- In this report
- High-definition DVD players
- Ratings
- CR Quick Recommendations
- How to choose
- Important features
- Important features
- Complete features glossary
- Standard-definition DVD players
- Ratings
- CR Quick Recommendations
- Features
- How to choose
- First look
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Important features HD DVD players
All high-definition DVD players have most or all of the features you get on a regular DVD player, enabling you to pause, fast-forward, rewind, and search the discs. In addition, all of the units have a front-panel display that provides information about the player's operations. Timers let you know how much time has elapsed and how much time is remaining on the disc, and an onscreen setup menu will typically allow you to adjust various settings. For example, you could adjust the picture (such as selecting a widescreen 16:9 or standard 4:3 image to match your TV screen) and sound (stereo or multichannel surround sound), and choose a language preference.
Most high-definition DVD players also have a screen-saver feature, a moving image that plays when the machine is turned on but isn't being used, that can help to prevent stationary images from being burned into your HDTV screen. Several models offer additional features, such as built-in memory-card slots for displaying digital photos and playing music, or ports that allow them to be connected to a PC for distributing picture, video, or music content stored on your computer, on a TV, or on a sound system as appropriate. All HD DVD players have an Ethernet/LAN port for connecting the player to the Internet, enabling interactive features such as supplemental movie content (such as actor's commentaries and links to locations, for example), games, and even online shopping. Some early model Blu-ray players lacked these features. But newer, so-called "Profile 2.0" Blu-ray players can support picture-in-picture (dubbed "Bonus View") and feature Ethernet ports for Internet access (called "BD Live") using home broadband connections.
In addition to the HDMI and component-video connections needed to receive high-def pictures on an HDTV, many players also include S-video and/or composite-video outputs. All the players we've seen have an optical digital audio output, and most will also include 5.1-channel analog audio outputs for connecting the player to a Dolby Digital or DTS surround-sound receiver with analog audio inputs.
All high-definition DVD players have most or all of the features you get on a regular DVD player, enabling you to pause, fast-forward, rewind, and search the discs. In addition, all of the units have a front-panel display that provides information about the player's operations. Timers let you know how much time has elapsed and how much time is remaining on the disc, and an onscreen setup menu will typically allow you to adjust various settings. For example, you could adjust the picture (such as selecting a widescreen 16:9 or standard 4:3 image to match your TV screen) and sound (stereo or multichannel surround sound), and choose a language preference.
Most high-definition DVD players also have a screen-saver feature, a moving image that plays when the machine is turned on but isn't being used, that can help to prevent stationary images from being burned into your HDTV screen. Several models offer additional features, such as built-in memory-card slots for displaying digital photos and playing music, or ports that allow them to be connected to a PC for distributing picture, video, or music content stored on your computer, on a TV, or on a sound system as appropriate. All HD DVD players have an Ethernet/LAN port for connecting the player to the Internet, enabling interactive features such as supplemental movie content (such as actor's commentaries and links to locations, for example), games, and even online shopping. Some early model Blu-ray players lacked these features. But newer, so-called "Profile 2.0" Blu-ray players can support picture-in-picture (dubbed "Bonus View") and feature Ethernet ports for Internet access (called "BD Live") using home broadband connections.
In addition to the HDMI and component-video connections needed to receive high-def pictures on an HDTV, many players also include S-video and/or composite-video outputs. All the players we've seen have an optical digital audio output, and most will also include 5.1-channel analog audio outputs for connecting the player to a Dolby Digital or DTS surround-sound receiver with analog audio inputs.
