I'm wondering what DVD player has someone had experience with that seems to have the least problems playing VCD, CD-R, and CD-RW. I'm wanting to buy a DVD player and I have some VCD's that I hope it plays well. I'm also looking for a player that will play my own burned movies as well.

-- jeremy (jeremy@nandomail.com), December 24, 2000

Answers

WHATEVER YOU BUY, DONT BUY A SONY. IT CANT PLAY MANY VCDs I HAD THAT PLAY FINE ON PIONEER, GRUNDIG, AND TOSHIBA. PANASONIC SUCKS TOO...

-- ANU SOOD (ANUPMASOOD@HOTMAIL.COM), December 24, 2000.

the only downside to sony (and Panasonic) is that most wont read cdr, but WILL read cdrw. they will play a vcd with a 2400 video bitrate, (panasonic also) and play a "audio only" vcd.

ANU SOOD has opinions that he cant backup with fact. im not into personal attacks, but when a person has such a strong opinion, it should be supported by fact. the disks he claims sony wont play were probably cdr, which he fails to mention.

Pioneer would be better of course if u want cdr playback. but the advantage to a sony or panasonic is that they will play a "audio only" vcd, which many other brands (including pioneer) CANT. if u go with an APEX or RAITE, etc u can get cdr, cdrw, svcd, vcd, and mp3 - meaning the "audio only"vcd becomes useless. i have a sony, but i would buy an apex or raite if i were getting another player.

-- ndumu (ndumu@hotmail.com), December 24, 2000.

The latest models made in China, available in various brand names, even including Japanese names such as AKAI & TEAC, are cheap to buy, and yet will play any brands of CD-R and CD-RW, plus SVCD, VCD, DVCD, CDDA and MP3 and still come with lots and lots of other functions over those made in Japan and other countries.

The picture and sound qualities are as good as any others. The negative point is that one Chinese brand has a return rate of 12 for fixed up in 80 units sold. But the Chinese brand that I bought was reported as none returned in 50 units sold. So it is a bit of a hit and miss affair with Chinese brands. However, waranties are included and some units come with 5 years warranty.

The info given here is applicable in Australia, but may still partly apply in USA and other countries.

-- t_o_ (t_o_@hotmail.com), December 24, 2000.

also some of the pioneer models do play svcd, xvcd and others as well the latest one the 333 deck (replacment for the 525) plays any kind of cdr or cdrw you can throw at it, and it plays svcd as well as highrate/xvcd. never tried a strictly audio video cd (but i will very shortly)-- I would defiently not go with an apex over a pioneer. depsite that they do play alot they are not made that well. I would go with an apex as a backup player only--(which i have)

-- Doug (mazinz@aol.com), December 25, 2000.

I've just bought a Pioneer DV3300 in China - great little player, takes anything, handles VCDs well. I have a question though - do you know is this player multiregion? The woman in the shop said yes, but I have no way of testing, and no-one has heard of it outside the pioneer china website...

-- Andrew Wood (a.wood@isisresearch.com), April 10, 2001.

I can tell you I bought a Panasonic phone which was a total lemon (no volume, and it died out after 15 minutes of use). The store wouldn't exchange it and Panasonic refused to replace it. I wrote a letter to the president of the company and received no response. So based on poor product quality and non-existent customer service alone (the 800 no. is also a wonderland of idiocy) I would avoid all Panasonic products. As so many have said so eloquoently before: Panasonic SUCKS.

-- sheila feeney (saf5201@AOL.com), February 27, 2003.