There are loads of different makes of players. I would say get a main-brand like Sony, Toshiba, Panasonic, Rotel, Onkyo, Yamaha, Pioneer etc, and not players like the ones for £99 from a garage shop.

DVD has the following features..

• 500+ resolution lines (twice that of VHS)
• Multi-angle
• Multi-audio (Mono, Stereo, Dolby Pro-Logic, Dolby Digital & EX, DTS & DTS ES, THX)
• Multi-subtitles
• Perfect still pause, variable fast forward & rewind, variable slo-motion/slo-rewind.
• No picture degradation- digital audio & digital video.
• Remote control, with all commands from the remote, and possible TV functions as well.
• Menus, extra features, 'making-of' (dependent of disc)
• Different connections- composite, component, Scart/RGB, S-Video, stereo, digital out (optical & coaxial)
• No rewinding, chewed up tapes, crackling, pops etc! Instant 'cool' factor to the owner!
• Smaller cases than VHS

Do not bother with cheap DVD players under £200 as they all seem have terrible picture quality, poor build, and audio problems like lip-sync, trouble with DVD-Extra discs, Seamless branching discs, etc.

The different connectors on a DVD player..

Video...

Component. Three 75 Ohm coaxial leads are needed. The best when Progressive scanning is also used.

SCART. Scart has the following signals- RGB out (for game consoles & DVD players) Audio both ways. Video (S-Video & Composite) both ways. 12 V signal bit (automatically switches on the TV to that input) Widescreen signal bit.

SCART Loop-Thru. Usually on more expensive DVD players, a loop-thru scart is included so a VCR or satellate box can be loop-thru the DVD player to save on input on the TV. Some might not accept RGB loop-thru. Also I think the DVD player must be switched on for the signal to pass thru it.

S-Video. S-Video is a good connector to use for video-only. Picture is very good, and the connector is small. Usually processors have this type of video switching so use this instead of composite.

Composite. The worst type you can use to send video to the TV. Avoid.

Audio..

Coaxial. A single 75 ohm connector is used. Alot a debate has gone on whether optical or coaxial is better. In theory coaxial is, becuase optical needs to be converted from electrical to light, then back again. This would increase jitter. Optical has 10x the jittter of coaxial.

Optical. Another method of sending PCM, Dolby Digital or DTS bitsteams to a DAC, processor or digital recorder.

Stereo Phono's. If you have a AV amp/processor you really don't need to use this. Only if you wish to use the DVD players own DAC's. Which isn't recommended- as they sound crap.

5.1 Output. Only included on DVD players with Dolby Digital and/or DTS processors, or DVD-Audio players with built-in MLP processor. I would say avoid players with in-built processors, and use a AV amp or external processor instead. On a 5.1 output there is front left, front right, centre, rear left, rear right & subwoofer.

Others

Control Port. Sometimes included, depending on make model. Only useful in a complete same-system, so switching the AV amp to DVD input will automatically switch the DVD player on, and possibly start play. Let me know if I've forgotten anything.