Need a $70 dvd player

[jjminch]

I have three dvd players that took a dump. Would like something decent, with a USB and HDMI connections. Upscaling would be fine, but I'm not expecting much quality wise. I have a lot of copied DVDs, would like one that plays backups well. I plan on using this as a CD player down the road after I get a PS3.

So far found a Philips DVP5990, any other ideas?

 

[markw]

How about a universal player?

Dunno about USB and it cost a wee a bit more, but it does everything except blu-ray and the build quality/tactile feel puts the bargain basement units to shame. I just replaced a low-line Toshiba with one of these and am well impressed.

http://www.6ave.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=DENDVD1940CI

 

[Alex2507]

Mark,

That is an awesome find. A few years back I paid $350 for a 1920.

 

[aarond]

the denon dvd 758 is $69.00 at costco

 

[Alex2507]

the denon dvd 758 is $69.00 at costco

Does it do DVD-A and SACD? That's what is cool about the 1940.

 

[ChunkyDark]

That was a heck of a find by MarkW! If I was in the market I'd snag one of those.
If the USB was a must have (I didn't see it on the denon) this fits the bill:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882005037

USB seems to be the sticking point for staying under the price range. The Yamaha DVD-S661 had hdmi/usb, but didn't see it under 100.

 

[jjminch]

That was a pretty good find on the Denon. I think I'm going to forgo the USB requirement and get that one. Thanks

 

[aarond]

the 758 and 1940 are identical except face plate
http://usa.denon.com/ProductDetails/discplayerscompare.asp?compareitem=3560&compareitem=3743&imageField.x=85&imageField.y=14

 

[markw]

the 758 and 1940 are identical except face plate
http://usa.denon.com/ProductDetails/discplayerscompare.asp?compareitem=3560&compareitem=3743&imageField.x=85&imageField.y=14

I would have gone for the 758 myself except for two reasons:

1) I didn't know about at the time I bought mine.

2) I'm not a member of Costco and, unless membership is less than the $20 price difference, I doubt I would have joined just for this.

 

[Exit]

That was a heck of a find by MarkW! If I was in the market I'd snag one of those.
If the USB was a must have (I didn't see it on the denon) this fits the bill:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882005037

USB seems to be the sticking point for staying under the price range. The Yamaha DVD-S661 had hdmi/usb, but didn't see it under 100.

I did not see a USB port on the LG unit photos. What do people use the USB port for - photos or something more?

Are they making universal Blu Ray players with all the same features as this Denon unit or are they very expensive?

 

[PENG]

If it must have USB and be cheap then go with a Philip, otherwise the Toshiba XDE gets you the best PQ/SQ.

 

[jjminch]

Thanks for all the replies. I found a philips on woot.com for 20 bucks. Going to get that and a Denon one.

 

[Alex2507]

Toshiba XDE gets you the best PQ/SQ.

Over the Denon? Okay, I'll just believe you and throw in a reputable place to get it on line.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4123562&SRCCODE=CNETFEED&cm_mmc_o=2mHCjC2WHaCjCVqHCjCdwwp

I'm too busy/lazy to check but can't stress enough my obsessive compulsion to be able to play SACD and DVD-A.

 

[PENG]

Over the Denon? Okay, I'll just believe you and throw in a reputable place to get it on line.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4123562&SRCCODE=CNETFEED&cm_mmc_o=2mHCjC2WHaCjCVqHCjCdwwp

I'm too busy/lazy to check but can't stress enough my obsessive compulsion to be able to play SACD and DVD-A.

May be not, and it certainly does not play SACD and DVDA but jjminch is looking for a regular DVD player. You can't beat the XDE PQ/SQ for $79.99.

If you want to play SACD/DVD-A the Oppo seems like a good choice. Had I not bought my Denon a few years ago and put the money in the bank instead, I would have saved enough for half a dozen of Oppo universal players and still have money left for a nice BD player. Not that I don't like my Denon, it is built like a tank, but still, it was the worst purchase decision I have ever made.

 

[ChunkyDark]

I did not see a USB port on the LG unit photos. What do people use the USB port for - photos or something more?

It's on the right hand side next to the play button.
Depending on the unit you can play pics, movies, or music. Some let you play slide shows if you have both music and pics on same flash drive.
I don't have any personal experience with the LG, just found it using the sort feature on newegg.

 

[GomGom]

May be not, and it certainly does not play SACD and DVDA but jjminch is looking for a regular DVD player. You can't beat the XDE PQ/SQ for $79.99.

So is that toshiba better than Oppo HM-31 in term of PQ and SQ as well as features?

 

[PENG]

So is that toshiba better than Oppo HM-31 in term of PQ and SQ as well as features?

The HM-31 is only a 3X1 HDMI switch right? That Toshiba is an upconverting/upscaling 1080p DVD player that has almost all the features you need except for the USB. It can also be made all regions in seconds. Using it to play a good quality DVD on a 32" 720p screen you will think you are watching BD.

 

[josko]

Does the Denon 1940 provide a 1080i interlaced output? I'd be using it with a (kids' room) TV that only goes up to 1080i, and I can't make out from the documentation whether interlaced outputs are available. If not, will HDMI automatically negotiate to some lower-resolution oputput?
Thanks in advance.

 

[markw]

I'm feeding it's 1080p to a two-year old Toshiba that's only rated to accept 1080i and there is no problem. FWIW, the Tosh only displays 720p native.

 

[jjminch]

Now I'm thinking I should go with that tosh over the denon. Hmm.