HELP, I need a new cheap region free DVD player... or solution to my current problems

[DeadlyMessiah]

Does anyone know of a nice reliable cheap all region player (with an optical outlet)? I heard Wal-mart has a CyberHome CH-300 player with an easy hack, but I have no idea how its playback is.

I currently have the following problems with my players:

My All Region Akai takes 15 minutes to load a disc and the discs keep hic-uping

My Regon 1 Sony either craps out half way through a disc (and I mean ANY disc, like Batman Begins, Saw, Gilgamesh Vol3, The Grudge, Star Wars, etc) or it will stop loading the disc with a C:13:00 message flasing across the right hand corner of the screen.

Anyone know how to fix either of those problems? I tried using a lens cleaner disc, did nothing. Then I tried wiping the lens off with a q-tip, still nothing.

[Iridium]

Supposedly that Sony C:13:00 message means the lens is dirty.

Edit: There are detailed instructions available for an very warranty-voiding alternate fix method as well. This person claims it's because a certain fuse is too small and must be bypassed. Though IMO this is dangerous because you're cutting out a safeguard.

This C:13:00 error is widely reported. Do some googling. I've heard talk of a class action suit.

[DeadlyMessiah]

[ QUOTE ]
Iridium said:
Supposedly that Sony C:13:00 message means the lens is dirty.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, I'll try cleaning it again, but I doubt that is going to help since it has been doing it (although, it only did it once in a while before) at least the first 5 times I try to load up a disc, especially a disc released by WB.

[Skywise]

Use compressed air, not qtips or so called lens cleaners. The latter may actually damage the lens.

See:

http://forums.animeondvd.com/showthreade...amp;o=&vc=1

[DeadlyMessiah]

[ QUOTE ]
Skywise said:
Use compressed air, not qtips or so called lens cleaners. The latter may actually damage the lens.

See:

http://forums.animeondvd.com/showthreade...amp;o=&vc=1

[/ QUOTE ]

NO matter what, nothing did anything as it is still causing problems. I'm done with my Sony, and will never buy another DVD player from them, especially since it can't even last 5 years whereas I have a VCR they made for over 7 years now.

[Skywise]

If cleaning doesn't work, that would tend to indicate that either the laser is damaged or somewhat out of alignment. Neither is something you can easily fix yourself, so if you want it repaired you'll most likely have to take it to a repairshop.

[DeadlyMessiah]

[ QUOTE ]
Skywise said:
If cleaning doesn't work, that would tend to indicate that either the laser is damaged or somewhat out of alignment. Neither is something you can easily fix yourself, so if you want it repaired you'll most likely have to take it to a repairshop.

[/ QUOTE ]

Screw that. It'd be cheaper just to buy a new one, and I've really been hearing great things about that CH-DVD 300, not to mention everyone says the region hack works. Besides, we don't have any shops around that repair players.

[Billthree]

I think a critical factor in choosing whether to buy a cheap DVD player or a more spendy one is your display set up. If you are using an old analog TV with RCA input then a cyberhome cheap DVD player will be fine.

If you are using a digital TV and relying on the DVD player to provide a clean progressive signal then look to the more expensive models.

My region free players are both Philips although the progressive model I have has terrible de-intelacing.

I don't know what else I can add.

Bill III

[DeadlyMessiah]

[ QUOTE ]
Bill_Three said:
I think a critical factor in choosing whether to buy a cheap DVD player or a more spendy one is your display set up. If you are using an old analog TV with RCA input then a cyberhome cheap DVD player will be fine.

If you are using a digital TV and relying on the DVD player to provide a clean progressive signal then look to the more expensive models.

My region free players are both Philips although the progressive model I have has terrible de-intelacing.

I don't know what else I can add.

Bill III

[/ QUOTE ]

Yep, I have no digital TV, and don't plan on getting one until at least I move to Colorado next year.

[cihan]

I've been researching DVD players for my girlfriend in the states who needs a new one, and so far the best I've seen (for under $100) is the Philips DVP 642 (around $60 in most stores). It can play NTSC or PAL, can be hacked via the remote to be multi-regional, and can also play nearly any file you throw at it from CDR's, DVDRs, to simple data discs with AVI files. Its not a perfect player for some, from what I've read from various forums, but for its price its the best out there. So I'll be buying one next month and hopefully watching multiregion goodness with my girlfriend soon!

The excellent site I used to research players was www.videohelp.com