Multisystem (NTSC and PAL compatible) DVD Players!

Created 2001-06-16
Last modified 2001-06-16

Disclaimer: This document is copyright Gregor 2001, and is for personal non-commercial use only, in it's complete and unedited form only. Although I try to keep the information in this document up to date, I can not guarantee it's accuracy. I am not responsible for your dissatisfaction with or damage to your Home Theater or anything else as a result of any decisions which you may have made based on information contained in this document.

Scam Warning: Most of the off brand DVD players mentioned in this document are very inexpensive (street prices of US$140-170 or sometimes even less), but many unscrupulous vendors (usually specialists in worldwide multisystem electronics, or in modified name brand DVD players) sell them at ludicrously marked up prices in excess of twice the manufacturer's suggested list prices! They do this in order to make them fit in price-wise with the other expensive products they sell - the modified name brand DVD players they also sell don't do any conversions and cost $300+, and external PAL<->NTSC convertor boxed also cost $200+! Shop around before you make your purchase and don't get ripped off!

Introduction: The chart below includes a detailed feature comparison of DVD players which play both NTSC and PAL format DVDs to help you decide which one you want to purchase. Some of the players can even convert between PAL and NTSC, while others play them both in their native formats, but do not convert between them.

You can find the basic specifications of these DVD players in many other places, so they are not the focus of this document. I have tried instead to include information which would influence your ability to use the players well, but which is not listed anywhere else.

Multisystem Basics: I will be making another page which explains the basic differences between the various worldwide video standards in detail. So to be brief, I will only mention the most relevant parts here:

NTSC uses 480 interlaced displayable scanlines, per frame, which take roughly 1/30 of a second to display, (and color is represented using the NTSC encoding)
PAL uses 576 interlaced displayable scanlines, per frame, which take roughly 1/25 of a second to display, (and color is represented using the more stable PAL encoding)

(*films are shown at 24 frames per second in theaters and for NTSC and HDTV transfers, but when they are transferred to PAL they are often sped up to 25FPS to simplify the transfer process)

Due to these resolution and framerate differences, conversion between video standards requires that you scale the image to the new resolution, and output that image at a different framerate. This isn't a ssimple as it sounds, although DVDs can make it simpler.

All of the PAL<->NTSC converting DVD players here use a DVD decoding chipset by ESS Technologies which does the scaling part of the PAL->NTSC conversion in hardware using the 16:9 -> 4:3 letterbox compression mode, and then outputs the converted frames at NTSC framerate with NTSC color encoding. Unfortunately, this has some side effects:

The converted aspect ratio is slightly off - everything is slightly more compressed vertically than it should be.
For 16:9 enhanced PAL material, since the 16:9->4:3 scaling circuit is already in use, so the TV Type setting in your DVD player's menu has no effect, and on a 4:3 TV everything looks too tall. However, on a 16:9 TV, everything will only look slightly too short as above.
The 16:9 -> 4:3 scaling ratio is less artifact prone than the correct ratios are, so the stretched/squashed converted image from these players actually looks more smooth than a correctly converted image would

Here are the correct scaling factors which should be used to expand or reduce the number of scanlines in various possible conversions:

PAL 16:9 -> PAL 4:3 - 75%
PAL 16:9 -> NTSC 16:9 - 83.33%
PAL 16:9 -> NTSC 4:3 - 62.5%
PAL 4:3 -> NTSC 4:3 - 83.33%
PAL 4:3 -> NTSC 16:9 - 111.11%
NTSC 16:9 -> NTSC 4:3 - 75%
NTSC 16:9 -> PAL 4:3 - 90%
NTSC 16:9 -> PAL 16:9 - 120%
NTSC 4:3 -> PAL 4:3 - 120%
NTSC 4:3 -> PAL 16:9 - 160%

Only some of the above conversions are actually performed by existing DVD players, and those are not all performed correctly. (I haven't verified any of the NTSC->PAL conversions, but I suspect they are using a different scaling mode since they have to be expanded, so they may actually be done at the correct ratios...)

Also, VCDs come in three flavors: PAL (352x288 25FPS), NTSC (352x240 30FPS), or NTSC Film (352x240 24FPS), but since these must be scaled up for display in any system, and they are not interlaced, so most DVD players convert them to your local video system without the problems associated with DVD format conversion...

Feature Apex AD-600A Raite AVPhile 715 (old/new) Sampo DVE-620 Pioneer DV-525 Skyworth DVD-1050P

MSRP / street price Gone Gone 179 / 149 299 / 175 ? / 260.00 + shipping

Ratings: - - - - -

DVD video quality C - B B A- A A+

Defective disc handling B+ A- (old) / B- (new) A C A+

Command response time A A A C B+/C (occasional long waits)

VCD/SVCD playback quality B B+ A- B A

Supported Formats: - - - - -

DVD Y Y Y Y Y

MiniDVD ? ? ? ? ?

VCD Y Y Y Y Y

SVCD Y Y Y Y Y

.mp3 files Y Y Y N Y

Recordable Media: - - - - -

CD-R Y Y Y Y Y

CD-RW Y Y Y Y Y

DVD-R ? ? ? ? ?

Audio formats for DVD: - - - - -

Dolby Digital Y Y Y Y Y

DTS Y Y Y Y Y

MPEG Y Y Y Y Y

24-bit 96KhZ PCM DAC ? ? ? Y Y

Video Outputs: - - - - -

Composite 1 1 1 1 1

S-video 1 1 1 1 1

Component (interlaced) 1 0 1 1 1

Component (progressive) N/A N/A N/A N/A 1 (60hZ 480p for NTSC, 50hZ 576p for PAL)

VGA RGB (progressive) N/A N/A N/A N/A 1 (60hZ 480p for NTSC, 50hZ 576p for PAL)

Audio I/O: - - - - -

Stereo analog 1 2 1 1 1

5.1 analog N/A N/A N/A N/A 1 set

Headphone Jack 0 0 1 0 0

Optical Digital 0 1 1 1 1

Coaxial Digital 1 1 1 1 1

Karaoke mic 2 w/ 2 volume N/A N/A N/A 2 w/ 1 volume 1 echo

DVD Playback: - - - - -

PAL -> NTSC conversion Squished if 4:3, tall if 16:9 Squished if 4:3, tall if 16:9 Squished if 4:3, tall if 16:9 N/A N/A

NTSC -> PAL conversion ? ? ? N/A N/A

Image cropping ? ? ? slight on right and top basicly none!

PBC Generates menu of chapter images when off! Generates menu of chapter images when off! N/A N/A N/A

Smooth scan 2x w/ subtitles! 2x w/ subtitles! 2x w/ subtitles! - -

Jerky scan 4x, 6x, 8x 4x, 8x, 16x ?8x, 16x, 30x ~30x only 2x, 4x, 8x, 20x

Slow motion (reverse is awful) 1/2 - 1/8 1/2 - 1/8 1/2 - 1/8 1/2 - 1/30? 1/2 - 1/7

Frame advance/back forward only None :( forward only both, but back skips to last I-frame :( forward only

Zoom 2x, 4x 2x, 4x 2x, 4x none 3 levels for P&S-ing 1.77:1, 1.85:1, and 2.35:1 LBX stuff respectively for NTSC discs, but only 1 level for PAL discs if in LBX mode, none in other modes?!?

Freeze frame modes ? high or low resolution ? ? low resolution only

Volume control Yes, w/ Mute Yes, w/ Mute Yes, w/ Mute No Mute only

Remain time display Y Y N Y Y

Bitrate display N N N Y N

Jog/Shuttle N N N N N

built in games N N N N Y

mp3 features: - - - - -

Filenames 8.3 ~14 chars 8.3 N/A ?

random play Y N Y N/A Y?

Lyrics file display w/ background image N Y N N/A N

Tech: - - - - -

Power Supply / cord 110V only, grounded fixed universal /
old=grounded computer style removeable,
new=ungrounded fixed universal / grounded fixed 110V only / ungrounded removeable universal / grounded fixed, HK plug

MPEG chipset ESS ESS ESS Pioneer ?

Progressive chipset N/A N/A N/A N/A Faroudja 2200

Transport type 2x+ DVD-Rom 2x+ DVD-Rom 2x+ DVD-Rom 1x custom transport ?

Feature	Apex AD-600A	Raite AVPhile 715 (old/new)	Sampo DVE-620	Pioneer DV-525	Skyworth DVD-1050P
MSRP / street price	Gone	Gone	179 / 149	299 / 175	? / 260.00 + shipping
Ratings:	-	-	-	-	-
DVD video quality	C - B	B	A-	A	A+
Defective disc handling	B+	A- (old) / B- (new)	A	C	A+
Command response time	A	A	A	C	B+/C (occasional long waits)
VCD/SVCD playback quality	B	B+	A-	B	A
Supported Formats:	-	-	-	-	-
DVD	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
MiniDVD	?	?	?	?	?
VCD	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
SVCD	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
.mp3 files	Y	Y	Y	N	Y
Recordable Media:	-	-	-	-	-
CD-R	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
CD-RW	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
DVD-R	?	?	?	?	?
Audio formats for DVD:	-	-	-	-	-
Dolby Digital	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
DTS	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
MPEG	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
24-bit 96KhZ PCM DAC	?	?	?	Y	Y
Video Outputs:	-	-	-	-	-
Composite	1	1	1	1	1
S-video	1	1	1	1	1
Component (interlaced)	1	0	1	1	1
Component (progressive)	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	1 (60hZ 480p for NTSC, 50hZ 576p for PAL)
VGA RGB (progressive)	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	1 (60hZ 480p for NTSC, 50hZ 576p for PAL)
Audio I/O:	-	-	-	-	-
Stereo analog	1	2	1	1	1
5.1 analog	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	1 set
Headphone Jack	0	0	1	0	0
Optical Digital	0	1	1	1	1
Coaxial Digital	1	1	1	1	1
Karaoke mic	2 w/ 2 volume	N/A	N/A	N/A	2 w/ 1 volume 1 echo
DVD Playback:	-	-	-	-	-
PAL -> NTSC conversion	Squished if 4:3, tall if 16:9	Squished if 4:3, tall if 16:9	Squished if 4:3, tall if 16:9	N/A	N/A
NTSC -> PAL conversion	?	?	?	N/A	N/A
Image cropping	?	?	?	slight on right and top	basicly none!
PBC	Generates menu of chapter images when off!	Generates menu of chapter images when off!	N/A	N/A	N/A
Smooth scan	2x w/ subtitles!	2x w/ subtitles!	2x w/ subtitles!	-	-
Jerky scan	4x, 6x, 8x	4x, 8x, 16x	?8x, 16x, 30x	~30x only	2x, 4x, 8x, 20x
Slow motion (reverse is awful)	1/2 - 1/8	1/2 - 1/8	1/2 - 1/8	1/2 - 1/30?	1/2 - 1/7
Frame advance/back	forward only	None :(	forward only	both, but back skips to last I-frame :(	forward only
Zoom	2x, 4x	2x, 4x	2x, 4x	none	3 levels for P&S-ing 1.77:1, 1.85:1, and 2.35:1 LBX stuff respectively for NTSC discs, but only 1 level for PAL discs if in LBX mode, none in other modes?!?
Freeze frame modes	?	high or low resolution	?	?	low resolution only
Volume control	Yes, w/ Mute	Yes, w/ Mute	Yes, w/ Mute	No	Mute only
Remain time display	Y	Y	N	Y	Y
Bitrate display	N	N	N	Y	N
Jog/Shuttle	N	N	N	N	N
built in games	N	N	N	N	Y
mp3 features:	-	-	-	-	-
Filenames	8.3	~14 chars	8.3	N/A	?
random play	Y	N	Y	N/A	Y?
Lyrics file display w/ background image	N	Y	N	N/A	N
Tech:	-	-	-	-	-
Power Supply / cord	110V only, grounded fixed	universal / old=grounded computer style removeable, new=ungrounded fixed	universal / grounded fixed	110V only / ungrounded removeable	universal / grounded fixed, HK plug
MPEG chipset	ESS	ESS	ESS	Pioneer	?
Progressive chipset	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Faroudja 2200
Transport type	2x+ DVD-Rom	2x+ DVD-Rom	2x+ DVD-Rom	1x custom transport	?

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