Buying a Yamada DVD Player - Key Considerations

The picture produced by a DVD player can contain more than twice the level of detail that is possible with analogue, magnetic tape, and can be accompanied by true, 5.1 channel digital surround sound. Simple, "random access" navigation, and additional features, such as subtitles, language options and other "bonus" material, add to the attraction of DVD as the new standard for home entertainment.

DVD Player Features & Benefits

One of the features of DVD players to which manufacturers, or retailers, are keen to draw your attention is so-called "progressive scan". Progressive scan draws the horizontal lines that make up a picture, progressively, sequentially, or, in other words, one after another, once every 1/60th of a second. This produces a picture that suffers from less flickering and distortion than one produced by "interlaced" scanning; interlaced scanning draws the even numbered lines first, and then "interlaces" the odd numbered lines, requiring two passes to form a complete picture. DVD players with progressive scan capability are more expensive than those without, and do make sure, above all else that your television supports progressive scan, that is, it is "HD Ready". The Yamada DVD-7600XTV model, for example, supports progressive scan.

If you intend to integrate a DVD player with your existing home entertainment system, take careful note of the best video and audio connections available – in terms of quality – and match these to the outputs on your DVD player.

The latest, most sophisticated DVD players feature the new HDMI, or "High Definition Multimedia Interface"; an uncompressed, all digital interface which allows video and audio data to be transmitted along a single cable. These players obviously require a television set that is similarly HDMI compatible. Next in line, for video, is component video, which again is found on higher end DVD players and television sets. SCART, too, is a popular connection method, and, failing that, S-video provides better picture quality than basic, analogue RCA jacks. Digital audio is also preferable, and may be supplied in coaxial, or optical, form. The Yamada DVD-Mi220X model, for example, is a latest generation DVD player that supports HDMI, and optical and coaxial digital audio.

About Umax

The Umax Group, with subsidiaries and distributors in Europe, Asia and South and North America, specialises in the design, manufacture and distribution of consumer electronic products. Its home entertainment range, which includes DVD players, DVD recorders, LCD televisions and surround sound speakers, is marketed under the Yamada and Kazuki brand names.

Conclusion

You will, no doubt, be aware of the impending "format war" between the new, high definition DVD formats, Blu-ray and HD DVD. Both formats offer storage capacities much greater than "standard" DVD, and the prospect of significantly higher resolution pictures. Early adopters of either technology, however, do take the risk that one format will ultimately take precedence, while the other fades into obscurity; older readers may remember what happened to Betamax, an original competitor of VHS, in the 1980s. Standard DVD still has much to offer, until such a time that the situation becomes clearer, and standard DVD players are available at a fraction of the cost of their more illustrious competitors.

About the Author

Patrick Sawyer is a freelance writer specialising in consumer electronics, financial and business subjects. e-tailers such as 3 Wisemonkeys now offer a guide to buying DVD players and DVD recorders. As well as producing quick guides such as the one above, 3 Wise Monkeys will respond to individual queries and offers detailed buying advice over the phone with no pressure to purchase.