Plays all format, Excellent Sound and picture quality.

Doesn't Play MP3.

I was looking for two specific features.
1. I have a old aiwa receiver which has a 5.1 input. I live in apartment so I don't want to spend money in expensive HT setup. I wanted to leverage my 5.1 "enabled" aiwa. I was looking for a DVD player with Dolby digital decoder built in.
2. I have many song DVD's and song VCD's with almost 50 songs in each disc. Some of the songs are real crap. I wanted a DVD player which will enable me to select only certain tracks from my collection and play only those songs every time I insert the disc in the player, simple. I wanted this track selection to be stored in memory, rather than doing the so called "programming" every time. I heard some of the pioneer models can store up to 24 disc program memory. Mind you, program memory is not same as condition memory. Condition Memory is, your DVD can remember sound settings, subtitile setting, screen setting etc for the DVD disc. Program memory is your DVD can remember track setttings. If you are confused.. please refer to Pioneer manual or send me email!!:-)

I used use my computer to play DVD movies and watch it on my TV monitor using the S-Video output from Hollywood magic decoder card. In addition to this setup, I used Cambridge sound works dolby digital decoder box to give DD 5.1 input to my aiwa system. It was satisfying experience.. but annoying when you want to stop, pause, rewind, or forward.. you have to run to computer everytime. So I decided to buy DVD player.


First I got Sony NS400D for $249. This player played all the format(CD-R, CD-RW, DVD,VCD), but didn't play SVCD. This player has dolby digital decoder but it doesn't have programm memory. It has good picture quality. I didn't return it immediatly though.

I decided to give Apex 703 a try. It played MP3, SVCD,CDR-CDRW, Karoke you name it. Karoake didn't work as I expected. It also had DD decoder. It didn't have program memory and quality of the unit sucked big time. I tried playing "Anna and the King movie". It skipped movie in many places. I played the same movie in sony and my computer DVD drive. They played just fine. The audio also not as good as sony. I returned the unit mainly because it didn't satisfy my criteria no 2.

Then I got Pioneer 503. It doesn't have dolby digital decoder and i thought it should have programming memory since it is from Pioneer. It is a 5 disc player and cost $220 at costco. I thought, if satisfies my criteria no 2 .. I will keep it. but... to my surprise it doesn't have program memory.

Then I did some research work... went to pioneer's web site and figured 434 has the feature. I returned my pioneer 503 and got 434.

THIS PLAYER IS THE SIMPLY THE BEST I HAVE SEEN.

It plays everything. I compared the audio quality of this player and Sony NS400D. 434 beats sony by yards. I never figured some of the CDs I have sounded so good!!!. Video quality is also slightly better than sony. It had program memory(criteria no:2), but It doesn't have dolby digital decoder (criteria no1). Hey... what the heck, I can live without it and can spend some extra bucks to replace my aging aiwa receiver!!! Let me have some good time with this player!!. I have already order a JVC DD and DTS receiver. As you have already figured out... yes, I returned the sony!.

Simply put... It is "the best" of its genre.

-sk

Similar Products Used:

Sony NS400D, APEX 703 and pioneer DV-503, Philips Computer DVD player with Hollywood Magic MPEG-2 decoder and Cambridge sound works Desktop Theater 5.1.

Price, progressive scan

on-screen menu isn't that great.

I just bought a Mitsubishi ws-65857, their HDTV-ready 65" 16x9 platnum plus set. My Toshiba SD-2109 looked very good using the component video connections, but I couldn't wait to try progressive scan. I attached the DV-434 as well the sd-2109 and compared DVDs. The Pioneerdv-434 was so much better in clarity. It made some of the newer DVDs look almost like HD-quality. I was very impressed. Great performance so far and a great value.

Similar Products Used:

Toshiba sd-2109, Panasonic DVD-LV55 portable DVD player

progressive scan, awesome picture, sharp, it can automatically detect a progressive scan dvd

ugly remote

originally had apex ad 800a with progressive scan, took back because of recall, but the pioneer is awesome with progressive scan, i currently have a mitsu ws55807 55' widescreen with progressive scan built in, when you put a progressive scan dvd player with a progressive scan hdtv, it is stunning, this picture is clear, crisp, and sharp, for around 300-350 bucks, its a deal with progressive scan,
awesome dvd player,

Similar Products Used:

sony, toshiba, apex

Progessive scan, Price

Progressive scan not compatible, CHEAP feeling and sounding

This DVD player felt VERY cheap but I figured it was worth a shot for an under $300 progressive scan player. I was wrong. It was not compatible with my Toshiba TV and it grinded and sounded like it was going to fall apart (just like the Pioneer 503). I was dissapointed and brought this unit back. I'm happy for all the people that enjoyed this unit. But, in this case, you get what you pay for.

Similar Products Used:

RCA, Pioneer 503, Toshiba SD5109, Onkyo 601

Superb picture, simple operation

Poor search function, lightweight construction

I have been completely pleased and satisfied with my unit. I am playing it into a Pioneer Elite Pro-510HD set and view from about ten feet. The entire picture is razor sharp and awesome with DVD/progressive scan discs. My wife was a nay sayer for large screen tv's but has been an enthusiastic supporter of this setup. We signed up for netflix and have had no problem playing any of the discs to date.
My only reservations have to do with the lightweight construction which gives a sense of less durable build quality and the poor search, fast forward, reverse capabilities which are dismal in my opinion.
For the dollar this machine seems to represent a superb value.

Progressive scan

none

Purchased this unit to run in conjunction with a Hitachi 53FDXo1B Hd tv.The salesman advised that I would need a DVD player that has progressive scan in order for it to work with hd tv.Happened to be speaking with another salesman from The Power Station in London Ont about the Hitachi tv and he advised the good thing about this tv over the sony and others is that it has built in progressive and you do not require a DVD player with this.He advised save yourself a couple hundred dollars and buy regular DVD.Needless to say I took it back unopened and unable to comment on this product.My advice is to speak to a sales person who knows his products needless to say I am now buying the Hitachi from Sears as they will match prices.

Inexpensive, great sound and picture.

Crappy remote. Could have made a better one...

This is an excellent DVD player for what I use it for. I have it hooked up to a 50" Mitsubishi Diamond Vision set and it works great, and once connected using an S-VHS cable, the picture was even more clear.

Similar Products Used:

RCA

True Progressive Scan

Cheaply Built, Cheap Transport

This DVD player does exactly what it advertises, progressive scanning. That's it. It has nothing else, but who needs anything else. Use your DVD simply as a VIDEO source. Why double up on chips (Dolby Digital and DTS) when you can outsource the work to your pre-amp? To find out what progressive scanning is go look it up on the web somewhere. For those of you who have spoken about 3:2 pulldown in you review of this DVD player, I suggest you also get a clue and actually look up the definition of 3:2 pulldown, as it has nothing to do with DVD players. go here: http://www.puffindesigns.com/support/white_papers/3-2.html

Sound and picture

Build quality

Picture quality is much better than the Panasonic. For the price I paid you can't beat it. Great buy.

Similar Products Used:

Panasonic A120

Price

none so far

After reading so many negative reviews and also having had bad experiences with Pioneer I decided to give this DVD player a shot. It was on sale with and additional 10% off at Sears. I got home and got it hooked up. Components to my digital Samsung 27" and toslink to my Sony DA50ES. Sound was great. Video was great until I put the player in progressive output mode. The picture split in half on the screen! I read both manuals then tried something. I remember when accessing the manu on the television to put it in DVD mode that it also sensed DTV was connected as well. So I switched it into DTV mode and voila. Super picture. Very film-like. I haven't noticed the problem with text. E-mail with questions please...