What is a good NTSC/PAL DVD player - for cheap?

[Hard Panner]

What is a good NTSC/PAL DVD player - for cheap? Make and model numbers if you could.
Thanks!

[fyrfytrhoges]

hardware forum would be the place for this.

[lv70smusic]

Well, I like my Denon 2910 a lot, but it isn't cheap. Even the highly discounted floor model price I got still wasn't cheap by many people's standards.

I've had other, truly cheap NTSC/PAL dvd players that were easily hacked to play all regions. Unfortunately they all had various "issues," so I'm not sure that I would recommend any of them.

[Todd Fredericks]

What's your budget?

Todd

[YaQuin]

If you will be playing your discs through an NTSC television then you have to make sure your player will CONVERT PAL to NTSC. If it does not then PAL will have to be output to a PAL or "Multi System" display.

[RoyalScam]

Any of the Oppo Digital machines should do you. Under $200.

[crimsoncing]

I am not at home right now but I got a program for about $80 that lets me rip PAL Dvd's and then convert them I have a few friends in other country's that swaps discs with me. I do this all the time. I keep the orignals plus I even buy UK only Dvds and use the system. I gave up trying to find a cheap PAl after about a year of looking.,

[phish]

i hate my samsung player if that helps you know what not to buy.

[JohnBeas]

I am not at home right now but I got a program for about $80 that lets me rip PAL Dvd's and then convert them I have a few friends in other country's that swaps discs with me. I do this all the time. I keep the orignals plus I even buy UK only Dvds and use the system. I gave up trying to find a cheap PAl after about a year of looking.,

When you get home I'd be interested in knowing what program you're using. Does it copy the disc with menus?
I have a Toshiba SD-3900 that I've used for a few years (it was only $80) but its no longer in production.

[floyd]

I bought the Oppo because it can do show both PAL and NTSC. We got some movies from Germany to watch and it was not automatic that it made the conversion. In fact I could not find any mention how to view a PAL movie. I went to the internet and found a code and intered it into the Oppo and it worked.

[ChrisM]

I have a Philips DVP5140. Got it for $69 about 1 1/2 years ago. Back before Christmas of last year, it was going for $49! Never had a single problem with it playing PAL discs on my NTSC TV. When you first hook it up you have to go into the setup menu and change the region code to "0" and voila... an all region player.

Cheers,
Chris

[g23]

Doing PAL to NTSC, I love my RCA DRC247N

[Christopher J]

I think the cheapest one currently available might be the Philips DVP5140 - $47.99 at Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Philips-DVP5140-Multiformat-Windows-Support/dp/B000F2KUK8) and probably cheaper elsewhere. Here are some customer reviews. (http://reviews.pricegrabber.com/dvd-players/m/18569630/)

EDIT: ChrisM beat me to it!

[Jackson]

I own a Phillips DVP642/37 which i bought from Amazon four years ago for around $70.00,works fine never had a problem with it.:thumbsup:

[testikoff]

Any HTPC running DVD player software? ;)

[AndrewS]

Any HTPC running DVD player software? ;)

Yes, but then you're stuck with a region issue with your DVD drive. Unless there are region hacks for DVD drives?

[JMCIII]

Any of the Oppo Digital machines should do you. Under $200.

And do you well to. Upsampling, solid sound, and easy to use. Oh, and cheap too.

[TeacFan]

another vote for the Phillips DVP642/37. Got a year or so ago at Target. As has been mentioned, you have to re-program it for 0 region, a simple hack.

[Hard Panner]

Many thanks for all of your replies!!!

Looks like I'll be getting one of the Phillips DVD players for now (which model is the better one?) and get an Oppo in a few months for another room. The Oppos get really good reviews and they're not that expensive - around $200!

[ferdinandhudson]

Yes, but then you're stuck with a region issue with your DVD drive. Unless there are region hacks for DVD drives?

There are software to circumvent that issue. This is no longer a big problem.

[crimsoncing]

When you get home I'd be interested in knowing what program you're using. Does it copy the disc with menus?
I have a Toshiba SD-3900 that I've used for a few years (it was only $80) but its no longer in production.

Sorry this took so long...the program is CovertXToDVD About 90 bucks american. It coverts everything and then burns it for you. I stumble across a trail version last year and was sold.

[JohnBeas]

Sorry this took so long...the program is CovertXToDVD About 90 bucks american. It coverts everything and then burns it for you. I stumble across a trail version last year and was sold.

Thanks - I'll give the trial version a spin. I occasionally buy discs from overseas and would like to play them at work or on my portable player.

[AndrewS]

There are software to circumvent that issue. This is no longer a big problem.

I know that there is software to rip a DVD and remove/change the region coding, but is there also software to allow you to just use your DVD drive as a region free drive? That would be very handy!

[ferdinandhudson]

I know that there is software to rip a DVD and remove/change the region coding, but is there also software to allow you to just use your DVD drive as a region free drive? That would be very handy!

Yes, I'm buying DVD's from all over the world, mainly Region 1, 3 and 4 apart from the usual region 2 DVD's. I switch back and forth numerous times on my PC without problems. Google and you will find some.

[Bill]

Oppo code=9210.