Vague question about the picture quality of current DVD players

[Tim L]

Several years ago, I bought a Wharfedale 750 and it had terrible problems with reds, so I got rid of it and bought the then-popular Toshiba 2109. I still use the Tosh but it's getting a bit long in the tooth now. Some discs require much patience to actually get them to load, but otherwise it works and the output is still excellent.

However, I can't help but notice how very cheap DVD players have become since I last bought one. Apparently I could get a Sony NS330 for £90 (multi-region of course), or I could pay closer to the £250 I paid for the Tosh and get a Sony NS930 for £240. Those are just examples, I'm not hung up on Sony or anything. If I'm spending £240 though, why not spend a tenner more and pick up a Panasonic E50 DVD recorder? I've got to admit, it's tempting, although the complications of various formats is something I'd need to research further.

What I'm wondering is how the picture quality of these machines will compare with the Toshiba 2109? This is ultimately what I care about so I don't want to accidentally take a step back in that department. Will that ridiculously cheap Sony have a suitably cheap and dirty output? Has playback quality taken a back seat to features on an affordable DVD recorder? Any thoughts on the matter would be welcome, as I'm sorely tempted.

Also, on a slightly different note, whatever happened to the FBI-skip mods that used to be around? I only recall them being offered on Sonys but can't seem to find any lately. Were these the ones that broke some of the player's functions or something?

[nwgarratt]

I have a Cyberhome CH DVD 400 and the picture quality is equal to my £400 Sony NS900. Sometimes it is better.

[The Allmighty]

The last time I did any comparison between players was about three or four years ago when I bought my sony 525 to replace the samsung 807 that was being a little erratic about which discs it would play. The main difference was that I had to turn the sharpness on the tv off with the sony whereas it was about halfway on with the samsung. Oh, and it didn't have problems playing discs!

My mate just bought a new player (name escapes me) to use in his spare room. He tried a few makes and had to return loads. The first one's picture was truly awful: the contrast it gave out was frighteningly high and there was no way to adjust it. Second one the colours were appalling. Third one the menu didn't work properly on mp3 discs and the fourth would read discs when it felt like it. I believe the latest is working properly.

I have nothing to back up this view but it leads me to believe that there are good cheap players but there a lot of not so good ones. As always, it depends as well on how you connect it and to what size screen you're displaying the image on. There are a lot of variables to consider.

If I needed a replacement (and I might if I get a plasma and want to use progressive scan!) I'd try a few and see if I was happy with the picture.

Have no idea about the fbi mods. My chip allows me to overide them and I like that. I didn't know that you couldn't do that anymore: seems a shame.

[Tim L]

Thanks for the comments. I'm seriously considering getting a Toshiba 330E, which I've seen go for as cheap as £75. By all accounts I've read so far it's a very solid player. Anyone have any opinion on this matter?

[The Allmighty]

Not sure about this but don't people around here seem to say that Toshiba's still have problems with some discs?

I'm ready to be corrected if horribly wrong and maligning well loved and reliable machines.

[nwgarratt]

I have heard numerous people having problems with some Toshiba and some Pioneer players.

The Disney discs can cause such problems.

I like Sony and have never had one disc fail in four years.

[Tim L]

I've had a good look around and red through some old threads, and see that the Tosh 330e has apparently got some issues with discs skipping slightly, although plenty of people claim not to have seen this. However, if it's there, I'll notice it, and for all the faults with my 2109, once it loads a disc it generally plays okay.

Any thoughts on the Panasonic S35? To be honest I know soliciting opinion in a forum can be a nightmare because everyone has had their good experiences and bad. So, I'll also ask what models are generally regarded as solid players (irrespective of price to some degree) by most people these days?

[JayX]

i have the s75 and apart from a dvdaudio problem, have absolutely no problems with it. for the price (£115 two months ago) considering the brand, its spec and the overall loveliness of it all, i think its a great player.

also had : dansai 852, sony 536.

the sony is still beautiful, but i haven't tried the panny and the sony on the same rig, so can't really compare.