Help finding a Name Brand region free DVD player - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

xtrawidth · 2007-01-31, 01:59 PM

I am currently in the market for a new dvd player, as my current JVC just gave up the ghost this week...

Trouble is, being an british ex-pat, I need something that will happily play all region discs, PAL or NTSC.

I bought the JVC from somewhere in Chicago, mail-order - though I don't particularly want to go that route again having been stung by UPS charges one too many times.

So I set about trying to find one in Canada. Seems nigh on impossible to get a reputable name brand...

Was looking for a Cambridge Audio player, as I'd read they were region free out of the box. No dealer can seem to agree on a price, or which models are current etc.

I called Bay Bloor Radio in Toronto, as they carry NAD's which I've also read are hackable or whatever. They certainly are all dual standard as in PAL & NTSC... When I asked the guy if they sold any players that could be region free, he told me to go to Yonge and Dundas... When I suggested the NADs they sell might be, he went away, came back, and told me they used to be, but now they're R1 only. I think he's a liar... It seemed like he was just like the sales assistants in Future Shop - the kind that resort to a product's manual for the answer to your question...

Finding these players is not that hard in the UK... Why is it proving so tough over here!?

eljay · 2007-01-31, 03:09 PM

Numerous brand-name players can be made region-free with a simple "hack" that usually involves nothing more complicated than pressing a few buttons on the remote. (I have personally "liberated" my OPPO, a Yamaha, a Toshiba and a LG.)

Search this site for "region free hack", or visit VideoHelp.com/DVDhacks.

xtrawidth · 2007-01-31, 03:11 PM

teh only issue with that is praying that the manufacturer hasn't updated their firmware to stop the hack...

Cyclism · 2007-01-31, 03:21 PM

If you get the "hack" to work, then why would you then download and install the updated firmware if you are afraid it would stop it?

xtrawidth · 2007-01-31, 03:23 PM

No you misunderstand...

Say a hack is posted on the web in Nov 2006, and the player is manufacturered in Jan 2007, there's a chance the firmware on the player already won't allow the hack anymore. right?

eljay · 2007-01-31, 03:26 PM

Depending on the player you're eyeing, you may be able to get confirmation of the viability of a posted hack from another owner or from a discussion board. If you're planning to buy a player from a big-box store, you can simply return it if the hack doesn't work.

Cyclism · 2007-01-31, 03:27 PM

True, but you can always check the firmware update site to see if they've implemented the Region free suppression or not and take the risk that the one you're buying was manufactured before the update.

57 · 2007-01-31, 03:29 PM

Do a web search for a place called 220giftcenter for options...

If you decide you may wish to import, do NOT use UPS - they do ding you with lots of charges. Use USPS (the postal service). See the following thread.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=19564

sleemo · 2007-02-01, 07:54 AM

Go to videohelp.com, click on "dvd hacks". You'll find what you need in there.

luch · 2007-02-03, 02:10 PM

I import a lot of dvds from the UK and Europe as well... so after a bit of research, ...I found this player:

Philips Progressive Scan 1-Disc DVD Player With DivX Ultra (DVP5140)

I picked it up at BB.

You can set the player to any region you want without any hacks. Perfect.

Cheers.

luch · 2007-02-03, 03:33 PM

^ Well, I guess technically it's a hack, but it works nicely...

How to convert your Philips DVP5140
into a Multi Region DVD Player

Power Up the unit with NO Disc in the tray.
Open the tray
Press the SETUP Button on the remote control
Navigate to the PREFERENCES page using the Right Arrow Key
Press the DOWN ARROW one time to select
Press the 1 button on your remote control
Press the 3 button on your remote control
Press the 8 button on your remote control
Press the 9 button on your remote control
Press the 3 button on your remote control
Press the 1 button on your remote control
The current Region Code Setting will display
Use the UP/DOWN Arrow Keys to select the region required or '0' for All Regions
Press the PLAY Button on the remote control
NOTE - The 0 (zero) in the above sequence represents the Region Code 0 - Region Free. If you want to set to a specific region, just replace the 0 with the region number that you want.

2007-01-31, 01:59 PM	#1
xtrawidth Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 52	Help finding a Name Brand region free DVD player I am currently in the market for a new dvd player, as my current JVC just gave up the ghost this week... Trouble is, being an british ex-pat, I need something that will happily play all region discs, PAL or NTSC. I bought the JVC from somewhere in Chicago, mail-order - though I don't particularly want to go that route again having been stung by UPS charges one too many times. So I set about trying to find one in Canada. Seems nigh on impossible to get a reputable name brand... Was looking for a Cambridge Audio player, as I'd read they were region free out of the box. No dealer can seem to agree on a price, or which models are current etc. I called Bay Bloor Radio in Toronto, as they carry NAD's which I've also read are hackable or whatever. They certainly are all dual standard as in PAL & NTSC... When I asked the guy if they sold any players that could be region free, he told me to go to Yonge and Dundas... When I suggested the NADs they sell might be, he went away, came back, and told me they used to be, but now they're R1 only. I think he's a liar... It seemed like he was just like the sales assistants in Future Shop - the kind that resort to a product's manual for the answer to your question... Finding these players is not that hard in the UK... Why is it proving so tough over here!?

2007-01-31, 03:09 PM	#2
eljay Premium Supporter Join Date: May 2003 Location: Ottawa (Orleans), ON Posts: 8,345	Numerous brand-name players can be made region-free with a simple "hack" that usually involves nothing more complicated than pressing a few buttons on the remote. (I have personally "liberated" my OPPO, a Yamaha, a Toshiba and a LG.) Search this site for "region free hack", or visit VideoHelp.com/DVDhacks. __________________ MY HT SET-UP (PICS & GEAR LIST)

2007-01-31, 03:26 PM	#6
eljay Premium Supporter Join Date: May 2003 Location: Ottawa (Orleans), ON Posts: 8,345	Depending on the player you're eyeing, you may be able to get confirmation of the viability of a posted hack from another owner or from a discussion board. If you're planning to buy a player from a big-box store, you can simply return it if the hack doesn't work. __________________ MY HT SET-UP (PICS & GEAR LIST)

2007-01-31, 03:29 PM	#8
57 Moderator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Toronto, Rogers, 8300HD, eHDD, Panasonic TCP65S1, Denon AVR4310Ci; 8300HD, eHDD & Sony KDL40W3000 Posts: 50,301	Do a web search for a place called 220giftcenter for options... If you decide you may wish to import, do NOT use UPS - they do ding you with lots of charges. Use USPS (the postal service). See the following thread. http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=19564 __________________ 57's Home Theatre (Latest equipment & photos) 57's Optimization Services (Home Theatre Optimization)

2007-02-03, 02:10 PM	#10
luch Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Vancouver Posts: 35	I import a lot of dvds from the UK and Europe as well... so after a bit of research, ...I found this player: Philips Progressive Scan 1-Disc DVD Player With DivX Ultra (DVP5140) I picked it up at BB. You can set the player to any region you want without any hacks. Perfect. Cheers. Last edited by Cyclism; 2007-02-03 at 04:08 PM. Reason: Retail link and discount pricing.

2007-01-31, 03:11 PM	#3
xtrawidth Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 52	teh only issue with that is praying that the manufacturer hasn't updated their firmware to stop the hack...

2007-01-31, 03:21 PM	#4
Cyclism Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Vancouver - OTA, Pioneer KURO Elite Signature PRO-141FD, 27" iMac, WDTV Live. Posts: 2,779	If you get the "hack" to work, then why would you then download and install the updated firmware if you are afraid it would stop it?

2007-01-31, 03:23 PM	#5
xtrawidth Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 52	No you misunderstand... Say a hack is posted on the web in Nov 2006, and the player is manufacturered in Jan 2007, there's a chance the firmware on the player already won't allow the hack anymore. right?

2007-01-31, 03:27 PM	#7
Cyclism Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Vancouver - OTA, Pioneer KURO Elite Signature PRO-141FD, 27" iMac, WDTV Live. Posts: 2,779	True, but you can always check the firmware update site to see if they've implemented the Region free suppression or not and take the risk that the one you're buying was manufactured before the update.

2007-02-01, 07:54 AM	#9
sleemo Moderator Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: The Scarb Posts: 2,781	Go to videohelp.com, click on "dvd hacks". You'll find what you need in there.

2007-02-03, 03:33 PM	#11
luch Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Vancouver Posts: 35	^ Well, I guess technically it's a hack, but it works nicely... How to convert your Philips DVP5140 into a Multi Region DVD Player Power Up the unit with NO Disc in the tray. Open the tray Press the SETUP Button on the remote control Navigate to the PREFERENCES page using the Right Arrow Key Press the DOWN ARROW one time to select Press the 1 button on your remote control Press the 3 button on your remote control Press the 8 button on your remote control Press the 9 button on your remote control Press the 3 button on your remote control Press the 1 button on your remote control The current Region Code Setting will display Use the UP/DOWN Arrow Keys to select the region required or '0' for All Regions Press the PLAY Button on the remote control NOTE - The 0 (zero) in the above sequence represents the Region Code 0 - Region Free. If you want to set to a specific region, just replace the 0 with the region number that you want.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode