DVD Deals & Offers

The Best DVD Deals: Cheap Home Entertainment

DVDs (or Digital Video Discs) are one of the handiest entertainment innovations of the past thirty years. Capable of holding immense amounts of video and audio footage, they are compact, easy to use, and can even be used to record if you have the right equipment.

With hundreds of thousands of TV shows and films on DVD, the vast majority of us will use them in our everyday life, but are we getting the best deals for the DVDs we use? This buyer’s guide will help you save money on every DVD purchase you make.

DVDs: Easy to Use Data Carrier

The idea behind DVDs has been around for decades. First came laser discs, then compact discs (CDs), and then – in 1995 – DVDs. In the process, unwieldy laser discs (which could be two feet wide) were gradually shrunk to the relatively tiny, but spacious discs we use today.

When they were introduced, DVDs became an instant hit. A direct competitor with VHS videos, they rapidly became dominant, essentially wiping videos off the consumer map. The reasons were numerous, from their smaller size and larger capacity to the ability to add interactive menus and excellent picture quality. Either way, by the year 2000, DVDs were common in homes across the UK.

Since then, the actual design of DVDs has changed very little (although techniques like dual-layer recording have vastly increased their capacity to hold data). What has changed, is the environment that DVDs exist in. Nowadays, with internet streaming and Blu-ray discs (more on them later), DVDs are under threat of disappearing themselves.

However, don’t let that put you off making a DVD purchase. There are plenty of reasons to stick to DVDs for the time being (including lower cost) as this guide will show.

How do DVDs Work?

DVDs are optical discs just like CDs, which means that the information they hold is read via lights (or lasers). Each disc is made from three layers – a backing layer of polycarbonate, a middle layer of aluminium and a transparent plastic veneer layer.

It’s the aluminium layer that holds the information in form of a tiny network of indentations. These indentations are created by "burning” them with lasers, and they can be read and turned into audio and visual information by highly sensitive light detectors.

Every DVD contains around 3 billion of these indentations – each of which corresponds to a 1 or a 0 (in binary code). Put them all together with the right interpreter, and you end up with high resolution video and audio output.

There’s one thing to note here, though: while this is how commercially available read only DVDs work, rewritable DVDs are very different. You can’t burn them and flatten out the surface every time you’d like to change the content of the disc. So how do they work?

Instead of indentations in aluminium, rewritable DVDs use a layer of alloy that can easily change state (or “phases”). In this case burners change the physical state of this alloy where they need to create digital 1s or 0s, and the process can be completely reversed to wipe the disc, an ingenious technical solution.

What Kind of DVD Products Are Available?

The most fundamental difference between the DVDs on the market is between ordinary DVDs and rewritable DVDs. Here are the major differences between them:

• DVD ROMs – Here, “ROM” stands for “read only memory”. This is the kind of DVD you’ll get with your Game of Thrones box set and it cannot be altered in any way. The indentations are set by factory equipment, making them inflexible, but slightly longer lasting than content that is recorded onto writable discs.

• DVD R – Where the “R” actually stands for “writable”. These discs can be filled as you wish, up to a capacity of around 4.7GB. They are handy for backing up computer files, music and videos, but won’t last forever. If you’ve stored important data on DVDs, it’s a good idea to back them up every 5-10 years at least.

• DVD RW – where the “RW” stands for “rewritable”. As noted above, rewritable discs use a clever technique involving metal alloys that allows you to edit them, wipe them and rewrite them to your heart’s content. If you are planning to buy a DVD player/writer to record from streaming sites or TV, this is the type of disc you’ll need.

• DVD DL – Similar to other types of DVD but with “dual layer” technology, which means that they hold twice as much data (8.5GB).

Those are the major types of DVD on the market, so if you are purchasing blank DVDs make sure you buy the right kind. However, none of these are of any use without the right equipment to play them. Here’s a list of the typical equipment required to get the most out of DVDs:

• Home DVD Players – All standard DVD players should be able to handle the types of DVDs mentioned above, playing high definition video and supplying crisp audio performance. However, that’s just the start of the story. DVD players vary considerably regarding their key features. Most come with menu functions to navigate their features, though some are more accessible than others. Some still feature VHS players in combination with DVD, some can play both DVDs and Blu-rays, and some come with Bluetooth functionality to connect with headphones or speakers.

• DVD Recorders – Not all DVD players have recorders built into them, but it’s an increasingly popular option. Top of the range DVD recorders can play ordinary DVDs, record from computers and other DVDs, and even burn streaming TV shows or movies onto discs, while some also feature large hard drives as well. If you love to watch TV and want to keep your favourite shows to watch whenever you like, a good DVD recorder is a must.

• Portable DVD players – These pocket-sized players come with HD screens and tend to fold out like laptops. They are small enough to keep in a carry bag or briefcase, but large enough to get a decent feel for the on-screen action. The best portables have long battery lives, as well as handy extras like mounts or stands for using in cars, plenty of jacks and ports for headphones, and even Bluetooth capabilities to use with wireless headphones.

These players vary greatly in terms of price, with good re-writers costing hundreds of pounds more than a basic DVD player. Whether you need a high-end DVD player is up to you. However, it’s worth bearing in mind that computers can perform many of the same tasks that a DVD writer/player can, with plenty of other uses as well. So, unless you are a really serious DVD fan, expensive players/writers may be of limited value.

Specs to Look for When Buying a DVD Player

If you need to purchase a new DVD player for your home (or for travel), here are the key specifications to look out for:

• Connections – The best DVD players come with a range of connection ports. These are incredibly useful, allowing you to hook your DVD player up to gaming systems, TVs, computers and speakers. Look for a coaxial digital video output, HDMI and USB ports at least.

• Audio/video formats supported – don’t settle for DVDs with limited compatibility. All decent players should be able to play mp3, MPEG-2, MPEG-4 and WMV files, and should also support Dolby Digital output (an absolute must-have if you are setting up a home cinema system).

• DVD formats supported – As noted above, there are a number of DVD formats, and your player should support them all, including DVD, DVD-R, DVD-RW, CD, CD-R and Video CD (and Blu-ray if possible).

• Size – Size varies, but there’s no reason to opt for DVD players that will waste the space in your living room. Go for units that are around 12 x 8 inches max. and weigh no more than 1kg.

• HD Upscaling – The vast majority of DVD players use a technique called upscaling to artificially increase the screen resolution of the discs they play, but not all players are as good at this as others.

Another thing to think about is whether you want to buy a DVD player with HDD compatibility. HDD is essentially a hard disk storage format that is used in DVD or Blu-ray players. With HDD included, you will be able to store as many as 350 hours of video footage on your device, and burn it to disc or delete it when you’ve watched it. It’s a great tool for TV and movie fanatics alike, but HDD comes with a cost. It’s not an essential for most people (many digital boxes come with smaller storage capacities, in any case), but it is a neat add-on if you can afford it.

Do You Even Need a Specialist DVD Player?

This is a key question, for a number of reasons. First of all, with Blu-ray taking off, DVDs are looking more old-fashioned by the month. The difference in picture quality between DVDs and Blu-rays is palpable, especially on larger flat screens, and they are the de facto standard for home cinemas.

If you are really into movies and TV, to the extent that you feel the need for a separate disc player, it makes sense to go for the cutting-edge standard instead of a format that is on its way out.

However, that’s not the only reason to question the need for DVDs. These days, you can stream a vast range of films and TV shows from online sources. Given that DVDs are bulky items (particularly when there are hundreds lying around), many people are going completely digital and throwing their DVDs away.

So, what’s the argument for DVDs? Mainly convenience and familiarity. You probably have a DVD collection and replacing that with online streams or Blu-rays costs money. Many people are used to DVDs as well, and see no reason to change. After all, for most of us, DVDs still seem great compared to VHS and TV.

If that sounds like you, a new DVD player is still an attractive option, particularly if it can record and store your favourite shows.

Buying DVDs – How to Get the Best Deal

OK, we’ve talked at length about how to play DVDs. But what about the discs themselves? What is the best way to find DVDs you’ll enjoy, at the lowest possible price?

The first thing to do is to assess your options. Work out which titles you really want to buy and which ones are secondary. Don’t just log onto Amazon and bulk buy those titles. Think again. There’s almost certainly a better way to buy them than taking the first and/or easiest option.

For example, many films and TV shows come in individual and box set forms. You could log onto Very or Amazon and purchase series 3 of Game of Thrones or the Godfather Part 2, but if you haven’t seen the other episodes, why would you do so? Instead you can purchase box sets that are much better value than buying individually. These are available from all big franchises like Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, Harry Potter or Star Wars.

Once you’ve worked out which titles are available in combination or box set deals, you’ll probably still have a few left over which need to be purchased individually. If that’s the case, don’t automatically reach for the retailers you know. There are a number of specialist DVD merchants who sell overstock or used DVDs at extremely low prices relative to high street stores like Tesco.

Zavvi, the Works, Music Magpie and Overstock are all good places to look for the discs you want. Often, they will have older editions of TV shows or DVD releases for much less than the most recent version and, unless you are certain you need the interviews and out-takes on the current edition, these older versions will be just as good. Don’t pay over the odds – check out the options available and build your DVD collection methodically.

Of course, if you are a cinephile who collects new editions from the Criterion Collection, go ahead and pre-order that £100 special edition. Different people have different priorities, but most of us can save plenty of cash by shopping smart.

How to Keep Up With the Latest DVD Releases

One of the most difficult things about being a DVD fan is keeping up to date with what’s on offer. DVDs are constantly being released for the first time, updated with new content, converted from VHS, remastered from the original celluloid or bundled in new box sets. How is a fan supposed to keep up?

One good way to keep abreast of the latest products is by checking Amazon’s DVD & Blu-ray releases section, or the corresponding section at HMV’s online store.

However, if you want a more critical eye on the best new releases, it’s also worth checking out fan sites like DVD Verdict, which gives a good idea of the finest new releases.

You could also bookmark the official DVD chart pages, which give an idea of which DVDs are selling the most units and can be broken down into “special interest”, film, children’s, TV and many other categories.

When you’ve got a good idea of what’s on offer, be sure to check the HotUKDeals DVD listings for the best deals on current releases. You’ll be amazed by the price variation between listed prices and special offers, and practically every new release comes with promotional deals.

Should You Upgrade to Blu-ray?

Should you just forget about DVDs and go straight to Blu-ray? We’ve already touched on how superior Blu-rays are for home cinema setups, but what about ordinary viewers with conventional TVs?

Whether you upgrade or not depends on a few things. Firstly, there’s no point if you are content with the picture quality offered by your current TV. Adding a few extra pixels won’t make films any more enjoyable if you are the kind of person who focuses on plot and dialogue.

Secondly, cost is a factor. Blu-rays are generally more expensive than DVDs for new releases, and often hold their value better than DVDs, making it more expensive to build a Blu-ray collection. If you are a TV addict and need every episode of House or Blackadder, stick to ordinary DVDs and you’ll save plenty of money.

However, there’s no shortage of counter-arguments. One of the strongest is that many Blu-ray players are adept at “up-converting” DVDs to higher picture and audio quality than you would obtain from ordinary DVD players. That means your old DVD collection will get a new lease of life and you’ll be able to start building a Blu-ray library, not a bad scenario.

Then again, there are some people who simply don’t need a Blu-ray player or DVD player. For example, if you own an Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3 or PS4, you’ll have a capable media player right there and there’s no need to upgrade.

As usual with these kinds of question, the decision to upgrade is dependent on circumstances, cost and personal taste. What’s certain is that there’s still a role for DVDs and DVD players, even if it is shrinking day by day.

Tips on Finding a Best Price DVD

Whether you need to buy a new DVD Player with a rewriter and HDD recording capacity or you need the latest Westworld box set, the same purchasing principles apply.

Firstly, work out exactly what you intend to buy. Pinpoint a model of DVD player and a DVD edition or box set that takes your fancy. Now, search on HotUKDeals, and you’ll probably find plenty of recent deals for exactly that product.

The range of DVD merchants on HotUKDeals spans the spectrum of UK retailing, including high street names like Tesco, Argos, Currys and John Lewis, as well as online sellers like Amazon, Very, Zavvi and base.com. Browse through all of their deals until you find one that meets your needs.

Think about timing too. If you can wait, November always sees huge savings on entertainment products like DVD box sets and players when Black Friday rolls around. Christmas and the January Sales are great times to search as well, with plenty of massive reductions.

Whenever you search, do so with HotUKDeals and you’ll have a great chance of cutting the cost of enjoying the DVDs you love.

Find the Cheapest DVDs with HotUKDeals

DVDs span everything from fantasy epics and soap operas to comedy sketch shows, art house cinema, exercise routines and documentaries – and there’s also a wide range of DVD players and writers on offer as well. Whatever DVD products you need, you’ll find them at big discounts by regularly checking the HotUKDeals DVD listings.