The home cinema market has moved steadily towards high definition streaming, but there are still plenty of reasons to buy a DVD player. Whether as an affordable second player in the bedroom for late-night films or a way to watch old family videos of special occasions, the DVD player still has many benefits to a home.
In addition, many do not know that modern DVD players are also often able to play a wide range of alternate formats, meaning it’s easy to transfer from your computer to a disc, USB stick or SD card and view a huge range of videos. With some excellent technology available at the fraction of the price of a decade ago, the humble DVD player still has a lot to give. Read on for our guide and recommendations to buy on Amazon and eBay.
Quick List - Top DVD Players
Grouptronics
A Fantastic All-Rounder That Plays Every Format and Region
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Jani is a professional photographer and filmmaker from Finland with over 15 years of experience in both fields. He has studied at some of the best schools and universities across the globe, leading him to become an expert in creative industries. Today he is the creative director and the owner of JP Harrow Portraits that specialises in portraiture for same-sex couples and families in London, UK.
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Today’s standard home cinema connector is HDMI, a high-quality single cable capable of supporting high-definition video and integrated surround sound. Almost all of our chosen DVD players fully support this standard and can simply be plugged in ready to go.
Prior to HDMI, and the standard at the time of DVDs release, home cinema components used a SCART lead. This is a bulky cable that ends in a wide plug fitted into the back of a TV to provide basic stereo sound and video signal. Choose a player with a SCART connector if you wish to plug your DVD player into an older TV setup.
Look to a USB connection, available on many models, to connect your DVD player to a laptop or USB memory stick for extra compatibility with today’s technology - a great bonus for those who have a library of films stored on their PC.
These days, almost all DVD players sold in shops should have HDMI-port on them, so you shouldn't have to worry about how to connect them to your television.
But if you are buying an older DVD player, then you might like to check does it support HDMI or not. Many older DVD players support SCART or composite connections, which some newer televisions might not.
For copyright reasons, DVDs are often region-coded, locking the disc for use only in a single worldwide territory. Each region has a number code, with the UK being region 2, and the USA holding region 1.
If you are looking to play discs bought anywhere in the world, you need a multi-region DVD player (often called region-free or all-region) - set to play everything from regions 1 through 6. We’ve clearly marked the multi-region feature on each review and for those that aren’t multi-region, they’re locked to region 2 (the UK) making them fully compatible with any DVDs bought in this country.
Most people don't know this, but many DVD players will allow you to change its operating region only once! This means you can change your UK DVD player to work with DVDs purchased from the USA, but there is no way to go back once you do that.
Buying a region-free DVD player will allow you to play any DVDs no matter have you purchased them from the UK, USA or Japan.
Most DVD players will play any officially-produced UK DVD or CD, but there are a number of additional computer-based video formats that some players are also able to understand. These legacy formats are a great bonus for people with a collection of specialised videos curated on PCs during the turn of the century.
These file formats include:
Opt for a DVD player that supports Blu-Ray compatibility if you need it.
For alternative forms of home entertainment, check out our best internet radios
If you have purchased a DVD or CD from the UK, you will be able to play them on a regular DVD player without any issues. However, the older the DVD player is, the fewer formats they generally support.
For that reason, if you want your DVD player to support as many videos and audio formats as possible, then consider purchasing a newer generation DVD player over an older one.
The dawn of DVD predates the current high-definition TV technology, which means that even if you have an HD television, your standard DVD output is not going to offer full HD quality. However, with clever technological improvements, there’s no need to worry that DVD has been left behind; the player can bring up the video quality with some clever behind-the-scenes work.
Look to the ‘upscaling’ feature to bring a modern HD level of quality to your DVDs. While the technology behind upscaling is slightly different between manufacturers, the output is similar - crisper, clearer, and brighter video that brings a high-definition quality to older movies.
Most modern DVD players come with image enhancement features that allow you to upscale DVD images to HD. This is great since it will enable you to enjoy your favourite DVDs without purchasing a Blu-Ray version of that film.
But bear in mind that when it comes to image upscaling, the newer the DVD player is, the better its image improvement features usually are.
The idea of owning a DVD player that runs on batteries and has its own screen that you could sit and watch in the back of the car while driving to visit your grandparents was once nothing more than a science fiction fantasy, but nowadays anyone can experience the ease of a portable DVD player.
Designed not to skip on bumpy rides and to survive the odd drop themselves, these robust DVD players are perfect for both adults and for keeping little ones quiet. They are also fully compatible with your TV - just plug in via an HDMI cable to watch films on the big screen.
While modern tablets offer specific modes to prevent children from accessing material that isn't suitable for them, a portable DVD player can be a great way to keep your children (or even you) entertained.
The biggest benefit of having a portable DVD player with a screen is that you can let your children use them without worrying that they might accidentally start watching something they shouldn't.
It's important to consider the dimensions of a product before committing to a purchase, as a player that is too large or small for your desired viewing space can spoil the viewing experience. Think about how you want to store the player - from placement on a TV table to mounted on a wall?
If you are opting for a portable player to take along while you travel, decide on a player with a big enough screen to provide a great viewing experience, but small enough dimensions so that it is not cumbersome to travel with.
For more options for the rest of your home, check out out 10 Best Bluetooth Shower Speakers!
DVD players have come a long way from what they used to be over a decade ago. Today, they are a lot lighter, smaller, and cheaper, making them still an excellent investment if you don’t have the most advanced television in your living room.
Just make sure you check the dimensions of the DVD player to fit your ideal spot since many of them are still quite wide in terms of size.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Grouptronics Compact Multi-Region HDMI DVD Player|GTDVD-1000 | ![]() | A Fantastic All-Rounder That Plays Every Format and Region | |
2 | Sony DVD Upgrade Player|DVPSR760H | ![]() | A Top Quality, Computer-Compatible Player for the Modern Age | |
3 | Panasonic DMP-BDT180EB Blu-Ray/DVD Player | ![]() | An Excellent DVD and Blu-Ray Combo With 4K Upscaling | |
4 | DBPower 12.5” Portable DVD Player | ![]() | The Best Portable Option With a Clear, Good-Sized Screen | |
5 | LG Multiregion DVD Player|DP542H | ![]() | A Simple Yet Fully-Functional Player From a Trusted Brand | |
6 | Loacy CD/DVD Player With Bluetooth | ![]() | Stylish, Wall Mountable and Able to Be Used as a Bluetooth Speaker | |
7 | Wonnie 7.5” Dual Portable DVD Player | ![]() | Two Screens Make This Perfect for Car Journeys With Kids | |
8 | Majority Scholars Milton Compact DVD Player | ![]() | A Feature-Packed Award Winner That's Surprisingly Cheap | |
9 | Wonnie 7.5" Portable DVD Player With 15.6" Swivel Screen | ![]() | Great for Events, Gatherings and Those Who Don't Own a TV | |
10 | ELECTCOM DVD Player | ![]() | A Modern DVD Player With Classic Functionality |
If compatibility is paramount, then the Grouptronics multi-region player is for you - its extensive list of acceptable formats includes almost every known video format developed from the advent of video files, except Blu Ray.
In fact, as can be seen from the two shining circular connectors on the front panel, the Grouptronics player even supports karaoke formats and has microphone ports to guarantee a fun evening! With full HDMI upscaling and quality assured, there really is nothing stopping this player from being your DVD machine of choice.
When it comes to DVD players, it’s hard to fault Sony. As one of the primary inventors of the format, their dedication to producing some of the finest players throughout the decades means they are trustworthy and reliable.
This player is indeed region-locked, so you have to play native UK DVDs and there’s little support for pirated discs. However, it will play films via USB from a storage stick or laptop, and once it gets its processor on the data, it does its utmost to make it look perfect.
DBPower might not be a name you particularly recognise with your home electronics, but in the portable DVD market, they shine. For an impressive price, this machine does everything you might want in a car entertainment system, with its swivel 10.5-inch screen, easy to use controls and a full array of ports.
Not only that, but it supports a wide range of formats through either the main DVD/CD drive or additional SD card slot: MP3/WMA/WAV, JPEG/JPG, MPG/MPEG1/MPEG2/AVI/DIVX/DAT are all supported alongside standard DVD, CD, VCD, SVCD, and re-writeable discs. The picture is sharp, the in-built speakers robust and it includes an HDMI port for full TV connectivity.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the LG Multi-region player - it has support for all major formats, a clean design, and a quality picture that rivals all other DVD players available today.
If you are after a simple, no-nonsense DVD player, this is certainly a fine contender. Additionally, this could make a great gift for loved ones who may not have much space for a chunkier design.
DVD players do not have to be black boxes that sit below the TV. You can choose more modern designs such as this that fits onto the wall without a problem! Equipped with a remote, it is great for those with trouble moving around often.
Additionally, enjoy it as a Bluetooth speaker or radio when not using its fantastic DVD capabilities. A perfect way to own a DVD player that fits into a modern aesthetic and provides multiple ways to use it.
Do away with arguments in the back of the car with this synchronised twin-screen entertainment system. The dual nature of this portable DVD player means that two children can each have a dedicated screen to make the journey fly by, turning your humble car entertainment into something more akin to an international flight system!
The easy-to-install setup can be strapped to the headrest of the seat in front, and the anti-joggle features mean the film plays smoothly throughout the ride, even on the roughest country road.
When it comes to a range of features and quality of output, the Cambridge-built Majority DVD player is up there with the best of them - full multi-region support, a widespread of supported file formats, HDMI upscaling, and a very reasonable price.
This is by no means a poor DVD player, with its ease of use and quality output, which is why it is a favourite for us. However, for a few pounds, more it is possible to get a better quality system that will feel like a more valuable investment.
With a 15.6 inch screen, this portable DVD player is the perfect companion for any trips, events or social gatherings. Supporting many formats including MP3, you can multi-purpose this system as a music player.
While the size of the screen is a great selling point, the DVD player does not offer HD upscaling nor an HDMI port, which may be off-putting for some. Nonetheless, it must be said that this is a great bargain for those who do not own a television.
ELECTCOM's DVD player utilises the modern connectivity technology of HDMI and USB, but strips back all the gadgetry of some more advanced players. This is a simple product that offers ease of use and basic functionality, compatible with standard DVDs and CDs to cover the bulk of your entertainment needs.
The player is very reasonably-priced and utilises modern technology to replace older models, which makes it an ideal addition for anyone not quite ready to upgrade their entire set up.
No. 1: Grouptronics|Compact Multi-Region HDMI DVD Player|GTDVD-1000
No. 2: Sony|DVD Upgrade Player|DVPSR760H
No. 3: Panasonic|DMP-BDT180EB Blu-Ray/DVD Player
No. 4: DBPower|12.5” Portable DVD Player
No. 5: LG|Multiregion DVD Player|DP542H
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