Hitachi DVP250U DVD Players Reviews

Price Paid:  $600.00 from Mail order from Muni

Summary:
It's funny that I'm reading such bad reviews on the Hitachi DV-P250, since it's been working flawlessly for me for what, three years or so now. The only thing I agree with is that the front display also just died, but you can always see where you are in the movie by pressing "Display" on the remote. It's easy to use, the picture quality is very good, it plays not only DVDs but also CDs and VCDs, ans it plays all regions without a problem. I've watched the LOTR extended version plus the extras in one sitting, and the unit was understandably warm to the touch when I finished, but no more than that. Maybe it's the units sold on the American continent the ones that are flawed; mine works fine. I've only tried once to play a ripped DVD and it wouldn't play - I'm sure the moviemakers would think that an advantage! I've no problem with that, it was the first time I'd tried one.P

Strengths:
Good pic quality, easy to use, easy to navigate. I

Weaknesses:
Front display went dark. I'm not sure about the price anymore, But I remember thinking it was a bit expensive, compared to others, and I bought it because it was multi-region.‡

Similar Products Used:
None

Price Paid:  $600.00 from Bleeker

Summary:
This player has some nice features, but disappointing performance, and reliability. I had it fixed within the first two years of ownership. It is now causing me trouble again. It has always been dicey. It will sometimes stutter during playback and some movies will not play past a certain point period. I had to return the movie Volcano for this reason, and the movie Lord of the Rings will not play past the big meeting at Rivendell. My front panel display also does not work. For some reason it just died. All the controls seem to work, except the setup screen will not allow me to change the screen aspect setting. I was able to set it once, and I have never been able to get it to work again. It is set to wide screen, which I set in error, even though I have a 4 X 3 screen format. So now all movies are scrunched up. I think this unit is a piece of junk, and I regret buying it. I am now in the market for another DVD player and will never buying anything Hitachi again.

Strengths:
Features.

Weaknesses:
Playback unreliable. Not all DVDs will play through. Some just will not work period, past a certain point. It is very annoying since you watch most of the movie and then it won't play the rest. Even movies that do play will sometimes stutter during playback.

Price Paid:  $600.00 from bleekers stereo and

Summary:
I must echo most of the other here...it's bad. Overheats...freezes. Have to shut it down and wait then power up again to watch a movie...sometimes I give up. Picture and sound is quite good when it's working.

Strengths:
Picture quality

Weaknesses:
everything else

Similar Products Used:
sony...just bouth a toshiba 5700. I needed something that would work.

Price Paid:  $400.00 from Orillia

Summary:
Hitachi DVP250U is really a monstrosity! Not knowing where to turn when movies started to freeze and player would stop, I just assumed it was a bad DVD disc. And then the machine started on the mind-of-its-own thing, switching in and out of Dolby Digital at its own free will. Very frustrating. I eventually paid service centre $90 for upgrades (I was out of warranty period) and this did not help. twice it was in, and then after three phone calls got new Canadian Service manager who said everything but that machine was crap. he offered to replace with latest and greatest DVP325U for $100 plus tax. What choice did I have? Now this one -fresh out of the box, has a problem sychronizing sound with movement of characters lips on screen. This may be fixable. At this point I don''t give a rats a--. Hitachi sucks big time!

Strengths:
none- service people deny problems exist. and when you do get some help, it leads to other frustrating problems.

Weaknesses:
freeze and quit. front panel lighting quit after one month. In all honesty I have played 50 DVD''s at most in this machine, and grown more frustrated with DVD and Hitachi with every disc played.

Similar Products Used:
JVC and Sony

Price Paid:  $799.00

Summary:
this has been a very poor machine that broke down within the first 3 x months - as it would freeze up & then turn off, I am still trying to get it fixed? - even though I went out & bought a fantastic new Panasonic, but atleast I have written in below how to multizone your DV-P250 - & if your wondering this procedure did not cause the faults on my machine as it has been faulty from day dot !

Strengths:
Hitachi DV-P250E Always perform a Cold Start before applying the hack below: Power on your player whilst pressing hold both the Play and Stop buttons on the front player After a short while you should be presented with a set of language options. Release the Play and Stop buttons on the player You will now need to select a language option between 1 and 6 To convert this player to Multi-Region playback: Press the Repeat button on the Remote Control Using the Remote enter the code below, note that you must know what Region your player is currently set to in order to know which code is appropriate for Region 1 use 2, 9, 3, 3 and 4 for Region 2 use 3, 8, 7, 6 and 7 for Region 3 use 5, 6, 7, 3 and 2 for Region 4 use 7, 6, 8, 8 and 4 for Region 5 use 5, 3, 8, 1 and 4 for Region 6 use 2, 4, 4, 6 and 2 A code should be displayed on the screen indicating the current Region setting of your unit Press the 9 button on the Remote Control for Region free, or 1 for Region 1, 2 for Region 2 and so on Press the Open button on your player Press the Standby button on the Remote Control If the player sticks on FBI Warning screens: Press Forward