"georgeh" wrote in message
...
Any recommendations?

I can strongly recommend AGAINST anything Panasonic. We have had nothing
but trouble with ours, and trouble dealing with their repair center. Stay
away. If you want the story, e-mail me, but it's long,

Good luck!

~jason

I'd advise against Sony. I have 2 different models. Great picture,
excellent sound but they both choke on dvds that play perfectly on an
$80 Pioneer.

Frank /~ http://newmex.com/f10
@/



I can strongly recommend AGAINST anything Panasonic. We have had nothing
but trouble with ours, and trouble dealing with their repair center. Stay
away. If you want the story, e-mail me, but it's long,

Good luck!

~jason

"Frank Vuotto" wrote in message
...

I'd advise against Sony. I have 2 different models. Great picture,
excellent sound but they both choke on dvds that play perfectly on an
$80 Pioneer.


Though I don't have first hand experience with Sony- when I took my
Panasonic into the local repair shop the first time, they had a whole wall
of Sonys and Panasonics waiting for parts to repair. I asked them about it.
The guy said they are an authorized repair place for several different DVD
manufacturers, but they have by far the most people coming in with Sonys and
Panasonics, and they all have the same problem- it stops recognizing that
there are disks in it. I guess it is such a common problem, that the repair
guy had a hard time getting new parts from the companies. Bottom line for
ours was that we had our DVD player for less than 6 months, and it has been
in the shop for over two months. Disgusting,

~j

"normanstrong" writes:

You may not need a lot of features, but you surely must need some. So
what features do you need, and which would you like if possible?
Garden variety home DVD players rarely sell for over $200. At $350
you're paying for features.

Basically I just want to be able to view DVDs. But I'd be willing to spend
up to $3-350 if that would ensure that I get a solid machine (good transport,
reliable, etc.) If I can do that for less, of course that's even better!

To the other posters, I've already heard some horror stories about
Panasonic, and my experience with Sony Consumer division is that
it's really declined in the past 5 or so yrs.

"georgeh" wrote in message
...
"normanstrong" writes:

You may not need a lot of features, but you surely must need some. So
what features do you need, and which would you like if possible?
Garden variety home DVD players rarely sell for over $200. At $350
you're paying for features.

Basically I just want to be able to view DVDs. But I'd be willing to spend
up to $3-350 if that would ensure that I get a solid machine (good
transport,
reliable, etc.) If I can do that for less, of course that's even better!

I picked up a Toshiba 5 disc player from Best Buy for $100. One years parts
and labor warranty, and for another $29 you'd be good for 4 years. Component
video out, too.

Glenn D.

georgeh wrote:

Basically I just want to be able to view DVDs. But I'd be willing to spend
up to $3-350 if that would ensure that I get a solid machine (good transport,
reliable, etc.) If I can do that for less, of course that's even better!


I've had a Toshiba for about a year, and it has held up just fine. In my
opinion, buy something at an average price ($100 or slightly less), and
then buy one again in 3 to 5 years if necessary. Best case, it might not
be necessary.


Don

Pioneer DV-563
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pe...046370,00.html.
Don't sell yourself short by not being able to play SACD and DVD-A.

--
Doug Osborne

my day job: http://www.martinsound.com/
recent DVD-A Review:
http://www.surroundpro.com/2003/may-...feat2-fm.shtml
recent SACD Review:
http://www.surroundpro.com/2003/may-...software.shtml


"georgeh" wrote in message
...
I know this is OT, but I don't know where else to find such a
knowledgable bunch of folks gathered in one place to ask:

I'm looking for a home DVD player and am wondering if anyone
has opinions on reliability. I'd prefer not to go over $350.
Don't need a lot of features, just something with a decent
build quaility. Is this doable?

My 1st instinct was Marantz since I've had really good luck
with their PM320 CD player. BUt I've not seen good reveiws on their
DVDs. Some folks seem to think Pioneer builds some reliable ones but
they have a lot of models and I've not narrowed it down.

Any recommendations?

"georgeh" wrote in message
...
I know this is OT, but I don't know where else to find such a
knowledgable bunch of folks gathered in one place to ask:

I'm looking for a home DVD player and am wondering if anyone
has opinions on reliability. I'd prefer not to go over $350.
Don't need a lot of features, just something with a decent
build quaility. Is this doable?

My 1st instinct was Marantz since I've had really good luck
with their PM320 CD player. BUt I've not seen good reveiws on their
DVDs. Some folks seem to think Pioneer builds some reliable ones but
they have a lot of models and I've not narrowed it down.

Any recommendations?

I'm in a similar situation, about to buy 1st DVD player. I don't care about
features, I just want to watch the occasional movie. After talking to a
few people, I'll probably just buy one of the cheapest (around $100 au)
units and treat it a disposable item. Reports are that these units are at
least as reliable as the mid-priced ones anyway. If it breaks, I'll just
buy another one.

Depending on your requirements as similar approach may work for you.

--
John Cafarella
EOR Studio
Melbourne Australia
[ cafarellaj at powertel dot com dot au ]

"serious fun" writes:

Pioneer DV-563
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pe...046370,00.html.
Don't sell yourself short by not being able to play SACD and DVD-A.

Doug Osborne
my day job: http://www.martinsound.com/
recent DVD-A Review:
http://www.surroundpro.com/2003/may-...feat2-fm.shtml
recent SACD Review:
http://www.surroundpro.com/2003/may-...software.shtml

Thanks for the reply Doug (and others).