All-Region DVD Players?

souldog · Post by **souldog** » Sat Jun 14, 2003 10:22 am

Hello everyone,

These questions are to those who have a multi-region DVD player. What brand do you have? How much did it cost? Did the player have to be modified to be able to be unlocked? Is the model you have still available for purchase?

I am realllllly looking into trying to get one, but I don't know where to look. I don't trust ebay all that much for something major like a dvd player. Can someone please give me some advice?

Thanks,
Eric

Prince Phillip · Post by **Prince Phillip** » Sat Jun 14, 2003 12:58 pm

Me, too. I would also like one. I have, well my mom has, this Illintek,Some brand name to small probably for you to have heard of, It was like $60 at Best Buy or something, I really doubt this is a multi regoin. Is there some way to check it or find out, with out having to buy a non-region 1 DVD that will probably not work? Is there a way to make it non-regoin and if not are they available in american stores, like Best Buy? Thanks

DrkDevil · Post by **DrkDevil** » Sat Jun 14, 2003 2:36 pm

There are multiregion dvd players wihtout having them modified or unlocked. My friend has an old Mustek that is region free and he didn´t modified it, i don´t know the price he payed though. I´m also looking for one that has multi-region because i don´t want to modify/unlock it (unless i knew someone i trusted who know how to do it right).

Check the 4th prize at this site....http://www.cdcovers.cc (i don´t know if it´s unlocked by them or if it´s just original multiregion).

The Lizard King · Post by **The Lizard King** » Sat Jun 14, 2003 4:28 pm

Not only is having your player region-free important, but it is equally important that your player have an internal PAL to NTSC converter built into it. Otherwise, you may be able to play Region 2 discs, for example, but only Japanese discs and not UK ones, which kind of defeats the whole purpose of having a player that will play any region. As a bonus, I also like to have macrovision turned off, but that's really just for me to be able to wire my player through a VCR and then into the TV (for the kid's room).

Some players have a "secret menu" that can be accessed with the remote control to make it all region and/or macrovision-free. Some have to have the firmware flashed with a CD-R. And, finally, some have to be chipped, where the firmware chip has to physically be replaced with a firmware chip that was hacked by a programmer.

As far as my own personal situation goes, I bought four APEX AD-500W players at Wal-Mart nearly two years ago for less than $90 each. I hacked (chipped) them all to be region- and macrovision-free and gave two away as Xmas gifts. The region- and macrovision-free hacked chips were $15 each. I understand that some Wal-Marts have restocked this GREAT DVD player, but alas, my local one has not. So, YMMV.

As for finding the right player for you, I might suggest the following link. With a little research on this site and a little bit of effort, you should be able to find and modify a player that is at least region-free and has a PAL to NTSC converter for less than $100. Making it macrovision-free is a bonus. Here you go:

<a href=http://www.nerd-out.com/darrenk/>http:/ ... arrenk/</a>

Hope this helps,

TLK

Trevor · Post by **Trevor** » Sun Jun 15, 2003 9:23 am

The Lizard King wrote: As for finding the right player for you, I might suggest the following link. With a little research on this site and a little bit of effort, you should be able to find and modify a player that is at least region-free and has a PAL to NTSC converter for less than $100. Making it macrovision-free is a bonus. Here you go:

<a href=http://www.nerd-out.com/darrenk/>http:/ ... arrenk/</a>

That is the site I used to hack my GE DVD player from WalMart. The GE Player I bought was really made by APEX, and so it was easy to hack. A lot of the APEX players (which are usually around $75 or less here) can be hacked by using this site. You basiclly download a file, burn it to a CD, put it in the DVD player and it does it all for you. Takes a total of 5 minutes. It is so easy. Here is the background I currently have on my player, so when no DVD is in, this is what shows:
<img src="http://www.nerd-out.com/darrenk/Backgro ... _final.jpg" height="288" width="423"/>

But if you dont have the funds to buy a new player, check out <a href="http://www.dvdrhelp.com/dvdhacks">http: ... vdhacks</a> They have listings for most DVD players, and how to hack it. Whether it be through a secret menu, or reprogramming it.

And one final thing...if you have a Sony DVD player, it most likely cannot be hacked without buying a special chip and putting it in the player...buy an APEX instead...a lot easier!

STASHONE · Post by **STASHONE** » Sun Jun 15, 2003 3:08 pm

This is the best site out there for all-codes: http://www.220-electronics.com/

I recently purchased the JVC XV-SA602 w/ progressive scan and it works great!

Also check this thread from The Home Theater Forums for some helpfull advice - http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htforum ... did=141792

It gets a little confusing, but if you read through theres some really good info and resources. Those guys really know what theyre talking about...

OHIODAVE · Post by **OHIODAVE** » Sun Jun 15, 2003 5:56 pm

Hi:
I purchase a AWAI on Ebay It will any play any disc from anywhere in the world. PAL or NSTC, picture disc, MP3's. You name it, it will play it. I paid $140 with shipping. It is one of the slim line models I purchased it in June last year. I co-owned a APEX 600 before which multi region & Macro Vision disabled machine. Quite a machine, very expensive and not all would work as advertised by seller. Those did work, work ok, but some disc work not work Matrix for example, too much branching.

My Awai works perfect, but you must run a setup first.

Hope this is useful

Dave From Ohio

Post by **Luke** » Sat Jul 05, 2003 6:54 pm

That is helpful information. Thank you, Dave and a (belated) welcome to the forum.

I've always relied merely on my PC for non-R1 content, but for that price and your description of the quality makes buying it as a standalone player awfully tempting.

STASHONE · Post by **STASHONE** » Sat Jul 05, 2003 7:11 pm

Luke wrote:That is helpful information. Thank you, Dave and a (belated) welcome to the forum.

I've always relied merely on my PC for non-R1 content, but for that price and your description of the quality makes buying it as a standalone player awfully tempting.

The JVC I purchased performs in the exact same context and the playback as well as a.r. are smooth and perfected. Im watching Count Duckula on a PAL encoded dvd on my NTSC formatted television with this player right now and the quality is absolutely amazing. You should really read through that thread link I posted, it really helped me figure this stuff out!

Post by **Luke** » Sat Jul 05, 2003 7:21 pm

STASHONE wrote:The JVC I purchased performs in the exact same context and the playback as well as a.r. are smooth and perfected. Im watching Count Duckula on a PAL encoded dvd on my NTSC formatted television with this player right now and the quality is absolutely amazing. You should really read through that thread link I posted, it really helped me figure this stuff out!

Which JVC did you get? 600?

STASHONE · Post by **STASHONE** » Sun Jul 06, 2003 6:09 am

yes, 602 is just the 600 model in a silver finnish.

Heres a link to the actual player if you want more info... http://www.220-electronics.com/dvd/jvc600.htm

Post by **Luke** » Sun Jul 06, 2003 10:45 am

Thanks for the info. I have to get a DVD Recorder and a Region-Free Player - now if only there was a region-free player that could record and playback any format...

herman_the_german · Post by **herman_the_german** » Tue Jul 08, 2003 3:57 pm

I own a Sampo, it is beautiful and plays everything. I paid $350 about a year ago. But it is top of the line.

Check out the official Sampo specs for this successful US series of players, now sadly discontinued:

http://www.area450.com/thesampozone/pla ... 0specs.htm

Lightyear · Post by **Lightyear** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 8:28 pm

I almost hate to resurect this (I feel I'm violationg a lightbulb rule or something!).

Anyhow.. I have a panasonic DVD-RV31K player.. I've been searching high and low.. anyone have this player? Anyone figure a hack? All the info on the net is dated 2003 or earlier.

And if no hack is available.. Anyone recommend a player that will allow me to hack easily.. play all disks and formats PAL, etc etc.

There are some region 2 discs I wante, and one I allready have that I want to watch.. But I refuse to purchase a player over the net.

Sublimedo · Post by **Sublimedo** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 10:02 pm

www.videohelp.com in general, is a great site for most video needs. I got a free dvd player(brand:amw the value of the player is no more than 30 or 40 dollars) at JCPenny for spending over 100 dolllars.
i also got a home-theatre-in-a-box at best buy (brand:koss) for 80-100 dollars.searching through the dvd hack page gave me the procedure to unblock multi-region play on both of them...usually it entails having the disc tray open and inputting a certain set of numbers in sequence.

ive found that most cheaper players(ie those $30 players at suncoast) are easily programmable for multi-region playing and pal to ntsc conversion.however not all cheap players are guaranteed to be hacked

i really need to buy region 2 disney.....but video store clerks...theyre a hungry bunch. i mostly when through this for
<a href="http://imdb.com/title/tt0187664/"> this </a> great show from the creators of Shaun of the Dead

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