my question is...is there a big difference in quality when you play a PAL disc in a Conversion player like say a philips dvp-642 or any other conversion player here in the states?...I have both the philips and a cheap cyberhome from wal-mart and when i play a PAL disc it works but...you can tell its being converted...i.e....it's not perfect....its converting the source...now...are there quality differences in these players that are able to play PAL/NTSC discs?Would a pioneer 578 play/look better than a philips dvp-642 or are they about as good as they're gonna get?

thanx

don't know yet, bought a region, code free dvd player and recorder, should get it in a few days, will find specks, ond post them here.
It will record, and dvd will play in any country and system.

Lite-ON International LVW-5116PN $178.00
PAL/NTSC Code Free DVD Recorder

DVDs that you make on this recorder will play
on any PAL or NTSC DVD player in the World.
You can send the DVD that is made on this recorder to any PAL or NTSC country.

Playback capability:

Plays any region PAL or NTSC DVD-Video, Video CD, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW

This model will play any DVD from any region on a regular American NTSC TV

Plays audio CD, DVD audio, JPEG CDs, MP3 on CD-R

Code Free for playback of any region DVD movie from zones 1-6
Guaranteed to play all old, current and future DVD movies including DVDs that are RCE/REA coded
This unit has a built-in high quality 12Mb video converter so you can play any DVD or Video CD movie on any TV in the world
The player is totally guaranteed to play ANY DVD from ANY Region on any NTSC TV in the World!
Records to any format DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW:

The DVD made on this model will be all regions you can play it on any DVD player in the World, even on PAL DVD players. You can send the DVD made on this recorder to a PAL or NTSC country.

With the introduction of All Write Technology form LITE-ON, the long-awaited dream to record on all recordable optical discs (DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW and CD-R/RW discs) becomes reality. You will have no more confusion about which DVD format to choose. DVD recording has never been so easy! Also makes Video CD (VCD) using regular CD-R.

Recording capability:

The DVD made on this model will be all regions you can play it on any DVD player in the World, even on PAL DVD players. You can send the DVD made on this recorder to a PAL or NTSC country.

Recording is done on DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, CD-R discs.

Records a PAL input signal to NTSC DVD with the use of the CMD-1500 or CMD-850 video converter.

Records a NTSC input signal to NTSC DVD

DVDs recorded on this unit can be played on any PAL or NTSC TV in the World.

You can record TV channels as this unit has a TV tuner

Records in "ALL" regions format for worldwide compatibility

Lifetime warranty on our modifications:

We totally stand behind the DVD players we sell. We guarantee that your code free player will play any region DVD from any country in the World. If your DVD player ever becomes defective we will fix it for free! (See Full Details)
Digital progressive scan (NTSC only)

Maximum 6 Hours (In EP Mode) Recording Time to DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW Disc

NTSC TV tuner with VCR plus for easy programming
Progressive Scan (NTSC Only)
Video DAC: 10-bit/54MHz
Audio DAC: 24-bit/192MHz
Title and Chapter Erase: VR Mode
Disc History
Advanced On screen display with easy set-up
Easy Timer and One Touch Recording
Twin Wave Laser Pickup
Slim Design
W x H x D: W 16-9/16" x H 2-11/16" x D 13-7/16"
Modified to play "Region 1,2,3,4,5 or 6" coded DVDs

110-240 volts 50/60 Hertz dual voltage for use World-Wide

Connections:

Front Firewire (i-link) DV input - for quick and easy connection

Optical digital output for Dolby Digital/DTS®/PCM (96kHz/24-bit-capable)

Composite Audio/Video Input on front and rear
Component Video Output
Dolby Digital and DTS Digital Output through:

Digital Coaxial Output
Digital Optical Output
Includes:

Remote

Batteries for Remote

Instruction manual

Stereo AV cables

You can't have it both ways by requesting good conversion quality and at the same time cheap, quality demand excellent design, workmanship and therefore cost more. There are some conversion recorder/players cost average $1000.

thanx TCAS...that's basically what i wanna know.....so every home consumer model dvd player that can convert PAL to NTSC will get the same basic quality picture over a say...$1000 unit like u mention....correct?

There will always be a difference - PAL is different than NTSC. When you are talking about the digital world, there is no such thing as PAL and NTSC - it is the player that processes and outputs a signal in the appropriate format - The only difference between a PAL MPEG-2 and an NTSC MPEG-2 digitally, is resolution and frame rate. PAL has a frame rate of 25fps, whilst NTSC has 29.97. PAL's resolution is 720x576 compared to NTSC 720x480. You will always get a loss no matter what you use - Question is how much of a loss. Some DVD players handle conversion well and others do a lousy job with the scaling (example APEX AD1200).

I agree.

[quote=greg42]There will always be a difference - PAL is different than NTSC. When you are talking about the digital world, there is no such thing as PAL and NTSC - it is the player that processes and outputs a signal in the appropriate format - The only difference between a PAL MPEG-2 and an NTSC MPEG-2 digitally, is resolution and frame rate. PAL has a frame rate of 25fps, whilst NTSC has 29.97. PAL's resolution is 720x576 compared to NTSC 720x480. You will always get a loss no matter what you use - Question is how much of a loss. Some DVD players handle conversion well and others do a lousy job with the scaling (example APEX AD1200).[/QUOTEb

How about listing a few that do a decent job.

Like I said how about listing a few that do a decent job otherwise I and others are still in the dark!

Several JVCs here have all played PAL and NTSC very well, no visible difference in quality.