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Region Free DVD Player Modifications
What is a region free DVD player modification?
DVDs are produced by manufacturers to play DVDs from only one region of the world. There are 6 regions in total. For example, if you purchase your DVD player in North America it will come encoded to play region 1 discs. If you attempt to play a region 2 disc in your player you will get an error and be unable to play the disc.With a region free DVD player modification you will be able play discs from any region in your DVD player without any errors. With the new RCE (Region Code Enhancing) discs you will want a modification that allows you to change the region code of your player rather than one that sets your code to "all regions". Even better are DVD players that are region free modified to play discs from anywhere in the world automatically with no adjustments.
What is RCE (Region Code Enhancing)?
RCE is a software enhancement to the region coding which checks the players region code during the menu function in addition to startup. It is being added to all new region 1 discs and will cause an error if your region free DVD player is set to a region other than 1. For this reason, region free DVD players that are internally altered ("re-chipped") to play all regions of the world are a great choice when considering DVD players, especially if you want to play DVDs from other countries.What kinds of region free dvd player modifications are available?
Region free DVD player modifications can vary greatly in quality. A poorly made or installed modification can affect your ability to play certain discs and can also have a detrimental effect on the picture quality. Modifying the sensitive electronics in a DVD player should be done in a clean, static free environment. As well, there are software modified region free DVD players as well as hardware modified DVD players. It's best to purchase a hardware modified region free DVD player. A good hardware modification (installing a new chip set into the DVD player) will enable lasting playback, seamless DVD operation, and no menu adjustments or code inputs to the DVD player. Look for an updated hardware chipset modification such as the ICOS 725 or World Clad modifications as a couple of reliable choices. Hardware modified DVD players are a little more expensive but worth it.Buy a new code free player or modify your existing DVD player?
There are companies out there that will modify your existing DVD player to be region free. We do not recommend this process as the firmware modifications can be unreliable and also cause permanent damage to your DVD player. Also, it is not recommended to send your DVD player in to a company to have it modified. With shipping both ways, the cost of modification, and the chance that the mod may be a software rather than hardware modification, it's typically just as cost effective to purchase a new separate region free DVD player.Should I modify my DVD player myself?
Finding a hardware modification can be difficult. You can but it is a very involved process and demands precision skill with electronics, circuit boards, chips and a soldering iron. One mistake can render your DVD player into an expensive paperweight. It's not recommended for this reason.This article has been written to answer some frequently asked questions about region free DVD modifications. A list our recommended resellers of hardware modified DVD players follows:
- DVDCity - Region 1 & Code Free Players
- ZoneFreeDVD - Specializes in CodeFree & Region Free DVD Players
- RegionFreeDVDPlayers.com - Supplier of CodeFree & Region Free DVD Players
- Crutchfield.com - Region 1 Players
- Buy.com - Region 1 Players
Jeff Wilson
DVD Buying Guide.
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