DVD players: how to quantify value?

[HookedOnSound]

Don't get me wrong and please take this as constructive criticism.

I enjoy reading reviews about universal players but their price point are high IMO.

It's the value scoring that I find a little subjective.

Take a look at the Denon DVD-2910 Universal Player that AH gave a value rating of 4.5/5. This unit is about $720 MSRP. I wouldn't have a problem spending that kind of money for something better than a low priced DVD player but how do I know what value I'm getting unless I've bought one myselft to compare?

The point I am trying to make is that there are $50 DVD players on the market, surely Audioholics can snatch 2 or 3 and do a review on them to see how they compare against more costly units ($700 and up). Value is meaningless unless you compare across a range of equipment at different price points. Units that are barely sub $1000 range is not a big spectrum IMO

I understand what Universal players are but what about just doing a DVD player shootout (among low end and high end units) with some Movies with 5.1 surround formats? Maybe this has been done before and if so please point me to a recent link.

And if you are really scared about liability for unapproved reviews, you could simply label the units as brand x, y and z and put pics online with the nameplate washed out (use a photo editor software).

I would be vary curious to see the results, something tells me the rules of diminishing returns are no exception here.

It would also prove if these higher priced units are really acheiving what some of manufacturers are claiming.

Thanks,

 

[krzywica]

Amen brother!

 

[kay]

Yes please!

 

[BMXTRIX]

I think this is one of the reasons that magazine reviews as well as Internet reviews are so important. It just seems physically impossible for any one place to cover every aspect of every product. Even sites dedicated to a single product, like Projector Central, aren't getting review samples from enough manufacturers and not enough variety across their product lines.

Yes, more reviews of lesser expensive products and a fair amount of weight put on value. I don't consider a $300+ single disc DVD player of any value if I have a HD display and want HD. It makes more sense to get the best sub $200.00 player I can, then save the other money for a HD disc player next year... or at least a PS3.

I cringe at the thought that people are buying $700.00, or more, DVD players right now with all the limitations that really do go along with DVD.