The CH-DVD 500 is compatible with DVD-R/-RW and DVD+R/+RW media, handling just about any recordable disc. It even plays both PAL- and NTSC-formatted discs, handy when you're viewing non-region-specific European discs. A set of multichannel analog-audio outputs routes decoded Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround signals to an audio-video receiver. Dolby Digital and DTS signals can also be channeled through the player's digital-audio outputs (one each of RCA coaxial and optical) for direct connection to a surround-featured AV receiver. The player has left-right analog audio outputs, too.

Other features include 2x motion zoom, onscreen display (with MP3 navigation), programmable playback (including MP3 and JPEG files), and firmware upgradability. Supplied accessories include a composite-video/stereo analog-audio interconnect, instruction manual, a power cord, and a multifunction 44-key remote control.

Product Description
The CH-DVD500 Cyber Home DVD Player is designed to provide a great Home Theater experience with super-crisp Video and thundering Digital Sound.

For me, a DVD player has to:
1 - play VCDs
2 - play CD-R media (kinda goes hand-in-hand with 1)
3 - connect easy
4 - look good externally.

That having been said, I went to Best Buy and saw this DVD player. It was advertised for [a relatively low price], and I was skeptical at first, but I'd brought a CD-R-based VCD to test it. Sure enough, it passed the test; passed #1, #2, and #4 so far. Bought it, got it home, and set it up. I had wanted to connect it through component video,[but due to a lack of funds], I wasn't going to buy that wire. So I'd gotten an S-video Monster cable. Hookups were easy as can be, and the menu is simple and easy. DVDs play with unbelievable clarity, and the sound is tremendously clear, especially on 5.1. This even plays MP3s and JPGs from a CD-R!! So you could copy like 120 MP3 files to a CD and play them on this player, and if you have a surround system, you could run a party with this!! Amazing!!

There are two negatives to this player, which are small or large, depending on how you look at it.

1 - It's VERY picky about its inputs to your source (receiver, TV, etc). My TV only has one pair of audio RCA jacks that have to be shared between the S-video and the Component Video, so I got two Y-splitters to connect both the audio from the DVD and my PS2 (which I had on the component side). The PS2's sound came through fine, but the DVD refused to play any sound. It would only play when directly input into the TV. I had to use a device switcher ... to get the PS2 and the DVD both operating with S-video.

2 - It's very iffy on DVD playback. There are times (and this is fresh out of the box) when you press play and it will sit at a black screen. You can't stop it, you can't do anything. You have to power it off manually using the switch in the back. Also, there are times when you'll press a button on the remote and the DVD will respond late. For example, I could press Play, and it won't actually start playing until like a minute later; almost as though it were processing something. It doesn't happen often enough to be a big problem, but it is sort of a nuisance. This might be just my ignorance about the product.

Besides these two things, this is a great product for the money. Buy this if you need a DVD player or you need to upgrade.


No More Pauses and Skips.....   March 29, 2003
 24 out of 28 found this review helpful

This review refers to the Cyber Home CH-DVD 500.....

I am extremely happy with this DVD player. I am a DVD junkie and use it just about every day. The player I had before this one was good, but there were just certain DVDs that didn't play all the way through on it. I would get about an hour in and all of a sudden there were skips and pauses for several minutes at a time, that would totally interupt the flow of the movie.(I never could figure out any similarites on the DVDs themselves). All of the DVDs that skipped before play beautifully now(except one that I think may be the DVD itself).

That was my main reason for upgrading to this DVD, but I have found many other perks I didn't have before as well. The sound is now filtered through my home theatre system much better than before.It works great with either Dolby Digitial or DTS and my tuner is now indicating the exact sound I am getting whether it be 2.0 or 5.1 or 4.0 . It never did that before! And the picture and sound are beautiful!

I also didn't think I would get much use from the other features such as the MP3 player, but now that I've learned how(and if I can learn how, anybody can), and realize how many tracks I can put on it, I can unhook my CD player and have one less thing plugged in! You can also just play one CD at a time. The music sounds terrific as well.The player automatically adjusts to whatever type of disc is in use, and when listening to music you can program it any way you want the songs to play.

Now my TV is not Progressive Scan ready and I am using the S-Video(and someday when I get a progressive scan TV I'll be all set)and it still looks great. The remote is nice and has many useful features(zoom, bookmark GOTO, etc) and the owner's manuel is simple to follow.

There are just a couple of little things you should know. When the tray slides out to insert the disc, there is just a smidgeon that is not all the way out(on mine anyway) and you need to be careful inserting and taking the disc out. The other little thing I noticed was that after pausing a movie and then restarting it, it sometimes comes on with subtitles for a couple of seconds but then corrects itself. Just thought I'd mention those, but hardly worth taking a star off.

I see some other reviews here on the more technical aspects, that may be of more help. This review is just to let you know that I am really getting my money's worth from this purchase and that I am thrilled with the way my movies look and sound as well as my music.

It came with a Limited Warranty...Three months on Labor and One year for defective parts(this did not cost extra!)

A great buy...enjoy...Laurie


Sometimes it works, sometimes not!   December 2, 2003
 24 out of 24 found this review helpful

It plays some DVDs, but refuses to play others (won't play Cats or Finding Nemo). It sometimes freezes for up to 30 seconds and then continues. It is very slow to start a disc or select any options. The remote buttons are small and poorly placed.

I would like to get my money back for this piece of junk but I did not take it out of the box and discover its shortcomings until after 30 days ;-(

I would avoid this product at any price.


A Great Player If You Care about the Video Quality   November 27, 2002
 22 out of 24 found this review helpful

This model probably has the best video quality among the [lower cost] players. The best kept secret of this player is that it can play the anamorphic PAL DVDs in their proper aspect ratios on an NTSC 4:3 TV, if this matters to you.

Unlike most other cheap brands, CyberHome's technical support does try very hard to answer and solve the issues encountered by their customers. It may not be a perfect player for everyone, but you won't regret it if you care about the video quality and not just playing all the disc formats. Although it is compatible with DVD, VCD, SVCD,MP3, and JPEG.

Don't confuse this model with 505 (which is a European model) or 402 (which uses a different video processor and without P-scan function)


Excellent DVD player -- best value out there!!!   December 31, 2002
 22 out of 23 found this review helpful

This is THE best low cost DVD player on the market. I can't believe the specs on this thing. Not only did I buy one for myself, I bought one for my parents and my girlfriend. S-video/component/composite outputs, digital out, 5.1 channel analog outputs (with DTS/Dolby decoder inside the player!!!) and that's just the beginning. Here are the three best reasons to buy this thing:

1) It can handle both NTSC and PAL (European) DVDs. That means that this will play an imported anamorphic DVD from England or Asia on your American TV set. Normally, you have to pay big $$$ to get this option.

2.) By accessing the system menu with a few clicks of the remote, you can change the region restrictions on the player, allowing you to watch movies from anywhere on the planet. (Only to be used when moving to a new country, of course -- wouldn't want to get in trouble with the MPAA ;-] ).

3.) And third, well, I can't tell you what the third bonus is. It has to do with Macrovision. Go to Google to learn more.

Unfortunately, the player doesn't come in black, and the eject button has a slow response time (you have to hold it a beat longer than usual) but picture and sound quality are great. Would look even better if I had a progressive scan HDTV, but my old CRT suffices. Highly recommended.