Types

There are many types of players and recorders. But if you simply want to play DVDs you’ve purchased or rented, your first and biggest decision is whether to buy a high-def Blu-ray player or stick with a standard DVD model.

Blu-ray player

Blu-ray discs contain 1080p video, currently the highest-resolution HD. Prices have been dropping as manufacturers battle for market share, and players now cost about $150 to $500 and up. Prices could drop further as more models arrive on the market. Blu-ray discs typically sell for about $10 more than their standard-def counterparts, but prices are starting to fall. You can also rent Blu-ray movies, usually at a small premium over regular DVDs. There are already hundreds of Blu-ray movies available, and many more are expected. Blu-ray players can also play regular DVDs, and, like regular DVD players, new models can play audio CDs. Current high-def DVD players can hold only one disc at a time.

Standard DVD players

Although the transition from standard-definition to high-definition DVD discs is clearly under way, there are still reasons, ranging from price to format maturity, that you might want to hold off buying a Blu-ray player. That means many of us may still be in the market for a standard DVD player, possibly the last player of that type that we’ll buy. You’d be hard-pressed to find any other home-entertainment product that gives you more bang for the buck than a DVD player. But as the transition to high-definition DVDs gains steam, you're likely to see fewer standard-def models being introduced, and retailers may not carry as many models as they used to.

Almost all new DVD players are progressive-scan models. These players can convert (or deinterlace) the interlaced video (480i) contained on DVDs and output it to your TV as a 480p video signal. With a TV that can display high-definition or enhanced-definition (ED) images, you can expect a smoother, more detailed image. That’s because HD sets can support the player’s progressive-scan 480p mode, drawing 480 consecutive lines on the screen in a single pass. Prices for progressive-scan players start as low as $25, and many major-brand models are priced in the range of $50 to $75.

Portable DVD players

A portable player lets you watch a movie anytime, anywhere—perfect for long trips or waits between flights. While you can also play movies on a notebook computer that has a built-in DVD drive, portable DVD players are often smaller and lighter, and might offer more playback options.

Portable DVD players look much like small laptop computers minus the keyboard. Most have a 5- to 10-inch screen (measured diagonally) with a clamshell-style cover that protects the screen when it’s not in use. Others use a tablet style; the screen is always exposed, which might make it easier to see if the player is on your lap. Convertible models feature displays that fold back so that the player can be used in either laptop or tablet mode.

Digital video recorders

If you want the ability to record high-def TV programming, you can use an HD hard-drive-based digital video recorder (DVR). Other DVRs are standard-def. DVRs don’t have a slot for removable discs or tapes. They record only on a hard drive much like the one in a computer and can’t play recorded media, so you’ll still need a DVD player to watch commercial movies. Philips offers a combination unit that pairs a DVR with a DVD player/recorder so that you can play and copy to removable media.

A DVR is a good choice if you often record TV programs. Many DVRs have space for 100 hours or more of standard-definition programming at high quality. Some let you record at lower quality, which raises capacity to 300 hours or more. HD-capable recorders usually hold about 20 to 30 hours of HD content. A new TiVo recorder has an exceptionally large capacity of 150 hours of HD programming and up to 1,350 hours of standard-def.

DVD recorders

While DVD players are in the midst of a transition to high-definition, DVD recorders remain standard-def, at least for the time being. Still, a DVD recorder gives you a whole lot of bang for the buck. It’s easy to use, offers better recording quality than a VCR, and allows random access to sections of a disc. Because it records onto removable discs, it allows unlimited storage and easy sharing of standard-def TV programs. Because it can play DVDs, it can replace a DVD player, an advantage over hard-drive recorders. Some fine DVD recorders cost $100 to $230. But given that the world is slowly moving to high-definition, there are fewer DVD recorder models from which to choose, as some companies, including Pioneer, have decided to stop making them.

Some DVD recorders in stores have a built-in digital off-air (ATSC) tuner and a basic digital cable (QAM) tuner; others have no tuner. A built-in ATSC tuner is important if you want to record over-the-air broadcast TV without the use of a separate set-top box. A QAM tuner lets you record basic digital cable programs without using a set-top box. Some DVD recorders have cable or satellite box control, so they can change the channels of a set-top box for time-shifted recording.

A DVD recorder is a good choice for those who want to record and archive TV programs, home videos, and photos. Some DVD recorders are combo units that have built-in VCRs, which can make dubbing your old VHS tapes to DVD a fairly simple process. One Philips model has an internal hard drive and a DVD recorder, so programs can be saved to the drive, viewed, and then recorded to a DVD if you’d like to keep the recording.

See also:

HDTVs

Digital video recorders

Home theater systems