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DVD Player Buying Guide
Watching movies at home can be both enjoyable and fun while saving you the hassle of getting to a movie theatre. A DVD player can be a purchase that you wish you had made earlier. DVD Players (Digital Video Disk) are easy to use and offer you easy access to many of the latest movies that you can watch over and over at your leisure.
DVDs have quickly taken over the VHS market and continue to grow in popularity. The rapid support from all major electronic manufacturers along with the movie and music companies have proven that DVDs have become the new standard in the industry.
There are many well-known DVD player manufacturers on the market today including Sony, Toshiba, Motorola, and Sharp, but there are also many other manufacturers that produce a high quality player.
Some DVD players offer true movie lovers a way to watch movies the way the producer intended them to be seen, that is with a wider screen. There can also be many extras added that are not shown in movie theatres. Some DVD players have a feature to view the DVD movies in the original aspect ratio.
Many features are available on DVD players including multiple languages for the soundtrack. This can be great when watching foreign films.
Make sure to check the zoning of the DVD player you plan on purchasing. Most DVD players have been modified to play DVD disks from all zones but you may want to check to see if your player will play all disks. Zoning was done to regulate the timing for the availability of movies around the world.
There are options available on DVD players so check to see which one you really need like, high speed, reverse screening, freeze frame, digital audio, and the ability to play multiple disc formats.
DVD players allow for more camera angles that can be selected when playing back a scene. You now have the chance to see the same scene from up to 9 different viewpoints.
Automatic seamless branching is another feature that you get with DVD players. This feature allows you to choose which story line you want, and to change endings and/or characters. Multiple story lines can add a whole other dimension to your movie watching.
One feature that you may want to have is built in Dolby Digital or (DTS). This is the ability to offer 5.1 channels of sound. This feature gives you full stereo surround sound by directing the sound to a specific point on the speaker.
You should make sure that you have the necessary video outputs you need so that your DVD player can connect to the device on which you plan to view the movies. This can include your television, laptop, or desktop.
If you need to manage what your children are viewing, you may want to make sure your DVD player has a Parental Lock Out or Channel Block option. With this option, you are able to set certain viewing levels for your children. You will be able to override the setting with a code when you are ready to relax and watch a movie.
DVD Players also give you the ability for simple interactive features. Now you, as a viewer, can actively get involved. This provides a fun way to play games, especially quiz games.
The ability to instantly search for a specific movie scene, music track or time code is one more useful feature. No longer do you have to rewind to the exact point, which always took a lot of time. With DVD players, you can instantly go where you want to go and find that special scene.
One last thing to consider when purchasing a DVD player is the universal remote. The remote is a critical piece for the player and many have built-in features that you will want to use. So be sure to check for the remote and see what features it offers.
Purchase your new DVD player today. Microwave some popcorn and put in your favorite movie and relax. No need to rewind anymore when the movie is over. Just take it out and put in another favorite.
Article By Karla Soule, May 2004.
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