What's a good Region 0 player for the more elitist?

[indiephantom]

Sorry about the pretentious thread title. But when it comes to investing in a player, I need it all. DTS capable, progressive scan, and quality control features and remote. Maybe I'd even go for a multi-disc machine this time. Those modified Pioneers look nice. What is your dream player????

[dwatts]

Don't know about "dream". I have a Harmon Karden 25, it has it all. I've had it around two years, and play it every single day. I never turn it off, and it's holding up well.

[Dave]

Dream player: JVC XV-S500

Player I own: JVC XV-S500

Incredible PAL-NTSC conversion, all region, etc. Has the works - everything you want and then some.

[Wolf Man]

Dream player: JVC XV-S500

Player I own: JVC XV-S500

Incredible PAL-NTSC conversion, all region, etc. Has the works - everything you want and then some.I have the standard, Region 1-only version of the same player and I love it. Some day I'll order the chip and learn how to solder so I can go multi-region with it. For now, I use a Toshiba SD-4900 for multi-region (great PAL-NTSC conversion and easy to hack for multi-region, but a little light on features).

[Paff]

I just bought a Toshiba 4900 myself. Best description is that it's cheap, and it doesn't suck.

There are many cheap players that do suck, as well as great players that aren't cheap. The Tosh 4900 is not great, but it most certainly does not suck. Like Wolf-Man said, it does the PAL thing great, the hack is super-easy, and it has all the needed stuff like Progressive scan, DTS, quality workmanship, etc.

If you need a good Region Free PAL/NTSC player quickly, go get a Toshiba 4900 TODAY.

[dayglo]

Dream player: JVC XV-S500

Player I own: JVC XV-S500

Incredible PAL-NTSC conversion, all region, etc. Has the works - everything you want and then some.Exactly what I own as well, and it works great. :)

[FulciZombieFan]

There are cheaper alternatives but right now the best region free DVD player that can do PAL to NTSC conversion is the PIONEER DV-563A

I'm sure there are many places to purchase it but the only one I know about off the top of my head is HK FLIX (http://www.hkflix.com/)

They have it for $295.95 + shipping

It is like I said probably the best out there right now IF you want to be in a reasonable price range.

If you want to get "sick" then look at some of the PIONEER ELITE models.

However having said that I am rather happy with my Cyberhome CH-DVD 500

The Cyberhome is cheap but uses a chipset that EXCELLS at PAL to NTSC conversions ... better than what is in the JVC/TOSHIBA/MALATA DVD players.

I've heard that the PIONEER is also most excellent though ironically HK FLIX claims it is not as good as JVC/TOSHIBA/MALATA but that clashes with stuff I've read elsewhere.

I'm not sure what chipset the PIONEER uses.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[indiephantom]

Some great recommendations...I'm still nervous about where to order one from shipping to Canada. It would be a lot of money to get screwed out of. I don't mind paying it, but there's nowhere in my area to buy these players so I'd have to gamble online. :o

[chrishicks]

Dream player: JVC XV-S500

Player I own: JVC XV-S500

Incredible PAL-NTSC conversion, all region, etc. Has the works - everything you want and then some.

and what's wrong with the JVC XV-S600? :)

[Lone Wolf]

Dream player: JVC XV-S500

Player I own: JVC XV-S500

Incredible PAL-NTSC conversion, all region, etc. Has the works - everything you want and then some.


Add me to the list of owners of this great dvd player. Highly recommended!

[KR~!]

The Malata DVP-520 is every DVd fanboy's wet dream, and if it's not your wet dream, then that's only because you never heard of it. Follow the link and perpare to drool :

http://www.hkflix.com/hardware/xq/asp/pid.12/qx/details.htm

[Number Six]

The Malata DVP-520 is every DVd fanboy's wet dream, and if it's not your wet dream, then that's only because you never heard of it. Follow the link and perpare to drool :

http://www.hkflix.com/hardware/xq/asp/pid.12/qx/details.htm

While I'd hesitate to call it my "wet dream," the 520 is what I chose when I wanted a region-free, PAL-NTSC player. Let me say that I couldn't be happier. It does all they say it will, which is a hell of a lot. But it may be price prohibitive at $329 ($349 for black? WTF??). When I got mine they were still under 3 hundy, $279 if memory serves.

Good luck with whichever player you select, indie.

[Regurgitate]

Huh, so has Malata improved their quality? I had a malata player and it died in less than a year... I want a multi-region player again but I don't want to waste money.. Anyone else have a malata die on them?

[Dave]

and what's wrong with the JVC XV-S600? :)

For one thing, it aint in my living room. :banana:

[Number Six]

Huh, so has Malata improved their quality? I had a malata player and it died in less than a year... I want a multi-region player again but I don't want to waste money.. Anyone else have a malata die on them?
Mine is still in awesome condition after a bit over a year. The only hiccup it's had was on a rental copy of Once Upon a Time in Mexico, but that was due to what appeared to be peanut butter smeared on the disc. (At least, I hope it was peanut butter. :nervous: ) Which Malata did you have before? I would say that if money is a major concern, the Malata might be out. Like I said, it is on the price-prohibitive side. But since I have no experience with other players, I can't offer another suggestion.

[Agent Z]

Mine is still in awesome condition after a bit over a year. The only hiccup it's had was on a rental copy of Once Upon a Time in Mexico, but that was due to what appeared to be peanut butter smeared on the disc. (At least, I hope it was peanut butter. :nervous: )

:eek2: Where are you renting these discs from?! :lol:

[c0rpse]

Are you sure the 563-A is all region?? I have one and I didn't know that. I knew it converted PAL/NTSC..but all region?! :) I am gonna try as soon as I get home!

[Rainbowthief]

I have a Daewoo right now that I bought because I was dying to jump into the region free pool. It works fine except for the fact that it doesn't handle anamorphic PAL properly. I'll upgrade to a better player next year when I buy an HDTV.

BTW, Best Buy has the Cyberhome that you can hack for only $35.99!! Insane! Plus I thought it was neat how compact it is--it's smaller than an average sized harcover book.

[Ash]

My modded x-box works great. :banana:

[Nos4ah2]

My modded x-box works great. :banana:


Amen to that brother!

:banana:

[Wolf Man]

BTW, Best Buy has the Cyberhome that you can hack for only $35.99!! Insane! Plus I thought it was neat how compact it is--it's smaller than an average sized harcover book.
I wouldn't buy the CH-300 at any price. I work at the customer service counter at a Best Buy and I must see two or three of these come back every day. Of course that's down from about ten a day the week after Christmas.

[FulciZombieFan]

I wouldn't buy the CH-300 at any price. I work at the customer service counter at a Best Buy and I must see two or three of these come back every day. Of course that's down from about ten a day the week after Christmas.
As I always try to tell people if you go with CYBERHOME it is an excellent choice but you need to get the CH-DVD 500 model.

That is the only one worth getting ... it's a great player with very nice PAL to NTSC conversion. The best I've seen to date!

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[Mario77]

The Malata DVP-520 is every DVd fanboy's wet dream, and if it's not your wet dream, then that's only because you never heard of it. Follow the link and perpare to drool :

http://www.hkflix.com/hardware/xq/asp/pid.12/qx/details.htm


I second the Malata DVP 520. I've been a very happy owner of this model since it came out and it is superb! You will not be dissappointed with this one!

[Vincent Pina]

I own both the Malata DVP520 and the Cyberhome CH500 players and I can tell you that both have their own problems. The Malata is better than the Cyberhome in that it has great color and picture except that some PAL discs don't work well with either the Movie or Still filters. In Movie, the picture will show shimmering, and in the Still, it will show staircasing problems...again, not on all PAL discs, but still on some. The Cyberhome sometimes will play the same PAL discs without shimmering or staircasing issues, but will play others even worse to where they are unwatchable (like my Others and Tesis SE's from Spain), not to mention the color on the Cyberhome is quite dark and a little too red.

What I have bought now is a very reasonably priced Philips 727 that correctly converts a PAL disc at the right aspect ratio (as do the two above mentioned players) and has had VERY minimal shimmering or staircasing issues. It must be mentioned that I have also owned an Apex AD1600, a Sampo, and the Cyberhome 300 (the latter two which stretch a PAL image). I was happy for a long time with my Malata, but I now use my Philips as my main player (knock on wood, but I've heard people have problems with this, too...one being the fact that the multi-angle icon will not go away when it is triggered, amongst other gripes, but at least it was cheap).

[KamuiX]

I also have the Malata DVP-520, and have yet to have any problem. I have it hooked up to my 54" widescreen HDTV, and anything I throw in it looks top notch (unless of course it's a DVD with a spotty transfer).

I'm surprised at the price increase though!!! I got mine for $270 about 6 months ago from HKFlix. That price increase is a killer :eek:

[Vincent Pina]

The price increase on the Malata 520 is due to it not being produced anymore...and it was their most popular player. There are supposed to be newer models out there now, but I have yet to hear on their performance.

[Andrew]

The DVP-520 is only $149 at http://220-electronics.com/ but they do not garuntee the quality. I would've bought it but don't want to end up with less money and a broken player.