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What Else Should I Look for When Shopping for a DVD Player?
In addition to energy performance, there are other important operating and convenience features to consider when shopping for DVD players.
ENERGY STAR provides this information so you can select the best product for your individual needs. ENERGY STAR does not endorse any of the features or any of the sources of further information and product reviews mentioned below.
There are many features to choose from in today’s DVD players. Here’s a look:
Single vs. Multiple Disc
Single disc players hold just one disc at a time, requiring you to manually change one to listen to another. Multidisc players typically hold three or more (five is common) discs in a carousel. DVD players are available that hold large numbers of DVDs and CDs, eliminating the need to store discs separately. For a system that can handle multiple discs, “play exchange” is a useful feature to have; it allows you to remove or exchange discs while another is being played.
Thinking about using your DVD player as a CD player? Most all new DVD players can also play CDs. If you plan to frequently use your DVD player to play CDs, you may want to consider a multidisc player.
Multiple Format Capabilities
Many DVD and CD players also can play home-recorded CDs on CD-R (recordable) or CD-RW (rewritable) discs or MP-3 formats. Be sure to understand which formats a particular DVD player can play back.
Progressive Scan
Your TV picture can update images by either an interlaced signal or a progressive scan. Standard analog screens use an interlaced signal, which updates half of the scan lines (i.e. every other scan line) every 60th of a second. A progressive scan signal updates all of the scan lines in the same amount of time, so it creates a picture having a noticeably sharper image with less flicker.
You can only tap into the benefits of progressive scan DVD by using a digital TV. Even if you don’t have a digital TV now, it may make sense for you to consider a progressive scan player, since your next TV may be digital. All television broadcasters are required to go digital in 2006, and though your old analog TV will still work, all new televisions will be digital.
