Advantages: divx compatible + multi region
Disadvantages: had to do a bit of research to enable full multi region ability

...I've been looking for a divx player for a while now, and wanted one with multi region capability also. I eventually bought this dvd player from amazon.co.uk, as it was clearly labelled 'multi region'. Reading the reviews on amazon, some said it was multi region straight out of the box. For me, when putting any other region dvd other than 2, it played in black and white. After a bit of research, and thinking I'd have to fork out more money to get the box chipped, I discovered the problem. The dvd player is multi region, but my tv was not understanding the video format of the region 1 disc. A simple solution I discovered is simply to change the colour settings on the dvd menu (when there is no disc in it) to RGB. Having achieved this, I am now a very happy customer! All region discs now play in full colour, as do divx formats, CD-RW etc... Read review

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Advantages: No need to setup DVD player with the controller initially.
Disadvantages: May not play DVD's encoded with the new security.

...A recent trend on region encoded DVD's is to protect DVD's from multi-region DVD players. While this is only on a few DVD's at the moment, knowing the industry it will become the norm before too long. The Patriot and some other recent DVD releases are protected from DVD players that can play more than one region. This is done by the following logic when the DVD is loaded: 1) Can I play Region 1? 2) If I can, Can I play Region 2? 3) If I can then dont play the DVD! This means that if you cannot switch regions off you will be prevented from viewing any region of that DVD. What does this have to do with chipped DVD players? Well, if your DVD player is chipped, that is has added hardware to allow you to view any region, you will have a job removing the alteration every time you want to watch a film. If you have a software changable... Read review

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Advantages: Multi region, cheap, good quality
Disadvantages: Only available from Tesco, tends to sell out!

...The Wharfedale DVD-750 is only available through Tesco's. It has won a slew of recommendations from DVD magazines and "What Hi-Fi?", and is excellent value-for-money since it costs only £169.99 and can easily be persuaded to play DVDs from any region. I personally think that the whole idea of region-coding DVDs is a deplorable piece of profiteering by film companies, and so wouldn't ever consider buying a player that couldn't play all discs. To get the Wharfedale to play other regions, simply eject the disc tray, place a Region 1 (or whatever) disc on the tray, press 0, 1, 2, 3, then "play" on the remote, and it should play the disc. Excellent picture quality, multi-region, and excellent value-for-money. I highly recommend this player.... Read review

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Advantages: Good Prices, Good range of Players
Disadvantages: None

...I first encountered Techtronics when enthusiastically looking for a multi-region DVD player about three years ago now. I had looked at all sorts of different online shops, and high street shops also, but none offered me a multi-region player at a good price. That was until I went to Techtronics, they specialize in multi-region players (So that you can play DVDs from all over the world). What they do is install a Multi-Mod Chip into regular DVD players so that they become multi-region compatible. After searching through the different DVD players on offer, I decided to go for the Toshiba. So I promptly clicked on BUY, entered a few personal details, credit card details, and about 5 days later the player was at my house! How is that for service! I've never had any problems with my DVD player yet, but if I do, I can always go to the Live... Read review

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Advantages: Good quality, low price, and no problems so far.
Disadvantages: No SCART cable

...I bought this DVD player because it came highly recommended by 'DVD buyer', and so far i have not been dissappointed with its performance. It is a multi region DVD player, which is very handy because a lot of the region one DVD's have better extra's than region two's (e.g. 'Starship Troopers', 'Independance Day'), and you can see films a lot sooner. This DVD also comes with an excellent zoom function; a freeze frame which gives perfect stills; repeat functions; bookmarks; 3D sound (if you have the speakers); multi angles; and a lot more. But what i liked most about this DVD player was the very user friendly controller, which has a nice joystick on it and can control your TV as well. However, when you buy this DVD you get a cable which can connect you to the TV, but not a SCART cable which gives you better picture quality. You may want... Read review

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Advantages: cheap region 1 dvds with free delivery
Disadvantages: longer time of waiting

...UPDATED 14/01/01: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you're a movie addict like myself with a multi-region dvd-rom/player, you'll know that it's very hard to find good dvd bargain, here in UK. Now, this has changed, a lot with dvdboxoffice.com, a region 1 online dvd retailer(region 1 can be played only with a multi-region, ie region-free dvd-rom/player in UK) The UK dvd player is for region 2 dvds only. First of all, the price, is damn cheap! Even when you compare it with play247.com and other reputable sites that sells region 1 dvds, it still tops them all. Secondly, the delivery will cost zilch, not even a penny, in simple words FREE! You'll get the cheap price, with free delivery and still received the best DVD titles. Furthermore, some of the movie titles are not even out yet in UK, so you can be the envy of your friends to have the privilege... Read review

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Advantages: Features, Price
Disadvantages: Lack of Scart

...I bought this player because I wanted a machine with Multi-Region support and a built in Dolby Digital decoder. It is by far the cheapest player I could find with these features and I have been very impressed with it. The build quality is really good, it is very easy to set up and use and it has some useful setup options to get the most out of the surround sound. The multi-region capability works very well, I have bought dozens of region 1 and 2 discs and experienced no problems. The picture quality is good and the sound is excellent. It could however do with a scart socket, although it does have S-Video output and dozens of different sound outputs including an optical line out for minidisc recording. All in all, this is an excellent player for a great price and I would recommend it to anyone starting out in the DVD game.... Read review

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Advantages: Cheap, easy and the can see films at home before they are relased here in the cinema.
Disadvantages: None

...Some people reading this may find the prospect of DVD players daunting in that what is all this multi-region fuss about?, what is the point of DVD when i have got a perfectly good video player sitting underneath my television at the moment? and also i don't really want to buy one as they might not catch on.... Well, these points may all be valid, but when it comes down to the bare facts of the matter, there isn't any fuss about multi-region, the only reason for having your video recorder is to tape eastenders and they won't catch on?, we have you been for the last two years?, anyway, video recorders are soon to be much like four start petrol, only used by the few. By autumn, DVD recorders capable of recording at a far superior quality and length will be on the shelves, expensive to start with maybe, but video recorders quite expensive... Read review

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Advantages: Multi-region, good features and quality.
Disadvantages: Horrible remote control

...As my second DVD player, the Wharfedale 750 is the cheap, budget one. Less that $179 at Tescos puts this one in the budget category, but the price is deceiving for the high-quality you get. The player is available under several different names (Bush, Proline), with only slight cosmetic differences. The Wharfedale version certainly didn't win any design awards, as the unit is black, plain and squared. The remote is the worst part of the player: small and ugly, with t