It is not good at actually playing DVDs. The tiniest scuff or scratch results in audio/video skippage. I have attempted to clean the player numerous times, but to no avail. Perhaps my room is far too dusty? I dont know. I routinely find myself trying to use it, hoping it wont skip, but to no avail. I almost always end up having to watch the DVD on my computer.

Again, perhaps the skippage is due to the environment that the player is in. In any case, I find it practically unusable.

It is not good at actually playing DVDs. The tiniest scuff or scratch results in audio/video skippage. I have attempted to clean the player numerous times, but to no avail. Perhaps my room is far too dusty? I dont know. I routinely find myself trying to use it, hoping it wont skip, but to no avail. I almost always end up having to watch the DVD on my computer.

Again, perhaps the skippage is due to the environment that the player is in. In any case, I find it practically unusable.

What is anamorphic compression anyway? As youve probably noticed, HDTV sets are wider; they have a 16:9 aspect ratio instead of a 4:3 aspect ratio. When you display a 16:9 picture on a 4:3 set, it is "letterboxed," meaning that there are black bars on the top and bottom of the screen. DVDs are encoded with 480 lines of vertical information. Ideally, youd want to use all 480 lines for picture, and not for black boxes. Thats the problem that anamorphic compression solves: it stretches a letterboxed image out to a 4:3 screen, to make the signal about 33% sharper. Specifically, it means that your DVD player will output a video signal with all 480 lines of resolution, and your TV set will squeeze it onto the right size screen.

The problem with this player is that it does not correctly output an anamorphically compressed widescreen signal. On several discs (like the Matrix), I couldnt get the player to properly output an anamorphically compressed widescreen signal to my TV. So, I had to resort to letterboxing the image, losing 33% of resolution in the process. This causes a greater difference to the picture quality than the difference between a progressive and interlaced signal.

So, in my mind, this is a useless player for the serious videophile. Along with the useless changer mechanism (see the other reviews), I cant recommend this player.

What is anamorphic compression anyway? As youve probably noticed, HDTV sets are wider; they have a 16:9 aspect ratio instead of a 4:3 aspect ratio. When you display a 16:9 picture on a 4:3 set, it is "letterboxed," meaning that there are black bars on the top and bottom of the screen. DVDs are encoded with 480 lines of vertical information. Ideally, youd want to use all 480 lines for picture, and not for black boxes. Thats the problem that anamorphic compression solves: it stretches a letterboxed image out to a 4:3 screen, to make the signal about 33% sharper. Specifically, it means that your DVD player will output a video signal with all 480 lines of resolution, and your TV set will squeeze it onto the right size screen.

The problem with this player is that it does not correctly output an anamorphically compressed widescreen signal. On several discs (like the Matrix), I couldnt get the player to properly output an anamorphically compressed widescreen signal to my TV. So, I had to resort to letterboxing the image, losing 33% of resolution in the process. This causes a greater difference to the picture quality than the difference between a progressive and interlaced signal.

So, in my mind, this is a useless player for the serious videophile. Along with the useless changer mechanism (see the other reviews), I cant recommend this player.

I also tried burning some MP3 and Windows media audio files onto 2 different types of CD media, even at 1x, only to be rewarded with a continuous "loading" message, followed by a message that this disc cant be played. Ive also had problems with it locking up completely while playing 2 different DVDs, and needing to be unplugged.

I rate this player not "one star", but "5 poopies". I cant believe that this is a product released since 2000. My old Sony, which I was never that fond of, despite not being billed as being able to play alternate media types, performed the basic functions an order of magnitude better. Samsung should make toasters for a living, home electronics is clearly too challenging for them.

I am neither an engineer or top-tier power user. However, I am an afficianado of Home AV with far more than a passing interest. Believe me when I say that this player is worth every penny...if you can get past the one (potenitally huge) pitfall.

The BAD news: Lets get this out of the way right now. The Samsung DVD C-631P 5 Disc Changer, INEXPLICABLY, does not random play any more than 1 disc at a time, and more importantly- does not automatically change discs after it has fully played through a single one. If you want to play through all 5 CDs/DVDs in one deft swoop, Im sorry to say that you will need to press a button on the remote between each disc. Yes, that equates to roughly 4 seconds of "work" for 5 hours of music (if you consider pressing a button on the remote control actual work). I bought a CD changer with MP3 capabilities so I could keep 5 discs in the player without getting up to change them, and thats exactly what I got.

The GOOD News: The audio/video quality produced by this unit (on my standard definition 4:3 32" Toshiba television) is remarkeable. Watching the "Fifth Element" in all of its widescreen beauty is truly breathtaking. Thankfully, the audio quality is every bit as good. This player is running through a Dolby Digital/DTS capable Yamaha V730 receiver and provides superb audio in all digital modes and even stereo. The difference between this player and my last Pioneer (2nd generation, 525) is astounding. I do not have an HD television so I can not vouch for the progressive scan capability.

This unit WILL play almost ALL CD, CDR, CD-RW, DVD, DVDR, MP3, WMA, and SVCD formats and the player supports simultaneous mixed media. You can load different types of discs all at once (MP3, DVD, CD etc.) and each one will be detected. I found this to be very helpful. Some other players need to be filled with all one type of format. Additionally, 4 discs can all be swapped while one is still playing. A handy feature. So far I have not come across a format that did not play perfectly.

The MP3 playability is what really attracted me to this unit and it performs flawlessly. There is a very easy to interpret graphic interface that shows the CD directory structure and filenames (organized alphabetically). At first it appears not to recognize more than one folder on the CD (which baffled me), but I soon learned that a button press is necessary to view all folders (the "RETURN" buton, for those of you who have not figured this out yet). The display is clear and easy to navigate. One drawback is the inability to program different tracks from different CDs in the player. Again, it only allows programming of up to one disc. A potential deal killer for those of you looking for 40+ hours of uninterupted music spread across multiple discs. Not a problem at all for me.

The remote isnt very sexy or overly functional- but it is layed out well, ergonomic and intuitive. Its also equipped with a few unique features such as "Instant Replay" which allows the user to instantly jump back 10 seconds in a film, and an "on-the-fly" aspect ratio selector. The user can switch bewteen widescreen, pan & scan, stretch-fit and zoom-fit pictures, without stopping the DVD, all at the touch of a button. Not important to me (I watch everything in widescreen, the way films are meant to be seen), but I bet many of you hate the "black bars" and have found the process of limiting them quite laborious. Well, not anymore.

The GREAT News: I could have spent $150 on this player and still been thrilled with it. Fortunately, I purchased it during a sale price and also got a rebate. I had a 10% off coupon good through the weekend as well (at this particular store). My bottom line price was a jaw-dropping $84.00. Simply amazing.

For those of you looking to purchase a player that holds multiple discs, performs remarkably and looks/sounds superb on any set, this is the one you want. If the thought of pressing a button (on the remote control) between discs really bothers you, then buy a different player (this one isnt for you) and please re-evaluate your definition of "inconvenient".

4 Stars. Solid.

The KLH Audio DVD player I owned previously obviously had its problems. It would often freeze up, refuse to comply with Scene Selection commands, and had trouble reading DVDs made after 2000. The worst drawback it had was that it would NOT read extra features discs from DVDs made after 2001. It was good for playing movies all the way through from the beginning, but if you tried to start watching a DVD from another scene that wasnt the very first "chapter," forget it.

It quickly dawned on me that I needed a more reliable player, and the Samsung DVD-C631P Progressive Scan 5-Disc DVD Player is definitely reliable. Loading it with more than one disc is, of course, more time consuming, but the carousel is gentler on DVDs and CDs than the loading tray on the single disc player. It has so far played all the movies I have sampled at random, including one DVD that the KLH Audio player always refused to "read," meaning that KLH uses cheaper components than the more upscale Samsung brand has in its players. Because my TV is also a Samsung product there was no need to go into the setup screen.

The remote control takes getting used to if one is upgrading from one DVD brand to Samsung, but that is to be expected.

Overall, if you are looking for a good DVD player at an affordable price, then I recommend the Samsung DVD-C631P Progressive Scan 5-Disc DVD Player wholeheartedly.

The KLH Audio DVD player I owned previously obviously had its problems. It would often freeze up, refuse to comply with Scene Selection commands, and had trouble reading DVDs made after 2000. The worst drawback it had was that it would NOT read extra features discs from DVDs made after 2001. It was good for playing movies all the way through from the beginning, but if you tried to start watching a DVD from another scene that wasnt the very first "chapter," forget it.

It quickly dawned on me that I needed a more reliable player, and the Samsung DVD-C631P Progressive Scan 5-Disc DVD Player is definitely reliable. Loading it with more than one disc is, of course, more time consuming, but the carousel is gentler on DVDs and CDs than the loading tray on the single disc player. It has so far played all the movies I have sampled at random, including one DVD that the KLH Audio player always refused to "read," meaning that KLH uses cheaper components than the more upscale Samsung brand has in its players. Because my TV is also a Samsung product there was no need to go into the setup screen.

The remote control takes getting used to if one is upgrading from one DVD brand to Samsung, but that is to be expected.

Overall, if you are looking for a good DVD player at an affordable price, then I recommend the Samsung DVD-C631P Progressive Scan 5-Disc DVD Player wholeheartedly.

This is my first progressive scan DVDs, so I can not compare it to the other progressive DVD players, but it definitely improved the quality of picture from my previous toshiba DVD player, which was about 3 years old or so.

It will NOT play VCDs, again the manual is incorrect. Also it does not support CD TEXT or long filenames for MP3s.

I cant even comment on the picture quality or other feaures that this player is supposed to have because when I tried playing a DVD+R it locked up and would not eject the disc.

After trying a Toshiba SD2518, a JVC XV-FA900, a Panasonic DVD-F65, and this awful contraption, the Panasonic is the clear winner. The DVD-F65 will play anything you put in it,and most important to me it plays MP3 CDs audio CDs and VCDs disc to disc in random order.

If you want an all-in-one changer skip the SAMSUNG DVD-C631P and go for a Panasonic ( get the DVD-F85 if you need surround jacks).

The manual claims that Random Play will give you the option to switch between discs, but Samsung Tech Support told me that the manual is wrong.

That said, it plays DVDs very well, and the excellent remote control makes it very easy to use. I especially like the "Instant Replay" button, which lets me jump back about ten seconds to catch whatever piece of dialog I might have missed due to room noise. They also took care to make it very easy to view photo CDs. (This was a problem with earlier models.)

I dont have an HD-TV, so I cant comment on the qualities of the Progressive Scan display.

In summary, this would make a fine, inexpensive single-disc DVD player. Its less expensive than many other single disc progressive scan players, so if youre not counting on a useful carousel, its a very good buy. But if you want a 5-disc carousel, choose a different model.