Code-Free DVD players

[Alessio]

Hello,

I am looking for some advice in purchasing a code-free DVD player. I have a 32 inch television. no HDTV, no home theater set up. My previous brand "X" code-free player, which I bought on the web, has gone to the dvd recycling bin in the sky.

My needs are few. I don't need anything fancy, just a machine to play the DVDs I picked up in Europe; one which will last more than 18 months.

Can you recommend any specific models?

Your help is much appreciated!

 

[Tsunamii]

Im not sure if they make a "code-free" (Im guessing you are saying region free) player but oppo makes a great DVD player..

http://www.oppodigital.com/

 

[Alessio]

Hey Tsunamii,

I will check out the oppo player. Code-free dvd players are dvd players with the PAL/NTSC converter built in to the unit. These are after market modifications, I am guessing.

Anyways, the player I had, which was advertised as a modified Sony DVD player, is no longer working. So, I am in the marketr for a new one but with a better pedigree

 

[furrycute]

Get yourself to your neighborhood Chinatown. Most Chinese branded DVD players are region free (and cheap).

Or if your nearest Chinatown is too far away, ask your friendly local Chinese takeout restaurant owner. Ask him/her to pick one up for you the next time he/she goes ordering supplies for the restaurant.

 

[droeses58]

I have a cheap daewoo I got off ebay, region free and it has played everything I've thrown at it, the Oppo mentioned has got great reviews however it may be more then you want to spend.[$199] I think I paid $69 for the Daewoo!

 

[Pyrrho]

Hello,

I am looking for some advice in purchasing a code-free DVD player. I have a 32 inch television. no HDTV, no home theater set up. My previous brand "X" code-free player, which I bought on the web, has gone to the dvd recycling bin in the sky.

My needs are few. I don't need anything fancy, just a machine to play the DVDs I picked up in Europe; one which will last more than 18 months.

Can you recommend any specific models?

Your help is much appreciated!

I have a couple of Sampo DVE-612(N) DVD players. I have had one longer than the other, the older one for a few years. Enter in the special code, and it is region free (or you can change it to any region you wish, though there is little point in doing this). It converts between PAL and NTSC, and even gets anamorphic widescreen PAL correctly converted to NTSC (many, I am told, cannot do this, including the Sampo DVE-612). You can read about the player at:

http://www.area450.com/players/dve612.html

You should be able to get a new one online, delivered, for $100 or less. Some are sold on eBay.

About the only thing I don't like about them is that they are slow to load discs, and slow to follow some commands. But they don't pause between layer changes like my first player, and do everything I need them to do.

A friend of mine tells me that the Magnavox MDV458 is a great player that can do all of the above, plus has a progressive scan output, and can be had very cheaply. You can make it region free:

http://www.videohelp.com/dvdhacks.php?select=Magnavox+MDV458

He told me he picked one up at Best Buy for about $40-50 (I can't remember the exact price). If I were buying today, I would look for the Magnavox, though, as I say, the Sampo players I have are fine.

 

[brian32672]

The Oppo can be made into a region free player, and all NeuNeo players are code free if I had understood them correctly. (through an email straight from NeuNeo)
EDIT:: BTW, I am selling my 2081 and upgrading to the 2085.
Check over in Classifieds - Sell Your Gear. PM, me for a possible better offer.
Its possibly way more than you are looking for (in terms of features), but has superb picture quality..

 

[Alessio]

Thanks for all your suggestions.

I was doing some research on the Internet last night and found these two models:

JVC XV-NP10S Multi Region Code Free DVD Player
Pioneer DV-578A Code Free DVD Player

Does anyone have any thoughts on these players?

Thanks again for all the suggestions!

 

[brian32672]

I think its jaxvon or Takeereasy But he (they) may be able to answer questions on the 578...
PM him...Or Him

 

[kiran_sham]

Most DVD players have a hack to eliminate the region code setting. If you call their toll free number, they would tell you that the player has a hack but they are not supposed to reveal it.

There are several sites (try making a google search) which gives you a hack for almost all models of DVD players. As pyrrho had said, you can find the entire list in http://www.videohelp.com/dvdhacks

 

[Alessio]

I want to thank you all again for your input but all this talk about hacking raises another question: once I enter the code into my dvd player to make it play dvds from any region, don't I need some type of converter to convert the PAL signal to NTSC to play on my NTSC television?

I have seen dvd players advertised on the internet that have some sort of built in converter so that you can watch your PAL dvd on an NTSC television without any additional conmverters.

Any comments?

 

[jcPanny]

DVD output

Most of the time a DVD player is used to output component video (3 Red Green and Blue RCA Connectors) at a resolution of 480i or 480p. Does your TV have component video inputs?

 

[Pyrrho]

I want to thank you all again for your input but all this talk about hacking raises another question: once I enter the code into my dvd player to make it play dvds from any region, don't I need some type of converter to convert the PAL signal to NTSC to play on my NTSC television?

I have seen dvd players advertised on the internet that have some sort of built in converter so that you can watch your PAL dvd on an NTSC television without any additional conmverters.

Any comments?

With some players, you need a converter, but other players do the conversion for you. As I said in my original post, the Sampo DVE-612(N) does the conversion for you. In fact, you can set it up to output only NTSC, only PAL, or output whatever is on the disc (if you ever get a TV that can display both, this is what you probably will want to use). And, according to my friend, the Magnavox I mentioned also converts between PAL and NTSC.

 

[brian32672]

Actually a lot of players are capable of NTSC and Pal. The Oppo, and NeuNeo, as well as others mentioned will do both..

 

[avliner]

Region Free DVD

One good brand is LITE ON. I got one myself and it's pretty easy to change regions thru the remote ( 1 thru 6, or even region free ).

Got mine about 6 months ago at Comp USA ( DVR / VCR combo ).

Cheers /Avliner.

 

[Alessio]

Hi,

I thank you all for your contribution to this discussion. I want to share with you all the response I got from Oppo Digital about the 971h's abilitiy to play multi region dvds. Here is what they sent me:

"When a PAL DVD is placed in the DVD player, it will
automatically play it in NTSC.

We ship Region 1 locked. Though you can easily find an unlocking code
on the internet, like one of the reviewers at amazon.com. Once the player
has been made R0, you can play every disc without changing region
coding."

 

[jzac]

Check this one...Philips

I bought PHILIPS DVP 642/37 DVD player a year ago. It's region free AND multisystem (plays PAL to NTSC) by default. Its Dolby Digital, DTS & DiVX certified. I have a bunch of european PAL dvds that I play. Its video and audio quality is not too bad considering what I paid for it... $75! If you want something that serves the purpose and does a decent job... this is it.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002NYM3G/104-1582314-8776763?v=glance

Enjoy!