Home Theater/HDTV/et al...

Yep, DVD-R, +R, all works on the DVP642. The dvds that I record plays just fine on them too.

Only limitations, no soft sub (SMI or SRT), no OGG, some real media.

cool, thx buru! i guess i'll run out to best buy later on tonight to try one out. (more than likely, i'll prolly get it...)

niko2x wrote:cool, thx buru! i guess i'll run out to best buy later on tonight to try one out. (more than likely, i'll prolly get it...)

Don't forget to check the Philips site for firmware upgrades, too. :)

Groink, BMW,
You guys being the DVD player experts around here, hope you don't mind but I have a couple of quick questions for you ...
1) I wanna buy a DVD movie from CDJapan but it says it's Region 2 coded. I assume that means it can't be played on a typical DVD player (for the TV), here in the States? I'm in the market to purchase a DVD player but don't have the faintest clue. Read part of your thread here but I'm not sure I understand the concept about Regional coding and "hacking" the DVD to make it play. That's pretty much over my head.
2) I have a number of CD/DVD that I purchased from a member here. Initially, when I bought it, I didn't think about being able to play them on a DVD player for the TV. How can I make sure they'll play on a DVD player for the TV?.
3) If you could spend max $500.00, what DVD player (for the TV) would you recommend, and where could I get it - in the U.S.?
Thanks, guys, for helping me out here.

Well, here's my take:

Nihon-jin wrote:1) I wanna buy a DVD movie from CDJapan but it says it's Region 2 coded. I assume that means it can't be played on a typical DVD player (for the TV), here in the States? I'm in the market to purchase a DVD player but don't have the faintest clue. Read part of your thread here but I'm not sure I understand the concept about Regional coding and "hacking" the DVD to make it play. That's pretty much over my head.

Most DVDs that you buy have a Region code that will only allow it to be played on a DVD player of the same Region (North America is Region 1). If your do a Google search, there's a map that shows the Region breakdown... The basic idea of Regions is to prevent the copying and distributing of DVDs outside of it's designated Region.

Most of your "off" brands (e.g. made in Taiwan, China) allow you to hack the Region code of the player via the remote so that it'll be an all-region (Region 0) player, allowing you to play ANY DVD from any region in the world. Most big name brand DVD players (Sony, Toshiba, Panasonic, etc.) usually have Region settings that are set by hardware, which can't be hacked via the remote and must be done by a technician or similar.

The other issue is that some DVDs, particularly ones from Europe (Region 2), might have their video encoded in PAL format, not NTSC (used here and Asia), so you'll need a DVD player than can convert the PAL signal to NTSC for your NTSC TV, or a TV that can accept PAL or NTSC video (rare)... The DVD player that Groink and I have, the LiteOn LVD-2002 has such a converter in it.

2) I have a number of CD/DVD that I purchased from a member here. Initially, when I bought it, I didn't think about being able to play them on a DVD player for the TV. How can I make sure they'll play on a DVD player for the TV?.

Just try them out on your DVD player. If you don't get a picture or a message on your player, then you have a DVD that your player can't play... On a PC, you can play any region DVD by using software such as DVD Region Free or similar...

I suppose if you were really creative, you could rip the DVD that you can't play, then remove the region code and copy protections, then burn a new DVD that is region free...

3) If you could spend max $500.00, what DVD player (for the TV) would you recommend, and where could I get it - in the U.S.?
Thanks, guys, for helping me out here.

You don't need to spend that much to get a good DVD player, especially one that you plan to hack to turn off the region code. There are places online that sell name brand all-region DVD players, which are just regular DVD players which have the necessary hardware modifications... And the prices are nearly double of original.

Unfortunately LiteOn quickly discontinued the LVD-2002 for some odd reason and a replacement is on the way, but I haven't heard much about it....

Hope this clears things a bit... :)

BMW,
First off, thanks for your answer! Really appreciate it! Just a couple of follow-up questions:

Most of your "off" brands (e.g. made in Taiwan, China) allow you to hack the Region code of the player via the remote so that it'll be an all-region (Region 0) player, allowing you to play ANY DVD from any region in the world. Most big name brand DVD players (Sony, Toshiba, Panasonic, etc.) usually have Region settings that are set by hardware, which can't be hacked via the remote and must be done by a technician or similar.

I guess these "off" brands are ones that you find on the web, not in stores like Good Guys, Best Buy, Circuit City? You mentioned LiteOn as one possibility but that they discontinued the LVD 2002. Are there other alternatives that you know of that you could recommend?

Also, how do you go about hacking the settings? I know nothing about this at all. I don't suppose there's any sort of "manual" on the web that gives a step-by-step direction for different types of DVD players?

The other issue is that some DVDs, particularly ones from Europe (Region 2), might have their video encoded in PAL format, not NTSC (used here and Asia), so you'll need a DVD player than can convert the PAL signal to NTSC for your NTSC TV, or a TV that can accept PAL or NTSC video (rare)... The DVD player that Groink and I have, the LiteOn LVD-2002 has such a converter in it.

So how do I find out if the DVD player can convert the PAL signal to NTSC? Is this something that a sales clerk would know about readily?

And, same for the TV - the manuals I have for my 2 TVs don't say a word about whether it can accept PAL or NTSC video - so how do I find this out? The TVs are already 12 and 15 years old and no one stocks them anymore. I called Circuit City and Good Guys and they didn't know either whether the Panasonic or Sony would accept PAL or NTSC.

Hope you don't mind these questions. Thanks for your help!

bmwracer wrote:
Just try them out on your DVD player. If you don't get a picture or a message on your player, then you have a DVD that your player can't play... On a PC, you can play any region DVD by using software such as DVD Region Free or similar...

I am interested in purchasing a DVD all region player too, but I wouldn't know how to "hack" into it either. :( I did buy a dvd with a region 2 code but havn't been able to watch it because I can't play it in my dvd player or computer.

Is it safe to use the software that you mentioned. Someone told me it might reconfigure the computer's dvd player and make it not work or something like that. I'd hate for that to happen. Have you used this type of program and have you heard of anyone having any problems?

Thanks for your advice in advance. :)

Nihon-jin wrote:BMW,
First off, thanks for your answer! Really appreciate it!

No problem! Glad to be of help! :D

Most of your "off" brands (e.g. made in Taiwan, China) allow you to hack the Region code of the player via the remote so that it'll be an all-region (Region 0) player, allowing you to play ANY DVD from any region in the world. Most big name brand DVD players (Sony, Toshiba, Panasonic, etc.) usually have Region settings that are set by hardware, which can't be hacked via the remote and must be done by a technician or similar.

I guess these "off" brands are ones that you find on the web, not in stores like Good Guys, Best Buy, Circuit City? You mentioned LiteOn as one possibility but that they discontinued the LVD 2002. Are there other alternatives that you know of that you could recommend?

When I mean off brands, I mean non-mainstream brands like Cyberhome, Yamada, etc... Those brands are not only available online but at Target, Sears, etc... Very inexpensive (cheap you might say), but usually very hackable. Alternatives? Since I stopped looking after buying mine, I dunno. Look into the Philips 642 that Niko is planning on buying, it might fit the bill.

Check dvdrhelp.com for information on various players and their ratings and hackability. There's lotsa really useful information to get yourself educated before buying. I spent at least a month or so researching and reading about the players (and burners) before buying. It'll put your mind at ease when you do buy. :)

Also, how do you go about hacking the settings? I know nothing about this at all. I don't suppose there's any sort of "manual" on the web that gives a step-by-step direction for different types of DVD players?

Again, check dvdrhelp.com. Usually the ratings/reviews on the various players mention how to hack the player. It's just some sequence of remote keystrokes which take you into a secret menu that lets you changes region codes and the like. Pretty simple. Just make sure that a number of people have confirmed the hack and that it's not bogus.

The other issue is that some DVDs, particularly ones from Europe (Region 2), might have their video encoded in PAL format, not NTSC (used here and Asia), so you'll need a DVD player than can convert the PAL signal to NTSC for your NTSC TV, or a TV that can accept PAL or NTSC video (rare)... The DVD player that Groink and I have, the LiteOn LVD-2002 has such a converter in it.

So how do I find out if the DVD player can convert the PAL signal to NTSC? Is this something that a sales clerk would know about readily?

A sales clerk? Pretty unlikely, especially for an off brand. Again, most name brand players are solely NTSC-only. Check dvdrhelp.com. IF a given player had that feature, I'm sure someone would've mentioned it in their review... If there's a brand/model that you like, you'll need to do some research on it. Most likely a salesperson will try to sell you what he/she wants you to buy, not what you want or need.

And, same for the TV - the manuals I have for my 2 TVs don't say a word about whether it can accept PAL or NTSC video - so how do I find this out? The TVs are already 12 and 15 years old and no one stocks them anymore. I called Circuit City and Good Guys and they didn't know either whether the Panasonic or Sony would accept PAL or NTSC.

Well, if the TV is a US TV, it should say that it's an NTSC TV, just not in so many words... Same for a PAL TV. If the TV could accept both video formats, I'm sure it would clearly say that in the manual and not hide the fact...

Good luck! :D

BMW,
Thanks a million for the advice! You've been really helpful and I really appreciate it. :applaud:
I'll take a look at dvdrhelp.com and see what I can learn. Hope you don't mind if I contact you again if I have any more questions once I review dvdrhelp.com
Again, domo arigato gozai mashita. :say_thanx:

DT04 wrote:

I am interested in purchasing a DVD all region player too, but I wouldn't know how to "hack" into it either. :( I did buy a dvd with a region 2 code but havn't been able to watch it because I can't play it in my dvd player or computer.

Is it safe to use the software that you mentioned. Someone told me it might reconfigure the computer's dvd player and make it not work or something like that. I'd hate for that to happen. Have you used this type of program and have you heard of anyone having any problems?

Thanks for your advice in advance. :)

I've currently using DVD Region Free with no problems... It just allows your DVD playback software (WMP, PowerDVD, etc.) to play DVDs from other regions....

Now if you use a firmware hack to your PCs DVD player, you could screw up your player if you hack the firmware incorrectly.... But software hacks only affect software, so no damage to your player will happen...

Good luck! :)

Nihon-jin wrote:BMW,
Thanks a million for the advice! You've been really helpful and I really appreciate it. :applaud:
I'll take a look at dvdrhelp.com and see what I can learn. Hope you don't mind if I contact you again if I have any more questions once I review dvdrhelp.com
Again, domo arigato gozai mashita. :say_thanx:

Sure. If you have future questions, I'll be glad to answer them if I can...

Do itashimashite! :)

I bought a Philips DVP 642 yesterday @ Target for $70 and I love it :D . I've tried playing DivX, Xvid, VCD, and SVCD and it's all worked perfectly. The box says that it also plays MPEG-4, JPG, and MP3. Pressing "00000" before playing a disc also makes the player region free.

Precious Bamboo wrote:I bought a Philips DVP 642 yesterday @ Target for $70 and I love it :D . I've tried playing DivX, Xvid, VCD, and SVCD and it's all worked perfectly. The box says that it also plays MPEG-4, JPG, and MP3. Pressing "00000" before playing a disc also makes the player region free.

Cool. Do you know if the Philips will play PAL-encoded video DVDs?

Precious Bamboo wrote:I bought a Philips DVP 642 yesterday @ Target for $70 and I love it :D . I've tried playing DivX, Xvid, VCD, and SVCD and it's all worked perfectly. The box says that it also plays MPEG-4, JPG, and MP3. Pressing "00000" before playing a disc also makes the player region free.

I've got the same DVD player. But not all Xvids play properly. For example, with Orange Days, the video is all blocky. Not sure whether it's the bitrate or some Xvid codec setting... And also the audio on some of my Divx videos doesn't work.

There are also issues with overscan and subtitles getting cut-off on some fansubs -- but I can do a horizontal and vertical squeeze on my TV, so it's ok for me.

But for $100 CAN (@ RadioShack/Visions or $80 CAN @ BestBuy), I'm very happy with it.

Nihon-jin wrote:Thanks a million for the advice! You've been really helpful and I really appreciate it. :applaud:
I'll take a look at dvdrhelp.com and see what I can learn. Hope you don't mind if I contact you again if I have any more questions once I review dvdrhelp.com
Again, domo arigato gozai mashita. :say_thanx:

he is quite the dvd dude, ain't he? :applaud:

niko2x wrote:he is quite the dvd dude, ain't he? :applaud:

Geekiness has it rewards, I suppose... :rolleyes: Any of you ladies listening? :hehe:

he is quite the dvd dude, ain't he?

Niko,
You got that right ... he da man! :applaud: Tell ya, if he hadn't set me straight, I'd still be looking for the wrong type of DVD player. :shakehead: But now, I've seen the light and am towing the straight and narrow path. :good:

BMW wrote:

Geekiness has it rewards, I suppose... Any of you ladies listening?

Ladies, you should be! :mrgreen: He might have graduated from college with a HP calculator on his belt, but now he owns his own company, drives a Beamer, wears Armani suits and has Fortune 500 companies calling him for consultations. :say_cool: Damn, if I'd gone to college with him, I'd have listened to him then ... instead, I just push numbers all day, drive a 15 year old Honda, wear JC Penney suits and nobody's calling me anything except dull. :say_ouch:

hey, nihon jin.

did you ever get that dvd player? i finally found and got that Philips DVP 642 that we were talking about in the above mentioned post. i'll either set it up tonight or the next day. my only concern is that it may/may not play other region dvds. in the hackable section in vcdhelp.com:

http://www.videohelp.com/dvdhacks.php?select=Philips+DVP+642

there seems to be conflicting reports about whether it can handle other regions' dvd's, so i'll have to check that out later as well. BM, as always, thx!

the DVP642 does handle region dvds, and can play PAL on NTSC TVs just fine.

Trust me.. I've tested mine quite thorougly.