Aiwa XD-DV 290

Advantages: Good price, good-looking machine
Disadvantages: Problems with playback of soundtracks

...Having reviewed all the options open to me for a DVD player under £250, I decided on the Aiwa XD-DV370. It certainly looks the part, plays multiregion CD's (See Slinky Steve's review for the hack) and is intuitive enough to use for a mere beginner like me. However, the specific player which I have purchased has a habit of skipping about every 10 minutes. This affects mainly the sound quality - it sounds like a record jumping. This is a shame as the whole point of owning a DVD player is the excellent quality sound and visual playback! This fault is indiscriminate across CDs and DVDs, which play back perfectly well on other people's players. I am currently battling to exchange this product with the reatiler I purchased it from (who do not agree with me that it is faulty). Therefore as it stands I'm afraid I can't recommend this player... Read review

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Advantages: Plays MP3 and VCDs, Multi Region (Remote Hack)
Disadvantages: None that I found

...The Aiwa XD-DV370 is my second DVD player after I decided that my LG3200E wasn't good enough for me. Although, the LG was a quality player for the price and it was multi-region (Remote Hack) I was after some extras. The XD-DV370 is a clone of the LG 3350E, it has an alternative style and some reduced features. Though, it plays the same media as the LG (DVD, MP3, Audio CD and VCD). Another attraction is that it is an multi-region player once the remote hack is used (for more info see www.lgdvd.co.uk). This means that imported DVDs from the USA can played. With it able to play VCD this is quite handy as if you have a CDR you can create your VCDs and watch them. DVDs: I have had no trouble playing any DVDs and have watched region 1 DVDs on my player. MP3: This for me is the impressive feature, put all your favourite songs on a CD... Read review

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Advantages: Great Vaule for money, Great Sound, Good name
Disadvantages: Doesn't look as sexy as some other players

...Call it a bargain, budget, low-end, entry level- sub £200. Let me tell you, DVD players are opening doors of home cinema to an ever-increasing audience. A friend of mine let me borrow this Aiwa XD-DV480 and I can say it nudges into all of the above categories and begs a mention in the all-important ‘value for money’ listings too. I think the price tag inevitably means a few restrictions that the big boys treat with contempt, but this Aiwa’s simplicity factor is ideally suited to the market. The basic design is far from spectacular, but all the necessary features and manual controls are neatly displayed. The technical stuff is encased in standard silver casing and there’s no over-the-top attempts to disguise the unit’s budget status with misplaced showing off. Round the back, there are suitable connections including a SCART socket... Read review

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