Ok, I know some folks on the board work in consumer electronics retail, and I think there might also be a few geeks lurking.
So here's the deal: I'm not going to be in the States for Valentine's Day (third time due to deployments, which I'm okay with), but I still have to acknowledge the holiday (so that my wife will do things like acknowledge my hobby). But's she's terribly practical, so I'm getting away with replacing her DVD player.
I'd like some guidance on brands and models. I don't mind spending, but I don't want to waste money. Likewise, I don't want to think I'm getting a great deal and get a piece of crap.
I'd prefer a VCR/DVD combo, and if there's one that plays European and Japanese import disks, that'd be a nice feature. I've got surround sound, but no HDTV or anything so I don't need this progressive scan.
Any suggestions?
Thanks, Bryan

 

I've heard that the DVD/VCR combos aren't worth it, it reduces the quality of the DVD player and you're usually better going off with two separate machines.

But, that's just what I've heard.

 

That's been my opinion of them as well since if one part breaks you'd have to replace the whole thing not just the part. I hadn't heard about the dvd parts of them being less in quality though.

Anyway, whatever you decide, I'm pretty sure if you get a good brand there's a good chance it won't be crap. Something like RCA or Magnavox or something. I do know Emersons aren't as good as they used to be.

 

You're going to want a player that's accessible to all regions, or region free. (Some DVD players actually have a code you can put in and disable region coding. Otherwise known as a hack.)

To be honest, you're going to spend $50.00 or more on a DVD player if you want regionless, etc.

iLo (which is Cyberhome's WM brand name, like Lennox's is Durabrand) has a DVD recorder, which allows you to use the hack to remove coding, plus it will work like a VCR, only better and with better quality, so she'll be happy about that.

$98.74 at Wal-Mart.

http://www.videohelp.com/ will assist you in finding the features you want in a DVD player or recorder. They give a list of checkboxes and you select the features you wish to have, and it will give a list of players/recorders that will do it for you. (If possible, some people want way too much out of one single unit).

For the iLo DVD recorder mentioned earlier, here's the direct link so you can see what I was talking about: http://www.videohelp.com/dvdhacks.php?select=iLO+DVDR05

It will tell you exactly what to do to unlock the region coding and update the firmware if necessary. As with any electronic component that has updates, only use them if necessary. Don't pioneer and ruin a device that will have to go back to the store.

 

You've heard correctly.

And from Consumer Reports

They haven't reviewed the combos you speak of since Dec 2002.

 

VCR? Want a Betamax player while you're at it?

 

No kidding, I threw my last VCR out over a year ago.

 

Well if you've got a spare I could use the parts.

 

Betamax players are worth money now. I wouldn't be too quick to throw out a VCR just yet, they will one day become rare. I know it sounds odd, but there are quirky people out there that will collect them.

Hell, I hear there's people that collect them thar TransFormers things.

 

Thanks to all, especially TSFC and drippy...and yeah, I'd get rid of the VCR but my wife still has tapes that she 'just can't throw away.' I don't even buy DVDs except TF and L&O now thanks to Netflix, but seeing as how I've got maybe 25 35-gallon Rubbermaid bins fulls of toys, I can't really bitch about a shelf of outdated casettes, y'know?

 

Hey tech heads, I have a related question. I have a pretty nice Panasonic DVD player, but it has recently started pausing about an hour into a movie. At first it just pauses for a few seconds every 10 minutes or so. But the length and frequency of the pause increases quickly. I've run two different "dry" lens cleaners through it several times each, but it hasn't helped. Any suggestions?

 

Panasonic chipsets are known to fail and burn themselves out. My cousin had one of the very first Panasonic DVD players (circa 1998 or 99 iirc) and after it got hot it would either do what your's is, or would completely shut down. Then it stopped altogether.

The laser (as you know) heats up the disc as it runs and the problem with a Panasonic is that the laser and it's mechanism gets hot as well, which causes a buildup.

After a while, it will burn out. He then went to Pioneer and hasn't had a problem since.

BTW...this info I got from a repair shop *and* a Panasonic help line. (I'm not sure the guy was supposed to tell us that, but eh.)

 

Sound like its either overheating or on its way out. If the conditions and location it operates in havent changed since the time it was working properly, then you might want to start looking for a new one.

 

Thanks TSFC and RabidYak. That's what I was afraid of. It makes me mad because I've never had any problems with Panasonic devices before.

 

I just avoid Panasonic DVD players. Panasonic in general is a fine company and their products are more than fine. It's akin to Sony and their PS fiascos. They finally got them right, but it took many lasers breaking down, dead pixels, etc. Yet, Sony makes a fantastic computer, DVD player, TV, etc. So what you lose in the apples, you gain in the oranges.

 

You know, Theres lots of stuff out there that still isn't availble on Dvd yet.


And not everyone has access to a DVD recorder to make backups.