DVD players and recorders

TechyTyke · 24-05-2003, 08:09

Can anyone help? Im interested in buying a DVD player. I currently have a PS2 which will play my movies but would like a DVD player in another room. The dilemma i have though is which to buy as i want a DVD player that will play back recordings from a DVD recorder (which i intend to buy next year).
Ive read various sites on the current market in terms of DVD-R and DVD+R etc but im still a bit confused as to what players will play back the recordings and which discs i would have to buy.
It seems to be a lot more complicated than the days of VHS and Betamax. Do i buy an expensive DVD player with the hope it will play the recorded discs or do i just buy a cheap player to keep me going until the situation becomes more clearer, with the possibiilty of having to buy another player when i buy the recorder?
Thanks for any advice!

mpark · 24-05-2003, 18:21

Just find a player you like, check that it can play DVD+R and DVD-R then buy it. Both types of disc play on most DVD players, so almost any player you look at will probably do the job.

If the shop details or manufacturer details don't explicitly say it can play both types then there are sites like VCD Help where you can check reports from people who already own them.

Expensive players are no more likely to play home recorded discs than the cheap players. In fact some of the cheaper players can play things that most others can't, such as DVD-ROM discs with mpeg files on, etc.

Murray

2Tone · 28-05-2003, 22:58

TechyTyke - I've sort of got the same problem. I want to purchace a new dvd recorder and I am toatally confused at why there are so many different formats? I have been looking at the Philips DVDR880, although my girlfriend has got a cheap dvd player and I don't know whether any of my recordings would play back on her player. Are there differences in quality between a DVDRW and a DVD+RW?? I assume the disks are different. And if you are lending disks out to friends etc, surely it is just pot luck each time at whether it will work on their player.

Cheers, Steve

mpark · 28-05-2003, 23:28

Steve, check the link in my previous post. If you know the make and model of the player you can find out what it can play. But as I said, both types play on most existing players. This was one of my biggest concerns too when I got mine a year ago and it hasn't been a problem. Besides, how may home recorded video tapes do you usually lend out and is there any reason this should change of you switch to DVD recording?

The + and - format disks both have the same storage capacity so they're both capable of exactly the same quality. It's the features available when you're creating the DVD, such as on disc editing, that really separates the formats. The picture quality of your home recorded will be determined by a combination of the quality setting you select for recording and how good the mpeg encoder is in your chosen machine.

Murray

24-05-2003, 08:09	#1
TechyTyke Forum Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 102	DVD players and recorders Can anyone help? Im interested in buying a DVD player. I currently have a PS2 which will play my movies but would like a DVD player in another room. The dilemma i have though is which to buy as i want a DVD player that will play back recordings from a DVD recorder (which i intend to buy next year). Ive read various sites on the current market in terms of DVD-R and DVD+R etc but im still a bit confused as to what players will play back the recordings and which discs i would have to buy. It seems to be a lot more complicated than the days of VHS and Betamax. Do i buy an expensive DVD player with the hope it will play the recorded discs or do i just buy a cheap player to keep me going until the situation becomes more clearer, with the possibiilty of having to buy another player when i buy the recorder? Thanks for any advice!

24-05-2003, 18:21	#2
mpark Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northampton Posts: 639	Just find a player you like, check that it can play DVD+R and DVD-R then buy it. Both types of disc play on most DVD players, so almost any player you look at will probably do the job. If the shop details or manufacturer details don't explicitly say it can play both types then there are sites like VCD Help where you can check reports from people who already own them. Expensive players are no more likely to play home recorded discs than the cheap players. In fact some of the cheaper players can play things that most others can't, such as DVD-ROM discs with mpeg files on, etc. Murray

28-05-2003, 22:58	#3
2Tone New Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 2	TechyTyke - I've sort of got the same problem. I want to purchace a new dvd recorder and I am toatally confused at why there are so many different formats? I have been looking at the Philips DVDR880, although my girlfriend has got a cheap dvd player and I don't know whether any of my recordings would play back on her player. Are there differences in quality between a DVDRW and a DVD+RW?? I assume the disks are different. And if you are lending disks out to friends etc, surely it is just pot luck each time at whether it will work on their player. Cheers, Steve

28-05-2003, 23:28	#4
mpark Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northampton Posts: 639	Steve, check the link in my previous post. If you know the make and model of the player you can find out what it can play. But as I said, both types play on most existing players. This was one of my biggest concerns too when I got mine a year ago and it hasn't been a problem. Besides, how may home recorded video tapes do you usually lend out and is there any reason this should change of you switch to DVD recording? The + and - format disks both have the same storage capacity so they're both capable of exactly the same quality. It's the features available when you're creating the DVD, such as on disc editing, that really separates the formats. The picture quality of your home recorded will be determined by a combination of the quality setting you select for recording and how good the mpeg encoder is in your chosen machine. Murray

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