How to Choose a DVD Player

The thing that convinces some people to move up to a DVD player is the great picture quality. Or, maybe it's just being able to click to hear Tony Soprano speak French. Prices for DVD players are all over the map, but even the cheapest ones have features galore.

Things You'll Need

• Homemade DVD

Instructions

1. Inspect your TV and home theater connections. You'll want your DVD player to take advantage of the best-quality inputs available: For audio, look for coaxial or optical inputs. For video, look for component-video, S-Video, or composite-video inputs. At the store, look for DVD players with corresponding outputs.

2. Bring a homemade DVD with you when you shop. There are three competing, incompatible formats: DVD-R, DVD-RW and DVD-RAM. Even if a player says it takes your format, test it.

3. Get a progressive-scan player if you have an HDTV. These deliver higher resolution for more natural-looking output. Better yet, purchase a DVD player with 3:2 pulldown, if you can afford it, for even better picture quality. See How to Buy a Serious TV.

4. Remember that the audio encoding--Dolby Digital or digital theater system (DTS)--on the DVD itself is critical. Proprietary audio features on some DVD players aren't as important as having a good home theater receiver and speakers. See How to Buy a Home Theater System.

Tips & Warnings

• If your home theater system includes DTS and/or Dolby Digital decoding, you don't need these features in your DVD player.

• DVD players can also play audio CDs. If you burn CDs on your computer, bring along a homemade disc to test it.