The DVD has created a revolution unprecedented in consumer electronics, with one of the fastest acceptance rates ever, greater even than the CD or the VCR. It is the ultimate movie machine. If you like to watch movies at home, and can appreciate the vast improvement over all previous formats, you want a DVD player.

The DVDs ("digital versatile discs," or less obnoxiously "digital video discs") themselves are cosmetically identical to compact discs: shiny metal under a thin, clear plastic skin. But many DVDs are double-sided, while some even provide a second layer of information on one or both sides, for a maximum storage capacity of about nine hours, although discs of that length are rare. The players include sophisticated remote controls which allow you to skip directly to your favorite scene, select from available languages and subtitles, freeze frame, and view in forward or reverse, fast or slow, all from the comfort of the sofa. In some cases you can choose either the standard (full frame, filling the whole TV screen) or widescreen (theatrical-style presentation with black bars at the top and bottom) version of a movie, or even different camera angles on the same action. These many enhancements are typically accessible through specially designed menu screens, navigable via the remote's arrow keys. But don't be fooled: many of the features you've heard bandied about can only be attained when the disc has the appropriate content. For example, the disc must be recorded with a special "anamorphic" widescreen version of a film to supply the type of picture that optimizes playback on a 16:9 widescreen television. Scan software packaging to determine the various assets of a given title.

All DVD players are compatible with Dolby Digital, the audio standard of the DVD format. This high-quality encoding method allows movies to include up to five discrete channels (left, right, center, right surround and left surround) plus a dedicated subwoofer channel (represented as the ".1" in the catchphrase "5.1 channels"). The result is an engrossing sonic environment that puts the viewer right into the action. Note that "Dolby Digital" does not mean a 5.1-channel surround mix. It merely means that Dolby System's digital encoding/decoding system is recognized, but the actual soundtrack could be two-channel stereo or even mono, depending upon how the movie was recorded and mixed for presentation. The signal is passed from the player via either a slender optical ("Toslink") cable or a higher-quality coaxial cable to a Dolby Digital receiver. Some players offer the convenience of a built-in Dolby Digital decoder, meaning that the six outputs (for five speakers and the sub) are ready to be connected directly to your "Dolby Digital-ready" receiver (six channels without on-board decoding) or simply a five-channel amplifier, since most subwoofers are self-powered.

The option of DTS ("Digital Theater Systems," an alternative audio format specifically for 5.1-channel audio) has begun to appear on even lower-priced players. Keep in mind that all of the data on a DVD-- picture and sound--must be compressed to fit onto the disc. This compression takes a toll on quality. DTS has its own standards which mandate less compression of its audio data, resulting in a noticeably more dynamic overall presentation. In fact, DTS offers 20-bit audio rather than Dolby Digital's 16-bit audio. This higher fidelity has its price, however. A DTS soundtrack takes up more space on a disc. DTS encoded DVDs are typically very spartan when it comes to bonus features commonly offered on Dolby Digital DVDs, such as subtitles and directors' comments. But, most importantly, there are very few DTS movies available. The bad news is that relatively few titles out there are DTS-encoded, but recently more full DTS soundtracks have been "piggybacked" onto Dolby Digital 5.1 discs, with still more DTS 5.1-channel music CDs on the way. Your decoder or receiver must be able to handle the DTS output if you wish to reap these benefits.

To play a DTS DVD in 5.1 channel surround, you'll need a DVD player with a DTS digital output. These are the same outputs as those used for Dolby Digital, but a DVD player needs to be equipped to direct the DTS bitstream through those outputs. All newer DVD players have this capability. Older players and computer decoder boards do not. You also need a surround system with a receiver that has a DTS decoder built-in. If you have a Dolby Digital-ready system or a receiver that has a 6-channel direct input, an external DTS decoder or a DVD player with a DTS decoder built in would suffice.

DVD picture reproduction is as impressive as the sound. Rather than dragging a rust-covered strip of plastic across a metal head, as happens whenever you watch a VHS tape, the DVD player uses a laser beam to read the digital data on the disc. There is absolutely no wear and tear on the disc itself, which means it will look as good twenty years from now as it does today. This pure video signal delivers a sharper picture with more image detail (subtleties like skin tones and even pores of the skin are revealed) and the punchiest colors you have ever seen on home video.

Entry-level players incorporate standard RCA-type "composite" video outputs, similar to the video output on most VCRs, although the superior image processing will result in a better picture than ever on your existing television. Take note what type of video inputs are offered by the set you intend to use, as some older models lack the proper connections to accept a DVD player. All players also offer S-video output, a higher-quality alternative to composite that provides more of the clean detail that your DVD is outputting. If the player you choose has S-video output, you must of course be sure that your television has S-video input to take advantage of this feature. The last output option, one that you will find on the best DVD players, is component video. Component video requires not one but three separate composite video cables as mentioned above, one for luminance and two for color information. Distracting impurities are eliminated and the result, on a properly tweaked video monitor, is nothing short of spectacular, with a crisp realism that comes closest to rivaling true film quality, the goal of all serious home video gear. Most sets on the market today do not offer component video in, but if you are in the market for a new one, we strongly suggest you consider this feature, as it will prove especially useful with the advent of high-definition television ("HDTV").

So what are you waiting for? With several thousand titles to choose from, and new releases and plenty of classics finding their way onto DVD each week, you're bound to find your favorites waiting for you, looking and sounding better than ever, often with new bonus features. DVD is a hit with both serious videophiles and casual movie fans. Don't be left out.