• Determine Your DVD Player & DVD Recorder Needs

• Look at DVD Player Features

• Look at DVD Recorder Features

• Find DVD Players & DVD Recorders on eBay

• Buy DVD Players & DVD Recorders With Confidence

Determine Your DVD Player & DVD Recorder Needs

Determine Your DVD Player & DVD Recorder Needs

DVD players and DVD recorders offer clear, bright colours and support Dolby and DTS surround sound tracks embedded in your movies. Most DVD players also play your CDs and some even include a VCR. Your DVD player and recorder options include:

• Single-disc DVD players: Play one DVD or CD at a time on a single-disc DVD player.

• DVD player/VCR combos: Combination DVD players/VCRs play your DVDs, CDs, and VHS tapes.

• Multi-disc DVD players: DVD changers allow two to six DVDs or CDs to play continuously.

• Mega-changer DVD players: Store, sort, categorize, and play hundreds of DVDs with a mega-changer DVD player.

• Portable DVD players: Perfect for people on the go, compact portable DVD players let you take your DVDs on the road or on airplanes.

• Progressive-scan DVD players: Get the most vibrant and crisp DVD playback with little flicker. Progressive-scan DVD players support near high-definition 480p (852x480 progressive scan) resolution signals. Look for a progressive scan DVD player with a “2:3 pulldown” or “3:2 inverse pulldown” feature to minimize flickering and improve picture quality.

• Region-free DVD players: Play DVDs from all over the world on a region-free DVD player. You may still need to purchase a video format converter to play your PAL or NTSC discs, depending on your TV setup. So, be sure to check the manufacturer’s specifications.

• DVD recorders: Play your DVDs and record your favorite shows for personal viewing at a later time. With a DVD recorder you can finally replace your old VCR. Some DVD recorders even have a built-in digital video recorder (DVR).

• DVD recorders/VCR combos: Many new DVD recorders come with a VCR. DVD recorder/ VCR combination devices allow you to upgrade to a DVD recorder and watch your favorite old VHS tapes.

More on DVD region codes

DVDs from different parts of the world can only play on certain machines. Each of the six DVD regions uses one of the following recording formats: National Television System Committee (NTSC), Phase Alternating Line (PAL), or Sequential Color with Memory (SECAM). Most countries use recording standards that are incompatible with one another.

Look at DVD Player Features

Look at DVD Player Features

Find a DVD player with all the features you need.

Look at supported audio formats

Aside from supporting Dolby Digital and DTS surround sound formats, your DVD player can double as a digital audio player. Most support CDs, but you may also want to look for Super Audio CD (SACD) and MP3 support. If you want to output analog audio directly to your TV or stereo receiver, make sure the DVD player has analog outputs and a digital-to-analog (DAC) converter to reproduce sound.

Find special viewing features

Speed up your DVD footage with fast scan, play it back in slow motion, or view movies frame-by-frame. Some DVD players also include a zoom feature to enlarge on-screen images.

Evaluate video outputs

The inputs on your television or home theater receiver will determine which types of outputs your DVD player needs. It also tells you which type of cable you'll need to buy.

• Component video cables: Use a component video cable to transfer high-quality video from your DVD player to your home theater receiver or television.

• S-video cables: Use a S-video cable to transfer good-quality video from your DVD player to your receiver or television.

• Composite video cables: All DVD players have composite video outputs that allow you to transfer video over a standard RCA cable. Image quality will look better than VHS.

Output your digital audio

Look for a DVD player with optical and coaxial digital outputs that allow you to transfer video over an optical digital/fiber optic cable or 75-ohm coaxial digital cable. Make sure the inputs on your receiver are the same as the outputs on your audio source.

Look at DVD Recorder Features

Look at DVD Recorder Features

DVD recorders are an alternative to VCRs that record to DVD media instead of VHS tapes. Most have inputs that can accept a signal from a camcorder so that you can record your home movies. Like VCRs, you can also record TV shows for your own personal reviewing at a later time. Many broadcasts now feature copy-protection and recent DVD recorders will typically limit how many recordings you can make according to the program's level of copy protection.

The DVD format gives you superior sound and picture quality. The different types of DVD recorders fall into four categories:

• DVD recorders: Record straight to DVD with a DVD recorder.

• DVD recorders with hard drives: Store your video on a hard drive and select the video you want to record to DVD.

• DVRs with DVD recorders: Some digital video recorders (DVRs) also write to DVD media.

• DVD/VHS recorders: Dual-deck recorders can record to DVD media or VHS tapes.

Many new DVD recorders include an electronic program guide that makes it easy to set up and program your DVD recorder.

DVD recorder formats

Most set-top and computer DVD players will play back DVD+R and DVD-R discs. Make sure your DVD recorder supports these formats. You can write information to inexpensive DVD+R and DVD-R media only once.

Some DVD recorders will also work with DVD-RW and DVD+RW rewritable discs. You'll need to view disc content on your recorder or on a computer that can read them.

DVD-RAM, a sophisticated rewritable format, allows on-disc editing and simultaneous recording and playback.

DVD playback

Like DVD players, look for coaxial or optical video inputs and digital audio outputs if you want to integrate your DVD recorder with your surround sound home theatre system.

Find DVD Players & DVD Recorders on eBay

Find DVD Players & DVD Recorders on eBay

Once you know what type of DVD player or recorder you want, go to the Consumer Electronics portal, click DVD Players & Recorders, and start searching for items on eBay.

• Keyword search: Search eBay listing titles for specific words. For example, if you want to find a DVD recorder with a hard drive, type "DVD recorder HDD" (without quotation marks) into the Search box. Click "Search title and description" to expand your results. Visit eBay's Search Tips page for more tips on searching with keywords.

If you can't find exactly what you want, try shopping eBay Stores, tell the eBay Community what you want by saving a search on My eBay and eBay will email you when a match becomes available.

Buy DVD Players & DVD Recorders With Confidence

Buy DVD Players & DVD Recorders With Confidence

Before making your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you're buying, research your seller, and understand how eBay and PayPal protect you.

Know your purchase

Carefully read the details in item listings.

• Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you spend a lot of money, make sure the seller will insure the item when it ships.

• If you want more information, ask by clicking the "Ask seller a question" link under the seller's profile.

• Always make sure to complete your transaction on eBay (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay are not covered by eBay protection programs.

• Never pay for your eBay item using instant cash wire transfer services through Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know.

Know your seller

Research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction.

• What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have?

• What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise?

• Most top eBay sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they offer a money-back guarantee? What are the terms and conditions?

Buyer protection

In the unlikely event that a problem arises during your transaction, eBay and PayPal are there for you.

• Pay safely with PayPal: PayPal enables you to pay without the seller ever seeing your bank account or credit card numbers. In fact, PayPal protects buyers 100% against unauthorised payments from their accounts. Plus, with PayPal Buyer Protection, your purchase can be covered up to US$1,000.

• eBay Security Centre: Visit the Security Centre to learn how to protect your account and use eBay's quick and efficient resolution tools.