DVD Buying Guide
| DVD players are mostly used for playing films and are also becoming increasingly common for playing music. A DVD player can also reproduce different sound formats. The DVD discs are of a higher quality than traditional CD discs and can be recorded on several channels. The DVD creates a very special picture and sound experience. The capacity of the DVD disc is superior to both CD and laser discs. A one sided, single layered DVD disc has seven times the capacity of a CD; at least 4.7 gigabytes. A double-sided disc with two layers provides an enormous capacity for storing information. DVD is a great opportunity for film makers since it can be used for extra features such as interviews with the actors, "the making of" information, out-takes, different scenes and so on. DVD and widescreen Most films are produced in widescreen format. With a DVD it is possible to reproduce this on a 16:9 TV with a level of resolution that the TV system allows. This is not possible with either VHS or broadcast TV programmes. VHS and TV signals cannot support the same high resolution as a DVD player. Independent of the format of the picture the DVD player reproduces fine detail which gives the picture a superior sharpness and clarity. The picture is entirely free from disturbance and flicker, which makes it calm and pleasant to look at. The DVD player can be connected to any modern TV providing it has a video connection. In order to get the best possible quality of picture it is recommended to use a scart lead in conjunction with an RGB or S-Video connection. The sound The most significant difference between DVD players concerns sound quality. A DVD player with high quality sound is essential if it is to be used for music as well as film. The problem is that there are so many different kinds of sound systems on the market that it can be confusing for the buyer. Technically there are several formats with different technical quality and different numbers of channels. A DVD player can handle these formats in several different ways. Some have built-in decoders for sound with many channels. Other machines must rely on an external decoder. It is worth noting that the type of sound on each disc can vary regardless of the sound system being employed. It is much harder to reproduce a sensitive musical recording than it is to reproduce an action film. On the other hand a film requires a higher demand on sound level and bass capacity. Regions and codes A standard DVD player bought in Europe handles region 2 DVD discs. However, most DVD players can be upgraded to handle multiple region DVD discs. This procedure must be carried out by an expert and the cost is normally around £70. Some retailers sell DVD players that can read both region 1 and 2 discs. There is a much larger range of films available for code region 1 than region 2. Therefore it is recommended that you upgrade your DVD player or buy an already upgraded player. Most DVD players can be bought upgraded so that they can play multiple regions. If one buys an upgraded player it is important to ensure that the model is a European original with the correct guarantees. Always look for a CE certificate. All DVD players sold by European retailers should carry the CE certificate. The DVD player market is growing fast and this will no doubt lead to a relaxation of the current strict coding regulations. It's worth noting that the number of films being sold for region 2 is increasing and will soon reach parity with region 1. Last updated 04/10/2006 12:58:16 |
