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Anybody want to share their experience?
I would go for a DVD player, which supports mp3, s/vcd and the most connection abilities as possible (TV, Amplifier, PC, Video etc).
And for some players you will need to *hack* the DVD player, so it becomes regional free, and can play s/vcd, do a search for the product before you buy it, and see if you can find any *hacks* to unlock it.
Mine was 550$ but it was worth is (NAD) if you enjoy music and that Cinema experience i would go for something just a little bit more expensive than 149$, i think you can get something half-decent for 220-250$, but also to think about, if it supports mp3, what will you be playing it through, you often need an amplifier, but you can play if through your TV, but the sound i ****.
All I'm interested in is the Cinema Experience, as you say. MP3 playback? No, that's not my concern.
The problem with a lot of these stores is that you can't audition for picture or sound quality, which is my concern. Those stores like to sell you on features, which don't concern me. The only features that interest me are the ones that would improve picture and sound quality.
So you're saying that a more expensive rig has better sound, colors and definitiion?
Yeah pretty much, don't walk in to a "general" electronic store (Radioshack etc) go in to a Hifi store, where they sell this kind of stuff only.
The picture quality deppends on a lot of stuff, don't forget if you don't have a good TV it doesn't matter how good your DVD player is, and don't buy cables that have a price of 150$/m it's not worth it (Have never done that! :( I am lying).
If you go in to a hifi-store they often give you a demostration of the dvd player, remember all their equipment if top-notch so don't think you will get the same quality at home.
But yeah i would try to go for a DVD of the non huge brands like Sony, Panasonic etc, try the smaller one's which is famous for hifi geeks.
If you have or plan on going with HDTV, definitely check out the progressive scan models.
If you plan on viewing on a standard television, one feature to look for is the ability to view letterbox (widescreen) dvds in full screen mode. It's a different aspect ratio, refered to as zoom on some players.
Other than that, it's just the feature list that may have something of interest.
don't buy cables that have a price of 150$/m it's not worth it
My experience with "monstrously priced" audio cable is apparently different. I really do hear a difference in the sound, particularly in the spatial imaging -- the illusion of sound sources in between the physical speakers. That fill-in effect can mean a lot with a very high quality sound track, but not every DVD has such high quality sound. Still, when the original data is there, the effect is worth the expense.
Not so for video cable. Maybe my eyes aren't tuned in to visual subtlety in the same way that my ears notice audio - but I can't see a difference between high-end video cable and just-decent video cable.
I realize that the difference may be more noticeable with a plasma screen - those are an indulgence that I have yet to allow myself.
avsforum.com is the definitive place to look for this type of info.
Thanks for that tip. Nice.
Hey Tedster, I'm with you on the audio cables. I'm a kimber kable and audioquest fan. Two different kinds of sounds: One lean the other mean with more bottom end. AQ seems right for my AV system. Kimber lives in my audio system
Ten years ago I used to be a fan of TARA Labs speaker cables, not sure what they've been up to lately, though...
I agree with you about the video cables. However, I'm going to spring for the component video cable (or whatever it is they call it). Supposedley you get better video quality over RCA plugs.
the controls are a wee bit cumbersom, but ive never had any problems with it playing movies.
BTW, i dumped my movie cable stations and joined netflix. it rawks. blockbuster used to eat me alive with its late fee's.
People often eat up the pitch that it sounds better, honestly, there is little if anything in it, even if measured, it is usually way beyond the reach of human ears, your american bulldog may enjoy it more.
If we had $100 profit in a $700 piece of video eqpt. we could easily have another $100 in $130 of cable! add some fancy tips, maybe a cleaner or two and would have a hard time keeping a straight face till you were out the door. We would have 3-10 times the profit in the generic cables, same goes for speakers, off brand may be 70% profit, name brand may be 30%, that is why the hard sell is on off brand.
It's easy to sell if people want to believe it makes a difference. I guess that applies to many things.
1) Depending on how big your screen is - you will either notice very little difference or none at all.
Side by side - yes you can tell the difference. Any other way - it isn't going to matter much. Less jaggies that are usually not that noticible on smaller sets. Progressive scan is nice to have (but not necessary) - my TV does it - so I can't really compare non progressive with progressive on my current system.
If you have less than 30" - I don't think it will matter much.
2) Audio you will not be able to tell a difference.
3) I bought very expensive video cables for one of my TVs - and the other one (in a different location - prohibiting side by side comparison) - I notice no difference.
4) I swear that most people claiming [and I am not claiming any on here are] a percieved difference in audio cables - are simply noticing the placebo effect.
None of these major cable companies offer side by side listening comparisons (as far as I know) - and I read an article about some head honcho at McIntosh (or was it Marantz) using lamp cord as speaker cable and people couldn't tell the difference.
I believe audio cables don't make a difference for the same reason I don't believe gasoline brand does. If it did - it would be easy to prove in a controlled experiment. You may be able to MEASURE a difference - but I doubt the average person can hear it.
Monster cable will show you surveys of their customers that say they can tell a difference, but I have yet to see any impartial study which SHOWS the average PERSON can TELL the difference in CONTROLLED experiments.
Just my 2 cents. Progressive scan isn't that much more expensive now adays - so go ahead and get it if you want. You'll feel better. DON'T waste money on cables or power conditioners. It is hard to get component video cables cheap, but don't spend the money I did. I use the $15 S Video cable on one set and can't tell the difference (not side by side, but on the same set) between that and the $300 Component video cable. I am not saying buy lamp cord, but don't waste your money either. There are a lot of good debates on this on the internet. I think you will find the ones against cable splurging are the more scientific and realistic - while the ones for cable splurging will throw lots of numbers at you without proving anything.
This is in the audio world similar to the mac vs pc debate in the PC world.
Now, if you want longevity and top-notch reliability to go with your picture/sound quality, by all means pay the extra for a good brand. I've got a 15-20 year old Kenwood component stereo system (the CD player is a *bit* newer than the rest of it ;) ), and except for one bad channel on the receiver, it still works great, sounds great, etc. A 20 year old no-name stereo probably would have fallen to pieces years ago.
