Best DVD Players: Ratings & Reviews
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Featured below are some of our top picks in DVD Players -- the #1 selections for Budget, Full-feature Progressive Scan, Budget Progressive Scan, Multidisc, and Portable DVD Players. If you're not sure which DVD player works best for your budget and needs, to learn the basics about shopping for DVD Players, check out our DVD Player Buyer's Guide.
Here are some basics about DVD Players, and below this summary, you'll find the DVD Player Reviews, with photos, links to Customer Reviews, and purchase information.
Progressive Scan DVD Players
If you have high-definition TV (HDTV) a DVD player with progressive scan will give you a better resolution image when used with your HDTV set. Progressive Scan technology has become much cheaper lately, and a good progressive-scan DVD player will give you very sharp, detailed images with very good color saturation. Keep an eye out for a feature called 3:2 pulldown.
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 use 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.
Audio Connections
All DVD players have an analog stereo output and most have optical and coaxial digital audio outputs. 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 of a full theater setup with the use of only two stereo speakers, but it won't blow you away like the real thing.
Media Types
These days, quite a few DVD players can take 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, pay a little extra for increased flexibility. If not, skip these options and save some money.
Featured below are some of our top picks in DVD Players -- the #1 selections for Budget, Full-feature Progressive Scan, Budget Progressive Scan, Multidisc, and Portable DVD Players. If you're not sure which DVD player works best for your budget and needs, to learn the basics about shopping for DVD Players, check out our DVD Player Buyer's Guide.
Here are some basics about DVD Players, and below this summary, you'll find the DVD Player Reviews, with photos, links to Customer Reviews, and purchase information.
Progressive Scan DVD Players
If you have high-definition TV (HDTV) a DVD player with progressive scan will give you a better resolution image when used with your HDTV set. Progressive Scan technology has become much cheaper lately, and a good progressive-scan DVD player will give you very sharp, detailed images with very good color saturation. Keep an eye out for a feature called 3:2 pulldown.
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 use 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.
Audio Connections
All DVD players have an analog stereo output and most have optical and coaxial digital audio outputs. 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 of a full theater setup with the use of only two stereo speakers, but it won't blow you away like the real thing.
Media Types
These days, quite a few DVD players can take 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, pay a little extra for increased flexibility. If not, skip these options and save some money.
| Rated | Model | Price | Review | Customers |
| #1 Budget DVD Player | Panasonic DVD-RV32K | $99.98 |
Full Review |
Customer Comments |