How to Connect a DVD Player to Roku TV: Hisense, Sharp, TCL & More

Many Roku TV owners still enjoy watching DVDs, but connecting a DVD player to a smart TV can be confusing, especially with HDMI and AV options. Here are step-by-step instructions to hook up a DVD player to Roku TVs from Hisense, Sharp, Hitachi, TCL, and other popular brands, for better video and audio performance.

Part 1. How to Connect a DVD Player to a Roku TV with an HDMI Cable?

A DVD player can be connected to Roku TV with HDMI cables or without HDMI using a composite AV cable, which has red, yellow, and white plugs. Tip: Using HDMI ensures the best picture and sound quality. Make sure to note which HDMI port you use on your TV for correct input selection.

Step 1. Unplug your Roku TV's power cord and that of your DVD player.

Step 2. Connect one end of your HDMI cable to one of the 3 HDMI jacks on the side or back of your Roku TV and the other end to the HDMI OUT jack on your DVD player. Note: If your Roku TV has multiple HDMI ports, remember the number for Step 4 selection.

Step 3. Plug the power cords of your Roku TV and DVD player into a power outlet, and turn them on.

Step 4. On the Home screen, select the HDMI 1, HDMI 2, or HDMI 3 input option depending on which HDMI jack you use on your Roku TV. Insert a DVD into the DVD player and then you should be able to play DVDs on Roku TV if the DVD player and Roku TV are successfully connected. Tip: If the screen shows “No Signal,” double-check the cable connections and the HDMI input selected.

Part 2. How to Connect DVD Player to Roku TV with AV (without HDMI)

If your DVD player doesn't come with a HDMI cable, how to connect DVD player to Roku TV without using HDMI cables? You can connect DVD player to a Roku TV with AV cables instead of HDMI. Tip: AV connection works for older DVD players but video quality is lower than HDMI. Pay attention to color matching.

Step 1. Turn off your Roku TV and DVD player, and unplug their power cords.

Step 2. Connect your AV cable to the AV IN jacks (Video/L/R or yellow/white/red ports) on your Roku TV and to the AV OUT jacks on the DVD player. The yellow plug is for video, while the red and white plugs are for audio. Reminder: Insert each color into the matching port. Otherwise, your DVD may play audio only without video.

Step 3. Hook up your DVD player and Roku TV to electrical outlets through power cords and turn on them.

Step 4. On the Home screen, select the AV tile. Insert a DVD into your player's DVD drive and then watch DVDs on Roku TV.

Also read:

• How to Rip DVDs for Plex & Add Movies to Plex? – Perfect if you want digital copies for streaming.
• How to Connect a DVD Player to Laptop? – Useful if your Roku TV lacks a DVD input.

Part 3. Still Can't Connect a DVD Player to a Roku TV Successfully? Fixed!

If you have tried all possible solutions but still cannot connect your DVD player to Roku TV and cannot play DVDs on TV properly, what can you do?  You can rip DVDs to a USB drive for playback on Roku TV without using HDMI or AV cables anymore. To do this, you can use WinX DVD Ripper Platinum. With the following features, it is the best DVD ripping software for Windows and Mac users.

Main Features:

• Rip DVDs of movies, TV series, workouts, and others, even if they are encoded with region codes and copy protections.
• Rip DVDs to H.264 mp4 (compatible with Roku TV and more devices), AVI, WMV, MOV, FLV, etc.
• Also available to 1:1 copy DVD to ISO image or VIDEO_TS folder.
• Edit DVD: trim off unwanted video such as FBI warnings, crop video, merge titles, add subtitle, etc.
• Improve speed by using GPU hardware acceleration, multi-core CPU, Hyper-threading, and Super Encode Engine.

Quick start guide:

Step 1. Insert source DVD into DVD drive. Open the DVD ripper, and then click DVD Disc button to open the inserted disc.

Step 2. On the Output Profile screen, choose an output format that is playable on Roku TV, such as MP4 Video (H.264+AAC codec).

Step 3. Connect your USB drive to your computer, hit Browse to select your USB drive as the destination folder, and then hit RUN to begin ripping DVD to USB. Once done, connect the USB drive to your Roku TV and you can now watch the DVD movies on Roku TV without using a DVD player, HDMI cables, or AV cables.

Part 4. How to Choose a Roku Streaming Device and DVD Player

1. Choose a Roku Streaming Device

Roku offers a variety of streaming devices at different price points, so you can choose one that fits your budget and needs. Here are some popular Roku options, including Roku Express, Roku Streaming Stick+, and Roku Ultra.

Roku Express: This is the most affordable option, offering basic HD streaming. It's perfect for casual streamers or those on a tight budget.

Roku Streaming Stick+: This offers better performance than the Express, with support for 4K and HDR streaming. It's a good mid-range option that balances affordability with features.

Roku Ultra: This is the top-of-the-line Roku device, with the fastest processor and support for Dolby Vision and Atmos. It's ideal for those who want the best possible streaming experience.

2. Choose a Roku DVD Player

Here's where focusing on the Roku DVD player's features becomes important. Look for upscaling capabilities, which will improve the picture quality of your DVDs on a high-definition TV. Consider what types of discs you plan on playing - DVDs only, or a combination of DVDs, CDs, and even Blu-rays (Blu-ray players can also play DVDs). Finally, keep your budget in mind, as DVD players for Roku typically range from $30 to $100. Here are some recommended DVD players, considering the factors mentioned above.

Panasonic DVD‑S700 1080p Up‑Convert DVD Player: A modern choice that delivers solid HDMI connectivity and upscales standard DVDs to 1080p for clearer playback on HD or 4K screens. It also supports USB media files and plays both DVDs and CDs with smooth performance, making it a dependable pick for everyday movie nights.

MEGATEK Region‑Free HDMI DVD Player: This compact player handles discs from any region and outputs full HD video via HDMI. With included HDMI and AV cables, a remote, and support for USB and multiple formats like MP3 and JPEG, it’s a flexible, budget‑friendly option for homes without built‑in DVD drives.

GOKUID HD DVD Player with USB Input: A versatile player that combines HDMI 1080p upscaling with a built‑in USB port for playing digital videos and audio files. It’s designed to work with a wide range of disc types and formats, offering smooth playback and additional functions like slow motion and zoom that appeal to everyday users.

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