Most of them can be made multi-region easily and now play mp3 but vcd/svcd playback is often a problem and the ability to disable macrovision is now rare.
Try the Dansai 1010 from Tesco at £85 there is a simple multi region hack (for latest version see my posing in the Region Hacks forum on Dansai Hacks) and you can get an upgrade disc from the Tesco helpline to enable vcd/svcd play with the bonus that it also allows macrovision to be switched off.