All-Region DVD and Blu-ray Player Advice
- thesemodernsocks
- Joined: Sun Nov 14, 2004 3:31 am
- Location: CA
- ben d banana
- Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 8:53 pm
- Location: Oh Where, Oh Where?
Regular ol' non-progressive CRT (until Sony Canada gets on the ball and brings the model into the country that i can actually get the gf to agree upon).
My brother actually has a LCD rear projection now and was mentioning trouble with a UK TV DVD, but my memory fades. And I guess it doesn't really apply to your problem anyway.
My brother actually has a LCD rear projection now and was mentioning trouble with a UK TV DVD, but my memory fades. And I guess it doesn't really apply to your problem anyway.
- tryavna
- Joined: Wed Mar 30, 2005 4:38 pm
- Location: North Carolina
Mine's a non-progressive set-up, too. But I don't think that would be the problem with the R2 release of The Wicker Man because, IIRC, the Extended Cut had to be non-progressively transferred (since the negative no longer exists and the transfer had to come from Roger Corman's privately owned tape).
Could the problem be just with non-progressive R2 transfers. After all, I can't imagine that older TV shows would be progressively transferred. (It may not even be possible for shows made before 1997.) But this is just a guess.
Could the problem be just with non-progressive R2 transfers. After all, I can't imagine that older TV shows would be progressively transferred. (It may not even be possible for shows made before 1997.) But this is just a guess.
- Godot
- Cri me a Tearion
- Joined: Sat Nov 06, 2004 12:13 am
- Location: Phoenix
ltfontaine,
thanks for the thorough post on the Philips 642. I went looking for the older model in area stores, to no avail. May be available online at used sites, with expected markup?
thanks for the thorough post on the Philips 642. I went looking for the older model in area stores, to no avail. May be available online at used sites, with expected markup?
This is not true for my CH-500. Enter the region-free code once, works forever. However, in order to curtail the Macrovision software, one would need to enter the special menu hack for each disc, which takes about 10 seconds. Or so I've read.(The CH-500 requires that a code be entered each time one plays such a DVD.)
- ltfontaine
- Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2004 3:34 pm
Godot, I recommend that you check local Target stores, as our branches here in Michigan appear to remain well stocked with the earlier model. Call around and ask for the black and blue box.I went looking for the older model in area stores, to no avail.
Of course, if you need only the region-free feature, and not the disabled macrovision, the new model is as easily modified as the earlier one.
- Godot
- Cri me a Tearion
- Joined: Sat Nov 06, 2004 12:13 am
- Location: Phoenix
I looked at two local stores each of Target and Best Buy, but found only thinner white boxes. Then I stopped wasting fuel and searched Ebay, finding three that sounded like the older model. E-mails to the sellers and posted pictures of the original boxes confirmed that all three were the older DVP642 model, one unopened and one never used. All three sold for $60-80 (including shipping).
Thanks for the tip on the firmware, features, and box styling.
Always exciting to have a new electronic toy on the way.
Thanks for the tip on the firmware, features, and box styling.
Always exciting to have a new electronic toy on the way.
I just bought the Phillips from Amazon and got it today. We tried it out with a Region 2/NTSC DVD and it looked fine. Does anyone know if I can play PAL DVDs on this thing, and if I need to do anything special to do so? I tried to find this info in the user's manual (I write documentation for a living, so I will actually attempt to read manuals and things) but couldn't find quite the info I needed. I don't have a PAL DVD to try right now, and want to find out for sure before I actually buy any.
- ltfontaine
- Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2004 3:34 pm
- Faux Hulot
- Jack Of All Tirades
- Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 11:57 am
- Location: Location, Location
I paid around $40 for my Daewoo DVG-9200N at my local Target, and after I entered the crack I found at Videohelp.com it plays discs from all regions (including PAL discs) like a charm.
- Godot
- Cri me a Tearion
- Joined: Sat Nov 06, 2004 12:13 am
- Location: Phoenix
- Fletch F. Fletch
- Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 3:54 pm
- Location: Provo, Utah
I've been thinking about purchasing a regionless DVD player and I was wondering if anyone on here could point me in the right direction a good, reliable player that doesn't cost too much. I would prefer a name brand, if possible (i.e. Panasonic, Sony) as I've heard that there are some cheapie players out there that work fine for a bit and then start having problems.
Anyways, any help in this area would be much appreciated!
Anyways, any help in this area would be much appreciated!
- nick
- grace thought I was a failure
- Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 9:42 am
- Location: Rochester, NY
This is pretty informative. I also have personal experience with the JVC XV N412SL Region-Free DVD player and I love the machine. The only thing it doesn't have that I would like is a zoom out feature to correct overscan. Other than that though the image quality and conversion from pal to ntsc is superb.
- kieslowski_67
- Joined: Fri Jun 17, 2005 5:39 pm
- Location: Gaithersburg, Maryland
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- Joined: Tue Dec 28, 2004 9:46 am
Do they make hackable region free DVD players that feature the following?
HDMI or DVI outputs that also upconverts?
My new comcast box doesnt have an DVI output so now my setup is kinda funky, and I've been thinking about getting an upconversion player for my R1's...so if I could kill a ton of birds with one purchase, that'd be awesome
HDMI or DVI outputs that also upconverts?
My new comcast box doesnt have an DVI output so now my setup is kinda funky, and I've been thinking about getting an upconversion player for my R1's...so if I could kill a ton of birds with one purchase, that'd be awesome
- ben d banana
- Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 8:53 pm
- Location: Oh Where, Oh Where?
I don't have one, nor do I know anyone who does, but how about this?
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- Joined: Tue Dec 28, 2004 9:46 am
Thanks! I think im gonna get one of those 2...is the 2nd one worth the extra money?
Also, does anyone know how to make my NEC 3500A region free? I'm a little leary about just running a firmware patch without knowing what im doing. If someone with knowledge could PM me, or post for everyone's use, that'd be awesome. Thanks.
Also, does anyone know how to make my NEC 3500A region free? I'm a little leary about just running a firmware patch without knowing what im doing. If someone with knowledge could PM me, or post for everyone's use, that'd be awesome. Thanks.
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- Joined: Tue Dec 28, 2004 9:46 am
- Faux Hulot
- Jack Of All Tirades
- Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 11:57 am
- Location: Location, Location
A year ago I bought a Daewoo DVG-9200N from Target for about $40. After pressing a five-button sequence on my remote (PM me for details) I was able to play discs from all regions (though not disable Macrovision). It has performed flawlessly ever since. It's also played virtually every DVD-R and CD-R I've put into it, which I can't say about other players I've used.Fletch F. Fletch wrote:I've heard that there are some cheapie players out there that work fine for a bit and then start having problems.
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- Joined: Sun Apr 10, 2005 4:40 pm
So for those who've got a DVP642, how satisfied are you with it?
I bought one a while back and while I'm not neccesarily disappointed, I can't say I've been thrilled.
Particularly with animated pictures the picture seems more...."pixellated", or something, than it should. And edge enhancement seems to be exacerbated on it considerably more than on other players I've had. On top of this, with any disc that's even remotely dirty/scratched, it's fairly loud. It's difficult to watch rentals because of the incessant "chirping" noises it makes throughout.
The PAL conversion seems adequate but even being a techie illiterate I can still spot the deficiencies with it.
How does this player hold up incomparison to the Malata and other region free players with built-in PAL converters?
I bought one a while back and while I'm not neccesarily disappointed, I can't say I've been thrilled.
Particularly with animated pictures the picture seems more...."pixellated", or something, than it should. And edge enhancement seems to be exacerbated on it considerably more than on other players I've had. On top of this, with any disc that's even remotely dirty/scratched, it's fairly loud. It's difficult to watch rentals because of the incessant "chirping" noises it makes throughout.
The PAL conversion seems adequate but even being a techie illiterate I can still spot the deficiencies with it.
How does this player hold up incomparison to the Malata and other region free players with built-in PAL converters?
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- Joined: Tue Jul 09, 2013 12:43 am
I got a cyberhome DVD-300 and used a hack from Video Help to make it multi-region. Plays PAL discs like a charm.
- ltfontaine
- Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2004 3:34 pm
Titus, I've been using my DVP642 for three months now and am, thus far, very satisfied. This machine definitely outperforms the Cyberhome CH-500, my previous all-region player, and features a more versatile and responsive remote unit.So for those who've got a DVP642, how satisfied are you with it?
I have not played discs on the 642 that feature animation, so can't speak to that particular concern. I only occasionally play rental discs, but haven't noticed the “chirping noisesâ€
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- Joined: Sun Apr 10, 2005 4:40 pm
Thanks for the feedback, lt.
I've recently upgraded to a Widescreen 52'' Television, and have noticed that the progressive scan makes a huge difference. Particularly with the animated titles, the edge enhancement (which was absolutely horrific on my tube) seems to be under control, outside of when they're natural flaws of the disc. The PAL discs I've tried have all seemed solid with the exception of the Danish release of Dogville, which is strange considering the rave reviews it got.
I've recently upgraded to a Widescreen 52'' Television, and have noticed that the progressive scan makes a huge difference. Particularly with the animated titles, the edge enhancement (which was absolutely horrific on my tube) seems to be under control, outside of when they're natural flaws of the disc. The PAL discs I've tried have all seemed solid with the exception of the Danish release of Dogville, which is strange considering the rave reviews it got.