Good audio, reasonable features

Video needs much to be desired

Got the Samsung DVD-709 as a free gift form HiFi.com.

Plays well. I expected a really crappy player considering they were giving it for free. I was surprised that it was that good. Makes a good bedroom player.

Compared to my Sony DVP-7000, it's just okay but considering that the Sony costs about a grand. I would recommend it for casual DVD viewing. Has no optical outputs but it does have DTS.

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Sony DVP-7000

Nice little "joystick" feature on the remote. Tech support is friednly enough and willing to fix it at one of their specific stores.

Skips, skips, more skips, and let me see did I miss anything...oh yes, it SKIPS.

I was so happy to be able to afford a DVD player but I forgot the cardinal rule, "you get what you pay for." When this player works it is wonderful, but don't try to play any discs from New Line Home Video. Every single disc I have from them (and unfortunatly they have all the fun movies!) has skipped to the point where it is unwatchable. Biggest dissapointment was not being able to finish and see all of Austin Powers 2 and the extra scenes. Other movies have had skips but will work again after the machine has been turned off for 15-20 minutes. This leads me to beileve cooling might be a problem.
While the tech supports was very aggreable to trying to fix this, they only can fix it at certain stores, and most of them are in big cities- big problem for us country bumpkin type folk.
Audio wise, the virtual surround sound, is pretty snazzy but really doesn't hold up to having it pumped through a home theater.
Overall, I would suggest this player if you were concerned about cost but not quality and if you are willing to take a break mid way through an action scene to let the player cool down.

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N/A

easy hack

problem with some DVDs

The freeze and skip problems may be linked to the region-free hack, some recent dvd check the player's region setting. Have anyone tried to cold-start the player then replay the same DVD ?

I bought a Samsung DVD 709 in January. I had problems with it skipping on certain DVDs. On a couple of occasions I had to turn it off and then on toreset it. It has been in the shop since July. At the suggestion of the
Samsung technicians, one chip was replaced which didn't correct the problem. Now
Samsung suggests replacing a another chip, which has to be ordered and
replaced...another month I'll probably have to wait. If that doesn't work,
Samsung suggested replacing the whole board, which will have to be ordered...probably another month. Anyway, I called Customer Support who
said that if I want a replacement, they would send me a REFURBISHED DVD
player afer they talked to the repair shop! If you have a DVD 709 and you
can return it, DO IT NOW! I looks like Samsung is engaged in field engineering! It's amazing to me how a conglomerate as large as Samsung would offer an
dissatisified customer a refurbished DVD player.

I submitted a postive review (see below) on this the day after I bought it. Unfortunately, I have experienced the same issue with skipping / freezing on four of the 15 discs that I've played on it. For some reason, this were all music DVDs. Fleetwood Mac The Dance was by far the worst, freezing for a split second every 3 minutes on average.
I didn't get the Fleetwood Mac disc until I had already had the player for 32 days. Best Buy has a 30 day return policy and they were unwilling to let me exchange for a different model. I've been trying to get assistance from Samsung, but all I get is a reference to the local service center.

Sorry if I misled any of you with my prior positive review...

ZERO Stars. The skipping problem is persistent and serious. Took mine back and replaced it with a second Pioneer DV-414 which works flawlessly. I do miss the Samsung's zoom feature which made me feel like Harrison Ford in Bladerunner.

Price, Samsung brand

Samsung RULZ!!! no matter whether it play or not discs w/double-layers. It's Samsung. The picture quality is much better than Pioneer or Sony can even imagine. Sound quality can't be compared w/separate components from Rotel, Arcam, Meridian. It's so realistic. Buy Samsung products and you'll have lotsa fun till the end of your life !!!!!

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Pioneer DvD elite

I was happy with this player for the first 2 months.... until I bought the DVD for the Matrix (yep... dual layer). Took the first copy back for a replacement, and the second copy does not play... neither disc gets past loading. As long as you dont get any dual layered dvd's I give it a 4.5... but since I know a lot of movies are going to have to come out dual layer in the future, I cannot recommend it for future use. Thankfully, Target has a 90 day return policy... At least the other one I was looking at has gone down in price since then.

Awesome sound, video, and remote. Nice welcome messages.

The Audio CD player could be better, and other than that, none so far.

I bought this player on June 6th for about $160 at K-mart. I rented "Man on the Moon" and "The Jackal" for "try-out" DVDs, and had no problems what-so-ever. On June 10th, I recieved my "Puppet Master: The DVD Collection" box set (8 DVDs all together: Puppet Master 1-7, and a bonus 45 Trailer Reel DVD), and had no problems. The sound quality is decent, and the video quality is really cool. I have not tried any dual layer DVDs yet, but with any other DVDs, I had no problems on skipping, overheating, etc. The only major problem that bothered me was the inability to play CD-R discs. This doesn't take away any thoughts on the player, though, since this was not an advertised feature. For the record, I have tried 10 DVDs in the machine, and had no problems. So this DVD player has very good features, and no major problems (so far). If you are planning on getting Sony's PlayStation 2, however, I wouldn't even get a DVD player at this time, and just wait until October 26th. If you have a limited budget (Like I do), just want a DVD player, or are not planning on getting a PS2, I would recommend getting this DVD player.

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Older Samsung DVD players, Tobisha DVD players.

Very cheap if purchased with DTT2500 on Hifi.com

Noisy operation, average sound and video

when i first got the dvd player i was a little disappointed with its looks; kinda looks old school but i suppose some of you wont mind that. it is noticably noisy when operating unless you're cranking up the sound so not for people with sensitive ears. i wouldn't really reccomend this product unless you buy it with the Cambridge soundworks dttt2500 from hifi.com. it's just a little to expensive ; if you don't care about the noisiness for the same price ; i'd recommend one of the mp3 enabled dvd players! but for me i think i'll be sticking with a tosiba model either the 1200 or 2200.

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various sony, toshiba dvd products