Since DVDs have become popular throughout the world as the most favoured entertainment medium, we should have enough knowledge about them Let us begin with a definition. In simple terms a DVD player can be described as a device that plays discs produced under both the DVD video and DVD audio technical standards. Though both have some similar features, they have two different and incompatible standards.

In order to function, most DVD players require to be connected to a television set. There are also some small portable devices that have an LCD screen attached to them. The features of DVD players vary with the model. The DVD players also have easy adaptability. Since many films are offered in their original aspect ratio 16:9 ratio, you can tell your player what type of TV you have and it will play back the movie accordingly. If you have a normal 4:3 set, you can watch movies in the standard aspect ratio or letterboxed. That gives more convenience to you.

The DVD players have audio and video inputs and outputs. Video outputs and their audio counterparts are desirable because they allow you more versatility in signal switching of multiple VCR and DVD players. Depending on how you hook up your audio and video system, either the TV or your audio and video receiver can be used for video switching.

Most DVD players also feature chapter numbers. These numbers are recorded on the discs and are used to indicate sections or chapters. Movies are similarly divided into distinct sections. A symphony with four movements will have four tracks.

Most DVD players have a built-in Dolby Digital decoder. This is the next step beyond Dolby Pro Logic, offering 5.1 channels of sound. In the Dolby Pro Logic mode, sound comes from the front left and right speakers, the center speaker, and the rear speakers. Using Dolby Digital, the rear channel is now stereo and a separate channel is included for the subwoofer. In other words, you are getting full stereo surround.

Parents are given the parental lock-out or channel block. All DVD players let you control what your children watch. By accessing the on-screen menu system, you can set specific viewing levels for the player. You can override these controls by punching in a special code that you as the parent devise. These controls are designed to help parents manage their children's viewing time. It ensures that children do not misuse the facility.