Multi Region DVD Players
Multi region DVD players are incredibly useful if you like to watch moves from other parts of the world. They're also a must if you would like to do so and either do not have a computer capable of reading DVDs or if your computer's DVD player is region locked as well. Films are released all over the world with separate region codes (locks) corresponding to their location. Movie studios place these locks on DVDs in order to keep control over film releases in order to regulate price and release.
While adhering to the limits placed on movies by movie studios may be fine for most people, you may want to be able to watch a Korean horror film or a French romance in your home without having multiple DVD players or having to watch them on your computer. This is when multi region DVD players are useful.
There are a total of 9 region codes with 6 of them in regular use worldwide. The region code for the United States and Canada is 1, while region 2 covers almost all of Europe, Iran, Israel, Egypt, Japan, and even South Africa. Some of the regions almost seem to make no sense, such as region 5, which covers Ukraine, Russia, most of Africa, Central and South Asia (including Mongolia), and North Korea. It is all scattered around, and you might want to be able to watch movies from all over.
Multi region DVD players take the guesswork out of DVD importing by supporting many -- if not all -- of the worldwide region codes. Being restricted to one country or area's movies is one of the more inconvenient things about the DVD age, but one of these DVD players can make it a thing of the past.
Several electronics stores now sell a few models that can play DVDs from multiple regions, though department stores generally do not have them in stock. Your best bet is to look online, especially if you want a top of the line. There are models in production these days that are multi-disc players or even recorders, so don't limit your search to only a standalone DVD player.
Most multi region DVD players are also video CD (VCD) players. While this format is not popular or used at all in the United States or Europe, it is popular in Southeast Asia. Most movies or television shows are released on both formats in that region, especially China. If you are looking to collect movies from Asia, consider a model with VCd capabilities. The picture may be lower quality than DVD, but it is also that much cheaper. Keep that in mind in your search.