DVD & Blue-ray Buying guide

Why Buy

The world of DVD players is becoming increasingly complicated with different sound options, home cinema and DVD recorders to consider. We've put this guide together to help you get the best DVD player for you.

Things to Consider

Sound

A major part of the DVD experience is the cinema style surround sound that combines with the brilliant picture quality to give a complete audio visual experience.

Dolby Digital output - All DVD players have Dolby Digital output but you need a separate decoder and amplifier plus compatible speakers to gain access to this sound. The following options are available:

• Separate AV receiver and speaker kit - The Amp/decoder is called an AV receiver and can be bought on its own. A set of 5 speakers and a sub woofer will also be needed to complete the home cinema system. The benefit of purchasing the system this way is that you can buy each component separately to suit your needs and can mix brands to get the best for each area.
• DVD Home Cinema (inc DVD Player) - An all-in-one system that includes a DVD player built into the amp/decoder along with 5 speakers and a subwoofer, the simplest way to achieving a full home cinema system.
• Home Cinema kits (not inc DVD player) Alternatively you can buy a ready made kit which contains the amp/decoder (sometimes built into the subwoofer), 5 speakers & a subwoofer. This is an easier solution and the speakers and amp/decoder will often match.

Connections

Scart leads

Almost all UK DVD players connect to other equipment such as a TV using a scart lead. A scart lead will allow you to get the best from your DVD player as it handles both audio and video signals.
For an even better connection, go for a gold plated scart lead as these transmit the information with even less interference. Most DVD players are not supplied with a scart lead so don't forget to add one to your order.

S-Video - Some DVD players may use an S-Video connection which only handles the video aspect of the signal but will give a better picture by using two separate conductors for colour and detail information.

Component - Component video is your best choice for video quality. It provides superb colour clarity by separating the video signal into the colour and brightness portions.

While scart connections are common on DVD players and newer TVs, S-Video and Component are not so common. Check the connections available on your TV before buying your cables.

Useful Info

DAC - The higher the DAC (Digital-to-analogue converter) bit rating, the better the audio signal quality for your TV and speakers to play. Most of the early DVD players had a 16bit DAC converter but most of the machines today range from 20 to 32bit.

MP3 playback - Many DVD players can now play MP3 music files burned from a PC onto CD-R and CD-RW discs.

DVD-Audio and SACD - A growing number of DVD players will now also play DVD-Audio or SACD (Super Audio Compact Discs), both of which provide much enhanced music playback superior to CD quality.

DVD/VCR Combis - Already got too many boxes cluttering up your room? Then why not save space by getting a VCR to cater for your recording needs and a DVD player to cope with your home entertainment needs - all in one box?

Digital Recorders

Home TV recording has changed
With the number of quality channels growing and the digital switchover looming, now is the perfect time to look at replacing your old VCR with the latest in digital recording technology.

There are currently a number of different methods of recording available, namely DVD recorders, HDD DVD recorders, PVR's and Sky+. Whilst each has their benefits, the choice can be quite overwhelming to even the most technology-savvy customer. This guide will help you to understand the technologies and pick the one most suitable to your needs.

DVD Recorders

DVD recorders are exactly what they say they are, DVD players that record on to DVD discs as well. The advantages of a DVD recorder over a normal video recorder are:

• All DVD Recorders play pre-recorded DVDs and audio CDs.
• They also make recordings on blank discs, which will last forever with no deterioration of the sound or picture.
• You can choose between blank discs that can be recorded on once (perfect for archiving your treasured moments) or over and over again (perfect for daily use, just like VHS).
• DVD-R's are very easy to use- each recording you make is like a track on a CD.
• A menu will show you what is recorded on each disc, so no more winding this way and that to find the programme you're looking for.

Different models of DVD recorders use different recording formats. They all have their advantages and disadvantages and different manufacturers support different formats. The table below explains the advantages and disadvantages of each format.

Hard Drive DVD Recorders

The next big thing in DVD recorders is the addition of a hard disc for large storage of your recordings, as well offering all the flexibility of a normal DVD recorder. Now you can store all your favourite programmes on the hard drive, and transfer whatever you want to file or share onto blank DVDs as and when required.

Hard drive sizes are increasing all the time on DVD recorders, with the minimum now 80GB. The bigger the hard drive, the more you can store on the hard drive. The grid below will help you to work out which size hard drive you require.

*exact recording time may vary due to model and features.

HDD DVD recorders give lots more flexibility to your recording, and of course allow for much more recording than a normal DVD disc. Combined with the removable storage option of the DVD, a HDD DVD recorder will be the ideal storage solution for most home recording situations.

Freeview Tuner

The digital switchover is coming. More and more DVD recorders are now equipped with an integrated Freeview tuner. By purchasing a DVD recorder with integrated Freeview tuner your TV will be able to accept a digital signal, giving you access to all the current Freeview channels (currently around 40). If you already have a Freeview box, or an integrated TV, the second digital tuner will allow you to record one channel whilst watching another- perfect for solving any household arguments over which channel to watch. Remember, the more digital tuners you have in your set-up, the more recording and viewing options you will have.

Combined with a Freeview tuner, an EPG (electronic programme guide) can allow the user to easily record programmes. Depending on the model of DVD recorder this can be done well in advance, with most models offering a 7-day guide.

Key Features

There are a multitude of brand-specific features that have been introduced to make the recording process as easy as possible for the customer, some more generic features include:

• Easier navigation of your recorded media is becoming standard practice.
• Timeslip and timeshift functions enables you to effectively 'pause' live TV.
• Some DVD recorders have a VCR drive to allow you to watch all your old VCRs without the need for another box under the TV.

Next Generation DVD players

The way we watch movies at home is about to change, with the introduction of Blu-Ray and HD DVD (high-definition digital versatile disc) players you will be able to watch your favourite DVDs in breathtaking High Definition quality. Both formats use advanced technologies to read high capacity discs that are able to store up to five times more data than standard DVDs giving you amazing high-def pictures to experience movies like never before. Other benefits that both formats will offer include improved audio quality, a less intrusive menu system and extra features.

Both of the new technologies will be backwards compatible so you can purchase safe in the knowledge that you will be able to enjoy your current DVD selection on your new player. In fact most next generation DVD players will upscale your old DVDs so the picture will be much clearer, although not quite in fully high definition quality.

As the two formats are incompatible with each other there has been a much hyped ‘format war’ as Blu-Ray and HD DVD players battle it out for supremacy, however at Laskys we believe that both technologies can survive together, the following guide will help you to get to know both technologies and decide which is best for you.

Blu-Ray

Blu-ray DVD players use a short wavelength blue-violet laser, which enables it to focus much more precisely than traditional DVD players so can read more densely packed data. This means that a Blu-ray disc can have a much higher capacity, discs can hold up to 25 GB per side, or 50 GB on a dual layer disc.

As part of the ‘format war’ many studios are supporting just one format meaning that their movies will only be available in one high definition format. The following studios are likely to release titles on Blu-ray:

• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
• Twentieth Century Fox
• MGM
• Disney

Paramount and Warner Bros. have announced that they will be releasing titles on both formats.

HD DVD

HD DVD (high-definition digital versatile disc) players use technologies similar to that of Blu-ray, allowing them to read much more information than traditional DVD players. HD DVDs hold slightly less information than their Blu-ray counterparts but still hold easily enough to show a full length movie in high definition, HD DVDs can hold 15GB or 30GB on a dual layer disc.

Universal Pictures will be releasing its titles on the HD DVD format, along with Warner Bros. and Paramount who as mentioned above will release on both formats.

What else do I need?

To fully enjoy your new Blu-ray or HD DVD player you will need an HD Ready TV, while any of the next generation DVD players will still play on an older TV the TV will not be able to transmit the High-def picture so you won’t notice an improved picture from your old DVD player.

A high definition player cannot travel through a traditional scart lead so you will also need a HDMI cable which will carry the extra information to your TV. Laskys stock a wide range of HDMI connections from cable experts Monster, the perfect companion to get the most from your new high def DVD player.