Smart Shopping: Blu-ray & DVD Players

Getting Started l Types l Features l Brands

Home-entertainment options are expanding. Regular DVD players are still going strong, while Blu-ray players let you enjoy high-definition video. Digital recorders can capture HDTV content and standard-definition video. And portable DVD players let you take the show on the road. We're even starting to see some TVs that incorporate Blu-ray players.

High-definition Blu-ray players are the big news in the DVD world. With the demise of the rival HD DVD format in 2008, Blu-ray is the only high-def game in town. There are numerous Blu-ray player manufacturers and a growing number of movies to watch on a high-definition player. Most new releases come out on Blu-ray discs and on DVD, and studios are reissuing older films in the new format. At press time, Netflix had about 1,200 high-def titles. Blu-ray players can play standard DVDs, and all current machines play audio CDs too. And we should soon see portable Blu-ray players.

Standard DVD players are still going strong. Almost all new standard players are progressive-scan models. When used with an HDTV, they can provide picture quality that's better than that of typical standard-definition TV programming. A growing number of progressive-scan DVD players are “upconverting” models that can convert the video contained on all regular DVDs to pseudo-HD (when viewed on an HDTV, of course).

Portable DVD players have a built-in screen so you can watch standard DVDs in a car, plane, or dorm room.

A DVD recorder lets you record standard-definition TV programs onto removable discs. Some digital video recorders can capture high-def content on a hard drive, while others can record only standard-def.

This DVD player guide can help you sort through the various options to find the right model. While price is always a factor, also consider the features and brand. The connections and the types of discs a player supports will also be important considerations to ensure that the player is compatible with your other components. And make sure you check out our shopping advice, which should help you to find the right model at the best price.

There are many types of players and recorders. But if you simply want to play DVDs you've purchased or rented, your first and biggest decision is whether to buy a high-def Blu-ray player or stick with a standard DVD model.

Blu-ray
Blu-ray discs contain 1080p video, currently the highest-resolution HD. Prices have been dropping as manufacturers battle for market share, and players now cost about $150 to $500 and up. Prices could drop further as more models arrive on the market. Blu-ray discs typically sell for about $10 more than their standard-def counterparts, but prices are starting to fall. You can also rent Blu-ray movies, usually at a small premium over regular DVDs. There are already hundreds of Blu-ray movies available, and many more are expected. Blu-ray players can also play regular DVDs, and, like regular DVD players, new models can play audio CDs. Current high-def DVD players can hold only one disc at a time.

Standard DVD players
Although the transition from standard-definition to high-definition DVD discs is clearly under way, there are still reasons, ranging from price to format maturity, that you might want to hold off buying a Blu-ray player. That means many of us may still be in the market for a standard DVD player, possibly the last player of that type that we'll buy. You'd be hard-pressed to find any other home-entertainment product that gives you more bang for the buck than a DVD player. But as the transition to high-definition DVDs gains steam, you're likely to see fewer standard-def models being introduced, and retailers may not carry as many models as they used to.

Almost all new DVD players are progressive-scan models. These players can convert (or deinterlace) the interlaced video (480i) contained on DVDs and output it to your TV as a 480p video signal. With a TV that can display high-definition or enhanced-definition (ED) images, you can expect a smoother, more detailed image. That's because HD sets can support the player's progressive-scan 480p mode, drawing 480 consecutive lines on the screen in a single pass. Prices for progressive-scan players start as low as $25, and many major-brand models are priced in the range of $50 to $75.

Portable DVD players
A portable player lets you watch a movie anytime, anywhere -- perfect for long trips or waits between flights. While you can also play movies on a notebook computer that has a built-in DVD drive, portable DVD players are often smaller and lighter, and might offer more playback options.

Portable DVD players look much like small laptop computers minus the keyboard. Most have a 5- to 10-inch screen (measured diagonally) with a clamshell-style cover that protects the screen when it's not in use. Others use a tablet style; the screen is always exposed, which might make it easier to see if the player is on your lap. Convertible models feature displays that fold back so that the player can be used in either laptop or tablet mode.

Digital video recorders
If you want the ability to record high-def TV programming, you can use an HD hard-drive-based digital video recorder (DVR). Other DVRs are standard-def. DVRs don't have a slot for removable discs or tapes. They record only on a hard drive much like the one in a computer and can't play recorded media, so you'll still need a DVD player to watch commercial movies. Philips offers a combination unit that pairs a DVR with a DVD player/recorder so that you can play and copy to removable media.

A DVR is a good choice if you often record TV programs. Many DVRs have space for 100 hours or more of standard-definition programming at high quality. Some let you record at lower quality, which raises capacity to 300 hours or more. HD-capable recorders usually hold about 20 to 30 hours of HD content. A new TiVo recorder has an exceptionally large capacity of 150 hours of HD programming and up to 1,350 hours of standard-def.

DVD recorders
While DVD players are in the midst of a transition to high-definition, DVD recorders remain standard-def, at least for the time being. Still, a DVD recorder gives you a whole lot of bang for the buck. It's easy to use, offers better recording quality than a VCR, and allows random access to sections of a disc. Because it records onto removable discs, it allows unlimited storage and easy sharing of standard-def TV programs. Because it can play DVDs, it can replace a DVD player, an advantage over hard-drive recorders. Some fine DVD recorders cost $100 to $230. But given that the world is slowly moving to high-definition, there are fewer DVD recorder models from which to choose, as some companies, including Pioneer, have decided to stop making them.

Some DVD recorders in stores have a built-in digital off-air (ATSC) tuner and a basic digital cable (QAM) tuner; others have no tuner. A built-in ATSC tuner is important if you want to record over-the-air broadcast TV without the use of a separate set-top box. A QAM tuner lets you record basic digital cable programs without using a set-top box. Some DVD recorders have cable or satellite box control, so they can change the channels of a set-top box for time-shifted recording.

A DVD recorder is a good choice for those who want to record and archive TV programs, home videos, and photos. Some DVD recorders are combo units that have built-in VCRs, which can make dubbing your old VHS tapes to DVD a fairly simple process. One Philips model has an internal hard drive and a DVD recorder, so programs can be saved to the drive, viewed, and then recorded to a DVD if you'd like to keep the recording.

FEATURES

Getting a DVD player with all the right features will increase your long-term satisfaction and enjoyment.

Connections
All high-def players have HDMI and component-video connections, which are required to view high-definition pictures on an HDTV. Most standard DVD players also have these connections now, plus S-video and composite-video outputs. All high-def players we've seen have composite-video outputs, and most have an S-video connection. When used with high-def discs, all players will support at least 5.1-channel sound through the digital-audio outputs.

Disc capacity
Most standard players and all Blu-ray players accommodate a single disc at a time. Other standard players have carousels that can hold several (generally three or five) discs. DVD jukeboxes are able to hold 100 discs or more.

Disc formats
In addition to commercial DVD titles, DVD players often support playback or display of many other 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. All Blu-ray players can play commercial Blu-ray discs and standard DVDs. All current Blu-ray players play commercially released CDs, and may play CDs burned with MP3 files. A given model might or might not play JPEG, WMA, or video CDs, or DVD-/+/R/RW or DVD-RAM discs you've recorded.

Picture control
DVD players give you all sorts of control over the picture. The Aspect-ratio control DVD player feature lets you choose between the squarish 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. 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, multiangle capability gives you that opportunity when used with discs that include this feature.

Navigation
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 DVD player 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. Blu-ray interactivity allows you to navigate the disc's menus and other content without leaving the movie.

Surround Sound
Another benefit of Blu-ray and standard DVD players is the ability to enjoy movies with multichannel surround sound. To reap the full sound experience of the audio encoded into standard 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 it gets to the receiver. Without the built-in circuitry, you'd need a decoder built into the receiver or, in rare instances, a separate decoder box to take advantage of the audio. (A Dolby Digital receiver will also decode an older format, Dolby Pro Logic.) Most players also support Digital Theater System (DTS) decoding for titles using 5.1-, 6.1-, or 7.1-channel encoding.

When you're watching a movie on DVD, dynamic audio-range controls help keep explosions and other noisy sound effects from seeming too loud. Some Blu-ray players support a few additional multichannel formats, including Dolby Digital Plus and DTS High Resolution Audio, higher-resolution 7.1-channel audio, and new lossless Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master formats that are bit-for-bit reproductions of the movie's master soundtrack. Most DVD players also provide features such as multilingual support, which lets you choose dialog or subtitles in different languages for a movie. Parental control is a DVD player feature that lets you lock out films by their rating code.

BRANDS

There are literally scores of brands of DVD players in all its categories, some very well known, others much less familiar. Some manufacturers offer sets of various types, while others are known mostly for one type of DVD product. Here's a rundown of some of the major DVD player brands you'll encounter, listed in alphabetical order:

Apex is a value-priced brand and one of the leading providers of DVD players sold at Wal-Mart.

Audiovox is one of the leading sellers of portable DVD players; many of its models are tablet-style players with mounting straps for use in a car.

Coby is a value-priced DVD brand that is widely distributed by almost all retailers of consumer electronics.

Funai might not be a household name, but it's the brand behind other brands of DVD players, mainly the lower-priced labels it controls. Those include Emerson, Sylvania, and Symphonic, which are typically sold at mass-market stores, such as Wal-Mart. Funai also manufactures several retail private-label DVD brands, such as Wal-Mart's Durabrand players and Best Buy's Insignia-brand Blu-ray player.

Insignia is Best Buy's electronics house brand. Insignia products, which are made overseas by contract manufacturers, are positioned as a "value" line.

The company's products are typically positioned in the middle-to-upper price range. JVC is in the process of merging with Kenwood, best known for automotive consumer-electronics products.

LG is an up-and-coming brand of DVD players in several categories, including standard- and high-def (Blu-ray). LG products typically sell in the mid- to upper price brackets, while its Zenith brand is used as a value brand in wide retail distribution. Recently, the company has used colors for some of its portable DVD players to differentiate them from the competition.

Perhaps best known as a blank-media brand (audio and video cassettes, CDs and DVDs), Memorex is now owned by the Imation Corp., which uses the Memorex brand for a variety of consumer electronics products and recordable media.

Panasonic is a top-tier consumer-electronics manufacturer in multiple product categories, and its various DVD products are typically midpriced and widely available. The company has been one of the more aggressive in the Blu-ray category in terms of price and assortment.

Philips is a major consumer-electronics brand, and its various DVD products are typically midpriced and widely available. The company uses its Magnavox brand as a value-priced offering, generally in mass-market retailers. Philips is one of the only companies still selling a DVD recorder/DVR combo.

Pioneer typically targets the step-up consumer, particularly with its higher-priced Elite series, which generally has limited distribution. The company is currently targeting mid-tier customers with its Pioneer-brand Blu-ray players, which have fewer features than Elite models.

The Polaroid brand was acquired in 2005 by a former U.S. licensee, Petters Group, which had been using it for value-priced TVs and DVD players. The Polaroid brand is especially strong in the portable DVD market, and products can be found in Wal-Mart and Circuit City, among other retailers.

Alco Electronics, a large Chinese consumer product company, acquired the venerable RCA name and video product franchise in 2007. The company made a short-lived commitment to the rival HD DVD format and is currently focused on value-priced standard and portable standard DVD players.

Samsung is a top-tier manufacturer in several product categories. It's often an innovator, as when it became the first company to offer a high-def DVD player that could play both Blu-ray and HD DVD discs. It was one of the first to include a Blu-ray player in a home-theater-in-a-box system.

Sanyo, which also controls the Fisher audio brand, makes midlevel products in its DVD player line. Its products are often sold at Wal-Mart.

Sharp, perhaps best known for its Aquos LCD TVs, is unique in that its only DVD offerings are high-definition Aquos-brand Blu-ray players (it currently has no standard DVD players). The models are midpriced compared with the competition.

Sony is a top-tier consumer electronics manufacturer in numerous product categories and has been one of the strongest proponents of the Blu-ray high-def DVD format. Its PlayStation 3 game console, which includes an integrated Blu-ray disc drive, has been the best-selling Blu-ray device since its debut in 2006.

TiVo is one of the few sellers of standalone DVRs, and it's the most dominant. Its newest product is a relatively high-priced ($600) high-definition DVR that can hold up to 150 hours of high-def video. It also has a $300 model that holds up to 20 hours of HD content. Tivo's interface is widely acknowledged for its ease of use, and it's licensed by some cable and satellite providers.

Toshiba has a full line of portable and set-top DVD products. Toshiba was the prime proponent of the HD DVD format but left the market in February 2008, essentially ending the high-def format war. It hasn't announced plans for a Blu-ray player.