Home > Consumer Reviews > Yamada DVD 5520 Multi-region DVD Player

I appreciate that this player's time is probably up and that it is unlikely anyone will ever buy one again, but I feel compelled to review this player after owning it for five years.

That's right, I bought it 5 years ago from Amazon when it first came out as their budget DVD player, since then there have been hundreds at a similar price ranger, but at the time £30 for a multi region DVD player was unprecedented. I bought it to take to university with me, knowing it would get used and abused, and not wanting to take my much more expensive Sony player my mother had kindly bought me for my birthday.

In those 5 years it has been used in 3 different student residences, I took it to France with me when I went to do my master's degree over there, and now it is happily still working in my holiday home in Austria.

The multi region aspect works flawlessly, and all these years I have just used it via scart to a TV. I just, however, bought an HD LCD for my house out here, and this time connected it via S-Video. The quality is so exceptional that it could even be mistaken for high definition footage. Not to mention I have for the first time tested the Dolby Digital Output and it is working flawlessly to provide 5.1 channel Dolby Digital sound.

So in conclusion I can only say this is one of my best ever electronics purchases, and this is coming from someone who has spent thousands and thousands of pounds on AV equipment. The very fact it has survived travelling across Europe and student abuse is testament in itself to the quality of this player. Hence I would not hesitate in recommending current Yamada models as good, value for money DVD players. Thankyou for reading.

It is tempting to think that you can find an inexpensive multi-regional dvd player. But this dvd player is evidence that you do get what you pay for. The first one worked for a couple of weeks before it refused to play any discs. It was replaced by Yamada, although I had to pay the sixteen pounds for recorded delivery. The remote control in really ineffective and you need to place it close to the player for it to work. The picture and sound are not of the best quality either. Overall, I regret buying this dvd player and advise anyone considering it to opt for another option.

and it's a really good machine. Multi region works fine on a newish tv - I recommend using the s-video connection (superb picture on a 32" widescreen) - you need a suitable lead - or just use a decent scart cable and its still very good. Mp3 playback works fine - (need the tv on to see the menus). Jpg's work good and video cd's made using adobe photoshop album or from your digital camera utility (i have a canon a-80) work just fine too. Strange how the price is now 43 quid compared to 30 when I bought it, but it's still a much better deal than the High Street. (Oh, the remote is made very well too and comes with batteries). Remember it doesnt come with a scart lead (no dvd players do) so you will need that at least.

Considering the price, this is an exceptional piece of equipment. Bought it for my terrible twins (2 and half yrs old) who are addicted to Noddy. They have bashed it and dropped it and yet it still works! Decent quality picture and sound.

Does everything you could want, and at a bargin basement price!

No problems, and even has output for 5.1 Dolby surround systems (RCA and Digital Optical)