Need a new Region Free player

My Daewoo 5800 finally bit the dust after 2 years. If it decides to read anything, it freezes every few seconds, and I'm giving up. It was a good player up until a few weeks ago though.

So, I'm in the market again. What's everyone's suggestion for the best region free player for the cheapest price, and where can I get it?

[shift]

Clean the player or have you?

Mines on 2 years and running great still.


But here are some nice ones: http://www.acmemovie.com/.sc/ms/rp/1077124315376962/9/nc--^202http^3A^2F^2Fwww^2Egoogle^2Ecom^2Fcustom^3Fhl^ 3Den^26lr^3D^26ie^3DISO-8859-1^26cof^3D^26q^3Dsdat^2Bdvd/ee/1/2795

Check out the Shinco or CavS

Out of the Box it's region free.

CheerZ

[bigdaddyhorse]

I just got a Toshiba 4900. They're under $100 at any store I'm pretty sure, and easily hackable. PAL conversion is perfect for 16:9 or 4:3 tv's. The only thing I don't like about this player is it doesn't show time remaining for titles or chapters, everything else rocks and the picture is beautiful (Fuck CyberHome!)!
Check out www.dvdrhelp.com for the hack code. To make it region free forever (if not, you have to put in the code each time you put in a different region disc, or stop one), you need one of those cds, which a friend of a friend made for me and it works perfect. I could send that out to ya if you cover postage (I hear they aren't as easy to make as they sound, but the code and the disc both have worked perfect for me.)

[Paff]

BDH, tell me a little more about this Toshiba, since it sound great.

I'm also running a Sampo as my region-free player, and I don't trust it one bit. I mean, it works and all, never given me any problems, but it just seems....cheap (maybe because it IS cheap). Not to mention, anamorphic PAL discs don't squeeze down properly.

On the other hand, my old Toshiba I bought 5 years ago (at a ridiculous price, compared to today) has been fabulous, played even the most scratched rental discs. I'd love a region-free PAL/NTSC Toshiba. If the one you say is that good, I may pick one up ASAP

[bigdaddyhorse]

Try running your make and model here. Maybe you are lucky and have one the few hackable Toshibas already.
If not the 4900 is awesome. It's progressive scan as well (I don't have a digital tv, so I can't comment on how good the PS looks). It also has the black level enhancment option, which has gotten rid of all that nasty pixalation in dark shots on my R2 discs (except the ones are truely shit transfers). 6x zoom.

Once you get and put in that cd I was talking about (instructions to make your own can be found on the link if you look for 4900 hacks), it is just an option page, set the region to 0, and everything plays perfect.

Oh yeah, couple other bad things I forgot eariler, but aren't too big a deal. On a couple french discs I have, the subtitles are forced when playing the English soundtracks. On my CH, I could start the films in french, then switch to English using the audio button on the remote, for whatever reason the audio button is locked out on the Toshiba, so subs are still forced.
Also, my old Toshiba that died would start any disc left in it where ever I left off if I hit play to turn the player back on, this one won't do that. It has 9 bookmarks you can set, but they reset whenever the machine turns off.
I got mine for my B-day in Jan., got the cd a few weeks ago, and have loved it ever since. From what I've read online, it's under $100 everywhere (my GF got mine at Best Buy, but I didn't ask her how much it cost cuz that would be bad manners ). The remote hack will hold you over until you get the cd. It takes a few more seconds, but worked everytime for me.

That's about all I can think of to say about it now. I definitly recomend it. If there are any other questions you have feel free to ask here or in a PM, and I'll answer ASAP. I'm gonna go try one other thing and unplug mine to make sure that the region 0 setting stays even then, and make sure I don't need that cd anymore.

[bigdaddyhorse]

It passed! Still region free!
If you want the specs, check here.

Funny that says $149.99. The posters on dvdrhelp were saying it's under $100 everywhere.

[BloodMan]

My Daewoo 5800 is starting to go too. I have had it for a year and a half now. I gotta find a new player.

Nick

[Paff]

Thanks BDH, I'll go shopping this weekend.

My current Toshiba is the SD-2109, which is now a pretty simple player. Although, it's done everything I've asked it to do, and I couldn't be happier with it. It can be hacked, but it's a hardware hack, meaning I'd physically have to change chips inside the unit.

I was gonna get one of those JVCs that Dave harps on about, but it seems like that Tosh will do all I need.

I think the price you linked is the list price, and it's usually substantially less at actual stores. Even my current player was supposed to be $299, and I got it for $235. (Of course, now, a player with the same capabilities would be $49 tops....)

[bigdaddyhorse]

I think the 2109 was what I used to have, is that the one that holds 2 discs and has the awesome on screen display where it tells title/chapter time elapsed/remaining and everything else on one page?
I miss that player! It was so easy to jump to the good parts in porn dvds with! There is a remote hack posted for that one but it doesn't work (at least it didn't work when mine was alive).
This one is a slight downgrade in funtion if that is the same one, but the picture quality and audio is amazing. The zoom is better too! Add on the region free thing, and it's all around better!

[shift]

U can get it for less then $100.00 w/ free shipping


Check here


http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/it...73&PID=1358132

[Paff]

Good god that thing is a piece of work. (I said "work", not "shit")

Picked one up tonight at Best Buy, $89.99. Easily played my Anamorphic R2 PAL discs with the remote hack. Then I downloaded the hack file, burned the CD, and now it's playing everything. Friggin fantastic!

I have to seriously consider making this my main player. I do miss some of the old Toshiba things though, like the remote beep. Everyone else hates that, I love it.

But a big thumbs up to the Toshiba 4900.

My Daewoo is still fine, but I'd like to get a second code free player, this time one that plays anamorphic PAL discs without squeezing the movie. I want something that's region free out of the box--no hacks, downloads, or anything else, and the forced subs would drive me nuts, so the Toshiba 4900 doesn't seem like the player for me, though the price certainly is nice.

[bigdaddyhorse]

Originally Posted by Rainbowthief

My Daewoo is still fine, but I'd like to get a second code free player, this time one that plays anamorphic PAL discs without squeezing the movie. I want something that's region free out of the box--no hacks, downloads, or anything else, and the forced subs would drive me nuts, so the Toshiba 4900 doesn't seem like the player for me, though the price certainly is nice.

Almost any player you get locally will need at least a remote hack code. Since the Toshiba needs the code everytime or the cd to make it permanet, it might not be for you, but it is so simple to put that cd in and turn the region to 0, then you don't have to mess with anything again!
I'd suggest looking on the link I posted to dvdrhelp, run a few player #'s through it, and find one with an easy, one time remote hack. Other than that you'll probably have to order a player online, which will cost more and probably just be pre-hacked for you.
If you decide on the Toshiba, I still have the cd to send if you or anyone wants it.

[FulciZombieFan]

I have a Cyberhome CH-DVD 500 and I've always been VERY happy with the quality of it's PAL to NTSC conversion capabilities.

Unfortunately some PAL DVD discs that are poorly authored require that you change a setting in the SETUP MENU of the DVD player to make the discs play back correctly. This works but I said unfortunately because it only works on CH-DVD 500 models that have the original firmware. Cyberhome has released a few updated firmwares and all have locked this option in the SETUP MENU so the trick doesn't work ... although to be honest it really is not needed with all that many PAL DVD discs.

Anyways there appears to be no way to "update" to the original firmware as it was never made available for download and it is unclear to me if a newly bought Cyberhome CH-DVD 500 comes with the original firmware or comes with one of the newer updated firmwares.

So I guess at this point you are taking a risk if you buy the Cyberhome CH-DVD 500 as to what firmware version you will get.

Luckily I still have the good original firmware so no problems here. The chipset used in the Cyberhome is one of the best if not the best for PAL to NTSC conversions.

However ... I believe that this "trick" I'm talking about is NOT needed if you are using the component progressive outputs of the Cyberhome CH-DVD 500 but I don't have a progressive TV to test it on. So even if you have the newer firmware version(s) then it is a moot point IF you have a progressive TV display. At least I'm 99% positive about that

As for the TOSHIBA 4900 I too heard some good things about it in regards to making it region free and dong PAL to NTSC conversion. I too read this on DVDRHELP.COM

Here is a question for BIG DADDY HORSE:

I am curious if you have and can test any of the following PAL DVD discs:

1.) Redemption THE BLOODY JUDGE
2.) Redemption WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO YOUR DAUGHTERS
3.) Midnight Movies THE DEAD PIT
4.) Midnight Movies THE LAUGHING DEAD
5.) Astro's uncut special edition of THE GRIM REAPER
6.) LOVE CAMP 7 (some German label)

There might be more but these are the titles that come to mind off the top of my head.

The first 2 have an almost "shimmering" effect without the "trick" applied. The other discs have a very slight "stuttering" effect as if frames are being dropped unless you apply the "trick".

As for the "trick" go to the SETUP MENU and under VIDEO there is an option called FORMAT. It is usually set to AUTO. Change it from AUTO to PROGRESSIVE and that fixes the problem discs. Most discs play find with the default of AUTO. Again this works with interlaced composite or S-Video output. This doesn't actually put the DVD player into progressive scan mode (that's done another way and requires using the component video outputs and a compatible TV). I think all this does is apply a different "filter" or "method" of doing the PAL to NTSC conversion. As I said this only works with the original firmware though as all new firmwares have locked this option to AUTO ... the user not being able to change it.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

P.S.
For those interested the Cyberhome CH-DVD 500 can be bought directly from the CYBERHOME WEBSITE for $79.95 US Dollars + shipping. For more info on how to make the player region free (which is done with a simple remote control code) take a look at the CYBERHOME FORUM on the NERD-OUT WEBSITE in the "message forums" section.

[bigdaddyhorse]

Originally Posted by FulciZombieFan

Here is a question for BIG DADDY HORSE:

I am curious if you have and can test any of the following PAL DVD discs:

1.) Redemption THE BLOODY JUDGE
2.) Redemption WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO YOUR DAUGHTERS
3.) Midnight Movies THE DEAD PIT
4.) Midnight Movies THE LAUGHING DEAD
5.) Astro's uncut special edition of THE GRIM REAPER
6.) LOVE CAMP 7 (some German label)

There might be more but these are the titles that come to mind off the top of my head.

The first 2 have an almost "shimmering" effect without the "trick" applied. The other discs have a very slight "stuttering" effect as if frames are being dropped unless you apply the "trick".

Sorry, I don't have any of those discs.
All the R2 discs I have look good/great except Lost Highway, which although anamorphic, is a crappy print. Still, it doesn't do anything like you described, it just looks grainy and really dull in darker shots. Bright scenes look pretty good though.
The other R2 discs I have that I could check for ya are
American Psycho
Bride Of Chucky
Boondock Saints (German)
Henry POASK
Last Action Hero
Predator SE
Predator 2
Return Of The Living Dead 3
RoboCop
They Live, Prince Of Darkness, and Vampires (French)
A couple Traci Lords movies & Anatomie (German version, just got, haven't watched yet).
All except Herny, ROTLD 3 , Traci and Bride Of Chucky are anamorphic (Bride is supposed to be, and the short fim extra IS, but the movie isn't ). Like I said, I haven't noticed any weird picture problems with any of these. American Psycho looked like shit on my CH 402, but looks awesome on the Toshiba with the black level enhancement. That was just grain and light spots in dark scenes though.