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DVD Player Comparison Chart: single & multi-disc models

There are about 50 brands and over 125 models of DVD players worldwide.  To keep our comparison chart manageable, we list the most popular DVD players sold in the United States & Canada (Region 1).

• Brands are listed in alphabetical order.  Click here to see explanation of terms.
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Please wait for this chart to load... (58 seconds to download with a 56kbps connection) - Chart last updated April 1, 2003.

Explanation of Terms

Recommended means TimeForDVD.com recommends this DVD player model.
NEW designates that the DVD player model has just been introduced in the last three months.
Coming Soon means the DVD player model will become available in the near future, within the next three months.
"-" means that the feature is not present.
"?" or blank entry means unknown or information is not available.
 
Model: Model designation of the DVD player.

Price: The typical price a consumer can expect to pay at a retail outlet or online merchant, rounded (up) to the nearest whole (U.S.) dollar.  Prices in parentheses represents the current online sale price.  Click on the link or go the DVD Player On Sale page to see the best online price.

Disc Capacity: The number of DVD discs the player is capable of holding.  In the case of multiple disc capacity, the "(exch)" indicates whether the multi-disc DVD player allows other discs to be exchanged while one is playing.  "300+1" (and "400+3") means that 300 discs can be categorized, while the 301st slot is for a rental disc.  "400+3" has 400 regular slots and 3 rental disc slots.

Compatible Formats: Summarizes the different disc formats that the DVD player can support.  Almost all DVD players can play back audio CDs.  Most can play back Video CD (a video format that is widespread in China).  Therefore, we don't list audio CD and Video CD compatibility explicitly here.  Some can play back Super Video CDs (SVCD) and those are identified in the "CD-R & CD-RW" column (see below).

• DVD-Audio: Indicates that this DVD player is capable of playing back the new DVD-Audio format.  DVD-Audio is a super high resolution audio only format, featuring 6-channel surround sound.  DVD-Audio playback requires 5.1-channel analog inputs and an "analog bypass" mode in the A/V receiver.
• SACD: Indicates that this DVD player is capable of playing back the Super Audio CD (SACD) format.  SACD is a super high resolution audio only format, featuring 2-channel stereo or 6-channel surround sound.  Unless otherwise noted, SACD compatibility is for multi-channel and stereo CDs.  Older models are only compatible with stereo SACDs and are designated as "Yes, stereo".  Multi-channel SACD playback requires 5.1-channel analog inputs and an "analog bypass" mode in the A/V receiver.
• CD-R & CD-RW: Indicates that this DVD player is capable of playing back CD-R (write once) and CD-RW (re-writeable) discs.  "SVCD" in this column indicates that Super Video CDs can be played back.  Most DVD players can play back Video CD (a video format that is widespread in China), so we don't list that capability explicitly here.
• MP3 / HDCD / WMA: MP3 is the audio encoding format that is popular on the internet and with memory-based portable machines.  HDCD is short for High Definition Compatible Digital®, this is an enhancement to the regular audio CD to increase the effective word-length from 16-bit to 20-bit.  Longer word-lengths are better, since they theoretically increase the quality of the sound in terms of depth, richness, warmth, and wider dynamic range.  There are approximately 5,000 HDCD-encoded audio CD titles available as of early 2001.  WMA is short for Windows Media Audio, an audio encoding format like MP3, but proprietary for Microsoft.  WMA designated in this column means that the DVD player can decode and playback WMA-encoded files on a CD-R or CD-RW disc.  Also listed here for a few DVD players is JPEG compatibility, the ability to read still photos in JPEG (*.jpg) format taken by a digital camera.

Video Features: The following are key video features.  Read our DVD Player Buying Guide for additional info.

• Progressive Scan: Indicates that the DVD player is capable of processing and outputting progressive scan images (480p, where the "p" stands for progressive and 480 represents the number of horizontal scan lines) via the progressive scan component video output.  Progressive scan images look more film-like and is less subject to certain motion artifacts as common with "conventional" interlaced scanning (480i, where the "i" stands for interlaced).  This type of video signal is useful only if you have a digital TV (or HDTV) set that can natively display progressive scan images (480p).  If you don't have a progressive scan capable TV, you can still use the interlaced video output (480i) to drive your current TV, until you're ready to upgrade to a 480p capable digital TV.  To fully reduce motion artifacts, we recommend a progressive scan DVD player that performs 2:3 pulldown (see next entry).
• 2:3 Pulldown: In conjunction with the progressive scan feature, "2:3 pulldown" (or more frequently referred to as "3:2 pulldown") means that the DVD player is capable of performing the de-interlacing (i.e., conversion from interlaced scan to progressive scan) with logic to convert film-based material's original 24 frames per second (fps) to video's 60 Hz frame rate.  This feature is recommended for progressive scan DVD players when you watch a film-based source (as you know, most movies are in fact shot on film).  Different DVD players perform this function differently so the results do vary.
• Video DAC (bits/MHz): Indicates the number of bits of the video DAC (digital-to-analog converter) and its sampling frequency.  Typical DVD players feature 10-bit DACs operating at 27 MHz (27,000,000 times per second), indicated on this chart as "10/27".  State-of-the-art DVD players use up to 14-bit DACs operating at 108 MHz (quadruple the speed of typical DVD players) to render an ever better picture, closer to the original film master.  For most "everyday consumers", 10-bit/27 MHz video DACs are sufficient.  But if you have a large screen TV (40" or larger), you may enjoy the subtle improvements in picture quality.
• Zoom: Indicates that the DVD player has a picture zoom capability, allowing viewers to study a scene in detail.  The zoom feature may offer multiple zoom magnification levels (e.g., 2x, 4x, 8x, 16x).  And some zoom features allow the user to pan up/down/left/right to study various portions of the scene.

Audio Features: The following are key audio features.  Read our DVD Player Buying Guide for additional info.

• Audio DAC (bits/kHz): Indicates the number of bits of the audio DAC (digital-to-analog converter) and its sampling frequency.  Typical DVD players feature 24-bit DACs operating at 96 kHz (96,000 times per second), indicated on this chart as "24/96".  24-bit word length for audio encoding is the state-of-the-art and will be for the foreseeable future.  DVD-Audio capable players use 192 kHz sampling rate DACs to reproduce the high-resolution audio information.  Some state-of-the-art DVD-Video players also use 192 kHz sampling for better audio performance.  For most "everyday consumers", 24-bit/96 kHz audio DACs are sufficient.  But if you're looking for a DVD-Audio player, 24-bit/192 kHz audio DACs are required.
• DD/dts Decoding: A "Yes" before the slash indicates that the DVD player has a Dolby Digital decoder built-in.  Whereas a "-" indicates that the DVD player has a Dolby Digital output (for use with a Dolby Digital-capable home theater receiver).  A "Yes" after the slash indicates that the DVD player has a dts Surround Sound decoder built-in.  Whereas a "-" indicates that the DVD player has a dts Surround Sound output (for use with a DTS-capable home theater receiver).  In general, we don't recommend using or buying built-in decoders for DVD players, as the decoding of Dolby Digital and dts soundtracks are better left to the home theater receiver.

Outputs: The following are key video and audio outputs.  One pair of stereo analog audio output is always included.  Read our DVD Player Buying Guide for additional info.

• Component Video / S-Video / Composite: Indicates the number of component video, S-Video, and composite video output jacks.  The best video connection is via component video.  Next preferred is S-Video.  Composite video should be the last resort.  S-Video offers dramatic improvements to picture quality in terms of resolution, detail, and color fidelity over the standard composite video.  Component video offers slightly better color fidelity than S-Video.  And in the case of progressive scan (480p), component video is the required connectivity.
• Digital Audio Outputs (optical/coax): The number of optical digital audio outputs (Toslink) and coaxial digital audio outputs, respectively.  If you have a home theater receiver, check to see which of these two digital audio connections are supported.
• 5.1-ch Analog Outputs: required for DVD-Audio and SACD players, as well as DVD players with either Dolby Digital or DTS built-in decoding.  This type of connection requires three pairs of stereo RCA interconnects (6 wires total).

Comments: Additional comments, as needed, to summarize additional notable features such as:

• THX Ultra certification for DVD players primarily apply to the video performance.  Currently, the THX Ultra specifications for audio performance and user interface friendlinessfor DVD players only covers the most rudimentary aspects.
• Faroudja DCDi and Silicon Image video processors: these third party video processors provide the best possible progressive scan and 2:3 pulldown processing available, usually exceeding manufacturer's own in-house (i.e., OEM) video processing chips.  Look for them if you want the finest picture quality DVD has to offer.
• aluminum front panel reduces airborne vibrations that may degrade the DVD player's performance and adds aesthetic appeal.  This is a construction feature for upscale DVD players.
• headphone jack with volume control is convenient for private listening and late-night viewing.  Very few DVD players have this feature.  If you have a receiver with a headphone jack, you may not need this feature on a DVD player.

Warrantee (parts/labor): The length of the warrantee, for parts and labor, if separate.  If only one duration is listed, it is for both parts and labor.  As important as this information is, it is rarely mentioned by manufacturers in their literature or on their web sites.  Don't underestimate the value of a good warrantee.  A warrantee is only as good as the period where both labor and parts are covered.  Depending on the problem, a warrantee with "90-day labor and one-year parts" may be almost useless after the first 90 days, because labor expenses can be a large portion of the repair cost and must be paid by the consumer.  Read this FAQ on whether you should buy a model with a better warrantee or an extended warrantee (i.e., maintenance service plan).

For additional information: read our DVD Player Buying Guide, and see our Glossary & Acronyms page or our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page.

Did you find this DVD player feature comparison chart helpful?  Let us know your thoughts, send an e-mail to us at Staff@TimeForDVD.com.

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Disclaimer: The information on this page is based on available manufacturer specifications and/or our evaluation of certain models.  While we strive for complete accuracy, we do not warrantee the accuracy of the information presented in these comparison charts.  The reader is advised to confirm these features and specifications prior to purchase.  Please read our Terms of Use and Disclaimer for complete details.  If you have any questions or concerns regarding the information on this page, please send an e-mail to Staff@TimeForDVD.com.

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