Apex AD-800 Progressive-Scan DVD Player
Good for the Price
I bought this DVD player because I wanted one with component video and 5.1 audio outputs. The price can't be beat, I've been happy with my other Apex 660 DVD player, and you can upgrade the AD-800's firmware (except for some early models) to be \\"region free\\" - so you can play foreign DVDs (see nerd-out.com). It even automatically converts PAL DVDs to NTSC. The firmware upgrade also allows you to defeat macrovision copy protection. <BR>If these things are important to you, I think you'll be happy. I am. I can only give it 3 stars, though, because of some irritating, though not deal-breaking, flaws. They shipped the unit preset with a color setting inappropriate for the US - at least I *think* that's what was wrong. The result of this was that I got a black and white display when I first connected the unit to my TV. Fortunately, I had read (I think here) that you just have to change the color setting in the setup menu. It took me maybe an hour (I don't even remember which settings I selected), but I finally got it to work. It was frustrating as [...], especially when the display went wacky and I had to get back to the original settings without being able to see the on-screen menu, but I managed to get it done, and wow does the picture look good using component video (get the special component video cables - ordinary video cables don't work). <BR>Another thing that is poorly thought-out is the location of the \\"Setup\\" button. On the right side of the DVD drawer is the \\"Open/Close\\" button. On the left is the \\"Setup\\" button. Do you think you might get mixed up now and then, and hit the wrong button? How on Earth they could have decided to put a button you will probably want use only on the first day you buy the machine in a location where you will routinely mistake it for the button you want to use every time you insert a DVD is a great mystery. It's one of the bone-headedest things I've ever encountered on a piece of electronic equipment.<BR>I'm happy with the unit, though, because the picture looks great, the sound is great, and it's [inexpensive].