Region-Free DVD Players--

[Sven]

--recommend me the best, cheapest one. Plz? Kthx.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Buy this DVD player (http://www.amazon.com/Philips-DVP5982-1080p-Upscaling-Player/dp/B000N254LU/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1195704007&sr=8-1)

And use this hack. (http://www.videohelp.com/dvdhacks?dvdplayer=philips+DVP 5982&hits=50&Search=Search)

[Derek]

I have the Phillips DVP642, which comes region-free so you don't need to worry about programming it or changing any setting. I got it through Amazon for around $60-70 and it's gone a year and a half without any problems. I've also used DVDs from various regions and it plays everything.

Honestly, I don't know why more people don't own one when it's no more expensive than a regular player.

[Kurosawa Fan]

I have the Phillips DVP642, which comes region-free so you don't need to worry about programming it or changing any setting. I got it through Amazon for around $60-70 and it's gone a year and a half without any problems. I've also used DVDs from various regions and it plays everything.

Honestly, I don't know why more people don't own one when it's no more expensive than a regular player.

They don't sell it anymore. All you can do is buy one from an independent seller through Amazon, some of which are used.

That Philips I posted is among the new "multi-region" Phillips players. The hack is simple and harmless. I had to do a hack on my Phillips and it's been over 3 years and it's still humming along just fine.

[Winston*]

Honestly, I don't know why more people don't own one when it's no more expensive than a regular player.

They've barely sold the region-coded DVD players around here for years, I think. They all seem to be region free.

[Derek]

They don't sell it anymore. All you can do is buy one from an independent seller through Amazon, some of which are used.

That Philips I posted is among the new "multi-region" Phillips players. The hack is simple and harmless. I had to do a hack on my Phillips and it's been over 3 years and it's still humming along just fine.

Oh ok, then that's the way to go. I had to do a code for my first region-free player and it wasn't a big deal, but I figured it's better to avoid a possible hassle if possible.

[Spinal]

Buy this DVD player (http://www.amazon.com/Philips-DVP5982-1080p-Upscaling-Player/dp/B000N254LU/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1195704007&sr=8-1)

And use this hack. (http://www.videohelp.com/dvdhacks?dvdplayer=philips+DVP 5982&hits=50&Search=Search)

Another voice supporting this plan.

[bac0n]

I bought this DVD player from hkflix.com (http://www.hkflix.com) on Dan Davis's recommendation.

http://img2.hkflix.com/images/hardware/oppo_dv-980h.jpg


Oppo Digital DV-980H (http://www.hkflix.com/hardware/xq/asp/pid.153/qx/details.htm)

[soitgoes...]

Yes, the Phillips DVD player line is the best for hacking an inexpensive player.

[lovejuice]

Buy this DVD player (http://www.amazon.com/Philips-DVP5982-1080p-Upscaling-Player/dp/B000N254LU/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1195704007&sr=8-1)

And use this hack. (http://www.videohelp.com/dvdhacks?dvdplayer=philips+DVP 5982&hits=50&Search=Search)

that's too what i do. very amazing.

[D_Davis]

I bought this DVD player from hkflix.com (http://www.hkflix.com) on Dan Davis's recommendation.

http://img2.hkflix.com/images/hardware/oppo_dv-980h.jpg


Oppo Digital DV-980H (http://www.hkflix.com/hardware/xq/asp/pid.153/qx/details.htm)

This is a great machine. You will be very pleased.

[DavidSeven]

Buy this DVD player (http://www.amazon.com/Philips-DVP5982-1080p-Upscaling-Player/dp/B000N254LU/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1195704007&sr=8-1)

And use this hack. (http://www.videohelp.com/dvdhacks?dvdplayer=philips+DVP 5982&hits=50&Search=Search)

If you want to be extra thrifty, you can buy this one. (http://www.amazon.com/Philips-DVP3960-Multiformat-Upscaling-Windows/dp/B000N204EW/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t) This unit has an HDMI plug-in as well. A hack can be found on the site listed above.

[Kurosawa Fan]

If you want to be extra thrifty, you can buy this one. (http://www.amazon.com/Philips-DVP3960-Multiformat-Upscaling-Windows/dp/B000N204EW/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t) This unit has an HDMI plug-in as well. A hack can be found on the site listed above.

Does an upscaling DVD player play HD-DVDs, both HD and Blu-Ray? And if so, why are they so much cheaper than an actual HD DVD player? Is the difference in visual quality that much different?

[DavidSeven]

Does an upscaling DVD player play HD-DVDs, both HD and Blu-Ray? And if so, why are they so much cheaper than an actual HD DVD player? Is the difference in visual quality that much different?

A standard upscaling DVD player can only play regular DVDs (not HD and Blu-Ray). If they have the HDMI output, they transmit an HD signal from your regular DVDs that supposedly comes closer to an HD picture than a regular DVD player would. I have the DVD player that I linked, but I haven't bought the HDMI cable for it yet, so I can't say how close it comes to actual HD quality. From the Amazon reviews, the HDMI picture is supposedly great. I guess you could pay $300-$500 for an HD-DVD player plus $30-$40 per HD disc for the real thing. I think I'll stick with a $40 DVD player plus no additional DVD costs for something that comes pretty close.

[Kurosawa Fan]

A standard upscaling DVD player can only play regular DVDs (not HD and Blu-Ray). If they have the HDMI output, they transmit an HD signal from your regular DVDs that supposedly comes close to an HD picture. I have the DVD player that I linked, but I haven't bought the HDMI cable for it yet, so I can't say how close it comes to actual HD quality. From the Amazon reviews, the HDMI picture is supposedly great. I guess you could pay $300-$500 for an HD-DVD player plus $30-$40 per HD disc for the real thing. I think I'll stick with a $40 DVD player plus no additional DVD costs for something that comes really close.

Absolutely. That's even better news. I'm definitely getting one for Christmas. Thanks.

[D_Davis]

For those of you with a 360, the upscaling DVD playback through the VGA cable is really, really good. Probably the best DVD playback I've seen. If only there was a way to make it region free without a mod.

[Sven]

More hlp plz, kthx??!!1

We just got an HD TV. Whoa! Talk about forking up the dowry early! Anyhow, it's this:

http://www.amazon.com/Olevia-532H-32-Inch-Lcd-Tv/dp/B000H2HVLC/ref=pd_bbs_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1196129989&sr=1-3

Then, we just bought the DVD player that KF linked, which is this:

http://www.amazon.com/Philips-DVP5982-1080p-Upscaling-Player/dp/B000N254LU/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1195704007&sr=8-1

However, looking at it now, it appears that we have a 1080i TV, and the DVD player is 1080p. I have no idea what these mean, but is that gonna pose a compatibility problem?

Secondly, I like this thing DavidSeven mentioned, about being able to hook up HDMi cables and getting a swanky picture. Is this something that I would be able to do, given our current setup? Please help me understand this stuff, but be gentle. :)

Thanks in advance! I guess it goes without saying at this point that I am sorry I'm such a techno-noob.

[DavidSeven]

However, looking at it now, it appears that we have a 1080i TV, and the DVD player is 1080p. I have no idea what these mean, but is that gonna pose a compatibility problem?

Secondly, I like this thing DavidSeven mentioned, about being able to hook up HDMi cables and getting a swanky picture. Is this something that I would be able to do, given our current setup? Please help me understand this stuff, but be gentle. :)

Thanks in advance! I guess it goes without saying at this point that I am sorry I'm such a techno-noob.

It shouldn't pose a compatibility problem. A 1080p TV would just produce the best picture since it's the highest resolution, but the two devices should work together fine. To set up the HDMI stuff, you'll need an HDMI cable. They're not cheap (priced at $80-$130 at Best Buy). However, both your TV and DVD player should have the proper inputs/outputs. It's just a matter of connecting them with the cable.

[D_Davis]

They're not cheap (priced at $80-$130 at Best Buy).

Don't buy them at Best Buy - they mark up their accessories about 100-200%. Go to a Home Depot, I've seen them there for under $50, or order them from a web site like:

http://www.cablewholesale.com/catalog/hdmianddvicable.htm?gclid=CL6Q nbuY_Y8CFRIUagodZU7gLQ

where you can get them for under $10.

And don't buy Monster or any name brand cable - it's crap. HDMI is a digital signal, all well made cables will produce the same signal. Most retailers now are price gouging on all HD accessories, don't be a sucker.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Don't buy them at Best Buy - they mark up their accessories about 100-200%. Go to a Home Depot, I've seen them there for under $50, or order them from a web site like:

http://www.cablewholesale.com/catalog/hdmianddvicable.htm?gclid=CL6Q nbuY_Y8CFRIUagodZU7gLQ

where you can get them for under $10.

And don't buy Monster or any name brand cable - it's crap. HDMI is a digital signal, all well made cables will produce the same signal. Most retailers now are price gouging on all HD accessories, don't be a sucker.

I was going to post the same thing. Wholesale cables are the way to go. Often times they're the same cables that Monster and other companies use, they just haven't been purchased by those companies yet. There's no difference in quality. All of my cables are wholesale cables and they work beautifully. Monster Cables are for suckers (apologies in advance to anyone who wasted their money).

[D_Davis]

James Randi recently extended his million dollar challenge to anyone who could scientifically prove that expensive name brand speaker cables provide a better sound than that of comparable, inexpensive cables. So far, no one has taken him up on the challenge.

Here is a great story about this:

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/calling-bullshit/james-randi-offers-1-million-if-audiophiles-can-prove-7250-speaker-cables-are-better-305549.php
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/calling-bullshit/updated-journalist-accepts-1-million-challenge-do-7250-cables-sound-better-or-not-311034.php?retitled

http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2007/10/10-tips-for-dea.html


In this latest funhouse, Michael Fremer, audiophile and Stereophile editor, accepted a challenge, with the backing of Pear Cables, to prove that the firm's $7,000 leads are better than standard-fare one can pick up at Best Buy. It's not gone well for the challengers, with Pear backing out and Fremer frustrated by the all-too-public negotiations between Randi and himself.

[Yxklyx]

I bought a Toshiba region free player six or so months ago and I average 6 movies a week I think. I use it for all movies - have only watched a few non region 1 dvds though. It cost 60 or 70 I think. I got it either from amazon or ebay. The local Facets here rents out non region 1 dvds which is cool. The only thing I don't like about it is that it doesn't go into sleep/screen-saver mode so if I'm not careful the movie menu will continuously be displayed on my TV.

What I don't like about the non region 1 DVDs are that they are in PAL format and so they play fast - voices/sounds are all higher and faster. I mucked with some video editing software to slow things down but it's not worth the hassle.

[D_Davis]

What I don't like about the non region 1 DVDs are that they are in PAL format and so they play fast - voices/sounds are all higher and faster. I mucked with some video editing software to slow things down but it's not worth the hassle.

You just need to make sure that the DVD player you buy properly converts PAL to NTSC.

[Sven]

I'm having trouble with the PS2. PS2 on HDTV, from what I'm finding, is more or less kaput. Do any of you have both? If so, do you just not mind the pixellation or are there any secrets that in my researchings I've not come across.

[D_Davis]

I'm having trouble with the PS2. PS2 on HDTV, from what I'm finding, is more or less kaput. Do any of you have both? If so, do you just not mind the pixellation or are there any secrets that in my researchings I've not come across.

Doesn't the PS2 have a progressive setting, or is it just some games? I can't remember.

I play the PS2 in HD on my projector, and it looks pretty killer, even on a 100" screen. It doesn't look as good as the 360 or XBOX, but the pixels aren't all blown out or anything

Are you using component cables, or the RCA?

Can you force your TV into 480P mode?

This is probably the problem. If you are trying to play the PS2 in anything higher, it will probably look like total crap.

[Sven]

Doesn't the PS2 have a progressive setting, or is it just some games? I can't remember.

I play the PS2 in HD on my projector, and it looks pretty killer, even on a 100" screen. It doesn't look as good as the 360 or XBOX, but the pixels aren't all blown out or anything

Are you using component cables, or the RCA?

Can you force your TV into 480P mode?

This is probably the problem. If you are trying to play the PS2 in anything higher, it will probably look like total crap.

RCA cables.

I'm guessing that if I'm able to force my TV into 480p, that'll be something, but I'm not sure how to do that. My TV is supposedly able to display in 480p, but I'll be damned if I know how to work these contraptions.

[D_Davis]

RCA cables.


This is your problem. Go and buy the component cables. You will always get a crappier picture from RCA.

[Sven]

This is your problem. Go and buy the component cables. You will always get a crappier picture from RCA.

Just so we're clear, the ones I use are the red, yellow, white things that plug into the TV (the PS2 end is a single USB-type connection). That's RCA, right? And component has, like, 5 connections or something, no?

[D_Davis]

Just so we're clear, the ones I use are the red, yellow, white things that plug into the TV (the PS2 end is a single USB-type connection). That's RCA, right? And component has, like, 5 connections or something, no?

Right

yellow, red, white = RCA, composite, bad because they have a single connection for video.

The component cables have three connections for video - green, red, blue, one for each of the three primary colors, plus 2 for audio.

[Scar]

I've compared upscaling DVD's to regular DVD's, and, yes, there is some improvement. However, they pale incomparrison to HD movies.

[bac0n]

The new Oppo DVD player arrived yesterday and I hooked up up the first chance I got. I swear I could hear the sounds of angels singing as the thing powered up.

[D_Davis]

The new Oppo DVD player arrived yesterday and I hooked up up the first chance I got. I swear I could hear the sounds of angels singing as the thing powered up.

It's a nice machine, no?

I love that it plays DivX and AVI, and also it will play .sub files which is totally awesome. Download a movie, drop the subtitle file in the same folder, and presto, the Oppo displays the movie with the subs. Awesome, awesome stuff.

[bac0n]

It's a nice machine, no?

I love that it plays DivX and AVI, and also it will play .sub files which is totally awesome. Download a movie, drop the subtitle file in the same folder, and presto, the Oppo displays the movie with the subs. Awesome, awesome stuff.

Whoa, that's sweet!

[Yxklyx]

You just need to make sure that the DVD player you buy properly converts PAL to NTSC.

It does properly convert PAL to NTSC. The problem is unsolvable. Simply put, A PAL DVD of a movie contains one less frame per second than an NTSC DVD and there's nothing you can do to ever get that frame back. It's lost when the film is transferred to DVD. PAL and Film do not mix.

[Yxklyx]

It does properly convert PAL to NTSC. The problem is unsolvable. Simply put, A PAL DVD of a movie contains one less frame per second than an NTSC DVD and there's nothing you can do to ever get that frame back. It's lost when the film is transferred to DVD. PAL and Film do not mix.

That's not right about the missing frames but I've worked with converting PAL to NTSC on my computer using VLC and the results have never been good. I was able to slow down the speed but I'll occasionally get minor jumps in the picture.

[D_Davis]

It does properly convert PAL to NTSC. The problem is unsolvable. Simply put, A PAL DVD of a movie contains one less frame per second than an NTSC DVD and there's nothing you can do to ever get that frame back. It's lost when the film is transferred to DVD. PAL and Film do not mix.

I don't think this is right.

All of the PAL DVDs I own play perfectly on my DVD player.

[Kurosawa Fan]

I don't think this is right.

All of the PAL DVDs I own play perfectly on my DVD player.

Mine too. If a DVD player correctly converts PAL to NTSC, a PAL DVD will play without any issues. You won't even know the difference.

[Yxklyx]

Mine too. If a DVD player correctly converts PAL to NTSC, a PAL DVD will play without any issues. You won't even know the difference.

Check the run time of the movie as displayed on your TV to the runtime listed on imdb.com.

You do realize that everyone who watches a PAL DVD on a PAL TV will experience the PAL speed up - just about everyone in the world (except for the USA and a few other countries) has over the years been watching DVDs of movies at a 4% faster speed.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Check the run time of the movie as displayed on your TV to the runtime listed on imdb.com.

You do realize that everyone who watches a PAL DVD on a PAL TV will experience the PAL speed up - just about everyone in the world (except for the USA and a few other countries) has over the years been watching DVDs of movies at a 4% faster speed.

Well, I guess I'll amend my statement to say that I won't know the difference, because thus far I haven't with any R2 disc I've watched.

[Yxklyx]

If you can find me a player that will slow down playback please point me to one because I've been searching for a year - I do recall someone mentioning something like this before. Most of the time you won't notice the difference in speed but if it's something like a TV show that you are very familiar with, the speed-up is very noticeable.

[MacGuffin]

I'm thinking of getting the Philips DVP5900/37. Has anyone here used this model for PAL DVDs?

[soitgoes...]

I'm thinking of getting the Philips DVP5900/37. Has anyone here used this model for PAL DVDs?
I don't think any of mine have been that particular Philips model, but every Philips DVD player I have used as a hacked region-free player has worked perfectly.

[MacGuffin]

If you can find me a player that will slow down playback please point me to one because I've been searching for a year - I do recall someone mentioning something like this before. Most of the time you won't notice the difference in speed but if it's something like a TV show that you are very familiar with, the speed-up is very noticeable.

If my calculations are correct, the Philips DVP5990/37 that I got doesn't do PAL speed-up (you had me worried, there!). The back of the box for Boy Meets Girl (Region 2, PAL, came in the Artificial Eye Leos Carax Collection box set) gave the DVD a running time of 100 minutes and the final moment on the DVD timer said something like 1:39:48.

[MacGuffin]

Although, doing some reading, it seems to PAL speedup may affect certain movies no matter which DVD player you get if the DVD you want to play is from the UK. For example, Boy Meets Girl is 100 minutes, but could be 103. DVDBeaver says something in their review that it has a runtime of "1:39:51 (4% PAL speedup)", so I'm not sure if this is sped up. Although it sounds like the normal speed to me. I wouldn't buy the player on the basis of my above statements, but maybe buy it if you want a region-free player that does a pretty spectacular PAL to NTSC conversion. I don't think speed-up is affected by it, but maybe I don't fully understand PAL speed-up in the first place.

[MacGuffin]

Basically, it seems no DVD player can "correct" PAL speedup.

[Yxklyx]

Basically, it seems no DVD player can "correct" PAL speedup.

Yeah, I don't think so but you should be able to use some software (like VLC) to "slow down" the movie and burn a new DVD. I tried this with a Twin Peaks PAL DVD and had _some_ success.

With HD DVDs this will all be moot in the future since there's now a universal standard.

[MacGuffin]

Yeah, I don't think so but you should be able to use some software (like VLC) to "slow down" the movie and burn a new DVD. I tried this with a Twin Peaks PAL DVD and had _some_ success.

With HD DVDs this will all be moot in the future since there's now a universal standard.

Too much work considering I don't really even notice it! Besides, I like the original DVDs too much (it's one of the reason I buy them, really. I'm a bit of a collector, you might say.) It's interesting though to hear about something like Berlin Alexanderplatz (which I haven't seen; the same goes for everything by Fassbinder), which was filmed in the PAL format at 25 fps. So when Criterion made their DVD, there was actually a 4% PAL slowdown making the movie a half hour long than its original seven hour running time.

[Sycophant]

Now that HKFlix has suspended their hardware sales, are there any good places to buy/read about region free DVD or BluRay players?

[D_Davis]

Now that HKFlix has suspended their hardware sales, are there any good places to buy/read about region free DVD or BluRay players?

I don't know. I was bummed out to see that they did this. It also appears that the Oppo I have and love has been discontinued. Double bummer.

[bac0n]

I don't know. I was bummed out to see that they did this. It also appears that the Oppo I have and love has been discontinued. Double bummer.

Crap! I hope mine never breaks down then, cuz when it does, I have a helluva lotta Godzilla DVDs I won't be able to watch. Man, I'm hoping these region codes eventually go away. They're about as good an invention as DRM.

[Sycophant]

There are still plenty of DVD players out there that either bypass region coding or can be easily hacked to bypass region coding. Including several very popular ones that sell for like $30.

[D_Davis]

There are still plenty of DVD players out there that either bypass region coding or can be easily hacked to bypass region coding. Including several very popular ones that sell for like $30.

Yes, there are, but these Oppo players are very nice, and affordable. The upscaling (720p) and PAL conversion is top-notch. Plus, they play back .sub files without having to hardcode them onto the file.

Oppo makes a new model - it's a Blu-ray/DVD combo. It's probably pretty good as well.

I have a small Cyberhome that is remote-hacked, and it works pretty well, although it doesn't play all the file formats that my Oppo does.