DVD players: Features explained
A Scart lead is needed to connect a DVD player and TV
Connections
To use a DVD player or recorder, you need a TV with a Scart input, and a Scart lead to connect the 2.
Not all of the machines we tested came supplied with a Scart lead.
For best picture quality, the Scart input to your TV should be RGB or S-video compatible. Not all TVs support this – check your TV instructions for details.
HDMI socket
HDMI isn't necessarily the best way to connect your standard player
Some players also feature an HDMI output. This is a high definition video socket, which many manufacturers claim will enhance standard DVD pictures when connected to a HD ready TV.
However, we've rarely witnessed many picture quality improvements and in some cases the picture can actually look worse.
Where we have witnessed an improvement it's usually only in comparison with a sub-standard Scart.
DVD discs
Compatible discs
There are many DVD formats and some machines can play all
Not all DVD discs are the same. There are several different recording formats – DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW and DVD Ram – each with slightly different features and capabilities.
All DVD players will play pre-recorded DVDs, either those you rent or buy.
Other types of discs
Any DVD player or recorder can also play standard CDs. Some can also play newer types of audio disc (DVD-Audio and SA-CD) which claim to offer better sound quality.
Some models can also play discs containing MP3 files, or those containing jpeg picture files, so you can show your holiday snaps on your TV screen, for example. DivX is a format commonly used when copying video footage from a computer onto a disc.
Starting and stopping
Bookmarking
Models with bookmarking let you mark favourite scenes or places in a disc so you can quickly find them again. More sophisticated DVD players let you bookmark several discs, and will ‘remember’ your bookmarks even when the disc is removed.
Resume
Resume means the player will start the disc where you stopped it (instead of at the beginning each time). Models with multi-disc resume remember where to start playing the disc even after you’ve removed it and reinserted it.
Surround-sound decoder
The digital optical option is more common
All DVD players can be connected to external surround-sound decoders (Dolby Digital 5.1 etc), amplifiers and speakers so you can experience ‘cinema-like’ surround sound.
Virtually all DVDs have the surround sound tracks on them. If you intend to use the DVD player with a surround-sound system you’ll need one with a digital output that’s compatible with the surround-sound amplifier.
There are 2 types of output, coaxial (wire) and optical (fibre optic) so make sure you get the correct type.
Some players have a built-in Dolby Digital surround-sound decoder, but you’ll still need additional surround sound amplifiers and speakers to get the home cinema experience, so there’s really not much advantage over using an external decoder. However, on occasion, a DVD-Audio surround sound decoder is also built-into the player. To find out more check our home-cinema report.
These are included so that players which can play back audio discs recorded in the higher-quality DVD-Audio format can also decode the surround sound tracks, which often come with these discs. This makes more sense but again you’ll still need external amplifiers and speakers to hear this surround-sound.
Black level control
This adjusts the pictures’ black level. This is useful for watching movies with particularly dark sequences, like the Matrix. LCD TV pictures can often look a bit washed out so any boost from the DVD can be especially helpful.
Auto power-off
If you leave your player switched on when not in use, this handy energy-saving feature will switch it into standby after a given period of idleness.