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Buying a DVD player
What to look for
By Michael Jones
February 2001
Why buy a DVD player?
DVD is the fastest growing consumer electronics format ever, but why would
you want a player?
DVD players are primarily for playing movies and music videos/concerts from a disc. The advantages of DVD over VHS tape (as used in your video cassette recorder) are many. The picture is sharper and clearer, less prone to noise The improvements over VHS tape are so large that anyone can notice it.
The second advantage is in sound. At it's worst, DVD has superior sound to VHS tape. At its best - with a well-produced Dolby Digital or DTS soundtrack, the movie sound will impress.
The third advantage is for movie buffs. The picture in a movie theatre has a different aspect ratio than a domestic TV (the movie is wider). Most movies available on DVD are in the original aspect ratio, so you can see the movie as intended.
Plus there's the extras. Often a DVD will include multiple languages for the soundtrack, along with the original movie trailer, interviews with the stars or director and sometimes a feature on how the film was made.
What can it play?
Obviously a DVD player can play DVD movies. But did you know that a DVD
player can play music CDs as well (most DVD players don't sound as good
on CDs as a CD player, but that's another story)
Store purchased CDs are fine in DVD players, but only some players can handle CDs made with audio or computer CD writers. If you have a collection of home-brewed CDs, then keep a look out for a player that will play them. They're labelled CDR/CDRW compatible.
Although still rare, the occasional DVD player will also play mp3 files stored on a computer CDR.
Zoning
Zoning is the division of the world into areas (or zones) to control the
timing of movie availability around the world. We'll look more deeply
into zoning in another article.
In New Zealand you'll find discs from zone 4 (New Zealand's zone), zone
1 (USA) and zone 2 (UK). DVD players brought into the country are zone
4. This means that a zone 4 player will not play DVDs from another zone.
Most of the DVD players available in stores have been modified to play DVD discs from any zone. This is an important buying consideration, as you should buy a player that will play all discs.
Built-in Dolby Digital
Some DVD players have built-in Dolby Digital (and sometimes DTS) convertors.
This is only important if you have a "digital-ready" amp or
receiver - one without Dolby Digital but with 5.1 channel inputs. Otherwise,
don't worry about it.
Audio outputs
All DVD players have analog stereo outputs. This enables you to use a
DVD player into a two-channel amplifier. Players with built-in Dolby Digital
decoders (see above) will have an extra six audio outputs for the decoded
5.1 signal.
The audio signal from a DVD player is generally sent through to the home theatre receiver via a digital connection. This can be either a coaxial or optical connection. Most DVD players and receivers have both connections.
Video outputs
There are several video output connections on the back of a DVD player.
The most common video connection is the composite output. All DVD players
and just about all TVs available in recent years have a composite input.
The next step up is S-Video. I haven't come across a DVD player without a S-Video output. S-Video gives a much better picture than composite, so if your TV has an S-Video input, then use this.
Less common are the highest quality outputs, component and rgb. These are only important in your buying decision if your TV has component or rgb inputs - this is quite rare on TVs.
Component video outputs are via three RCA (or phono) sockets. Although these sockets are normal coloured red, green and blue, this is not the same as an rgb output. Usually rgb outputs are via scart connectors and are most often found on DVD players designed for the European market.
Picture differences
Although DVD is a big leap ahead of VHS quality, there are differences
in the picture quality between DVD players.
While many people will not notice (or even care, if they did notice) any picture differences, if you're particular about picture quality, then this is an aspect to consider.
Audio quality
As with CD players, DVD players can sound quite different from each other
when used analog out into an amplifier. If you're planning to use your
DVD player to play CDs into an amplifier, then have a listen to a couple
of players.
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