Almost every current game console can play a DVD. That makes it tempting to skip a dedicated player entirely, especially if the console is already under the television. The result is workable, but it is rarely the best option for someone who watches discs regularly.<\/p>\n
Here is what actually differs between a console and a proper DVD player, and when each one makes sense.<\/p>\n
Modern consoles output video digitally over HDMI and scale DVDs to 1080p or higher. The scaling is competent but basic. Dedicated players often include more careful deinterlacing and noise reduction, and some offer picture controls that a console hides behind a game-oriented menu.<\/p>\n
On a small screen the difference is minor. On a large 4K television, a good player usually produces a cleaner image with fewer jagged edges on moving objects. Both will still look soft compared with a Blu-ray, because the source is standard definition.<\/p>\n
For a fuller explanation of what scaling can and cannot fix, see our article on DVD upscaling to 1080p<\/a>.<\/p>\n A console is a small computer. Playing a DVD spins the drive and runs the GPU for video decoding, which draws far more power than a dedicated player and produces noticeably more fan noise. In a quiet living room during a dialogue scene, that fan is audible.<\/p>\nNoise, Heat, and Power<\/h2>\n