Consider Your Options...
Hopefully, this guide will shed some light on selecting the DVD player with the features that suit you best.

Let’s Make Everything Perfectly Clear...
Why is the picture on DVDs so much better than VHS or TV, for that matter? The short answer is: DVDs give you more lines of resolution, which equates to a sharper picture. DVDs produce 480 horizontal lines of resolution, so they effectively utilize the maximum 480-line display capability of any analog TV. VHS tapes only deliver in the neighborhood of 240 lines of resolution, resulting in significantly lower picture quality. Standard-definition TV is broadcast in 480 horizontal lines of resolution, but even the clearest 480 signals do not typically look nearly as good as DVD. That’s because factors such as broadcasting interference and lower-resolution sources, such as the original videotape or film, limit standard-definition TV broadcasts to actual resolutions closer to 330-350 lines.

Scan This...
Progressive scan has been the big buzzword in DVD players for a few years now – but what the heck is it? Do you need it? And should you pay extra for it? Before we answer those questions, there's one important caveat you should know about progressive scan: Progressive scan won't improve the picture unless you have a Digital TV. It won't do a thing in terms of sharpening the picture of an analog TV. That said, when paired with your digital TV, progressive scanning – a method by which all of the lines of resolution are drawn in a single pass – effectively doubles the picture resolution at any given moment. The result is a significantly crisper, sharper and more consistent picture. And with prices on progressive-scan DVD players having dropped so substantially in the past couple of years, you may want to consider ponying up a few extra bucks in anticipation of getting your first digital TV, even if you don't own one today. Learn more about Progressive Scan.

Surround Me With Sound...
If you currently have a multichannel home theater system or intend to get one soon, you'll be happy to know that virtually all DVD players sold today have the ability to output 5.1-channel surround sound to your home theater receiver. And with scores of DVDs providing not only CD-quality sound, but also encoded to provide the awesome effects of Dolby Digital surround sound, you're in for a real treat. You’ll hear every kabooming sound effect, every subtle background noise, every bit of dialogue and every tune on the movie soundtrack in stunning 5.1-channel surround sound, just as it was intended and just as it was in the movie theater. For more details on multichannel sound, check out our Surround Sound Info Center.

The 2-in-1 Combo...
DVD/VCR combination units – If you've got a lot of movies or precious home videos on VHS, but not a lot of room for both a DVD player and a VCR, a DVD/VCR combo unit's the perfect solution. Taking up little more space than a VCR, it provides you both players within a single cabinet.

Take the Show On The Go...
When it comes to bringing your DVDs with you, on a road trip, vacation or weekend getaway, there are basically two ways you can go: Portable DVD Players are compact, self-contained units that play DVDs and CDs and include both a player and videoscreen. Often times they operate on either AC, DC or battery power. The advantage is they can go wherever you do. Mobile DVD Players are another alternative for providing entertainment across the miles. These units are typically installed into your vehicle's console or overhead panel, neatly integrated into the vehicle interior to look like factory equipment. Just the ticket for keeping the kids entertained on road trips.

Can You Copy Me On That?
DVD recorders are a DVD player and recorder in one. You'll have to part with a bigger chunk of change to get one of these electronic marvels… but, man, these are some very cool machines. Think of a DVD recorder as being like a VCR, with a built-in TV tuner and the ability to record from television, VHS tape or camcorder. But very unlike a VCR, is a DVD recorder's ability to record directly onto blank DVDs. That's a huge advantage. DVD recordings not only look stellar from the get-go, but since the media does not come into physical contact with the player, you can expect DVDs to last indefinitely without any degradation as long as you handle them with reasonable care. Perfect for creating an archive of favorite TV shows, sports telecasts or movie broadcasts from TV. And how about archiving those precious home videos onto DVDs that will last for years on end? If this sounds like the format you've been waiting for, be sure to check out our selection of DVD recorders.*

What Other Options Do I Have?
In addition to the features mentioned above, there are a few other options you may want to consider when selecting a DVD player. Most of these do not significantly impact the cost of the DVD player, so you may simply want to make a checklist of the ones that interest you:
Selectable Aspect Ratios – allows you to view your DVDs in either conventional (4:3) or widescreen (16:9) formats
Simulated Surround Sound – a surround sound emulator that can be used with your stereo system or in conjunction with your home theater for achieving a surround sound effect from DVDs not encoded in multichannel sound
Dialog Enhancer – enhances center-channel sound for more easily intelligible dialog
Sound Leveler – reduces volume spikes and limits peak volumes for "after-hours" viewing
Picture Controls – adjustable image settings to customize and optimize DVD viewing
Parental Controls – lock-out features that disable the DVD player from unauthorized use
Slim Chassis – a spacesaving design that reduces the DVD player cabinet to as little as 2" in height
Front A/V Inputs – allow easy access for connection of digital camera, camcorder or gaming systems
Multibrand Remote – controls multiple devices, such as your TV, VCR or home theater system

Progressive-scan DVD Players Deliver Picture-quality Benefits That Live Up to the Name
If you're in the market for a DVD player, it's hard to miss the fact that the higher-priced models all prominently sport a mysterious feature known as progressive-scan video output. You may have seen the feature credited with providing a smoother, more realistic (or "film-like") picture. It's all true, but you needn't take our word for it. To understand why a progressive-scan DVD player is worth the additional investment, read on...

First Things First
The first thing to understand about progressive-scan technology is that it won't do you any good unless you have a digital TV, or a monitor capable of at least SDTV resolution (which includes HDTV and EDTV monitors). Without digital TV's high-speed scanning abilities to back it up, a progressive-scan DVD player can't achieve the picture-quality advantages it was designed to deliver. We'll explain all this in more detail below. The good news is that one day soon all of us will own digitally compatible TVs — and in the meantime, any progressive-scan DVD player will function every bit as well as any of its lesser brethren with your analog TV. But don't go plugging an expensive progressive-scan player into your 1980s-vintage boob tube and expect to see a spectacular improvement over the closeout DVD player you bought on clearance last year. You'll be disappointed.

Consider Your Options...
Hopefully, this guide will shed some light on selecting the DVD player with the features that suit you best.

Let’s Make Everything Perfectly Clear...
Why is the picture on DVDs so much better than VHS or TV, for that matter? The short answer is: DVDs give you more lines of resolution, which equates to a sharper picture. DVDs produce 480 horizontal lines of resolution, so they effectively utilize the maximum 480-line display capability of any analog TV. VHS tapes only deliver in the neighborhood of 240 lines of resolution, resulting in significantly lower picture quality. Standard-definition TV is broadcast in 480 horizontal lines of resolution, but even the clearest 480 signals do not typically look nearly as good as DVD. That’s because factors such as broadcasting interference and lower-resolution sources, such as the original videotape or film, limit standard-definition TV broadcasts to actual resolutions closer to 330-350 lines.

Scan This...
Progressive scan has been the big buzzword in DVD players for a few years now – but what the heck is it? Do you need it? And should you pay extra for it? Before we answer those questions, there's one important caveat you should know about progressive scan: Progressive scan won't improve the picture unless you have a Digital TV. It won't do a thing in terms of sharpening the picture of an analog TV. That said, when paired with your digital TV, progressive scanning – a method by which all of the lines of resolution are drawn in a single pass – effectively doubles the picture resolution at any given moment. The result is a significantly crisper, sharper and more consistent picture. And with prices on progressive-scan DVD players having dropped so substantially in the past couple of years, you may want to consider ponying up a few extra bucks in anticipation of getting your first digital TV, even if you don't own one today. Learn more about Progressive Scan.

Surround Me With Sound...
If you currently have a multichannel home theater system or intend to get one soon, you'll be happy to know that virtually all DVD players sold today have the ability to output 5.1-channel surround sound to your home theater receiver. And with scores of DVDs providing not only CD-quality sound, but also encoded to provide the awesome effects of Dolby Digital surround sound, you're in for a real treat. You’ll hear every kabooming sound effect, every subtle background noise, every bit of dialogue and every tune on the movie soundtrack in stunning 5.1-channel surround sound, just as it was intended and just as it was in the movie theater. For more details on multichannel sound, check out our Surround Sound Info Center.

The 2-in-1 Combo...
DVD/VCR combination units – If you've got a lot of movies or precious home videos on VHS, but not a lot of room for both a DVD player and a VCR, a DVD/VCR combo unit's the perfect solution. Taking up little more space than a VCR, it provides you both players within a single cabinet.

Take the Show On The Go...
When it comes to bringing your DVDs with you, on a road trip, vacation or weekend getaway, there are basically two ways you can go: Portable DVD Players are compact, self-contained units that play DVDs and CDs and include both a player and videoscreen. Often times they operate on either AC, DC or battery power. The advantage is they can go wherever you do. Mobile DVD Players are another alternative for providing entertainment across the miles. These units are typically installed into your vehicle's console or overhead panel, neatly integrated into the vehicle interior to look like factory equipment. Just the ticket for keeping the kids entertained on road trips.

Can You Copy Me On That?
DVD recorders are a DVD player and recorder in one. You'll have to part with a bigger chunk of change to get one of these electronic marvels… but, man, these are some very cool machines. Think of a DVD recorder as being like a VCR, with a built-in TV tuner and the ability to record from television, VHS tape or camcorder. But very unlike a VCR, is a DVD recorder's ability to record directly onto blank DVDs. That's a huge advantage. DVD recordings not only look stellar from the get-go, but since the media does not come into physical contact with the player, you can expect DVDs to last indefinitely without any degradation as long as you handle them with reasonable care. Perfect for creating an archive of favorite TV shows, sports telecasts or movie broadcasts from TV. And how about archiving those precious home videos onto DVDs that will last for years on end? If this sounds like the format you've been waiting for, be sure to check out our selection of DVD recorders.*

What Other Options Do I Have?
In addition to the features mentioned above, there are a few other options you may want to consider when selecting a DVD player. Most of these do not significantly impact the cost of the DVD player, so you may simply want to make a checklist of the ones that interest you:
Selectable Aspect Ratios – allows you to view your DVDs in either conventional (4:3) or widescreen (16:9) formats
Simulated Surround Sound – a surround sound emulator that can be used with your stereo system or in conjunction with your home theater for achieving a surround sound effect from DVDs not encoded in multichannel sound
Dialog Enhancer – enhances center-channel sound for more easily intelligible dialog
Sound Leveler – reduces volume spikes and limits peak volumes for "after-hours" viewing
Picture Controls – adjustable image settings to customize and optimize DVD viewing
Parental Controls – lock-out features that disable the DVD player from unauthorized use
Slim Chassis – a spacesaving design that reduces the DVD player cabinet to as little as 2" in height
Front A/V Inputs – allow easy access for connection of digital camera, camcorder or gaming systems
Multibrand Remote – controls multiple devices, such as your TV, VCR or home theater system

Progressive-scan DVD Players Deliver Picture-quality Benefits That Live Up to the Name
If you're in the market for a DVD player, it's hard to miss the fact that the higher-priced models all prominently sport a mysterious feature known as progressive-scan video output. You may have seen the feature credited with providing a smoother, more realistic (or "film-like") picture. It's all true, but you needn't take our word for it. To understand why a progressive-scan DVD player is worth the additional investment, read on...

First Things First
The first thing to understand about progressive-scan technology is that it won't do you any good unless you have a digital TV, or a monitor capable of at least SDTV resolution (which includes HDTV and EDTV monitors). Without digital TV's high-speed scanning abilities to back it up, a progressive-scan DVD player can't achieve the picture-quality advantages it was designed to deliver. We'll explain all this in more detail below. The good news is that one day soon all of us will own digitally compatible TVs — and in the meantime, any progressive-scan DVD player will function every bit as well as any of its lesser brethren with your analog TV. But don't go plugging an expensive progressive-scan player into your 1980s-vintage boob tube and expect to see a spectacular improvement over the closeout DVD player you bought on clearance last year. You'll be disappointed.