Before buying a player, you may want to test it with a few complex discs such as The Matrix, The Abyss, Independence Day, and DVD Demystified

You might want to buy a DVD PC instead of a standard DVD player, especially if you want progressive video.

Selectable sound tracks and subtitles, multiangle viewing, aspect ratio control, parental/multirating features, fast and slow playback, great digital video, multichannel digital audio, compatibility with Dolby Pro Logic receivers, on-screen menus, dual-layer playback, and ability to play audio CDs → all DVD players.

Do you need a features:

DTS audio → ... a player with the "DTS Digital Out" logo.

Recordable DVDs → ... ability to read -R, -RW, +R, and +RW formats.

Setup menus in languages other than English → ... a multilanguage setup feature.

Play Video CDs → ... check the specs for Video CD compatibility.

Ability to play homemade CD-R audio discs → ... a "dual laser" feature.

Ability to play discs from other countries → ... see regions information and TV formats.

Ability to control all my entertainment devices with one remote control → ... you need a player with a programmable universal remote, or make sure your existing universal remote is compatible with the DVD player.