The Toshiba SD3010 features upscaling technology, which in essence, means that the SD3010 will show DVD’s at near HD quality. It works by minimising information loss from disc to screen, and provides a better picture quality for HD TVs. The player can play all the recognised formats, and has good connectivity.

Current Price on Amazon: £23.99

Spec:

• Playback formats: DVD/-R/-RW/+R/+RW, CD/-R/-RW Play
• Features 1080p Upscaling Technology
• HDMI & Scart Sockets
• Dolby Digital Compatible
• DTS Compatible
• Weight 1.2Kg
• Dimensions 209 x 43 330 mm

For DVD players to survive in a world where good Blu-Ray players can be had fairly cheaply now, they have to either be able to upscale or record. Toshiba’s model can upscale and has good connectivity. If you have an HD TV and are not quite ready to make the leap to Blu-Ray, this fine DVD player could be the best option.

Sony’s BDPS370 features internet connectivity so YouTube and other sites can be streamed to the big screen, fast loading times, upscaling of DVDs to near HD quality, and a compact price of £119.99. The player can also play films from a flash drive, and it is possible to use an iPhone as a remote control. It can play a variety of formats including DivX. Wireless connection to the internet is possible via a wireless dongle.

Current Price on Amazon: £180.88

Spec:

• DVD Region: 2
• Blu-Ray Region: B
• BonusView included (BonusView allows additional features to be watched simultaneously with the main feature in a seperate window)
• Playback formats: AVC-HD (Disc, USB), DVD Video Playback, Audio CD,DVD-R/RW, DVD-RW,DVD+R/RW,CD-R/RW,SACD, USB, JPEG, DivXHD,WMA, MPEG1/2,MPEG4,MP3,AAC
• Picture Quality: 1080p output (via HDMI®)
• Precision Cinema HD upscale (DVD upscaling to 1080p) included
• Video D/A Converter 1080i,720p : 12bit/148.5MHz 480i/p, 576i/p: 12bit/108MHz
• Precision Drive HD included
• Audio 8ch Linear PCM bitstream out built – in
• Dolby TrueHD decoding Dolby TrueHD bitstream out built-in
• DTS-HD Master Audio decoding built – in
• DTS-HD Master Audio bitstream out built – in
• Component Video Output 1
• Digital Audio Output: Coaxial 1
• Digital Audio Output: Optical 1
• Internet connectiviy via Ethernet or via Wireless dongle
• BRAVIA Sync included

Costs £180.88

For the money this Blu-Ray player is a real steal. If there is a criticism, it is that wireless internet connectivity is not built – in. But at this price tag, that is more of a whinge than a criticism.

Samsung have given the BD-C7500 a vast array of features. Wireless internet connectivity allows for videos and features such as the BBC iPlayer to be shown via the player, while Anynet+ eliminates the need for a small army of remote controls, providing they are compatible with Samsung technology. Other features include faster loading times of Blu-Ray discs, Upscaling of DVDs to near HD quality, DTS HD Master Audio which provides enhanced sound quality, and the machine can play a wide variety of formats including Div X from flash drives. The BD-C7500 is wall mountable.

Current Price on Amazon: £unavailable

Spec:

• Region B
• DivX/MPEG4 compatible
• Compatible Media: Blu-ray Video, BD-R/RE, DVD-Video, DVD/ DVD±R/ DVD±RW (V-mode only), Audio CD, CD/ CD-R/ CD-RW, USB storage devices
• Compatible with Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby True HD , DTS, DTS HD High Resolution Audio, DTS-HD Master Audio, LPCM, MP3, WMA
• Video Out: HDMI, component, composite
• Audio Out: Optical digital out, analogue audio out (2 channels)
• Wireless connectivity via Internet@TV
• Dimensions: 420 x 175 x 32 mm
• Weight 1.6 kg
• Anynet+ technology (Compatible remote controls will work with this product)
• Upscaling technology fof DVDs.
• BD Live & BonusView (BonusView allows additional features to be watched simultaneously with the main feature in a seperate window)
• Wall mountable

Costs £unavailable

Though there are cheaper Blu-Ray players on the market, none can really match the BD-C7500′s range of features. The wireless internet technology combined with DTS HD Master Audio, may make someone reach for their wallet to find that little extra cash for this player’s enhanced features. A good one to go for if you want that little extra out of your Blu-Ray player.

The Panasonic DMR-EX83EB-K, is a high definition DVD recorder with built in Freeview. This player not only features upscaling, whereby DVDs are shown at near HD quality, but it can record television programmes to its 250GB hard drive for later viewing. Panasonic have facilitated using one remote control with VIERA compatible devices, and it is possible to use the player as a giant juke box by storing CDs to the hard drive.

Current Price on Amazon: £238.99

Spec:

• Playback formats: DVD/-R/-RW/+R/+RW, Div X, CD/-R/-RW Play MP3, WMA, JPEG
• Features 1080p Upscaling Technology
• HDMI & Scart Sockets
• Dolby Digital Compatible
• DTS Compatible
• Weight 3.5Kg
• Dimensions 439 x 59 x 286 mm
• 250GB Hard Disc
• Recording times for Hard Disc
  -XP mode: 55 hours
  -SP mode: 110 hours
  -LP mode: 221 hours
  -EP mode: 331 / 441 hours
• Supports JPEG, MPEG2 transfer to HDD and DVD
• Supports JPEG transfer from HDD/DVD
• SD Card slot
• USB
• Recording formats: DVD-RAM,DVD-R, DVD-R DL,DVD-RW: DVD-Video Format,CD-R/CD-RW
• Freeview Tuner

Costs £238.99

It is hard to imagine an extra feature that this DVD recorder would need to complete its line – up of quality features. Panasonic have realised that DVD players need to be able to do something extra than just play DVDs and they have come up with a good recorder with Freeview and upscaling. If you record a lot of programmes and want good picture quality to go with your HD TV. This is a good option to consider.