The choice of models and brands for DVD players and recorders is overwhelming, whether you are on a shoestring budget or a generous one. The prices of models range from below £40 to over £300 with major brands including Toshiba, Samsung, Yamaha, and Xoro. Are you looking for a High Definition (HD) DVD home theatre system; a digital video recorder to record or burn home movies; a DVD VHS home theatre system combined with a DVD player; or simply a standard, single disc DVD player?
Features
The latest DVD players and recorders come with a host of potential features:-
Multi-region support. This is essential for those who regularly buy their DVDs from other regions outside of Europe: increasingly common with so many purchases now made online.
Wall mounting. More and more living rooms are now adopting a 'minimalist' style encouraged by the flat screen, wall mountable nature of LCD and Plasma TVs.
MPEG4/DivX and other video and photo format support. For those looking to store digital home moves and photos on a DVD recorder, it is important that you check compatibility with the formats used by your video camera and digital camera. Equally, the presence of the appropriate USB and SD/MMC/MS card readers is needed when uploading photos and films to store them.
Free view tuners. These are on more and more peoples' shopping lists as digital TV gradually takes over from the old analogue network in the UK.
Surround sound. Whether its 5:1, 7:1 or even 9:1, be sure to check that surround sound output (and indeed storage in the case of DVD recorders) is compatible with your existing home theatre equipment.
High definition (HD) support. This is also increasingly important. Although the full benefits of HD can be realised only when used in association with an HD compatible TV, the costs of HD TVs are falling by the day: if you don't have one now, there is every chance you will have one in the near future.
Progressive scan. This all but eliminates image flicker during playback. Again there may be some compatibility constraints which need checking with your existing equipment but the investment should be worthwhile.
Features
The latest DVD players and recorders come with a host of potential features:-
Multi-region support. This is essential for those who regularly buy their DVDs from other regions outside of Europe: increasingly common with so many purchases now made online.
Wall mounting. More and more living rooms are now adopting a 'minimalist' style encouraged by the flat screen, wall mountable nature of LCD and Plasma TVs.
MPEG4/DivX and other video and photo format support. For those looking to store digital home moves and photos on a DVD recorder, it is important that you check compatibility with the formats used by your video camera and digital camera. Equally, the presence of the appropriate USB and SD/MMC/MS card readers is needed when uploading photos and films to store them.
Free view tuners. These are on more and more peoples' shopping lists as digital TV gradually takes over from the old analogue network in the UK.
Surround sound. Whether its 5:1, 7:1 or even 9:1, be sure to check that surround sound output (and indeed storage in the case of DVD recorders) is compatible with your existing home theatre equipment.
High definition (HD) support. This is also increasingly important. Although the full benefits of HD can be realised only when used in association with an HD compatible TV, the costs of HD TVs are falling by the day: if you don't have one now, there is every chance you will have one in the near future.
Progressive scan. This all but eliminates image flicker during playback. Again there may be some compatibility constraints which need checking with your existing equipment but the investment should be worthwhile.
