Region Free Player Question ... need answers ... please.

[CheezeFlixz]

Ok my ol hacked Apex player finally bit the dust, with a little help from gravity as I knocked it off into a concrete floor, the floor won.

So what is a decent one nowadays? Before I start researching them I figure I'll ask the wealth of wisdom to be found here. I quick goggle yielded a ba-zillion ones.

Any input?

Thanks in advance ...

[Mr_Vindictive]

I recommend the Phillips DVP642.  It's a Divx/DVD player that is progressive scan and has componet outputs for HDTVs along with the standard outputs.

All you have to do is enter a very short numerical code via the remote and it's a region free player.  I have the model, and I couldn't be happier.

Lowest price on PriceGrabber.com shipped is 55.00: http://electronics.pricegrabber.com/dvd-players/m/2944670/search=DVP642

Amazon also carries it, but it's a recertified model and it's about 50.00 before shipping: http://www.amazon.com/Philips-DVP642-DivX-Certified-Progressive-Scan-Player/dp/B000204SWE

Hope this helps!

[Menard]

Many of the Philips models, such as the DVP-642, can be easily hacked with just a numerical code entered from the remote, many of them have built-in PAL converters so you literally can play any disk from anywhere in the world, and many models, such as the DVP-642 can be had for under $50.

To get the code for hacking the player, regardless of which player you get, check out http://videohelp.com/ . They have a section which lists players by make and model, lists compatibility features, and lists any hacks they have available for that model.

If you read through the reviews on Amazon.com, a reviewer will sometimes indicate if a player can be made region free and if it has a PAL converter built-in.

The DVP-642 is a bit of an older model now, but it has been a while since I have looked into region free players.

[Andrew]

I have a Pioneer DV-393 that is region free and does conversion from PAL (UK, Europe) to NTSC (United States) automatically that I like a lot.  An older post about this was here:

http://www.badmovies.org/forum/index.php/topic,112448.msg126066.html#msg126066

However, I do not see the "Region Free" listed anymore and mine was from "USA World Electronics."  It appears that the next model up, region free, is the Pioneer DV-490V that is almost twice as expensive (the DV-393 was only $80).

[CheezeFlixz]

The Pioneer DV-490V HDMI Multi Region Code Free Zone Free DVD Player PAL/NTSC on ANY TV looks pretty nice, it has the HDMI which makes it cost twice as much as the non HDMI, but still at $150.00 that's not bad. I prefer the HDMI inputs over anything else thus far. It's also DTS which is preferred. Might have to look at this one and I'll check all the one mentioned thus far.
 

[CheezeFlixz]

Thew more you read the more information you have the blurry everything gets ... I'm about ready to take pictures of the top 10 and put them in a hat and draw one out.

[trekgeezer]

Get an Oppo, I have the 971H and I have yet to find something it won't play. It's not listed as region free on their website,  but it just takes a couple button pushes on the remote to make it so. 


http://www.oppodigital.com/

[CheezeFlixz]

Get an Oppo, I have the 971H and I have yet to find something it won't play. It's not listed as region free on their website,  but it just takes a couple button pushes on the remote to make it so. 


http://www.oppodigital.com/

Hmmm might have to look at that one, doesn't have HDMI but it does have DVI which I think I have on my TV in addition to HDMI.

I know why they have so many regions and formats but I just think it's insane to have them. Just another way to cause us problems and cost us money. Those b*stards ...

EDIT ... just saw the new 981 has HDMI on it .... that's a plus.