DVD Player Beginners Guide

DVD was one of the most stunning success stories in audiovisual history. From its launch back in the mid nineties to a position as the undisputed king of home entertainment, DVD video discs took the world by storm.

Recently the crown has looked unsteady, with the arrival of the high-definition formats HD DVD and Blu-ray, but DVD remains the mass-market leader.

Part of the reason DVD caught on so readily was the public’s familiarity with the basic concept. CD audio discs had been around long enough for the consumer to feel comfortable with the appearance of a DVD, and because people associate CD with improved sound quality, they automatically understood that DVD would be an improvement over VHS tape.

Basic technology
A DVD (it actually stands for ‘Digital Versatile Disc’) is similar in construction to a CD. Data is stored on a thin plastic layer, which is encased in further layers, both to enable the data to be read by a laser and to protect it from accidental damage.

A DVD can store roughly seven times as much data as a CD. Coupled with video-compression technology, which reduces the amount of space needed to store a video signal, it is possible to fit an entire two-hour movie on a single disc, with greatly enhanced picture and sound quality compared to VHS. The use of double layers increases this capacity still further.

Pros
• DVD picture quality is about twice as good as that of VHS tape. This results in a sharper, clearer picture with much more detail

• DVDs can carry multi-channel home cinema soundtracks, including Dolby Digital and DTS tracks. When partnered with a home cinema sound system this results in stunning audio as well as video

• The range of DVD titles available is vast and growing all the time

• DVDs are smaller than videocassettes, so your collection looks neater and doesn’t need as much storage space

• DVDs are more robust than VHS tapes. Because the disc isn’t actually touched (being read by a laser) it does not deteriorate like a VHS tape will

• There is enough space on a disc for multiple language tracks, subtitles and extra features such as director’s commentaries, deleted scenes and interviews. And with the use of dual-layered and double-sided discs the room for extra features increases.

Cons
• You can’t record on a DVD player – you need a DVD recorder for that (see our Guide to DVD Recorders)

• High-definition disc formats will eventually make DVD obsolete

Top tips for buying a DVD player
• Ensure you have the necessary connections to hook up to your TV. An RGB Scart output is essential, and component video outputs for progressive scan signals are even better. Many new decks even carry HDMI digital outputs, which is the best connection possible

• Be aware of the different playback formats available. DVD players don’t just handle DVD video files – some also offer JPEG, WMA, MP3 and DiVX compatibility

• Is audio playback as important as video playback for you? If so, you should consider a deck that can play DVD-Audio or SACD (or both!) discs

• Get a ‘region-free’ DVD player if possible. These modified players can accept discs from other countries and open up the extra titles available in the USA

• Before rushing in to buy a DVD player, consider whether a DVD recorder would better suit your needs

• If you own an HD Ready TV you may want a DVD player that can ‘upscale a standard-definition signal (see our Guide to Upscaling).

Glossary
DiVX – A video-compression format that can squeeze video files to a fraction of their normal space, allowing near-DVD quality movies to be downloaded from the internet and stored on a CD

Dolby Digital – A multi-channel sound format that delivers audio to a home cinema speaker system

DTS – A rival sound format to Dolby Digital that does the same job. Opinion is divided on which is the superior format

DVD – Digital Versatile Disc. Can be DVD Video or DVD-Audio discs

DVI – Digital Visual Interface, a digital video-only input or output

HDMI – High Definition Multimedia Input – also known as the ‘digital Scart’, it carries video and audio signals in digital form

High-definition – A superior delivery format for TV that presents more lines of detail, resulting in a much sharper, more detailed image

Progressive scan – A method by which image detail on a TV picture is enhanced by showing both halves of a single frame at the same time, as opposed to showing only half a frame at a time