Cheapass DVD Player

[daroga]

Hey all,

Looking for a new DVD player. Have 3 requirements:
1) Progressive Scan
2) Optical Audio Out (for 5.1 DD or DTS)
3) Under $100

Any thoughts? I know you can get those dinky ones at Target or BB for like $30, but I can't imagine those are worth anything...

[sarausagi]

Hey all,

Looking for a new DVD player. Have 3 requirements:
1) Progressive Scan
2) Optical Audio Out (for 5.1 DD or DTS)
3) Under $100

Any thoughts? I know you can get those dinky ones at Target or BB for like $30, but I can't imagine those are worth anything...

Just how much are you looking to spend? And what kind of television do you have? If by any chance you have an HDTV, I just bought a Panasonic S52S at Circuit City for $89.99 with in store pick up. I don't know if it's still that price but it's only $10 more in store. The sound is equal with most of the Sony 12 bit decoders and has both optical and coaxial. It upconverts over HDMI and also component with some tweaking, but its progressive scan capability is pretty solid just 480p/component. The menus are super fast and it loads pretty much every single thing except Divx and SACD [but it does DVD-A, DVDRAM, and every other format out there]

Walmart also has another RCA upconverter for $49.99 on their website, it has a memory card reader and does DIVX, but people have been reporting getting a cheaper non HDMI RCA player.

You can't go wrong with the Panasonic S52S though. I wouldn't frown upon the component only S1 for $60, look at Circuitcity.com, they have a good selection, avoid anything under $50 ANYWHERE like the plague though

[sarausagi]

Is this player for the Niko you just ordered? If it is, I would definitely go with the Panasoinic S52S, it asks you what type of display you have at initial power up and configures accordingly, I've only tried it on a flat panel PC monitor and a direct view CRT HDTV and it worked surprisingly well. Just order the HDMI-DVI cable on monoprice and you'll be good to go.

[jshendel]

I am also interested in a player that has HDMI capabilities. I want a player with minimum 480p ability.

[doubledown]

I'm happy with my Pioneer DVD player I got....it replaced a top-o-the line Panasonic that died on me (the RP82).

http://www.onecall.com/ProductDetails.aspx?sHist=12-53%2c4-2004%2410104&menu=true&Page=-1&id=32068

However, if you want UPconversion, I'd go with the Panasonic.

[daroga]

Is this player for the Niko you just ordered? If it is, I would definitely go with the Panasoinic S52S, it asks you what type of display you have at initial power up and configures accordingly, I've only tried it on a flat panel PC monitor and a direct view CRT HDTV and it worked surprisingly well. Just order the HDMI-DVI cable on monoprice and you'll be good to go.
Ok, I'll look into that. And yes, it's for that 32" Niko.

Is this the cable I'd get? HDMI out port on the player to the DVI in on the TV? Are there any advantages / disadvantages to this over Component?

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10231&cs_id=1023103&p_id=2405&style=&seq=1&format=1#largeimage

[doubledown]

Ok, I'll look into that. And yes, it's for that 32" Niko.

Is this the cable I'd get? HDMI out port on the player to the DVI in on the TV? Are there any advantages / disadvantages to this over Component?

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10231&cs_id=1023103&p_id=2405&style=&seq=1&format=1#largeimage

You can upconvert with HDMI. That should be the cable if you have a DVI input and no HDMI input. Upconversion might not affect your picture that much on a 32" TV, but for the price....I would get it.

[daroga]

You can upconvert with HDMI. That should be the cable if you have a DVI input and no HDMI input. Upconversion might not affect your picture that much on a 32" TV, but for the price....I would get it.
yeah, there's only a DVI port on the TV.

I love the markup that you can see on Monster cables here. Obviosuly, they're a bit thicker than the monoprice ones. but I'll take $5 vs. $90 any day.

Will the DVD player output to the HDMI and Optical Audio at the same time?

[sarausagi]

yeah, there's only a DVI port on the TV.

I love the markup that you can see on Monster cables here. Obviosuly, they're a bit thicker than the monoprice ones. but I'll take $5 vs. $90 any day.

Will the DVD player output to the HDMI and Optical Audio at the same time?

It should have no problem with outputting to both, but I advise you disable output via HDMI, since your TV is DVI only: you have no use for the HDMI audio. Outputting to one source only will result in a tiny improvement...

And yes, go with that cable: save the component input [or inputs] for your game consoles or high definition cable.

[Snake2715]

I use an onkyo and its great expecially the audio is much louder than the previous ones I had used (pioneer and Sony).

It does do progressive but its not HDMI. The only complaint I have with it is waiting the 10 seconds or so for it to start up and say welcome etc across the front before playing a movie or cd.

Ther than that a nice 6 disk for the money.

[sying]

Ps3=$600

[dtcarson]

Woot's item today is a 5.1 speaker, 5-disk progressive scan system for 75 bucks. I can't tell if it has optical out.

[Ender]

www.pricewatch.com

[daroga]

Well, I put the Panasonic S52S on our wedding registry. Hopefully someone will get it for us (the true cheap ass way! ;) ).

Thanks everyone! :)

Oh, and especially sarausagi, thank you for the push toward Monoprice. That place is insane. I got an HDMI-DVI and a M/M VGA cable for less than 1/4 of a HDMI-DVI cable would be at Best Buy. Insane! Thanks! :)