DVD players and regions

[Mi Amigo]

Please excuse what is probably a dumb question these days, but it's over ten years since I bought one of these devices...

If I buy a 'normal', bog standard (i.e. cheap) DVD player at a place like Best Donki, Harvey the Dormouse or whatever, will it be able to play DVDs from all regions, or will it be limited to Region 3 discs?

I have an ancient multi-region DVD player that was bought in the UK all those years ago; it's still working OK but the remote has expired. I could just buy one of those universal remotes I suppose, but the player itself is rather big and power hungry and I'm thinking that it might be better to just buy a new player.

Many thanks!

[Strong Eagle]

Stock DVD players will only play APAC region CD's. However, if you go to smaller dealers, like the ones in Raffles Square, they have "chipped" DVD players out of the box... already converted to multi region. I bought a Canon that plays everything.

Also, I bought a fairly high end Philips system with integrated DVD player... Philips website stated that region coding could not be changed... but a quick search showed that changing region coding for this model was a complete no brainer... about 30 seconds on the remote.

So once you have a model in mind, google it... see if there is a softkey remote change available, else, for the cheap products, hit the smaller retailers.

[zzm9980]

If it doesn't say multi-region or region-free on the box, I'd assume the worst. Also, only expect the no-name brands (like AKAI) to have it.

If you want to modernize, go dig up the old thread by BillyB I think where we talk about the WD Live set-top boxes for playing downloaded movies on your TV. You can use a free program called "Handbrake" to convert your DVDs to digital format and then play via that box.

[QRM]

Most dvd players sold in singapore are multi region but worth checking with the shop, if its not its normally a matter of using some secret hack to de restrict it, these hacks are availble online.

Alternatively why not use your computer these days they all have dvd players and can be plumbed into the TV, or better yet get a playstation has a dvd, blueray, game machine and a movie music photo server?

[aster]

Before buying a DVD player, jot down the model number, go home... and do an online search to see if you can unlock it permanently using a simple code entered via the remote control.

LG is notorious for allowing their players to be unlocked easily and painlessly, so is Philips.

[BillyB]

Please excuse what is probably a dumb question these days, but it's over ten years since I bought one of these devices...

If I buy a 'normal', bog standard (i.e. cheap) DVD player at a place like Best Donki, Harvey the Dormouse or whatever, will it be able to play DVDs from all regions, or will it be limited to Region 3 discs?

I have an ancient multi-region DVD player that was bought in the UK all those years ago; it's still working OK but the remote has expired. I could just buy one of those universal remotes I suppose, but the player itself is rather big and power hungry and I'm thinking that it might be better to just buy a new player.

Many thanks!

Still wanting to watch that old porn collection?!

[nutnut]

Be aware that some DVD players will be sold as multi region (there is no restriction on that here it seems) I bought a Bluray and it was set up to play any region DVD on purchase, but they had marked the boxes of the ones they had hacked.

Sony tend to use a special remote to hack them that can be pricey, so avoid them if you can, although as Aster said, if you get the model number and search the internet there are a number of forums with this information on and often people state whether they have tried it an it worked or not. Read it all first then buy

For Blu Ray, be aware that the players cannot currently be hacked (for Blu Ray) the discs are sold with multi region look at the back and you'll see a ABC logo on it, Asia is region A, if they have all three you're definitely good to go, if only one or two it may not be compatible outside the region you are buying it in!

[keltong]

If it is just DVD player you are looking for, walk into any of the major electronics store (Besk Denki, Harvey Norman, Challenger, Mega, etc...) and just ask the sales guys for a recommendation for a Multi-region DVD player. Even among Multi-region players there are some that can play ALL region and some that can play MOST region so it is worth a check with the sales guy.

I just recently bought a Philips DVP3880K which the sales guy claim can play ALL regions. So far I've played Region 1, 2, 3 and 6 without any problem.

[Strong Eagle]

If it is just DVD player you are looking for, walk into any of the major electronics store (Besk Denki, Harvey Norman, Challenger, Mega, etc...) and just ask the sales guys for a recommendation for a Multi-region DVD player. Even among Multi-region players there are some that can play ALL region and some that can play MOST region so it is worth a check with the sales guy.

I just recently bought a Philips DVP3880K which the sales guy claim can play ALL regions. So far I've played Region 1, 2, 3 and 6 without any problem.

Multi region players violate all sorts of agreements. Your Philips may play multiple regions, but only because someone knew how to override the region code.

The companies you mentioned will only sell region specific players... that is how it works.

[QRM]

For Blu Ray, be aware that the players cannot currently be hacked (for Blu Ray) the discs are sold with multi region look at the back and you'll see a ABC logo on it, Asia is region A, if they have all three you're definitely good to go, if only one or two it may not be compatible outside the region you are buying it in!

Blueray machines can be region free takes more effort, you can make them play region free dvd but for the blueray it normally required a chip or circuit borad replacement. i have an oppo player and these are sold both blueray and dvd region free.

[aster]

Yes, Bluray cannot be unlocked with a simply remote, but you can find region-free ones online (Amazon should dish out some results too).

Personally I don't care much for Bluray and am happy with just a DVD player, just my two cents... Plus you can pick up a LG/Philips model locally and have it unlocked in under a minute (as Nutnut mentioned - Sony players can be a pain to unlock and in most cases cannot be done without a specialist remote being ordered).

[aster]

On the plus side for Bluray, I have noticed that a lot of discs are actually region-free. Much more so than with DVDs...

[nutnut]

If it is just DVD player you are looking for, walk into any of the major electronics store (Besk Denki, Harvey Norman, Challenger, Mega, etc...) and just ask the sales guys for a recommendation for a Multi-region DVD player. Even among Multi-region players there are some that can play ALL region and some that can play MOST region so it is worth a check with the sales guy.

I just recently bought a Philips DVP3880K which the sales guy claim can play ALL regions. So far I've played Region 1, 2, 3 and 6 without any problem.

Multi region players violate all sorts of agreements. Your Philips may play multiple regions, but only because someone knew how to override the region code.

The companies you mentioned will only sell region specific players... that is how it works.

Harvey Norman sold me a region hacked one!

[nakatago]

If it is just DVD player you are looking for, walk into any of the major electronics store (Besk Denki, Harvey Norman, Challenger, Mega, etc...) and just ask the sales guys for a recommendation for a Multi-region DVD player. Even among Multi-region players there are some that can play ALL region and some that can play MOST region so it is worth a check with the sales guy.

I just recently bought a Philips DVP3880K which the sales guy claim can play ALL regions. So far I've played Region 1, 2, 3 and 6 without any problem.

Multi region players violate all sorts of agreements. Your Philips may play multiple regions, but only because someone knew how to override the region code.

The companies you mentioned will only sell region specific players... that is how it works.

Harvey Norman sold me a region hacked one!

Did the sales guy go 'wink-wink, nudge-nudge'?

[Mi Amigo]

Thanks for the info everyone; very helpful. It's interesting that the whole region code thing is still there after all these years, but it seems that many manufacturers are just paying lip service to the rules and allowing easy unlocking.

I do actually have a mini-itx PC connected to the TV and can play DVDs on that, but the reason I want to have a 'proper' DVD player is to test the discs I make from our home videos, etc. before sending them off to the rellies. No, Billy, not those kinds of videos. Anyway, I thought you could only get that stuff on Super 8 and Betamax?