New DVD players shootout from Secret HomeTheater.

[Smokey]

DVD players ratings are from their overall score in term of how they handle film and video materials, with minimum distortion and artifacts (full link at bottom).

And the winner is Panasonic DVD-S77:

Feature Highlights
.HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface)
.DCDi (Directional Correlation Deinterlacing by FAROUDJA)
.720p and 1080i Upconversion with HDMI Connection
.Built-in DVD-Audio, Dolby Digital, dts 5.1 Decoders



Here is the full ranking of each DVD player:

1. Panasonic - DVD-S77 ($249.95)
2. Onkyo - DV-SP502 ($300.00)
3. Panasonic - DVD-S29 ($69.00)
4. Mitsubishi - DD-8050 ($208.99)
5. JVC - XV-N420B ($89.95)
6. Kenwood - DVF-8100 ($150)

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/cgi-b...h&articles=123

[kexodusc]

Gotta admit, that $69 Panny looks like the #1 choice IMO....
Even if you had to buy 3 of them between now and your next upgrade, you'd still be ahead.

[poneal]

Figure a year each that's 3 years use. I just bought a Hitachi for around $70. Plays good and if it last 2 years I'll be happy. By then who knows what will be out.

[kexodusc]

My cheapo universal Toshiba player was around $80 or $90 when I bought it a few months back. It's pretty average on the video side, but the audio side is as good as the Denon and Yamaha units I demoed (and bought for my stereo system).
Funny, of the two players I have, I use the one with poorer video quality as a video player.
Man, I need to consolidate systems and get rid of some speakers.

[Geoffcin]

My cheapo universal Toshiba player was around $80 or $90 when I bought it a few months back. It's pretty average on the video side, but the audio side is as good as the Denon and Yamaha units I demoed (and bought for my stereo system).
Funny, of the two players I have, I use the one with poorer video quality as a video player.
Man, I need to consolidate systems and get rid of some speakers.

We had the same Arcam CD player, and now the same DVD player?

I just dug out my old Toshiba DVD player, the second one of four DVD players I've bought so far (2 are still in action), and the first one I bought that had DTS capability. I'm using it as a dedicated CD player in my office now, and the thing don't sound half bad!

[kexodusc]

We had the same Arcam CD player, and now the same DVD player?

I just dug out my old Toshiba DVD player, the second one of four DVD players I've bought so far (2 are still in action), and the first one I bought that had DTS capability. I'm using it as a dedicated CD player in my office now, and the thing don't sound half bad!

Got to admit, there's a certain charm to disposable electronics. My first 2 players were modestly priced Panasonics. The first was a steal at $300, the next on was $150 or so.
Then the Toshiba and Yamaha (which I use as a 5-disc changing universal player for music)..
Funny, they keep performing better and getting cheaper.