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Could anyone recommend one that will play all or most of the various types of DVD's and CD's around and that is not too expensive?. I realise that the well known brands (Sony, Panasonic etc.) will be the best but lesser known names will be considered as well.

you can prob get that ?40 Alba one outta argos u know. It prob does everything you want....

i've a thomson cost ?60 [DTH 211 E/U]
plays ntsc and pal, non regional & region 2.
plays - DVDs;DVD-R; DVD-RW; DVD+R; DVD+RW
CD's; CD-R; CD-RW
Video CD's;Super Video CD's [SVCD]
and disc's containing files in JPEG format, sound files in mp3 format, & WMA files [what ever they are?]
and works fine with a cheap ?1.50 SCART cable.
the remote will also operate a TV and video made by thomson,saba, brandt, ferguson, and telefunken.

not all the cheaper dvd players will play NTSC format, so if you buy US porn dvd's you need one that plays NTSC format.

Thomson are a really good brand, they also produce RCA. I've got an RCA widescreen TV and the stereo sound is the best I've heard from TV speakers.
Thomson/RCA VCR's are no longer imported in NZ (DVD players are though) but I kept looking on the NZ equivalent of ebay and got one. Interestingly, many VCRs here are PAL/SECAM.

Mart(digressing)

Thanks for all the input on my query. If there are more suggestions from anyone else I will be interested. THANKS AGAIN.

Go to Amazon - they have an offer for a "Yamada" - about ?30 incl. delivery - it will play everything (as far as I'm aware, including NTSC copies - not that you should be using copies, of course! - to watch NTSC copies your tv will need to be compatible or else they'll be in b&w, but most decent tvs are nowadays)

CyberHome DVD 400
Played everything ive thrown at it including DVD+R/W DVD-R/W CD-R/W CD-Rom picture discs, Audio CD, VCD, SVCD.
Was just ?50 from WHSmiths.
:O)

Thanks for that, I shall certainly have a good look next time I'm in WHS.

A guy at I work with went either Currys or Comet and picked up a no name player for ?30. And another one went to Asda and got a Pacific player for ?40.

Both of these players have so far played all discs that have veen chucked into them.