DVD players and Blu-ray players are still important aspects of home entertainment. They bring quality theater-like environments to a living room. They also have use in offices for training purposes as well as presentations. The difference between the two is the quality of output. The Blu-ray players handle higher resolutions of up to 1080 HDTV quality compared to the DVD players. While there has been an increase in alternative digital players and online streaming gadgets, both DVD and Blu-ray players have many benefits to offer. Browse through the TV and video section on Staples for a variety of video players.

Choosing the right player
When buying a DVD player, the main consideration is the type of content to play. There are DVD players that connect to a Wi-Fi system either through an ethernet cable or a built-in Wi-Fi receiver. This provides a link to online streaming services. There are also DVD players that have portable monitors. Use this type mounted in the car or as part of a temporary setup. Some TVs come with a built-in DVD player that can save space both for home and educational use.

Modern DVD and Blu-ray players have features that enable users to record shows and watch them later. The saving format can vary from a disc, flash player, memory card, and any other format for transfer and use in other devices.

Some DVDs have a regional code. For instance, DVD players coded for the United States market can’t play in Europe, Asia, and other parts of the world. Always purchase a device for your region. Technological advancements have led to the rise of universal players that can work with any disc in the world.

Features to look for in a DVD player
Some DVD and Blu-ray players have a USB port allowing users to play content stored in external memories. The players can then show a wide range of materials, including music, movies, photos, and presentations. Buying a DVD player with parental lockout helps control the content that children can watch.

Other players can read the parental rating of a disc, and this stops it playing if it is for the older age bracket. The quality of sound output is also a major factor. A player with Dolby digital features emits high-quality sound.

Can a Blu-ray disc play in a regular DVD player?
A Blu-ray player can play various qualities of discs ranging from CDs, DVDs, and Super Audio CDs. However, a Blu-ray disc can only use a Blu-ray player. The latter is a higher-level player than a DVD player.

Do you need an internet connection to watch content on DVDs or Blu-ray discs?
DVDs use discs or USB to read the content. They do this independently without the need for an internet connection. Connection to the internet is a requirement for streaming content from online sources.

Do you need to buy additional cables?
When connecting a DVD or Blu-ray player to an HDTV, you need an HMDI cable. Most DVD and Blu-ray players come with their connector cables. Additional cables are available if required. For instance, the HDMI cable that comes with the player may be too short for the location.

DVD & Blu-Ray Players