Ben Anton asked:
If you watch television and have an older CRT (cathode ray tube) or analog TV set, you have undoubtedly heard that by February 2009, you will need to have purchased a converter box in order to view basic television programming. Most of us already enjoy digital television programming with satellite or cable and won’t need to do much to prepare for the change. However, if you are one of the estimated 20 million households that do not take advantage of these services but rather watches TV using an antenna, you will not be able to receive any programming after midnight on the February 17, 2009.
CRT television owners can choose to purchase a converter box using a government subsidized coupon for the purchase or they can buy a newer model television that can accommodate the change to digital, like an LCD or plasma screen.
The change made by Congress to transition to all-digital television has been put in place for several reasons:
1. Better picture and sound quality is available with digital television
2. More free channel options are available with digital television
3. Transitioning frees up more frequencies that can then be used by emergency services.
What’s The Big Deal?
Because many homes may in fact be getting rid of their older television, there is a growing concern as to what to do with those older TV models. An estimated 75 percent of unused and broken televisions get stored away rather than recycled or disposed of. Keeping an old set around is really not a good idea. Older CRT sets contain anywhere from four to eight pounds of toxic lead, a fairly unhealthy thing to keep lying around your garage. Additionally, throwing these TVs into a landfill is not too environmentally savvy either because the lead can leech into the soil and groundwater if broken. Recycling can help prevent the release of this hazardous lead.
Additionally, television sets are big, clumsy, non-biodegradable objects that take up large amounts of space in our nation’s landfills. Many states have already started prohibiting or limiting the ability to dispose of electronic devices in landfills. California, for instance, was one of the first states to pass a law prohibiting the throwing away of old TV sets, followed by several other states. The Environmental Protection Agency website can give you more information on limitations in your area.
How Can You Recycle Your TV?
There are a number of different options available to CRT and analog TV owners wishing to dispose of their sets in the most socially and environmentally responsible way. Before handing over your TV to any of these organizations or companies, however, ask some simple questions to verify that they comply with state or local electronics disposal laws and that they send any hazardous waste to a facility that specializes in the safe and legal disposal of such things.
Donate It To Charity: Consider giving your TV to a local charity, church or hospital. They may be willing to take it off your hands as well as pick it up from your home. You can contact the Electronic Industries Alliance for a list of local and national organizations that accept used electronic items.
Local Goodwill, Thrift Stores: Thrift stores will generally take an older TV set as long as it is in working condition. If you don’t know where to start, simply make a few calls and see who might be interested.
Electronics Retailers: Some retailers, such as Best Buy, Circuit City and Office Depot will work with television manufacturers to sponsor in-store collection of televisions, computers and other electronics devices. This service is usually free or there may be a small charge. This is an incredible convenient option for people that want to dispose of a TV and get a new one all in one shop. Some retailers may even pick up the old TV set when they deliver your new one.
~Ben Anton, 2008
If you watch television and have an older CRT (cathode ray tube) or analog TV set, you have undoubtedly heard that by February 2009, you will need to have purchased a converter box in order to view basic television programming. Most of us already enjoy digital television programming with satellite or cable and won’t need to do much to prepare for the change. However, if you are one of the estimated 20 million households that do not take advantage of these services but rather watches TV using an antenna, you will not be able to receive any programming after midnight on the February 17, 2009.
CRT television owners can choose to purchase a converter box using a government subsidized coupon for the purchase or they can buy a newer model television that can accommodate the change to digital, like an LCD or plasma screen.
The change made by Congress to transition to all-digital television has been put in place for several reasons:
1. Better picture and sound quality is available with digital television
2. More free channel options are available with digital television
3. Transitioning frees up more frequencies that can then be used by emergency services.
What’s The Big Deal?
Because many homes may in fact be getting rid of their older television, there is a growing concern as to what to do with those older TV models. An estimated 75 percent of unused and broken televisions get stored away rather than recycled or disposed of. Keeping an old set around is really not a good idea. Older CRT sets contain anywhere from four to eight pounds of toxic lead, a fairly unhealthy thing to keep lying around your garage. Additionally, throwing these TVs into a landfill is not too environmentally savvy either because the lead can leech into the soil and groundwater if broken. Recycling can help prevent the release of this hazardous lead.
Additionally, television sets are big, clumsy, non-biodegradable objects that take up large amounts of space in our nation’s landfills. Many states have already started prohibiting or limiting the ability to dispose of electronic devices in landfills. California, for instance, was one of the first states to pass a law prohibiting the throwing away of old TV sets, followed by several other states. The Environmental Protection Agency website can give you more information on limitations in your area.
How Can You Recycle Your TV?
There are a number of different options available to CRT and analog TV owners wishing to dispose of their sets in the most socially and environmentally responsible way. Before handing over your TV to any of these organizations or companies, however, ask some simple questions to verify that they comply with state or local electronics disposal laws and that they send any hazardous waste to a facility that specializes in the safe and legal disposal of such things.
Donate It To Charity: Consider giving your TV to a local charity, church or hospital. They may be willing to take it off your hands as well as pick it up from your home. You can contact the Electronic Industries Alliance for a list of local and national organizations that accept used electronic items.
Local Goodwill, Thrift Stores: Thrift stores will generally take an older TV set as long as it is in working condition. If you don’t know where to start, simply make a few calls and see who might be interested.
Electronics Retailers: Some retailers, such as Best Buy, Circuit City and Office Depot will work with television manufacturers to sponsor in-store collection of televisions, computers and other electronics devices. This service is usually free or there may be a small charge. This is an incredible convenient option for people that want to dispose of a TV and get a new one all in one shop. Some retailers may even pick up the old TV set when they deliver your new one.
~Ben Anton, 2008
Filed under Home Improvement
Mike Singh asked:
Televisions are changing rapidly all the time, with consumers having a wide assortment of choices for “outside the box” viewing. But once we enter a darkened room, with a wide screen and high quality movie theater, we become part of the cinema atmosphere or “inside the box” once we go to the theater downtown. When it comes to a home theater projector, we need to carefully think and consider our options.
A video projector is like a slide or film projector, because they project an image onto a screen. If we are setting up a projector in our basement, for example, we would need to carefully think about things like the ceiling height, the screen level, and the seating positions. While we need to consider all of these elements, we should take the time to work with a skilled professional to help us in selecting the right projector for our specific needs.
If we do not really know a lot about this area of entertainment, it would be hard for us to do it on our own, especially if we do not have the necessary information available. We need to do our homework efficiently when it comes to purchasing a projector.
Quality is one of the most fundamentally important aspects of installing a home theater in our home more than anything else. Each element that we put into the home theater entertainment room needs to be part of the “visual aspect of the cinema”. It needs to be purchased with the highest level of quality in mind so that it will be able to give you your money’s worth in picture and sound quality, completely imitating every visual part of the actual cinema downtown.
The project that you select for your home theater should be the best suited for your specific needs, cost the right amount for your theater budget and it should provide you with the overall best quality picture for your money.
A home theater creates one of the best rooms in the home for entertainment or relaxation. It will be welcoming to the family and friends for an atmosphere that is different, a place to completely get away from things. There should not be a good amount of money installing a home theater system only to find that you have selected a poor quality projector for it, so be careful and shop around.
Sometimes we can purchase these with the home theater system as a group package. Other times it pays to select the projector based on its specific qualifications for your needs. In any case, a projector is an important element to carefully consider.
Televisions are changing rapidly all the time, with consumers having a wide assortment of choices for “outside the box” viewing. But once we enter a darkened room, with a wide screen and high quality movie theater, we become part of the cinema atmosphere or “inside the box” once we go to the theater downtown. When it comes to a home theater projector, we need to carefully think and consider our options.
A video projector is like a slide or film projector, because they project an image onto a screen. If we are setting up a projector in our basement, for example, we would need to carefully think about things like the ceiling height, the screen level, and the seating positions. While we need to consider all of these elements, we should take the time to work with a skilled professional to help us in selecting the right projector for our specific needs.
If we do not really know a lot about this area of entertainment, it would be hard for us to do it on our own, especially if we do not have the necessary information available. We need to do our homework efficiently when it comes to purchasing a projector.
Quality is one of the most fundamentally important aspects of installing a home theater in our home more than anything else. Each element that we put into the home theater entertainment room needs to be part of the “visual aspect of the cinema”. It needs to be purchased with the highest level of quality in mind so that it will be able to give you your money’s worth in picture and sound quality, completely imitating every visual part of the actual cinema downtown.
The project that you select for your home theater should be the best suited for your specific needs, cost the right amount for your theater budget and it should provide you with the overall best quality picture for your money.
A home theater creates one of the best rooms in the home for entertainment or relaxation. It will be welcoming to the family and friends for an atmosphere that is different, a place to completely get away from things. There should not be a good amount of money installing a home theater system only to find that you have selected a poor quality projector for it, so be careful and shop around.
Sometimes we can purchase these with the home theater system as a group package. Other times it pays to select the projector based on its specific qualifications for your needs. In any case, a projector is an important element to carefully consider.
Filed under Electronics
tvreviewsonline asked:
Bought Samsung LNA450 model a few days ago for $ 807 instead of the “sale”. Do not see why it would be discounting a model that was just released this month by the $ 92 price in the last year, the model was still selling more than that because the new model for better technical performance in several ways.
Samsung bought as many reviews indicated Samsung was worth the extra money in addition to the picture quality over cheaper 32 “models. The picture is excellent. The documentation is good insofar as it goes. There are however a number of Image controls are probably the great afficianado, but bewildering to any neophyte. Unfortunately, the documentation does not give you a real idea of when you want to deviate significantly from the default. experiementing continue until you find what you love. There are several ” machine “that supposedly make configuration changes to the image based on the input source and material, but frankly, I could not say if and how it works.
Similarly, there is a special feature that is supposed to improve picture quality at the highest level (precisely how is a bit vague), but this feature can be enabled or disabled, and is only available in the “dynamic” so, no “normal” or “movie” mode. Again, why this is so is not at all explained in the manual.
However, if the image is excellent in most conditions and probably just change the default settings is sufficient most of the time. I noticed a bit of shade in the action scenes of a PBS drama. There was also some weird flickering in an HD broadcast of a hockey game the NHL, perhaps because ice is white on the screen, so most of the time. This is not done in any other sporting events – the LEB league basketball, golf, NASCAR, etc. – which is impressive.
In this model, the speakers are hidden below the picture and sound quality is a bit low. But then, the sound has a lot to you, output can be sent to your external speaker system.
Set up was easy. All looks very nice, much sharper than the clunky CRT set that it replaces. The only problem is that the first effort to automatically detect local over the air HD stations not find a pair that resulted in a second test. The “Favorite” channel designation feature is a good way to focus on the few stations in May that always want to see.
you can compare Samsung LN32A450 with relate other hdtvs.
Bought Samsung LNA450 model a few days ago for $ 807 instead of the “sale”. Do not see why it would be discounting a model that was just released this month by the $ 92 price in the last year, the model was still selling more than that because the new model for better technical performance in several ways.
Samsung bought as many reviews indicated Samsung was worth the extra money in addition to the picture quality over cheaper 32 “models. The picture is excellent. The documentation is good insofar as it goes. There are however a number of Image controls are probably the great afficianado, but bewildering to any neophyte. Unfortunately, the documentation does not give you a real idea of when you want to deviate significantly from the default. experiementing continue until you find what you love. There are several ” machine “that supposedly make configuration changes to the image based on the input source and material, but frankly, I could not say if and how it works.
Similarly, there is a special feature that is supposed to improve picture quality at the highest level (precisely how is a bit vague), but this feature can be enabled or disabled, and is only available in the “dynamic” so, no “normal” or “movie” mode. Again, why this is so is not at all explained in the manual.
However, if the image is excellent in most conditions and probably just change the default settings is sufficient most of the time. I noticed a bit of shade in the action scenes of a PBS drama. There was also some weird flickering in an HD broadcast of a hockey game the NHL, perhaps because ice is white on the screen, so most of the time. This is not done in any other sporting events – the LEB league basketball, golf, NASCAR, etc. – which is impressive.
In this model, the speakers are hidden below the picture and sound quality is a bit low. But then, the sound has a lot to you, output can be sent to your external speaker system.
Set up was easy. All looks very nice, much sharper than the clunky CRT set that it replaces. The only problem is that the first effort to automatically detect local over the air HD stations not find a pair that resulted in a second test. The “Favorite” channel designation feature is a good way to focus on the few stations in May that always want to see.
you can compare Samsung LN32A450 with relate other hdtvs.
Filed under Electronics
Brooke Yan asked:
The DVD has come to dominate video even more quickly than the CD conquered audio in the 1980s. Along with changing what we watch–discs rather than tapes–DVDs are changing how we watch. The digital format makes it easy to go directly to desired sections of a movie, and the picture and sound quality surpass what you’ll get with a videotape. One DVD can store a complete two-hour-plus movie with a Dolby Digital or DTS soundtrack containing six to eight audio channels. There’s also room for extra material such as multiple languages, behind-the-scenes documentaries, and commentary by the director or actors. High-definition DVD players are expected to hit the market by the beginning of 2006.
DVD players can play standard audio CDs, and some models fully support DVD-Audio or SACD, two competing high-resolution audio formats offering multichannel sound.
While DVD players are playback-only devices, DVD recorders record as well as play. Prices of recorders have dropped considerably in the past few years, with entry-level models now selling for less than $200.
WHAT’S AVAILABLE
Apex, Panasonic, Sony, and Toshiba are among the biggest-selling brands of DVD players. Virtually all new DVD players are progressive-scan models. When used with a conventional TV, these players provide the usual high DVD picture quality. With a TV that can display high-definition (HD) or enhanced-definition (ED) images, image quality is slightly better. That’s because HD and ED sets support the player’s progressive-scan 480p mode, drawing 480 consecutive lines on the screen. By comparison, with a conventional TV, every other line is drawn and then interlaced or combined, a resolution referred to as 480i. A player can be connected directly to your TV for viewing movies or routed through your receiver to play movies and audio CDs on your sound system.
Progressive-scan models come in single-disc and multidisc versions. The few non-progressive-scan players now on the market are mostly single-disc models; these tend to be the cheapest type.
Single-disc consoles. Even low-end models usually include all the video outputs you might want. Price range: less than $60 to more than $300.
Multidisc consoles. Like CD changers, these players accommodate more than one disc at a time, typically five. DVD jukeboxes that hold 400 or so discs are also available. Price range: $100 to $800.
Portables. These DVD players generally come with a small wide-screen-format LCD screen and batteries that claim to provide three hours or more of playback. Some low-priced models don’t come with a screen; they’re intended for users who plan to connect the device to a television. You pay extra for portability either way. Price range: $150 to $800.
IMPORTANT FEATURES
DVD-based movies often come in various formats. Aspect-ratio control lets you choose between the 4:3 viewing format of conventional TVs (4 inches wide for every 3 inches high) and the 16:9 ratio of newer, wide-screen sets.
A DVD player gives you all sorts of control over the picture-control you may never have known you needed. Picture zoom lets you zoom in on a specific frame. Black-level adjustment brings out the detail in dark parts of the screen image. If you’ve ever wanted to see certain action scenes from different angles, multi-angle capability gives you that opportunity. Note that this feature and some others work only with certain discs.
A DVD player enables you to navigate the disc in a number of ways. Unlike a VHS tape, most DVDs are sectioned. Chapter preview lets you scan the opening seconds of each section or chapter until you find what you want; a related feature, chapter gallery, shows thumbnails of section or chapter opening scenes. Go-to by time lets you enter how many hours and minutes into the disc you’d like to skip to. Marker functions allow easy indexing of specific sections.
To get the most from a DVD player, you need to hook it up to the TV with the best available connection. A composite-video connection to the TV can produce a very good picture, but there will be some loss of detail and some color artifacts such as adjacent colors bleeding into each other. Using the TV’s S-video output can improve picture quality. It keeps the black-and-white and the color portions of the signal separated, producing more picture detail and fewer color defects than standard composite video.
Component video, sometimes not provided on the lowest-end models, improves on S-video by splitting the color signal, resulting in a wider range of color. If you connect a DVD player via an S-video or component connection, don’t be surprised if you have to adjust the television-picture setup when you switch to a picture coming from a VCR or a cable box that uses a radio-frequency (RF, also called antenna/cable) connection or a composite connection.
Two newer outputs found on some players, Digital Video Interface (DVI) and High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), are intended for use with digital TVs with DVI inputs. They may be used to pass digital 480p and up-converted higher-resolution video signals. These outputs potentially allow the content providers to control your ability to record the content.
Another benefit of DVD players is the ability to enjoy movies with multichannel surround sound. To reap the full sound experience of the audio encoded into DVD titles, you’ll need a Dolby Digital receiver and six speakers, including a subwoofer. (For 6.1 and 7.1 soundtracks, you’ll need seven or eight speakers.) Dolby Digital decoding built-in refers to a DVD player that decodes the multichannel audio before the audio receiver; without the built-in circuitry, you’d need to have the decoder built into the receiver or, in rare instances, use a separate decoder box to take advantage of the audio. (A Dolby Digital receiver will decode an older format, Dolby Pro Logic, as well.) Most players also support Digital Theater System (DTS) decoding for titles using the six- or seven-channel encoding format. When you’re watching DVD-based movies, dynamic audio-range control helps keep explosions and other noisy sound effects from seeming too loud.
In addition to commercial DVD titles, DVD players often support playback or display of numerous other disc formats. They include CD-R/RW recordings of standard audio CDs; the recordable DVD formats DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW, and DVD-RAM; Video CD (VCD); and DVD-Audio and Super Audio CD (SACD). They can also play CD-R/RW discs containing MP3 and Windows Media Audio (WMA) files and JPEG picture files. Make sure a model you’re considering plays the discs and formats you use now, or may want to use in the future.
DVD players also provide features such as multilingual support, which lets you choose dialog or subtitles in different languages for a given movie. Parental control lets parents “lock out” films by their rating code.
HOW TO CHOOSE
Buy a progressive-scan model unless the lowest price is your highest priority. Although you won’t see progressive-scan picture quality on a conventional analog TV, it’s worth spending a little extra for a progressive-scan player if you might get a digital (probably HD) TV at some point. You’ll have much more choice of products as well, since almost all new players are progressive-scan. It’s definitely worth getting a progressive-scan player for use with a digital TV, which is capable of displaying the smoother picture these players can deliver.
Choose a multidisc model if you want continuous music. A single-disc player is fine for movies and CDs one at a time. But if you want this to be your main music player, consider a multidisc player. Note, though, that multidisc models are typically about 1 to 2 inches taller and 6 to 7 inches deeper than single-disc players.
Make sure there are enough connections. Virtually all DVD players now have outputs for optimal connection to most TV sets. A few players have DVI or HDMI connectors that are compatible with some new TVs, though these don’t necessarily offer improved picture quality. If you want to use digital-audio connections from the DVD player to a receiver, make sure the DVD player’s digital-audio outputs match the receiver’s inputs. Some receivers use a coaxial input; others, an optical input. If you have an older receiver that lacks 5.1 surround-sound decoding, look for a player with a decoder for Dolby Digital.
Consider which, if any, special playback formats matter. All DVD players can play prerecorded DVDs and CDs. Most models also play several types of discs you record yourself, such as DVD-R, DVD+R, and CD-R/-RW. Most can read DVD+RW, but the ability to read DVD-RW discs depends on how they were recorded. Some can also play DVD-RAM discs. Most models play CD-audio and MP3 music recorded on discs you burn yourself. You’ll need to shop around more if you want to play Windows Media Audio (WMA) files, video CD, and high-resolution SACD and DVD-Audio discs in their original format.
Do you want to present slide shows on your TV? Then choose a model that can read the memory card for your camera or JPEG image files from a digital camera or scanner that you have burned onto a disc.
Copyright © 2002-2006 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.
For the latest information on this and many other products and services, visit www.ConsumerReports.org.
Find More
DVD Players with Easy Deal
ShopNdeal.com
The DVD has come to dominate video even more quickly than the CD conquered audio in the 1980s. Along with changing what we watch–discs rather than tapes–DVDs are changing how we watch. The digital format makes it easy to go directly to desired sections of a movie, and the picture and sound quality surpass what you’ll get with a videotape. One DVD can store a complete two-hour-plus movie with a Dolby Digital or DTS soundtrack containing six to eight audio channels. There’s also room for extra material such as multiple languages, behind-the-scenes documentaries, and commentary by the director or actors. High-definition DVD players are expected to hit the market by the beginning of 2006.
DVD players can play standard audio CDs, and some models fully support DVD-Audio or SACD, two competing high-resolution audio formats offering multichannel sound.
While DVD players are playback-only devices, DVD recorders record as well as play. Prices of recorders have dropped considerably in the past few years, with entry-level models now selling for less than $200.
WHAT’S AVAILABLE
Apex, Panasonic, Sony, and Toshiba are among the biggest-selling brands of DVD players. Virtually all new DVD players are progressive-scan models. When used with a conventional TV, these players provide the usual high DVD picture quality. With a TV that can display high-definition (HD) or enhanced-definition (ED) images, image quality is slightly better. That’s because HD and ED sets support the player’s progressive-scan 480p mode, drawing 480 consecutive lines on the screen. By comparison, with a conventional TV, every other line is drawn and then interlaced or combined, a resolution referred to as 480i. A player can be connected directly to your TV for viewing movies or routed through your receiver to play movies and audio CDs on your sound system.
Progressive-scan models come in single-disc and multidisc versions. The few non-progressive-scan players now on the market are mostly single-disc models; these tend to be the cheapest type.
Single-disc consoles. Even low-end models usually include all the video outputs you might want. Price range: less than $60 to more than $300.
Multidisc consoles. Like CD changers, these players accommodate more than one disc at a time, typically five. DVD jukeboxes that hold 400 or so discs are also available. Price range: $100 to $800.
Portables. These DVD players generally come with a small wide-screen-format LCD screen and batteries that claim to provide three hours or more of playback. Some low-priced models don’t come with a screen; they’re intended for users who plan to connect the device to a television. You pay extra for portability either way. Price range: $150 to $800.
IMPORTANT FEATURES
DVD-based movies often come in various formats. Aspect-ratio control lets you choose between the 4:3 viewing format of conventional TVs (4 inches wide for every 3 inches high) and the 16:9 ratio of newer, wide-screen sets.
A DVD player gives you all sorts of control over the picture-control you may never have known you needed. Picture zoom lets you zoom in on a specific frame. Black-level adjustment brings out the detail in dark parts of the screen image. If you’ve ever wanted to see certain action scenes from different angles, multi-angle capability gives you that opportunity. Note that this feature and some others work only with certain discs.
A DVD player enables you to navigate the disc in a number of ways. Unlike a VHS tape, most DVDs are sectioned. Chapter preview lets you scan the opening seconds of each section or chapter until you find what you want; a related feature, chapter gallery, shows thumbnails of section or chapter opening scenes. Go-to by time lets you enter how many hours and minutes into the disc you’d like to skip to. Marker functions allow easy indexing of specific sections.
To get the most from a DVD player, you need to hook it up to the TV with the best available connection. A composite-video connection to the TV can produce a very good picture, but there will be some loss of detail and some color artifacts such as adjacent colors bleeding into each other. Using the TV’s S-video output can improve picture quality. It keeps the black-and-white and the color portions of the signal separated, producing more picture detail and fewer color defects than standard composite video.
Component video, sometimes not provided on the lowest-end models, improves on S-video by splitting the color signal, resulting in a wider range of color. If you connect a DVD player via an S-video or component connection, don’t be surprised if you have to adjust the television-picture setup when you switch to a picture coming from a VCR or a cable box that uses a radio-frequency (RF, also called antenna/cable) connection or a composite connection.
Two newer outputs found on some players, Digital Video Interface (DVI) and High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), are intended for use with digital TVs with DVI inputs. They may be used to pass digital 480p and up-converted higher-resolution video signals. These outputs potentially allow the content providers to control your ability to record the content.
Another benefit of DVD players is the ability to enjoy movies with multichannel surround sound. To reap the full sound experience of the audio encoded into DVD titles, you’ll need a Dolby Digital receiver and six speakers, including a subwoofer. (For 6.1 and 7.1 soundtracks, you’ll need seven or eight speakers.) Dolby Digital decoding built-in refers to a DVD player that decodes the multichannel audio before the audio receiver; without the built-in circuitry, you’d need to have the decoder built into the receiver or, in rare instances, use a separate decoder box to take advantage of the audio. (A Dolby Digital receiver will decode an older format, Dolby Pro Logic, as well.) Most players also support Digital Theater System (DTS) decoding for titles using the six- or seven-channel encoding format. When you’re watching DVD-based movies, dynamic audio-range control helps keep explosions and other noisy sound effects from seeming too loud.
In addition to commercial DVD titles, DVD players often support playback or display of numerous other disc formats. They include CD-R/RW recordings of standard audio CDs; the recordable DVD formats DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW, and DVD-RAM; Video CD (VCD); and DVD-Audio and Super Audio CD (SACD). They can also play CD-R/RW discs containing MP3 and Windows Media Audio (WMA) files and JPEG picture files. Make sure a model you’re considering plays the discs and formats you use now, or may want to use in the future.
DVD players also provide features such as multilingual support, which lets you choose dialog or subtitles in different languages for a given movie. Parental control lets parents “lock out” films by their rating code.
HOW TO CHOOSE
Buy a progressive-scan model unless the lowest price is your highest priority. Although you won’t see progressive-scan picture quality on a conventional analog TV, it’s worth spending a little extra for a progressive-scan player if you might get a digital (probably HD) TV at some point. You’ll have much more choice of products as well, since almost all new players are progressive-scan. It’s definitely worth getting a progressive-scan player for use with a digital TV, which is capable of displaying the smoother picture these players can deliver.
Choose a multidisc model if you want continuous music. A single-disc player is fine for movies and CDs one at a time. But if you want this to be your main music player, consider a multidisc player. Note, though, that multidisc models are typically about 1 to 2 inches taller and 6 to 7 inches deeper than single-disc players.
Make sure there are enough connections. Virtually all DVD players now have outputs for optimal connection to most TV sets. A few players have DVI or HDMI connectors that are compatible with some new TVs, though these don’t necessarily offer improved picture quality. If you want to use digital-audio connections from the DVD player to a receiver, make sure the DVD player’s digital-audio outputs match the receiver’s inputs. Some receivers use a coaxial input; others, an optical input. If you have an older receiver that lacks 5.1 surround-sound decoding, look for a player with a decoder for Dolby Digital.
Consider which, if any, special playback formats matter. All DVD players can play prerecorded DVDs and CDs. Most models also play several types of discs you record yourself, such as DVD-R, DVD+R, and CD-R/-RW. Most can read DVD+RW, but the ability to read DVD-RW discs depends on how they were recorded. Some can also play DVD-RAM discs. Most models play CD-audio and MP3 music recorded on discs you burn yourself. You’ll need to shop around more if you want to play Windows Media Audio (WMA) files, video CD, and high-resolution SACD and DVD-Audio discs in their original format.
Do you want to present slide shows on your TV? Then choose a model that can read the memory card for your camera or JPEG image files from a digital camera or scanner that you have burned onto a disc.
Copyright © 2002-2006 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.
For the latest information on this and many other products and services, visit www.ConsumerReports.org.
Find More
DVD Players with Easy Deal
ShopNdeal.com
Filed under Advice