In general, bitrate is the rate at which bits are used to represent your video, normally measured in thousands of bits per second (kbits/sec). The more bits you use, the more information you can represent, the better your video looks. Just like the pixels on your monitor. (i.e., smaller dot pitch = more pixels per inch = crisper resolution).

DVD players should be able to handle bitrates of up to 9000 kbits/sec for DVD media. If, however, you use CD media to create an SVCD or VCD, the DVD player uses a different decoding process with a lower bitrate tolerance. I find that my Pioneer DV-343 player can tolerate around 2800 kbits/sec for SVCD’s before the audio gets choppy. That’s slightly over the 2520 kbits/sec SVCD standard. It all depends on how well your DVD player handles “out of spec” SVCD’s (i.e., XSVCD). As you stated, some handle them well and others don’t.

Check www.vcdhelp.com to see which players are most tolerant. I just did a quick check and the Apex AD-1100W is rated at XVCD 3500kbit/s and XSVCD 4750kbit/s while the Apex AD-1500 is rated at XVCD 4000kbit/s and XSVCD 5000kbit/s. So within the same manufacturer different models will tolerate different bitrates.

~jr