I bought this unit for my parents because it had DTS out/ component video outs
and the price was
right. When I first hooked it up, I noticed the picture was very good, the color
contrast excellent, the
blacks were really black and the colors vivid.
The remote is terrible and one of the worst I have ever used. On screen displays
are not very
initiative. If you accidentally press stop, good luck trying to get back to the chapter
you left off at.

Many people have been complaining about lip sync problems which I did not
notice until last night. I
was watching "Meet Joe Black" and it looked like a translated foreign film. In
addition, the player kept
freezing up once it got to the second layer.
I went home and played this movie on my Panasonic DVD A110 without any lip
sync problems or
player freeze ups.

I took the top of the 414 and A110 and noticed the A110 has a superior power
supply and separates
the digital and analog supplies unlike the 414. This also explains why the
Panasonic has a 2V output
from the analog outs as opposed to the 200mV output on the 414. The A110
sounds better when
used as a cd player, it is easier to use and does not have lip sync problems like
the 414.
Given the choice again, I would not purchase a Pioneer DVD 414.

I bought this unit for my parents because it had DTS out/ component video outs and the price was right. When I first hooked it up, I noticed the picture was very good, the color contrast excellent, the
blacks were really black and the colors vivid.
The remote is terrible and one of the worst I have ever used. On screen displays are not very
initiative. If you accidentally press stop, good luck trying to get back to the chapter you left off at.

Many people have been complaining about lip sync problems which I did not notice until last night. I
was watching "Meet Joe Black" and it looked like a translated foreign film. In addition, the player kept
freezing up once it got to the second layer.
I went home and played this movie on my Panasonic DVD A110 without any lip sync problems or
player freeze ups.

I took the top of the 414 and A110 and noticed the A110 has a superior power supply and separates
the digital and analog supplies unlike the 414. This also explains why the Panasonic has a 2V output
from the analog outs as opposed to the 200mV output on the 414. The A110 sounds better when
used as a cd player, it is easier to use and does not have lip sync problems like the 414.
Given the choice again, I would not purchase a Pioneer DVD 414.

I've had the 414 for about 3 months now. I got it at CC, after calling allover town to get it at 299,and HAD to educate (embarrass) my extremely
aggressive DIVX salesperson. I watched over 30 DVD's and have never had any
problems. It passes DTS, component video and has 96 KHZ sound capability.
I'm not downing anybody purchase, but for what I paid, you'd be
hard pressed to do better. The pic quality is excellent, and so is the sound.
It also will display true black. 2 negatives, the last memo, then stop combo
doesn't work all the time, and the remote SUCKS. Use the hundred or so bucks
you save buying an another player with comparable features to buy a good
learning remote!

It is the best DVD player you can buy for the money and it is just as good as some twice as much. I love it everything is perfect especially if you don't have thousands to spend. The remote realy does work well it isn't illuminated but it gets easy to use quickly, after a few days I could work it without looking. Music sounds excellent too but i still use my cd player not to wear out my laser as quick.

Great player. Have had unit for about 5 months and encountered no problems. Moving to bedroom to make room in Home Theater setup for Toshiba SD-3109.

I am not an expert in the field of audio/video, but I can tell you that the jump from VHS in stereo to DVD in DD or DTS was astounding to me. I purchased my Pioneer 414 from Best Buy for $239 (open box) and I can't be more happy with it. I did see the lip sync problem one time, but not with any of the new releases that I've watched over the past three months. I also believe that the FF and REW functions could operate a little more smoothly, but personally I don't find it to be that much of a problem. As far as picture and sound quality, all I can say is WOW. I have recommended this player to a few of my friends without any reservations, and if I can confidently recommend it to my friends, then I have to give it a 5 star rating.

I have a modest HT setup, it is still under construction. My wife and I decided to buy a cheaper DVD player and just wait for the DVD universal players to come out and then come down in price. Home Theater Magazine gave this "low end" player very high marks and said it was almost as good as the sony 7000 player. So i thought i would give it a try. Granted i am upgrading from a sony 780 HIFI vcr to dvd and the difference is incredible. S-video is really worth the upgrade, the picture was clear and sharp. I had no idea my Sony 27" TV could present such a stunning picture. It was not grainy nor ghosty it looked like a vega picture, just beautiful. The sound was through a 990 sony dolby pro logic receiver, and it sounded like a cd. It will be nice to rent dvds and not worry about the poor quality of tapes anymore, the life span on the dvd should be greater than the tapes, and you can visually check for scratches before you leave the store. Setup functions were easy, and the manual reads well and accurately describes the functions and the usage of them. The 414 has dts and DD pass through, meaning it sees the coding and then passes it to your receiver, but does not decode it, so it does not have the 5 channel outs. It does have 2 digital outs, component and s video, and the composite out. I have only watched 5 movies, of which i did not notice any problems. This player makes a good starter unit and will work well in my bedroom, when i upgrade it later. The remote is functional, but the buttons seem small, and there is no kind of lighting on it. Excellent value and performance.

This is a reply to DTSexpert.
Mr. Expert,
There is such a thing as "center delay." Some high-end receivers, like some of the Yamahas, will allow you to set your center delay if your center speaker happens to be closer to your listening position than your main speakers. But I digress. I just picked up the 414 for $299 at Best Buy. I will post my review after I have a chance to put it through its paces.

I've had the DV-414 for 3 months and find that for the money its a great buy. The picture and sound are great, even though I've only heard it in Dolby Pro-logic. I'm waiting for the new Pioneer VSX-27TX to come out so i can experience it in Dolby Digital/DTS. And for the remote, your paying under $400 for the player, isn't play the only button you really need?

There seems to be two sides - ya love this machine or you hate it! If it weren't for the lip sync problem this piece seems to exhibit for some users I dare say there would be no contest at all. Okay, I bought mine back in Sept. of 98. I did a tremendous amount of research and comparison shopping before I decided on the DV-414. Once I finished setting up the Home Theater, it wasn't too long before I indeed noticed the lip sysnc problem (Lost in Space). At the time I didn't have a clue what it was and soon forgot about it. Think I experienced it again on another DVD but don't remember which one. Soon forgot about it until I began reading the reviews here. Now I know and understand just what I was seeing.
Well, since then, divorce has left me with nothing of the Home Theater that I once had. Which is okay, I can start over and do it even better than last time. Which is exactly what I've set out to do.
You know what people? Guess which piece I bought first? The Pioneer DV-414! Imagine that. Even after owning one before WITH the lip-sync problem, I went out and purchased another one. I was just SO impressed with this machine I actually bought another one. For the price and the features that it offers it simply cannot be beat. Period. Now, I am, of course, hoping that this newer machine does not exhibit the L/S problem, and being a Feb/99 mfg. I'm truly wishing this is the case. I've not seen it yet, but that may not mean anything. Otherwise, the DV-414 is one of the greatest bargains around - bar none! I'd buy it a third time if I had to!!!