| Whether you are buying your first DVD Player or | | | | signal remains digital as it travels through the |
| replacing an old one it's important to know what's | | | | connections to your television for the cleanest possible |
| available on the market at the moment. It's also useful | | | | transfer. |
| to know what some of the terminology means - many | | | | If your TV is Enhanced Definition (EDTV), High |
| of us think terms like HD and Progressive Scan sound | | | | Definition or HDTV-ready a Progressive Scan DVD |
| impressive but don't actually know what it does! | | | | Player is an option. In fact, even if your existing TV is |
| The fact is these days there is so much more to DVD | | | | not progressive capable your next one almost |
| Players than just watching movies. The newer models | | | | certainly will be which means you would get a great |
| offer high quality audio and video connections providing | | | | picture now and an even better one when you |
| crisp clear images and impressive surround sound. As | | | | upgrade your television. So what is Progressive Scan? |
| well as playing recordable and rewritable CD's they | | | | Progressive Scan displays the entire frame in one |
| can handle your MP3 mix discs, some can also play | | | | sweep (unlike Interlaced Scan which splits each video |
| WMA (Windows Media Audio) files. Some Players | | | | frame into two fields) and since the whole picture is |
| have SACD (Super Audio CD's) or DVD audio | | | | displayed together it has less flickering and clearer |
| decoding for high resolution multichannel music. | | | | details. To view the progressive scan signals you need |
| Obviously the perfect DVD Player for you is the one | | | | a progressive capable TV so if you don't have one at |
| that best meets your needs - it should have the | | | | the moment choose a DVD Player that allows you to |
| features that matter most to you. For instance, if you | | | | select either 480i interlaced scan for use with a |
| still have (and watch!) a lot of VHS tapes then a DVD | | | | conventional TV or 480p progressive-scan output for |
| VCR Combo Player is a good choice. These are | | | | compatible TV's. |
| extremely affordable and provide the familiarity of a | | | | A big part of choosing the right player is ensuring it has |
| VCR Player with the enhanced music and movie | | | | all the necessary connections to perform with your |
| quality of DVD. You can use it to record your favourite | | | | other audio visual equipment. Nearly all current DVD |
| TV shows on VHS, watch movies on DVD and listen | | | | Players have at least three video jacks - composite, |
| to your audio CD's. If you want to archive your VHS | | | | S-video and component. Component inputs are |
| tapes consider a DVD Recorder which offer | | | | typically only found on mid-priced to high end TV's |
| convenient tape-free recording with the functionality of | | | | made in the last few years. The component |
| a DVD Player. You can also back up home movies | | | | connection provides the best picture quality. If your TV |
| onto DVD. There are a variety of writeable and | | | | only has an antenna style RF input you will need to |
| rewriteable formats available to enable you to use the | | | | install an RF modulator between the TV and DVD |
| right disc for the right job. | | | | Player. Also a DVD/VCR Combo might be worth |
| If you travel a lot a Portable DVD Player could be the | | | | considering as some can pass DVD signals through |
| answer. These are compact and lightweight and some | | | | their RF output. |
| also offer dual headphone jacks enabling more than | | | | Current players have a digital audio output - coaxial, |
| one person to listen at the same time. Many of these | | | | optical or both. This enables them to send Dolby Digital |
| portable players are car-friendly - as well as having | | | | or DTS signals to your receiver for multichannel |
| rechargeable batteries some also come with features | | | | surround sound. All DVD Players include standard |
| like cigarette lighter power adapters and car mounting | | | | stereo audio jacks for connecting to stereo receivers |
| kits. | | | | and stereo TV's. Some players also have built in |
| If you have a High Definition TV HD DVD is a high | | | | decoding with 5.1 channel analog outputs to connect |
| definition disc format designed to maximise your | | | | directly to 5.1 ready receivers. These models usually |
| viewing experience when using HDTV. Another option | | | | also play multichannel DVD Audio or SACD discs. |
| is a DVD Player with Video Upconversion which will | | | | Some high end players have IEEE1394 jacks (known |
| convert DVD video to a resolution that more closely | | | | as FireWire or i.LINK); these single cord connections |
| matches that of your High Definition Television. The | | | | carry 5.1 channel music to a compatible receiver. |