Posted on: 19-02-09 16:30:00
Can anyone recommend any DVD players/brands that have the capability to playback PAL format dvd discs (from UK/India) ?
Almost all of the established market leading brands such as Sony/Panasonic etc have a region lock and will only play NTSC.
I read somewhere that the ultra cheap Made-in-China players that you might find at Walmart or Canadian Tire will play PAL dvds, but I'd like to hear actual experiences before I commit to purchase.
Thanks in advance.
You need to get an all-region DVD player.
Most of the standard stuff available at WMT or CT are NTSC-only, even the cheap stuff.
Don't be fooled by the labeling "multi-format playback" - that doesn't refer to DVD regions.
To get true all region players, you need to go to desi or Chinese stores.
Most of those cost less than $30.
You will not get premium brands like Sony or Panasonic there, but it's ok.
My $19.99 all-region Chinese anonymous DVD player has lasted me over 4 years now while the $60 Panasonic crapped out after 1 year and the $120 Phillips lasted exactly 1 week after the warranty was over.
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"Mah deah, there is much more money to be made in the destruction of civilization than in building it up."
-- Rhett Butler in "Gone with the Wind"
I bought a refurbished Philips (@40bucks) multi-region player from somewhere in Mississauga in 2005. It is still working fine.
I can play Indian VCD/DVDs as well as Hollywood DVDs.
dp
Quote:
Originally posted by sphere
Can anyone recommend any DVD players/brands that have the capability to playback PAL format dvd discs (from UK/India) ?
Almost all of the established market leading brands such as Sony/Panasonic etc have a region lock and will only play NTSC.
I read somewhere that the ultra cheap Made-in-China players that you might find at Walmart or Canadian Tire will play PAL dvds, but I'd like to hear actual experiences before I commit to purchase.
Thanks in advance.
You are talking two different issues
1. Region code.
>> You can buy multi region code players or google.. some models 'can be made' so easily at home. Buy one of that
2. NTSC/PAL
>> Two different formats. To view PAL DVD's here, you will need
a) a TV which plays PAL
b) a DVD player which has a built in PAL to NTSC converter
c) an independent PAL to NTSC converter.
To achieve your objective, you will need to solve both these... Some Indian DVD's (especially the ones you buy here) are in NTSC format already. So you don't need either of these fixes.
Quote:
Originally posted by sphere
Can anyone recommend any DVD players/brands that have the capability to playback PAL format dvd discs (from UK/India) ?
Almost all of the established market leading brands such as Sony/Panasonic etc have a region lock and will only play NTSC.
I read somewhere that the ultra cheap Made-in-China players that you might find at Walmart or Canadian Tire will play PAL dvds, but I'd like to hear actual experiences before I commit to purchase.
Thanks in advance.
You are talking two different issues
1. Region code.
>> You can buy multi region code players or google.. some models 'can be made' so easily at home. Buy one of that
2. NTSC/PAL
>> Two different formats. To view PAL DVD's here, you will need
a) a TV which plays PAL
b) a DVD player which has a built in PAL to NTSC converter
c) an independent PAL to NTSC converter.
To achieve your objective, you will need to solve both these... Some Indian DVD's (especially the ones you buy here) are in NTSC format already. So you don't need either of these fixes.
Thanks to everyone who replied.
Last Saturday I bought an Audiologic DVD player from Loblaws for $19.99 and it plays my PAL Region 2 dvds just fine. This was with the machine connected to a standard SONY LCD television.
The picture is a little grainy but viewable and the audio sound is perfect.
For 20 dollars, it would be worth my while just getting another as a back-up if/when this one dies.
