Which DVD Player do you recommend?

[morikaweb]

Currently I am using WinDVD for my stand alone DVD playing. But I am wondering if there is something better out there. SO what DVD Player do you guys use, and what one would you recommend?

[Fluffdaddy]

I personally always liked Powerdvd the best. The PQ just wows me with SD DVD.

[Jesse]

Hi,

Why not use the sagetv DVD player (along with whatever decoders you are using for sage)? Works great for me.

Jesse

[pat_smith1969]

With sage I just use the sage dvd player, I have had issues with trying to make an outside app work to play dvds.

If you are not using sage to watch Dvds or simply want another option I have been REAL impressed with TheaterTek dvd player.

[sunray]

One choice I don't see mentioned here is Theatertek. I have it and I like it. It uses the NVidia Purevideo DVD codec and has great picture quality. And you can use the PureVideo codec it comes with in Sage. The only drawbacks are that the codec (and thus Theatertek) doesnt support MPEG-1 (VCD & SVCD) or Blu-Ray or HD-DVD.

[morikaweb]

Thanks everyone. I used to use powerdvd years ago but haven't in a while. I'll give it a wirl, and hope they have changed some of the things I did not like.

I have heard of TheaterTek before but never given it a try, though it sounds interesting. I'll DL it and see if I like it. One problem with it that I can see though, is that Nvidia seems to have abandond the Purevideo project. So what will TheaterTek do for the next version?

[jdamore]

I have to jump in here because if your looking for a program for the best quality playback, those other programs may not be any better than sage.

Correct me if I'm wrong but they all use directshow and the picture quality is reliant on the decoders. For example: Using the purevideo decoder in TT and Sage will give the same results.

I started using TT for almost a year then switched to Sage because there was no difference in PQ.

If your looking for certain features, thats another story.

Edit: To be clear, I am not talking about BD or HD.

[stanger89]

To a large extent, yes, especially TheaterTek. If you use the same renderer and decoder in TT and Sage, they should be essentially identical.

PowerDVD/WinDVD are a little different in that they don't actually use DShow for playback (but they include DShow decoders that should work the same).

[bhyman1]

I just use the Sage built in DVD player.

[paulbeers]

Oppo DV-970HD.....Oh we aren't talking about seperate DVD players, you mean software. Then see any of the above mentioned.

Edit: I actually should recommend the new Oppo DV-981HD since it can do 1080P, but once again that still doesn't fit this thread...ho hum.

[stanger89]

Any of the above can do 1080p.

[morikaweb]

Originally Posted by paulbeers

Oppo DV-970HD.....Oh we aren't talking about seperate DVD players, you mean software. Then see any of the above mentioned.

Edit: I actually should recommend the new Oppo DV-981HD since it can do 1080P, but once again that still doesn't fit this thread...ho hum.

Might not fit the thread but I got one anyways after looking them up. All I can say is awsom

[paulbeers]

Glad to hear that is working out for you (I really really need to get 981 and move my 970 upstairs).

[mckinsey]

I second the Oppo 970 recommendation. I use it with a 106" front projector and it does a great job. If I had to do it now I'd buy the Toshiba HD-A2.

Scott