For those of you who have yet to experience a PVR, you really missing out on an absolutely exhilarating television experience. With a PVR you can pause and rewind live TV, record your favourite shows when you’re away, and even fast forward through annoying adverts. Panasonic has already established itself as a formidable name in this field, and the new Panasonic DMR-EX88 PVR keeps that reputation intact, as it brings you an extensive range of features that include a DVD recorder along with an enormous 400 GB hard drive.

The design of the device is a real trend blazer as it takes the unconventional path and is a great choice to partner your existing AV partner in case the equipment is black.

Another versatile aspect of the device is its ability to competently play DivX and Xvid. You should also love the Panasonic DMR-EX88’s ability to play MP3s, JPGs as well as video files sourced from a USB device. The cross-product integration compatibility is also a pleasant addition, which nevertheless will go a begging unless you have all Panasonic hardware.

The picture quality of the EX88 is another plus, which however depends to an extent on the incoming broadcast signal. Moreover, what speaks volumes about the manufactures is that they have integrated the features and components in such a manner that allows you to get the maximum out of the device with the minimum fuss.

Oppo DVD players comprise a breed that is constantly on the look out for opportunities to beat the top electronics companies at their own game. These players do come with a good deal of impressive specifications that make them a sensible choice. The latest Oppo DVD player to make a mark is the Oppo DV-980H, which comes equipped with a host of high-end features at a reasonable price, making it a great value for your money.

Most of the Oppo players have a different design than the other, and the Oppo DV-980H is also no different. Customers would be especially impressed by the build quality and compactness of the device as they are made of the highest quality metal that have a nice feel to it.

The presence of DVD region coding has, however, failed to get the nod of the users, as it more often than not is restricted to Hollywood movie studios. In this manner the Panasonic DVD-S54 and other big name players prove themselves more capable. Moreover, the lacking feature in the Oppo player looks archaic and out of sync with the other specifications. On the other hand, the inclusion of analogue 7.1 audio outputs is a welcome move. In case you are looking for something that will give you more options to play audio tracks the unit is a must as it has on board Dolby Digital EX and DTS-ES logos, which supports multiple channels.

Then again like many others, the Oppo supports MPEG-4 playback in the form of DivX and XviD encoded video. You are also provided with the discretion to watch a slideshow of images or listen to MP3s from a USB stick.

There are many amongst us who will gratefully welcome Samsung’s latest offering, the Samsung DVD-VR330 DVD recorder & HiFi VCR. This unique set will help customers give life to their VHS tapes, which otherwise would have died a natural death. With this unique DVD recorder/VCR combo, you can enjoy both the dying breed and modern DVD at the same time.

The device is well provided with standard accessories including remote, batteries for the remote, some rather short composite audio/video and RF “coax” cables, along with the customary user instruction manuals like warranty card, quick set-up guide. VHS playback of the device is bound to surprise you with its dual picture and sound quality, so is the compatibility demonstrated by the unit with the S-video and coaxial digital connections.

DVD playback can alone be a good reason why you buy this device as both the video and audio performance is on par with most of the stand-alone DVD players. There are a few minor issues concerning the DVD’s main menu, especially that of the button labelling on the remote. The peculiar thing here is that the button unlike in stand-alone players, doesn’t take you to the DVD menu, but rather to the device’s setup menu. The problem is nevertheless not that severe and may take time for you to adjust to it.

Moreover, you get to have high-quality composite video and S-video inputs as well, apart from RCA connections that deliver high-fidelity sound. Really the only thing missing is Blu-ray playback found in models like the Samsung BD-P1500; however, Blu-ray has been slow to catch on with consumers anyway. The recording capability of the device is fluent too, though the process takes a tad bit more time than expected. Further, the DVD-VR330 comes with a front-panel IEEE 1394 port hat can be used to dub home movies from a digital camcorder.

Despite Onkyo’s decision to take the plunge into the untested waters, by manufacturing Blu-ray players, the company still continues to deliver one quality upscaling DVD player after another. The DV-SP406 DVD Player is a true reflection of that and encompasses almost all the important criteria that you desire from a quality player. Moreover, the price tag of the product is kept at a reasonable level, making it all the more alluring.

The one feature that has made a difference is the1080p upscaling feature, which will especially come in handy for those movie buffs that are not yet ready to make the transformation to Blu-ray, but otherwise have hi-def TVs and projectors. Apart from the upscaling feature, the Onkyo DV-SP406 DVD player has many other contemporary features that will keep you interested. You will especially take heart at the multimedia playback capability of the unit as it supports almost all the popular formats including (DVD+RW/+R, DVD-RW/-R, CD, CD-R/-RW and Video CDs). The icing on the cake appears to be the ability of the player to spin DVD-RW discs recorded in the Video Recording (VR) format. It is not all though as you can enjoy various formats like MP3, WMA, DivX and JPEG files.

The aesthetically build unit, displays a USB port on the front panel making it easy on you part to play the above mentioned media formats. The operation of the device is also ridiculously simple. Important connectivity of the player includes an HDMI, component and composite outputs, plus a SCART socket that offers RGB output.

The latest offering from Panasonic, the DVD-LX8 9″ LCD Portable DVD Player, is not your typical DVD player in the sense that it is bigger than most portable disc players, but still quite a lot smaller than a laptop. The speciality of the player, with a 9-inch, 16:9 aspect-ratio (wide) screen, is its unique “Mono Arm” feature, which allows you to enjoy the drama unfolding on the screen from a wide range of viewing angles. This speciality means that you can use the device in various settings like say, suddenly bright and suddenly dark airplane cabins.

The compatibility of the device is another of its notable features as it competently handles popular formats including DVD-Video, high-resolution DVD-Audio, DVD-R, and DVD-RAM playback, in addition to playing standard and recordable audio CDs, including MP3- and WMA-encoded discs with the minimum of fuss. Then its built-in rechargeable battery, which has an impressive life span of 2.5 hours, means that you can have unlimited fun before the battery finally burns out.

The unique design of the player predisposes it with the discretion to take advantage of both audio and traditional video DVD formats, and delivers an amazing audio-visual reproduction. Obviously the DVD-LX8’s main strength is its 9 inch screen, which surpasses even the Panasonic DVD-LS82EG’s 8.5 inch screen. Meanwhile, the Audio software titles feature offers you classic music titles in both multichannel and stereo, even though the model is limited to stereo play only. The device in addition is compatible with Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 surround tracks for a enriching surround effect. Then, the device has on-board the customary DTS and Dolby Digital 2-channel decoding and multichannel pass-through features too, among others.

The LG LDA-731 Upconverting HDMI DVD Player is one particular model that I believe you should not regret buying. The player brings to the table a range of high-end features that are skilfully coordinated to give you an amazing movie experience. The one particular feature that will immediately attract your attention is the Up-Conversion feature, The Up-Conversion ability comprehensively upscales average DVD content to a Progressive source at the selected resolution of 480p, 720p or all the way back to an interlaced signal at 1080i. You can get the benefits of upconversion both via the Component cables as well as the HDMI connector.

The DVD player has been incorporated with the much in-demand Zoran’s Vaddis 8 chipset technology which plays a huge role in improving its performance. The technology, which in essence is a multimedia processor, is integrated with a state-of-the-art 8 channel Class D modulator that facilitates connectivity to HDTVs, like the LG 47LG6000, via HDMI and analog component HD-video with six 14-bit 165Mhz video DACs. The feature assists in the upconversion of SD-to-HD as well so that you can experience HD content from standard DVD discs. The display of high definition is further complemented by the HD-JPEG.

The Vaddis 8 apart from the above specialities offers support to DVD-Audio including decryption, decoding, and audio post processing functions. Moreover, playback of HD-JPEG content, backward compatibility with SACD1.3 or lower is possible only because of this feature.

The player also has on-board the Single Pixel Processing (SPP) Progressive Scan feature which ensures unparallel video quality for viewing on a progressive scan television. The SPP feature carries out pixel-by-pixel processing of the video, while the intuitive Vaddis 8 supplies it with superior quality deinterlacing to all areas of the scene, including areas with limited or fast motion.

Despite the fact that the HD-DVD format is completely dead in the water and has been discontinued by Toshiba, some HD-DVD players continue to be sold. And, again, despite being rather obsolete, many of these players, like the Toshiba HD-EP30, are still quality products with a lot to offer.

Going by its price tag you may be inclined to believe that it is a toned down product, which is actually not the case. The device comes with a sufficient array of features that will please the average customer. A decisive example of its capability can be derived when you compare with the HD-E1 released last year, which was capable of outputting only 720p or 1080i pictures. The Toshiba HD-EP30 in comparison is capable of producing full HD images at 1080p so that you can derive the optimum quality audio-visual output from your HD DVD discs. The device in addition supports 24fps playback that gives you the leverage to view movies at heir original frame rates, provided your TV supports it.

The device does have its limitations and drawbacks as it misses on 7.1 bitstream audio output and HDMI 1.3 Deep Color support. These features however require matching high-end equipments to deliver what they are capable of, and consequently come as a consolation for this budget device.

Plextor, a prominent company in the sector of manufacturing and developing of high-performance digital media equipment, has recently announced the launch of a number of new products as a part of its new 2008 lineup. The featured list consists a rich assemble of products like 6x Blu-Ray Combo drives, 22x Super Multi DVD±RW drives, and an 8x Slim External USB DVD±RW for PC and Mac.

Bob Gronski, vice president of sales and marketing for Plextor and speaking at the occasion of the launch, stressed that the company is determined to further cement its position in the optical storage market with the addition of these new drives to its already robust line of products; which includes high-end devices like the Plextor PX-B920UF. He also pointed out that today, more than at any other time in history people are staying at home and are enjoying unlimited entertainment at home via home entertainment systems, and consequently it is the most opportune time to introduce such an extensive line of products.

Drives included in the new Plextor product lineup are PX-610U 8X Slim External USB Super Multi Drive, PX-B310SA (6X internal SATA) and PX-B310Q (6X external USB), and PX-850SA (22X internal SATA) and PX-850A (22X internal PATA). Of the lot the PX-610U is a real treat, especially considering the fact that it in essence is a self-powered portable DVD writer and is capable of working without an AC adapter or multiple USB ports. Moreover, the unit works fine with an internal battery power, and requires only a solitary USB port for power and data transfer.

Are you confused about selecting a DVD player that can offer high-class audio and video? You need to be smart in your choice and go for a reliable brand that is guaranteed to deliver a durable unit. If you believe in buying the finest things, the Panasonic DVD-S 33 DVD Player is a great option for you. The unit is capable of supporting various media types like CDs and Video CDs among others. The compact model, with total dimensions of 9.1 cm x 23 cm x 43 cm and a weight of 3.9 kg, combines the features of a DVD and a VCR. You get an excellent audio performance with the stereo output mode and a much more advanced surround system.

If you have ever thought that a DVD player is of no good in the era of Blu-rays, the DVD-S 33 will definitely change your viewpoint. Along with providing a stunning picture quality, the Panasonic DVD-S33 player also ensures a sharp and clear sound. No wonder, it comes with an audio and video DAC converter of 24 and 10 bit. Additionally, you also get to enjoy the much advanced features like the multi-camera angle and picture zoom while handling the unit with much ease. To add more versatility to the performance of this model, Panasonic has also incorporated some additional features like progressive scanning, high MAT VCR and language select.

Controlling all these functions with a universal remote, you can expect an amazingly impressive performance with this creation of Panasonic.

One commonly held grudge against TVs that come with a TV/VCR combo, or even TV/DVD player/VCR, is that the VCR part more often than not breaks down, with few ways to fix it. The Westinghouse VK-40F580D is again a TV/DVD player/VCR, but the good thing about it is that the DVD part is quite sturdy. The unit’s DVD section should definitely appeal to customers, especially because the deck happens to be one of the few larger-screen flat-panel TVs with a built-in DVD player.

Design of the deck is bereft of any fancy ornaments, and is instead dressed up in a conservative manner that reflects more of a workman like attitude than say any aesthetic purpose. The company also played around a bit with the design of the menu system, and for the better as it now appears more imaginative and responsive. However, the deck somewhat strangely has an outdated and ordinary looking black plastic stand, which doesn’t swivel.

Feature wise, the built-in DVD player is the main attraction of the unit, and its performance never fails you. The player is also very intuitive and has spontaneous response time. Moreover, this LCD TV DVD combo unit is also provided with the capacity to upscale average video contents to standard levels for a more fulfilling experience. Image quality is taken care of by a native resolution of 1080p, though the image size to an extent restricts you from deriving maximum benefit.

The deck comes with a wonderful range of picture control options as well, including four presets that can be adjusted apart from a fifth one that’s independent per input. Meanwhile, the three colour temperature presets coupled with another custom mode enables you to customise white balance.