My comparisons with other DVD players show this one to be the best by far at the price, and maybe the best overall. But my LD-S2 laser player, modified with AC-3 and DTS audio outs, is consistently a brutal reality check. A-B the same movies in the two players and the LD-S2 video is nearly always better, particularly the color rendition, and the LD-S2 audio is in a different league. Some of the difference is undoubtedly due to the source material, I always compare movies said to be the best examples of DVD, but DVD overall lags behind the state of the art. I give the DV-09 5 stars in relation to other DVD players.

It rocks, Hey I found an awesome place to buy DVDs
http://consumer.20m.com

THX certified DVD player with: DTS compatible; twin power transformers, one for audio and one for video; 10 bit video DAC processing; Dual 96K / 24Bit audio DAC's; Component video output, S video outputs, Optical and coaxial digital outputs, RCA audio outputs. Does it perform? YES!! It's the closest I have seen video look and sound like film. The DV-09 has replaced my older CD player because the sound was so improved, it's the closest I have heard a CD sound like vinyl. I would buy this player again.

Picture Quality

None

The DV-09 produces as good a picture as any DVD player made.
In the year that I have owned the DV-09 it has not refused to play a single DVD, and I've played hundreds. It is a well built top quality DVD player.

Looks great, sounds great!

I LOVE this player! The sound from this thing when hooked to a Dolby Digital receiver is amazing. I'll be hanging on to this one for a LONG time.

Very well built, lots of outs, super picture.

acess time to disks is slow, remote some times hard to use.

I love my pioneer DV 09 because it plays so well on my Sony
27 inch Tv. People come over love the way it images things on the screen. I had a look inside the unit a it is very nicely laid out in terms of space and circuit boards. Gold plugs on back are a nice touch also. I am using this DVD player with the Pioneer VSX29tx, which is out on repair.

Hope to get more time in with these two units.
I would say that some people may find the remote a pain.
Slow access time to disk also, but i can live with it.
Price is high in Canada, but a new unit is on the way out
and may come in at a better price.

To me if you are going to buy a DVD player, why not buy from the people who invented it in the first place.

If you can afford the price I would strongly say GO FOR IT. You will have many hours of fun in what ever system
you put it in.


pioneer vsx29tx
pioneer dv 09
pioneer Lds 2
paradigm x4 mini Monitor
paradigm cc-350 center channel
18 gauge ofc copper wires.

Similar Products Used:

pioneer laser disk LDS-2, very good machine for it,s time.

Looks, Ease of operation, Build Quality

Sometimes gets a noise coming from the tray while playing. Rarely!

Alot more reliably than my VSX-29TX that I bought at the same time. Not much to say other than what everyone else had to say. Highly recommend to anyone.
My system, Pioneer Elite VSX-29TX (being repaired for the second time in ten months)
Pioneer Elite DV-09
Nakamichi MB-10 CD player
Panasonic VCR
Newpoint TheatreHub(Surge protector & line conditioner)
Martin Logan Aerius main speakers
Paradigm Reference Studio Center Channel
Paradigm Reference Servo-15 Sub with an X-30
Paradigm ADP-150 Surrounds
Phoenix Gold, Tara Labs, Esoteric, and Cambridge Audio wiring.

Similar Products Used:

Everything, I sell electronics for a living.

Incredible picture and sound; build quality; clean good looks

The design disaster referred to as the remote control; sluggish que and search

I just spent $695.00 for a DVD player for which I would have gladly spent $1,695.00. After auditioning in person and reviewing on this site players too numerous to even remember, I have to say that my eyes and ears are most pleased with the DV-09. This unit was literally plug & play with component out to a 36" WEGA. Colors are sharp and clear with no bleeding or ghosting. Flawless play of layered DVD's. Playing through a Marantz SR8000 and Paradigms the DTS sound is (to me) as good as it gets. (Found the Toshiba's color slightly "brighter", but not as clear, and the sound a little harsh. Won't go into the Sony except to say it died a sudden and much too young of a death at the hands of internal gremlins and Sony's cost to resuscitate was obscene).

Obviously the DV-09 is not for everyone, but what is? If you need progressive scan, don't bother. Need on-board decoding, look elsewhere. Component rack won't hold 40 pounds of DVD player, well you may need to upgrade the rack!

Since I have no plans to upgrade the WEGA, the DV-09 will presumably have a long and happy life since I can't see another player (progressive or not) replacing it.
As for the slow search mentioned in nearly every review, I find it gives me time to do a few chores around the house before becoming a couch potato. It's not a weakness, just an annoyance if you're in a hurry. Every previous reviewer has trashed the remote so be forewarned. Did I mention the sound from CD's - impressive. Unless you absolutely need a progressive player, this unit has the goods: THX, DTS, 5.1, component video, S-vid, etc.

Wish I had bought this unit when it first came out because even when it was close to retail, it was, and still is, worth it! Now it's just like stealing!!! For this kind of quality I have to give it 5+ stars across the board.

Similar Products Used:

Toshiba SD6200; Sony DVP S550

Incredible picture. The better the TV, the more impressive it gets. On a 36 Sony Vega it's almost 3-D. 24/96 audio discs are terrific when played back through a 24/96 converter.

Lousy remote, buttons too small, especially the Enter, and arrow keys. I can't believe Pioneer can build something this fine and expensive, and give you this remote. Also the front of the unit controls are too sparse. You can't start to play most discs without using the remote. On a Sony, the play will also function as Enter to start discs, not here. It is also too slow to operate, takes forever to read a disc, and then begin play. Irritating when stopping in the middle of movie and restarting. Most players you turn off the power and the machine remembers where to start again. This one you must press a special key, then turn off, then press the special key again and some discs can't be started at all in the middle, always defaults to beginning. Then there is the disc tray that doesn't always seat the disc properly, and rejects the disc. The special controls that sharpen the picture don't work on the component outs, only on S and composite outputs. So this feature is worthless unless you compromise the picture by skipping the component outs. No control of color, tint, brightness which is good to have as the TV has different settings required for broadcast, S video, composite inputs.

Best Picture of everything I've seen, including a $14,000 Meridian! Build quality is second to none. Irritatingly slow in loading, and jumping to a new or previous chapter, and scanning is not up to Sony, the remote stinks, but THE PICTURE IS JUST STUNNING. Never had a disc it wouldn't play, an no lip sync problems (some of these are the discs, not the players.

My brother and his wife came over to see a movie and were just dumbfounded! They didn't believe the picture and the surround sound bowled them over. He never says anything about sound or picture, though this has been a hobby of mine for 40 years, but this time he wouldn't shut up.
I am giving it a "four star" rating only because of the remote and the slow loading, otherwise, this is as good as it gets -- for this year.

Similar Products Used:

Sony 7000, and 7700. Remotes here are great, but picture is soft and not as sharp as the Pioneer, and audio is down converted to 24/96. Why?

I agree with Sean's assessment of the Pioneer Elite DV-09. The unit provides excellent video and surround sound. I was really surprised by the improvement in the surround field compared to my Panasonic A110 (no adjustment made to the Pioneer settings). Audio is a mild disappointment based on a comparison with my Adcom 750 CD player. The DV-09 has less depth, imaging of individual instruments and the soundstage seemed less expansive then my current player. The Adcom has string and piano instruments creating a more realistic musical impression. I enjoy a sweet sounding unit, the Pioneer is more detailed and the very slightest bit bright on the highest treble (A. Bocelli sings opera favorites). I'm sure many listeners would enjoy this type of detail audio presentation. At the end of the listening session, I was begining to think that the Adcom was overly sweet.
My evaluation was based on a relatively new dealer display unit. I am only sure that I clocked about two days of usage on the CD electronics. At the end of the second day the audio sounded less bright than at the begining, but still not as musical as the Adcom. I did not spend much time on the manual, or using the remote. Basic operations of the unit was easier than the Adcom or the A110. I did notice it was harder to pick the CD-DVD out of the tray, than on the Adcom. The auto CD loader might slow you down if you are in a hurry to change CD/DVDs.

I haven't yet decided to purchase the unit. At $2000, I'd expect at least better audio than my current CD player. My CD/Home Theater ratio is about 70/30.
The main reason for evaluating the DV-09 was audio, but I was surprised by the video/DD "dealer" established setting working so well in my system.

I traded the Sony 7000 DVD player for separates because I couldn't develop an enjoyment of the detailed nature of the Sony 7000 audio. I may reeducate myself to enjoy a less sweet sound of the DV-09 in order to trade up to this unit. Mostly an excellent component.

Seven remotes and 10 components - this is getting out of hand.

Five starts Video and DD and a handsome unit ; 3.5 - 4 for LPCM audio

Equipment:
Speakers: KEF Reference Mod 3, 200 Center, 100 Centers as surround speakers
Amps: Krell 300I for L/R, Onkyo and Belles for center and surrounds
Source: Adcom 750 CD (with Tributaries XLR), Panasonic A110 DVD (formerly a Sony 7000), VHS VCR
Wire: AudioQuest Indigo/Quartz RCA/F16 , generic S-video,
and low end Monster Optical used for Dolby Digital

THX certified DVD player with: DTS compatible; twin power transformers, one for audio and one for video; 10 bit video DAC processing; Dual 96K / 24Bit audio DAC's; Component video output, S video outputs, Optical and coaxial digital outputs, RCA audio outputs. Does it perform? YES!! It's the closest I have seen video look and sound like film. The DV-09 has replaced my older CD player because the sound was so improved, it's the closest I have heard a CD sound like vinyl. I would buy this player again.