the sharpest image and truest color transmission. Usually these "component" cables are not included with most DVD players.

Usability, Quality, and Construction
Look for a unit with simple button functions on the front panel and a well-designed remote (higher end models offer backlit remotes with shuttle controls for easier screen navigation). Also, check out the unit construction -- reviews will note which units are well constructed, and which may appear to be more flimsy. Finally, consider the color of your DVD player, which may be offered in black, silver, champagne -- get something to match your other components.

More information For more about how to buy a DVD Player, Amazon's DVD Buyer's Guide is an excellent resource. Or see our reviews of Top DVD Players by category: