Multi-region/Region-free DVD Players

[skypilot]

Does anyone here own or have any experience with multi region/region free DVD players. I ordered a DVD boxset from Amazon of a show I really like and the only boxset I could find came from Germany. Mind you, it didn't say that ANYWHERE when I ordered the damned thing. No indication at all that it was from Europe or another "region". I got an email a couple days AFTER I placed the order informing me that the boxset was coming from a company in Germany even though the show is American. Sure enough, it won't play on my DVD player. I scoured the box and it doesn't say anything anywhere about the DVDs being Region 2 which is what I have to set my laptop to in order to watch the show that way. Had not planned on watching the show on my laptop.

Does anyone here own a region free DVD player that you would recommend?

[NorCen_CT]

1. I've had the same thing happen before

and it's DEFINITELY frustrating.

The below is one that I dust off to use when I want/need to watch a non-US standard region DVD, and I've never had any issues with it:

https://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-Multi-Region-Player-Regions/dp/B00JXXXOS0/ref=sr_1_2?s=tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1538576880&sr=1-2&refinements=p_n_feature_keywords_browse-bin%3A5829836011

[skypilot]

5. Thanks.

That one looks like a good deal. I really hate buying something and then having to buy something else to be able to use the thing I bought but this is unfortunately one of those occasions.

[PoliticAverse]

2. Speaking of Amazon, they actually categorize by "region free"...

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_st_price-asc-rank?keywords=region+free+dvd+player&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aregion+free+dvd+player&sort=price-asc-rank

Example: $ 29.99:
https://www.amazon.com/LG-Region-Free-DVD-Player/dp/B071XRGM7S/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&sr=8-3&keywords=region+free+dvd+player

[CurtEastPoint]

3. Here is my solution.

I use Magic DVD Ripper (there are other similar) and rip the DVD into MP4 format. Then I use PLEX server to be able to build the library of movies that are playable on any computing device, smart TV or Roku. I kinda discovered this by accident when I thought I would try it with 'Friday Night Dinner' (British and in that other format) and it works like a charm.

PLUS...no new hardware to buy!

This view is from my pc but the TV view is similar. What's not to love?

[skypilot]

7. Thanks...

...but that sounds like more work than I am willing to do. The box set contains about 16 DVDs with 2-3 episodes on each.

[DonaldsRump]

4. I do

On many of these DVD players, you can overcome the region restrictions using a series of codes on your remote. Google/search for phrases like "region free codes" adding the make and model of your DVD player. Many (but not all) can be fixed. DVD players on a laptops are a bit trickier than standalone players.

If it is Blu-Ray, that's much harder to override.

[skypilot]

6. I read about one of these "hacks"...

...a few months ago. Tried it with my DVD player and got nothing but I just did the search you recommended and came across a more recent site with "new hacks". Just hope that my DVD model is on the list.

[DonaldsRump]

8. If you let me know your make/model, I can try to find it too

[skypilot]

9. Thanks.

I'm not at home at the moment so the only thing I can tell you right now is that it is a Sony. Paid about 30 bucks for it. Don't have the make/model info handy.