I have to say looking cool and sounding and playing DVD's are two different things.

Right it has this funky blue light and draw that has some radom way of shutting, uses a clamp with a magnet, cost almost twice as much as a 596 and does not sound as good.

If you are into style over substance then the tag CD/DVD player might me for your, but we are here because we KNOW Meridan is not just better, but it a way way better, maybe I am just bias?

Forget value for money, the 596 is just simply better, period or full stop as we say in the UK.

Martin.