If the regional encoding is a problem to you, you might want to look
at buying an "all regions" player. Mine came from Ghandi
Electronics, in Chicago a few years ago. It's a pioneer that also
happily plays PAL, and I believe SECAM.

This device is a grey market machine. If that bothers you, Caveat
Emptor! I have found it invaluable for playing inexpensive DVDs of
Bergman, for instance.

Bob Cham



>Thanks for all the responses (so far). I live in a pretty
>record-conscious area, so I've long known about the general market
>conditions for both classical LP and CDs.
>
>The standard repertory on mainstream record labels on LP is
>practically a dead market - hundreds of albums in $1.00 bins that
>sit around for years - except for the occasional interesting
>configuration (WLP; still sealed; interesting promo press material
>included; etc.).
>
>For CDs, the market is rapidly declining, as it is for DVDs.
>Downloaded classical music is rapidly rising, as is bit-rate
>quality. Still, folks like DGG and Naive and Naxos release
>incredible amounts of new CDs each year... Since most new classical
>CDs I see are "international" - pressed usually in Europe - I can
>only assume the retail market is more widespread than DVD (damn
>regional coding!). That may sustain the market a bit longer.
>
>Ironically, new LP pressing has surged into a healthy niche market,
>and will probably stay that way, serving both audiophiles and
>hipsters.
>
>Although the vast majority of classical LP have low collector value
>(as do pop records), there are enough desirable rarities to still
>make an authoritative price guide useful. Bluebacks, shaded dogs,
>old stereo UK pressings, private releases, early mono quartets,
>avant garde and uncommon modern composers - these sorts of niches
>still reach good prices on the collector market. Far as I see.
>
>Stephen
>
>
>--
>Stephen M.H. Braitman
>