Sharp DV-650 DVD Player

DVD video quality is far superior to anything you'll find on a VCR. Sharp's player contains 10-bit video processing and provides up to 500-lines of resolution. In addition, the built-in Dolby Digital decoder delivers ear-piercing audio in full 5.1 surround sound. To fully appreciate the aural impact of Dolby Digital, you'll need to have five speakers and a subwoofer. However, if you are not yet equipped for a full surround system setup, this player does support virtual Dolby surround sound. This technology will enhance the stereo sound on DVD players that are connected to two-speaker home-theater systems.

This small-sized DVD player packs several other features as well, including parental control technology, S-Video output, and multiple angle support. While there are some DVD models available with more features, we found the Sharp DV650 to be a good value for the price. In particular, the inclusion of a built-in Dolby Digital decoder is a bargain. Many early DVD players required consumers to purchase a separate--and expensive--decoder. On the downside, this player does not contain the built-in decoder which is needed for another high-quality surround technology known as DTS. While this audio format is less common than Dolby Digital, you will have to purchase a separate DTS decoder if you wish to playback DTS-compatible films.

If you haven't already purchased a separate Dolby Digital decoder, we recommend Sharp's DV950 for the digital DVD experience.

Pros:

• Built-in Dolby Digital decoder
• Great picture quality
• Tons of features
• Affordable price

Cons:

• DTS decoder not included