There are a wealth of DVD players on the market, some cheap, some not so cheap. How do you know which DVD player will be best for you? Well, the key DVD player features are as follows:

Dolby Digital Decoder: You only need this is you have an amplifier which can accept 6 analog inputs (if you have no idea what this means, you probably won’t need this feature!). You will still receive the digital output for the surround sound receiver from the coaxial or optical feeds. Most new surround sound receviers not have a built in decoder so your DVD player will not need one unless you want top-end audio quality.

Progressive Scanning: DVD players which have progressive scanners have a better picture quality because the image is refreshed twice as often. You should only look for this option if you know that your TV (or output devie) is capable of accepting a progressive scanning signal.

Multidisc Player: Many DVD players are single disc. You may want to opt for one which is capable of holding more than one disc.

Component Video Outputs: This option provides a better contrast on the output picture, but can only be used in conjunction with a TV that accepts this, otherwise you will just receive a standard contrast picture.

CD Audio: Most DVD players have this feature as standard.

CDR / CDRW Playback: Most DVD players will read CDR CDs. If you make your own CDs, check that your DVD player will play them as many will not read CDRWs

SVCD and VCD Playback: This is a format which is common in Asia. If you import a lot of films, you may want to check what format they are in.

VCR/DVD Combo: This is for convenience and space saving. You may be able to get a DVD-RW machine which can record from VCR to DVD. This is not a standard featrure.

MP3 Decoder: Not all DVD players can decode the MP3 music format. If you have a large collection of MP3s that you are intending to play via your DVD player, check that your DVD player supports the MP3 format.

Bass Output: Some DVD players allow you to feed a subwoofer speaker directly if you do not have a surround sound receiver.

HD-DVD (high defintion DVDs) are now booming. HD-DVDs provide top-end quality pictures with crisp, sharp video. You may want to check that your DVD player supports play-back of HD-DVDs. It is also imperative that you get the right DVD player for your region - there are 6 DVD regions, and not all players will be able to play all regions.

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