Page 1 of Just moved to USA - which player should I buy for region 1-2?

I`ve just moved to the USA from the UK.

I have a number of region 2 DVD`s which ideally I don`t want to replace with Region 1 discs.

Can anyone recommend a good sensibly priced player I can buy in the US - which hasn`t had it`s hacking capability disabled? (Up to $300 pref.) I`m not looking for a multi-disc (unless around the aforementioned price) but do want to be able to play both region 1 and 2 discs.

I realise I might have problems with PAL - although shouldn`t that be bypassed by S-Video?

Thanks

Adam

You should really have bought a player to bring with you! Hackable players (especially those that can also play PAL) seem to be thin on the ground in the US, unless anyone knows different...

S-Video will *not* bypass NTSC/PAL issues! You need a DVD player which can play PAL discs (most US models can`t) and a TV which will both accept PAL and sync to a 50Hz video signal.

Some DVD players (Apex models, for example) can do a conversion of sorts, so you can watch PAL discs on a NTSC-only TV, but I don`t know what the quality is like.


Mike

Check out the Sampo DVE-620.
It might work.
Check out the old listing on this forum.

That looks like it should do the trick - and let me take it back to the UK afterwards. If anyone else is interested you can find info on the codefree version of this player here -> http://www.codefreedvdplayers.com/MSDVD_SMPO_dve-620_DTL.shtml

or the makers web site here (coded) ->
http://www.sampoamericas.com/products/dve620.html

The code free goes for about $350, the standard one $170.

It`s 110-240v and plays NTSC on PAL and PAL on NTSC.

1) Does anyone know if you can still hack the latest models? (I`ve seen old threads talking about firmware regression - but just wanted to double check!)

2) Also - how legal is it to use a code free player in the US, Oregon in particular. I`ve found several sites saying you can own the player, but whether you can legally play depends on the state. Anyone know of a good link?

3) Is there a multi-region (code free) hack that doesn`t involve disabling macrovision? - if the unit still had this intact - then I would have some backup in saying that I`m not interested in copying DVDs to Tape (something specifically sighted by the legal stuff I`ve seen) - and am just using it to watch my old english (R2) DVDs.

This item was edited on Wednesday, 4th April 2001, 02:17

Adam

http://www.area450.co.uk

Everything you need to know about Sampo players and more. Do NOT download the firmware from Sampo`s site as it disables the Region hack and the Macro off facility !!!

There are plenty of resources on my site, including a link thru to Teddystacker`s site which has EVERY Sampo firmware release EVER !!

The Hitachi 505 does all you require squire!

This item was edited on Wednesday, 4th April 2001, 23:40

Hi Adam:
SAMPO 620 is the way to go. The version for 170 is also hackable. Just make sure it is 110-220 Volts. If its multivoltage, it is remote hackable. As far as I know all sampo 620 are hackable. Only the newer Sampo 620 with latest firmware are not. But no problem . No need to pay mega bucks. Just flash it with an old firmware version. The older version of firmware is at www.area450.com. Its a very good site Its the UK mirror model of Sampo 620 USA.
Check out buy.com, 800.com or dynadirect.com

Just check the return policy -----just in case you need to return it. I got mine from 800.com
Also check the old posts on this site. McHale and clayt are authorities on Sampo. Thanks guys

MK

www.epinions.com
American review site, what ever player you buy you can read reviews on it by the people who have bought the machines.

This item was edited on Sunday, 8th April 2001, 13:24

Hi guys,

Thank you all for your help. I bought a Sampo DVE-620 and it came on Monday ($150 DynaDirect + shipping).

Apart from the terrible AV cables provided (which I instantly upgraded to gold connectors) - the unit worked `nearly` perfectly right out of the box.

The main issue I had was with firmware 3.3c - which I upgraded to 3.4b - which fixed some color pulsing issues.

The remaining one is that on one DVD in particular, `Porkys & Porkys II` (double sided disc) - the audio and video freeze intermittently around the beginning of chapters 9, 10 and 11 (haven`t checked further).

I played around with the audio settings - cycling through them - and at one point - although I don`t know how - seemed to fix the problem. Both the audio and video freeze disappeared.

Yet when I turned the unit off/on and replayed the aforementioned chapters the problem was back - and I can`t figure out what I did to fix it.

This doesn`t seem to be a disc problem - and I`ve replaced it once.

Any ideas what might be going on?

Thanks

Adam

Adam - you may want to switch to firmware version 3.4c, which you can download from Teddystacker (there`s a link from http://www.area450.co.uk/downloads.htm - don`t use the 3.4c on Area 450 though, it`s for European players !) or from the Sampo site.

I know above I said don`t use this firmware version as it removes the hacks - well there is a way round it, which I`ve posted at http://www.area450.co.uk/Hangar18.htm - basically, switch your regions to BYPASS, your CSS to AUTO, your macrovision to OFF, then upgrade. Even tho` the secret menus aren`t there, everything is still functioning. And hell, your player will still play RCE discs too !! Bonus...

I`ve noticed a significantly improved picture quality with 3.4c