Which is best performance wise - A dvd player or dvd player with home theatre?

Question

techincal specification wise which is best

Answer 1

Buy what is called a "home theater in a box" system. Bestbuy has several for under $200. The only thing else you will need is a TV to connect it to.

Answer 2

A DVD player with home theatre, 5.1 speaker system is the best

Answer 3

Generally a stand alone DVD player has to be compatible with a lot of external equipment so it is designed and tested to much tighter tolerances so it is compatible.

A built-in DVD player ... can take short cuts because it only has to connect to electronics built into the same box.  Compatibility goes out the window, standards can be ignored, options and features can be left off because the target market is people who want a turn-key system, etc.

Answer 4

Separate components are almost always better from both a performance and reliability/upgradeability perspective.

The downide of separates is they cost more (more cabinets, more power supplies, etc).

Whether the improvement in spec numbers are worth the extra cost is a decision you have to make. But in the area of HT systems with built in DVD players I suggest opting for increased flexibility (e.g. choose a DVD with specs you want independent of the amplifier/speaker components) and reliability (many all-in-one units are poorly built, and if the DVD section fails you are stuck): in other words you are better to go separate.

Answer 5

Being a repair tech for years, those all-in-one units have a high rate of failure, particularly the DVD mechanism.  Amplifier specs are bloated to make it seem as if they are more powerful than they actually are.  Most have distortion levels at 5 to 10%.

Answer 6

Get a BlueRay DVD player w/ 5.1 surround sound home theater - Do you have a flat panel LCD or Plasma?

If so you will feel like you are at sporting events. You will hear everything said on your favorite sitcom.