Page 1 of Playstation 2 DVD Player

I`m thinking of buying a DVD Player but am wondering if anyone knows anything about the quality of the DVD Player built into the forthcoming Playstation 2 ?

Can anyone recommend other suitable (budget) players?

Many thanks

Dave.

The PSX2 may make a decent budget player, Sony even claim it rivals more expensive machines. But this could be marketing crap, as unless it outputs RGB or S-Video it may as well be a VHS model.

As for budget domestic machines, the Scan or Wharfedale are both very good value.

Robert - thanks for your help - I think I`ll try and get a Scan SC-2000.

Am I right in thinking that it has a Dolby Digital 5.1 Decoder built-in? I don`t have a surround amp yet but will do in the next 12 months - would this mean I don`t have to get one with a decoder built in if I want separate L and R rear channels?

The only thing which concerns me is that I have a Sony TV without an RGB input - it is a 25" model (not widescreen), about 4 yrs old. The review on this site states that unless you use RGB or S-Video you will get a 16:9 picture on Sony TVs...

I have an input on the front of the TV which looks like a S-Video one, behind a pull-down flap - it has an S and an arrow on it, a small, circular socket with a few holes in it ! Will the picture be as good with S-video? Is this better than Scart to Scart?

I am likely to buy a large WS TV over the next 2 years but obviously don`t want my DVD to fall behind - so is the Scan the best option?

Help! Forgive me for all the questions but I`m a real newbie to DVD / Home Cinema !

Many thanks

Dave.

No it does not have the six sockets for a built in decoder - you need an amp to decode the DD5.1 signals from the Scan`s optical or coax digital out terminals (see the pix on our review). The Lasonic 2000 does (see our review on this).

Are you sure your TV is not RGB? My Sony is a lot older than yours and has one Scart that takes RGB and one that takes SVideo (also with another Svideo terminal on the front). I think you should find that yours is the same (RGB is Scart 1 and Svideo is Scart 2)

On your remote you will have a button that cycles through the inputs - AV1 then RGB (Scart 1), AV2 then YC2 (SVideo Scart 2) and then AV3 and YC3 (the composite and Svideo terminals on the front under the flap).

If this is the case a straightforward Scart connection will be best to your Scart 1 (and ensure the Scan is set to output RGB).

Mark
DVD Reviewer

Mark,

You`re dead right, I`ve eventually managed to find my TV instructions and it mentions the RGB input on Scart 1....so all is saved and I won`t get 16:9 if I go for the Scan player.

I was initially thinking that RGB meant 3 separate cables as in the world of large PC monitors.

My remote behaves in exactly the way you describe too.

I`m still unsure as to which machine to go for. The Scan looks great value (I burn quite a few MP3s too - which I think it plays as well) but I`m unsure about the DD5.1 stuff. How much are amps with decoders built in? If I bought a standard Pro-Logic amp and speakers (such as the kits Sony offer, about £300) I assume I would need a separate decoder if I want to separate the 2 rear channels? How much are these decoders? I assume that I would then connect the DD5.1 `out` to the decoder, which in turn has the six outputs to go into the amp...?

To throw another spanner in the works I`ve just spotted the LG 3200E for £179. Good value, and with a DD5.1 decoder built in. Problem is I think it can`t be hacked for multiregion - am I right? The multiregion capability is not so much a priority, rather a bonus as I can`t afford to buy loads of discs, so will probably wait for them to come out in the UK anyway.

Therefore, options are:

Scan Sc-2000 (approx £195), no DD5.1 Decoder, easily hackable
Wharfedale DVD750 (£179), no DD5.1 Decoder, easily hackable, slow, noisy?
LG 3200E (£179), with Decoder, know of any reviews??
LG 2330P (£159), no decoder, not hackable?
Any other suggestions for budget players?

As usual, any help from anyone MUCH appreciated...

Cheers

Dave.

Heh - thought as much :)

Yes the Scan plays MP3s. It is silly to buy Prologic only these days as DD amps are about 230 quid upwards these days excluding speakers. The two rear channels are mono on prologic, only DD allows separate discrete rear channel feeds. It is a one box solution - coax cable from DVD tp the DD amp, then out to your six speakers. No separate decoder. Check out the Videologic system (all amps and six speakers for about 300 quid - Reviewer is preparing a review now).

Go for multi region - you`ll regret if you dont, as DD amps are getting cheaper. Have a look at Richer Sounds - Sherwood and Yamaha units.

The Wharf is still a quick machine, but is noisy.

This item was edited on Sunday, 9th July 2000, 19:53

Edge magazine said the PSX2 DVD Player was crap

"so all is saved and I won`t get 16:9 if I go for the Scan player."

I don`t understand that. Surely if the film is widescreen that is the format that will be displayed whatever your connection method.

You need to read our review of this machine to understand the comment you quoted - a minor bug on the Scan.