Recommendations for DVD players

[piano_cello_conducting]

In 18 months, I've bought 3 DVD players that were locally made. None of them lasted more than 6 months before they had problems. Even after sending them for servicing under warranty, the problems returned after a few weeks. Now on the other hand, my other DVD player which I bought from US has been lasting me for over 5 years withou ANY problem. Unfortunately, that DVD player can only play region 1 and certain DVDs that are encoded (some of the DVDs I've bought locally couldn't play). It is very sensitive and cannot play DVDs that are slighly dirty (the 3 aforementioned DVD players can). Unfortunately too, it cannot play MP3s so I cannot watch most of the stuff I buy at Pasar Malam.

Can you folks recommend some good DVD players that will last? Please give me an estimate of the price (not too expensive please). It must be region free so that I can watch my US DVDs and also be able to play MP3s and all those Pasar Malam stuff.
Thanks.

[raging_burning_blazing]

haiyaz... next time look at the DVD player carefully. Most DVD players show formats they support by stickers on them. You know it when they have stickers stating that the ? format (whatever is on the sticker) can be played on it. Well, I can at least recommend RM 200 (this is the price of DVD players sold at the electrical... or is it electronics?... section at tesco in kajang. Dunno... dun remember la).

anyway I think this should be in another thread... doncha think so, mr. mod?

[DayDreamerz]

Erm.. any suggestions where it should fit in? :?

I too feel like getting a player too since I just got my allowance from the company I did internship at. But was thinking of getting those brandless cheap players. (After all, my allowance wasn't much to begin with)
Just for the sake of watching, until my parents decide to get a branded 1... :roll:

So likely to get one costing RM100 from Giant hypermarket.

[darklord]

I'm not sure if got any long last cheap DVD player cos I have bought 1 that last only 1/2 HOURS ...there goes my RM$180 :evil:  .For me,I would recommend Pioneer DV-585K,it can play Dvix format & also can upgrade it's firmware.I bought it last month & have upgrade it's firmware  from 1.09 (ori version) to 1.09.03.01 version & it work great,new funtion that original firmware cannot do.Play most of my anime that I have download & burn except mkv,ogm & files with H.264.It cost me arund $390+.

Here the site for firmware upgrade:
http://www.pioneerfaq.info/english/dv585.php?player=DV-585A&question=Firmwares
oh ya if you scroll down on the download,you will notice there are several models can be upgrade.

Well I hope this info will help as far as the price are concern,as for other brand I'm not sure if can upgrade firmware or not cos so far I only know Pioneer can.

[piano_cello_conducting]

Looks like my latest DVD player which is a Topsonic (which I bought locally) lasted only 4 months.    I'll have to go back to the shop today. Odd thing is now is the 6th year anniversary of the DVD player(I have one other player) which I bought in US and it is still running well without any problems.

[thewan]

get more reliable brands, like the philips one which my family has been using for around 3 years.