Playing UK DVDs in USA

MicroGodzilla · 19-07-2008, 03:45

Hi there,

I've recently moved to the USA and I'm awaiting my DVD collection arriving shortly.

Obviously I'll be looking to buy a multi-region player because the bulk of my collection is region 2 (UK), but from what I can gather it sounds like I'll also need some sort of Pal-NTSC converter as American TVs generally won't accept PAL format (even newer models and my TV is brand new). I could be wrong about this but I want to be certain...

In short, will I need to splash out on a MR player with some sort of in-built PAL converter (and if so how much will this ramp up the price)?

Before somebody suggests I simply replace my collection with region 1 discs, we're not talking Terminator or Jaws here, must of the DVDs are hopelessly obscure UK TV progs which I simply won't be able to get over here.

Anyway, thanks in advance for any advice.

Cheers, MG

hanssolo · 19-07-2008, 05:25

The Goodmans TV set I brought in the UK recently and probaly made in the far east, did not mention NTSC in the spec but in the manual says it will automatically select and playback NTSC from a video source on the SCART input, perhaps it might be the same for some sets in the US with PAL playback?.

hardeep · 19-07-2008, 07:55

Quite a lot of US players have inbuilt convertors such as this JVC with a list price of $50

There is a comprehensive list here - just tick the Multisystem PAL/NTSC box before doing the search.

Nigel Goodwin · 19-07-2008, 09:46

I suspect all you can do is try once you get there, while European models (both TV and DVD) will often do both, American electronics are often highly crippled and limited - there's far less chance that an American DVD player will play UK discs, or an American TV will display them.

Just take a few UK discs to an American shop, and explain you want a DVD that will play them - they should be happy to try various models for you.

MicroGodzilla · 22-07-2008, 22:10

Slight update to this. I had a little portable DVD player to tide me over, and had a look to see if it was multi-regional (While being 99.9% certain that it wasn't).

It is an 'Initial', a brand I had never heard of, and although some web-based research seemed to confirm that it was strictly a region 1 player, I also stumbled upon some hacks to make it region code-free.

I tried them, and was told if the code was entered successfully it would bring up a hidden menu with 'Region 1' on it which could be amended to whatever. It did work, but when the hidden menu was accessed, it already said 'region 0', which in theory means it will already play any disc.

Unfortunately, in practice I can't be sure as I have no non-region 1 DVDs until my stuff arrives, but here's hoping.

The only reason I can think it was factory-set as region 0 is because a relative won it as a prize (he had never used it, never even opened the box and wouldn't have a clue about such things as region code hacks), rather than bought it from a shop.

Anyway, hopefully it'll work (it also connects to TV for a bigger picture) and save me a few dollars.

meltcity · 23-07-2008, 20:13

The problem is that you don't simply need a player that handles PAL region 2 discs; you need a player that converts PAL to NTSC. If I hold down the PAUSE key on my UK bought LG DVD player while in stop mode it cycles through AUTO-PAL-NTSC; you will need something similar to watch PAL discs on your crippled American TV.

MicroGodzilla · 24-07-2008, 22:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by meltcity

The problem is that you don't simply need a player that handles PAL region 2 discs; you need a player that converts PAL to NTSC. If I hold down the PAUSE key on my UK bought LG DVD player while in stop mode it cycles through AUTO-PAL-NTSC; you will need something similar to watch PAL discs on your crippled American TV.

I understand - like I say it's a portable DVD player and as it is set to region 0 I'm hoping it'll play anything, and if I hook it up to the TV, my Toshiba will merely parrot the image playing on the portable so it won't come out in black and white or anything.

I suppose it's not guaranteed, and at any rate it would only be a stop-gap solution but if it's a portable player and set to region 0 (presumably these things are mass-produced somewhere in the Far East), then logic suggests that it should work no problem.

But eventually I'll invest in a proper one and I'll maker certain it has a converter. I've done some reading around and people have successfully watched UK discs on an American TV/player, so it must be feasible.

Chparmar · 24-07-2008, 22:35

If it all gets too much, you could build yourself a multimedia PC with an HDMI out for your TV.

PC Software by passes the region codes and you don't have to worry about PAL/NTSC.

Nick_2005 · 25-07-2008, 17:09

If you check out e-bay USA
a lot of people list multi reigon players that will play back any disk on any TV. not saying to buy from there but may point you into what machines to look out for.

Was having to check them out for the same reason as you at one point, but still here for now

here's just one

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Toshiba-All-...3286.m14.l1308

bobcar · 25-07-2008, 17:19

Won't an upscaling DVD player (multi-region) work with the US TVs (HD obviously)? The only obvious thing that might not work is the frame refresh rate.

Truan · 25-07-2008, 18:27

Can you get a tv with an RGB input? if so then the PAL/NTSC encoding shouldn't be an issue as the encoding is only used on composite signals. You may still have a problem with refresh rate though ( ie 60hz vs 50hz ).

19-07-2008, 03:45	#1
MicroGodzilla Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: South Lanarkshire Posts: 49	Playing UK DVDs in USA Hi there, I've recently moved to the USA and I'm awaiting my DVD collection arriving shortly. Obviously I'll be looking to buy a multi-region player because the bulk of my collection is region 2 (UK), but from what I can gather it sounds like I'll also need some sort of Pal-NTSC converter as American TVs generally won't accept PAL format (even newer models and my TV is brand new). I could be wrong about this but I want to be certain... In short, will I need to splash out on a MR player with some sort of in-built PAL converter (and if so how much will this ramp up the price)? Before somebody suggests I simply replace my collection with region 1 discs, we're not talking Terminator or Jaws here, must of the DVDs are hopelessly obscure UK TV progs which I simply won't be able to get over here. Anyway, thanks in advance for any advice. Cheers, MG

19-07-2008, 05:25	#2
hanssolo Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 13,577	The Goodmans TV set I brought in the UK recently and probaly made in the far east, did not mention NTSC in the spec but in the manual says it will automatically select and playback NTSC from a video source on the SCART input, perhaps it might be the same for some sets in the US with PAL playback?.

19-07-2008, 07:55	#3
hardeep Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Derbyshire Posts: 2,163	Quite a lot of US players have inbuilt convertors such as this JVC with a list price of $50 There is a comprehensive list here - just tick the Multisystem PAL/NTSC box before doing the search.

19-07-2008, 09:46	#4
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	I suspect all you can do is try once you get there, while European models (both TV and DVD) will often do both, American electronics are often highly crippled and limited - there's far less chance that an American DVD player will play UK discs, or an American TV will display them. Just take a few UK discs to an American shop, and explain you want a DVD that will play them - they should be happy to try various models for you.

22-07-2008, 22:10	#5
MicroGodzilla Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: South Lanarkshire Posts: 49	Slight update to this. I had a little portable DVD player to tide me over, and had a look to see if it was multi-regional (While being 99.9% certain that it wasn't). It is an 'Initial', a brand I had never heard of, and although some web-based research seemed to confirm that it was strictly a region 1 player, I also stumbled upon some hacks to make it region code-free. I tried them, and was told if the code was entered successfully it would bring up a hidden menu with 'Region 1' on it which could be amended to whatever. It did work, but when the hidden menu was accessed, it already said 'region 0', which in theory means it will already play any disc. Unfortunately, in practice I can't be sure as I have no non-region 1 DVDs until my stuff arrives, but here's hoping. The only reason I can think it was factory-set as region 0 is because a relative won it as a prize (he had never used it, never even opened the box and wouldn't have a clue about such things as region code hacks), rather than bought it from a shop. Anyway, hopefully it'll work (it also connects to TV for a bigger picture) and save me a few dollars.

23-07-2008, 20:13	#6
meltcity Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 1,770	The problem is that you don't simply need a player that handles PAL region 2 discs; you need a player that converts PAL to NTSC. If I hold down the PAUSE key on my UK bought LG DVD player while in stop mode it cycles through AUTO-PAL-NTSC; you will need something similar to watch PAL discs on your crippled American TV.

24-07-2008, 22:17	#7
MicroGodzilla Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: South Lanarkshire Posts: 49	Quote: Originally Posted by meltcity The problem is that you don't simply need a player that handles PAL region 2 discs; you need a player that converts PAL to NTSC. If I hold down the PAUSE key on my UK bought LG DVD player while in stop mode it cycles through AUTO-PAL-NTSC; you will need something similar to watch PAL discs on your crippled American TV. I understand - like I say it's a portable DVD player and as it is set to region 0 I'm hoping it'll play anything, and if I hook it up to the TV, my Toshiba will merely parrot the image playing on the portable so it won't come out in black and white or anything. I suppose it's not guaranteed, and at any rate it would only be a stop-gap solution but if it's a portable player and set to region 0 (presumably these things are mass-produced somewhere in the Far East), then logic suggests that it should work no problem. But eventually I'll invest in a proper one and I'll maker certain it has a converter. I've done some reading around and people have successfully watched UK discs on an American TV/player, so it must be feasible.

24-07-2008, 22:35	#8
Chparmar Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 6,307	If it all gets too much, you could build yourself a multimedia PC with an HDMI out for your TV. PC Software by passes the region codes and you don't have to worry about PAL/NTSC.

25-07-2008, 17:09	#9
Nick_2005 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1,101	If you check out e-bay USA a lot of people list multi reigon players that will play back any disk on any TV. not saying to buy from there but may point you into what machines to look out for. Was having to check them out for the same reason as you at one point, but still here for now here's just one http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Toshiba-All-...3286.m14.l1308

25-07-2008, 17:19	#10
bobcar Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 14,718	Won't an upscaling DVD player (multi-region) work with the US TVs (HD obviously)? The only obvious thing that might not work is the frame refresh rate.

25-07-2008, 18:27	#11
Truan Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Isles of Scilly Posts: 1,023	Can you get a tv with an RGB input? if so then the PAL/NTSC encoding shouldn't be an issue as the encoding is only used on composite signals. You may still have a problem with refresh rate though ( ie 60hz vs 50hz ).

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Playing UK DVDs in USA