Matsui DVD 125

Author's product rating:   

Picture Playback	Excellent
Sound Level	Good
Range of Features	Above Average
Durability	Satisfactory
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	Easy to use, good value
Disadvantages:	Stiff power button, machine too large

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Welcome to the DVD revolution, that was the message from my other half when I got my Matsui DVD125 as a Valentine's Day present. Not bad, all she got was a bunch of crappy flowers!.

I wasn't desperate to join the revolution, I don't think I'd even made the appropriate noises about getting a DVD. I saw them (and still do) as a luxury item I can live without. The great thing is, that all those mates who have had a DVD for months, or years are so eager to loan you films to prove to you how great they are. To date, I must have watched a dozen or so films and only bought a couple - cheapskate!.

The Matsui DVD125 is placed at the low / medium end of the market, priced at £140 - £150. (Yes I checked). You can buy cheaper, but not much.

It is sold as a single region player (if it had been my purchase, I would have gone for a multi-region). Am I sounding ungrateful or what?

However a very simple hack, set from the handset updates the DVD125 to multi-region and it remains multi-region after a power cut too. For any who don't know, the benefit of a multi-region player is that you can play films imported from USA / Canada who get the films first, these are easily bought on the web. It also means that you can take advantage of buying from discount UK sites who often cannot guarantee the 'region' for the films they sell.

No I am not going to publish the hack code here - it IS illegal, however, if you want a hack for your machine, there are loads of sites who provide these, just enter the search words 'DVD hack' from your search engine - that goes more any make or model, not just Matsui.

For what it's worth a lot of much more expensive (Sony, Toshiba) single region players cannot be hacked, or require a mechanical upgrade which will invalidate your warranty - beware.

The design of the Matsui is OK, it's that usual brushed aluminium silver cover, with basic function buttons on the front, nothing exciting, but it is easy to use.

One criticism is that the power button is very stiff and you have to hold the main case to stop the machine sliding about when you switch on and off.

Also, to my perspective, the machine is too big - that applies to most DVD's that I have seen as well, it's only a glorified CD player after all, come on manufacturers, you don't have to justify your inflated prices by flogging us tin boxes which are 3/4 fresh air - I'm on to you!.

All of the clever stuff for the DVD125 is done from the handset - a lot of these functions I have yet to use because much of the clever stuff, like swapping camera angles, zooming etc. is only available on some films. That said, the handset is clearly laid out and one really neat feature which I like a lot is that the buttons are luminous.

The features I like best are the ability to return to a film from where you left off after a break. A clear fast forward and slow-motion is welcome too. Other than that most DVD features are window-dressing and as already mentioned the 'best' ones are dependant on your film.

I was surprised at how noisy the machine is in operation, it isn't intrusive, just louder than I expected when the disk is spinning.

Oh, I nearly forgot, the bit everyone ignores, the manual is excellent. Very clear and comprehensive with loads of good sized pictures 10/10. you just need the patience to read it.

Thanks to the manual, setting up your DVD125 is a doddle.

In summary, although I'm not excited about the DVD scene, it has got to be the best Valentine's present I 've got to date. If you want to get in to DVD's and are on a budget, the Matsui DVD125 is a good place to start. I can't wait for next Feb14 !!.

Viva la revolution.

*** Here's a laugh for you, if not me, turns out the DVD player was a 'guilt' present because she was playing away from home, well my friends alls well etc etc. Although the relationship is now consigned to the 'not going there again' bin, the good old Matsui DVD125 has proved faithful and has not let me down.!!!

Hope you don't mind me sharing that with you.
Andy