Apex AD-2500 Progressive-Scan DVD Player
Two thumbs up!
I owned a Toshiba DVD player for three years.<BR>However, it couldn't play CDR/DVD- R, so I decided<BR>to get a new toy. I first bought a Sony NS315 from<BR>Circuity City, for according the ads, the Sony<BR>plays DVD-R/RW and DVD+R/RW, it was cheap too<BR>(...) and I had always worshiped Japanese brands<BR>(all my electronics are made by Sony, Panasonic or<BR>Toshiba, except my last MP3 player, the Iriver ifp<BR>180t, found in Best buy). Then one day I saw a<BR>review on [Amazon.com], for the same price, the Apex<BR>2500 plays everything! I love the word<BR>\\"everything\\", so I decided to give Apex 2500 a<BR>try. I searched the net, though Sears advertised<BR>it on it's web, the local store didn't carry it. I<BR>ended up ordering one by mail from J&R in New York<BR>(...).<br />I got this unit two days ago, and I found I am<BR>obligated to write my experience here. In summary,<BR>I am more than satisfied, it is an astonishing<BR>unit, full of surprises!<br />1. Amazing picture, better than that from my Sony<BR>or Toshiba.<br />2. Plays MPEG movies: when plays MPG movies, the<BR>quality is comparable with that on my computer,<BR>even better than the output of my computer when<BR>using a TV! (I have a regular Panasonic TV, no a<BR>progressive one).<br />2. Plays DVD-R/RW (not sure about DVD+R/RW).<br />3. Plays PAL DVDs. I didn't expect this! Just<BR>tried on some DVDs friends brought me from China,<BR>Thailand and Canada and it plays them all.<br />4. Plays JPEG pictures: the picture quality is very<BR>impressive.<br />5. Progressive scan: I don't have a high<BR>definition TV, not benefitting from this feature,<BR>but it doesn't hurt.<br />6. Plays MP3/WMA.<br />7. Plays CDR/RW.<br />8. Karaoke capabilities built right in: there are<BR>two microphone inputs. I didn't expect these<BR>neither. Another surprise!<br />9. Optical/Coaxial/S-video/Dolby, all the usual good stuff.<br />10. For those interested, it could display menu in Chinese.<br />11. Stylish: yes, sexy and good looking!<br />12. Cheap, cheap and cheap: ... for all the above<br />features!<br />I am going to return the Sony. no more superstitious<BR>on Japanese brands!<br />Weakness: the audio output maybe not be as<BR>impressive as my Toshiba; The buttons<BR>on remote control could be more intuitive and meaningful.