Best DVD player iwth USB

Hi All,
Glad to find this forum where I hope to get best suggestion for my queries at the earliest.
I need a basic DVD player with following requirements. I have narrowed down to LG DV 356/DV 388 & Samsung DVD-P480/R ot 1080pk.
1. As of now I don't have HTS. I'll be using it for my Flat CRT TV Sony HP213M93 which has very good woofer & tweeters.
2. I need best USB capability., should be able to play most formats thru USB.
3. Only reason for choosing LG (and ignoring Philips) is service. Hence better repair/service required.
4. As LG doesn't give full specifications (like Audio/Video DAC capability details), I request you to compare the above mentioned models and let me know your suggestions, so that I get best Audio & Video capabilities. Samsung 1080PK doesn't have DTS decoder. How does it affect?
5. I saw that Onida-DFX5990 has most of these features. But only in Philips / Samsung Video & Audio DAC specs are given. Since my 3 priorities are best audio, video & USB function and as I don't need HDMI please advice. I'm willing to spend upto 5000 if my desired features are best even if I don't use HDMI. And also as of now I don't have any HTS.

Thank you..
Manju

Hello Manuju, welcome to HifiVision first. Please do stay with us and give us feedback on how you enjoy your audio/video.

Regarding the players, you have set some tough decision parameters. Whew !!! I would rate the players as 1080PK first, followed by 480R, followed by LG's 356. As you said, LG does not give any specs, and it is difficult to make any decision. I think LG is a new entrant to the DVD player market. Samsung has been around for some time, and I have personally seen a Samsung at work. Some members of this forum are using Samsung players and are very happy with it.

Regarding Samsung's omission of DTS decoding, that is quite a surprise. In any case, for you immediately, it will not make too much difference as most DVDs come with both DTS and Dolby Digital coding. When you upgrade to a AVR and multiple speakers. you can connect through a coaxial or optical connection and allow the AVR to decode DTS. All AVRs can decode DTS and that will not be an issue.

Regarding the Onida, I don't see any special features that makes it attractive. I don't see any details on up-scaling, nor DTS decoding.

I think Samsung may be a good option for you. As I have been saying elsewhere, please take a DVD with you, take an audition and then buy the player.

Cheers

Hi Venkatcr,
Thanks for your reply & valuable suggestions. As suggested I may go for samsung 1080PK or 480R and update my feedbacks on this forum once buy the player.

Thanks & Regrads,
Manju

Know your looking at Samsung , LG etc models.

You could also consider Pioneer DVD players.

Pioneer DVD player models DV310 and DV410 available for 3200/- and 4500/- approx. Grey Market.

DV310 does not have HDMI and upscaling features like DV410.

Playing movies, music via USB is available in both models.

For more info on either models you could look at Pioneer Singapore .

Swafa, Manju has narrowed down to LG DV 356/DV 388 & Samsung DVD-P480/R or 1080pk. That is the reason I have not mentioned Pioneer.

Cheers

Manju also look at philips they have a new series out 5996 , which comes with USB 2 port, u can play mp3, avi and photos through portable hdd or thumb drive, it has lot of good reviews too, do check out the same

Hi Dushie,
Thanks for your suggestions. I'm impressed with Pioneer but will not go for it due to scarcity of authorised dealer/service. But please let me know how is the after sales service and performance of Philips DVD players in general. As per specs, it has best of the features among all (Audio/Video DACs, Dolby+DTS decoder, USB etc). But heard from a dealer friend in Bangalore, its service is bad/delay prone & LG has even on-site service. Actually these things should not matter as long as DVD player performs at its best atleast upto warranty period. Please share your views.

Manju:

I use two Pioneer DVD players and they are both giving me robus service. Philips is generally a good player, but they have not kept up with the leading brands in the world.

Regarding service, unless you are very unlucky, a DVD player will run for 2 to 5 years without any hassles. Beyond that, it is just not worthwhile even trying to repair it. I mean sub 5000 Rs players. I had a Philips that ran for 10 years, then the remote stopped working. I took it to Philips service center and he wanted 12,000 - more than the original price of the player. At the end just threw it away.

Since technology is changing very fast, manufacturers are pumpimng out new models every year. The new DVD players are so inexpensive for their perfromance, that it makes sense to change them once every two years or so.

This is the standard Sony philosophy that is now becoming universal.

Cheers

Keep in mind that some DVD player with USB are unable to read from an external hard disk. They only work with a USB thumb drive. So if you intend to use with a hard drive, check before buying.

Not true. DVDs with the capability of reading from a USB drive ask for only one thing. For the drive to be formatted in FAT32. So, if you can format your 400GB external hard disk on FAT32, then you can connect that with the DVD player and have fun. Alternatively you can even partition it such that you have one portion for FAT32 and the other for NTFS. I have not tried the latter technique but see no reason why this should not work.