Specs, Price, outputs

Remote (lacks jog shuttle), reliability ? - the first i got was not working!

I've bought this dvd player, because i needed built in DD decoder (dts is a plus), and the ability to read cd-r's. The choice was limited, Philips, Pioneer, after reading a little i finally made the decision towards pioneer. The first one said "no disc" all the time (i hope was a bad unit). This new one plays all the stuff i throw in it (i only need to try VCD to complete the tests), has a very nice image conected by s-video to my 29' sony and a excelent sound (at least in DD) conected to my 5.1 ready Yamaha. The menus are nice, sony dvd has more stuff (to choose speakers, etc). The only thing i really don't like is it's lousy remote (in europe it's a simple one without jog shuttle, far away diferent of the Usa one that is similar to the remote of the 717).

Built-in Dolby Digital and DTS decoders, along with just about every video and audio output conceivable (2 and 6-channel audio, composite, svhs and component video).

Jog on remote

My purchase price at Netmarket included shipping. The production date on the box was January, 2000.

I'm familiar with Pioneer laser disk players from the late '80s and early 90s, and my experience with those units was very favorable. This unit was being promoted by Netmarket and several other on-line retailers, and, after reading the various reviews in this column, I became sold. All the features I needed and wanted were present. The 626 may be an older model, in that it's no longer listed as a current item on the Pioneer Web site, but the reviews were positive and complaints in general seemed very minor. Also, since my combination Yamaha DSP-E492 surround unit tied to my Denon 775RD receiver gives me only Dolby ProLogic decoding, I wanted to be able to use Dolby Digital or AC-3 decoding. I plugged the 6 channels out of the Pioneer DVD into the 6 channels in on the Yamaha surround unit, and, after playing several DVDs of various quality, all I can say is that I'm impressed. The AC-3, with sound sent to the rear channels individually, is superb. It really creates a theater ambience.

Quite honestly I have no problem with the letter box picture on my 27" Sony TV. I got used to it quickly. The TV has S-VHS but no component inputs. Even so, the picture quality with just the S-VHS is marvelous. My only problem is that the S-VHS input becomes the only video available on my TV when an S-VHS cable is plugged in, so, since I'm no longer able to switch between Video 1, 2, and 3, I bought a manual S-VHS switch box from Radio Shack and now use the S-VHS outs from my digital cable box, the DVD player and my VCR. Previously I had placed more value on the control available when using composite video, but the S-VHS quality from the Pioneer DVD is way too good to pass up.

Finally, some users mentioned being annoyed by the Pioneer drive noise. I can hear it ONLY on start-up when there is no other sound in the room, exactly as one would when using an audio CD player. The moment any other sound comes up, though, the player noise becomes inaudible. Even in quiet parts of the movies I can hear nothing. Either they've improved the unit, or others are more sensitive than my wife and I.

Similar Products Used:

none - first DVD

DTS, Gamma Correction, Plays CD, CDR, CDRW and of course DVD. Great sound, picture and performance

Slow and Noisy Tray. Cheap and light build.

This is an excellent player for the money. The sound though not of audiophile quality but then I don't have an audiophile setting with my Denon AVR 3200, NHT 2.5 and subwoofers, but it does justice for the money at $345. Since I had a DVD player to do an A&B comparision, I could almost tell the difference between the two. My first player Panasonic A110 - Picture - Clean, nice blacks, unsaturated color with not so sharp features unadjustable. no bass??
Pioneer DV-626D - Clean, not so nice blacks, unstaturated color can also be adjusted with Gamma correction, sharpness can be adjusted. Sound somehow packs extra bass.
Did a burn in for 8 hours non-stop. Did remarkably well under the pressure with minimal overheating. The onboard DD decoder is somewhat lacking in response, sound is average, my amp does a better annd clearer job but then it should. The onboard DTS is also okay but still I think an amp with the decoder would do better. Since I have the Denon with 5.1 input it's the only way I can play DTS encoded CDs and DVDs. But for the value, this is excellent.

Similar Products Used:

Panasonic A110

DTS, DD, Sounds EXCELLENT!

None

I've tried a lot of DVD players, and I have to say that this one really rocks. It's the best one I've heard (except of Denon 5000), and with DTS and DD decoding it's really something for the price.

Hear it, See it!

Good CD sound, rapid scanning

build/finish

Admittedly I have not yet had the chance to use it for
DVD (!), only for VCD and CD. The feature list is long,
picture quality for VCDs is good and picture scanning is
fast. But I want to focus on the sound. I was quite
impressed with the sound quality for CDs. By comparison
with my (admittedly ageing) Denon DCD-2560 is comes out
very favourably, at least in my specific setting. The
sound is crisp, detailed and airy, apparently a good
combination with my far-to-warm-sounding Arcam amp. Perhaps
it is a little TOO analytical, but I have been impressed.
The build quality is, as usual, nothing to write home about;
lightweight and plasticky in a tacky gold colour.

Good picture quality, build-in decoders

A zoom could be nice for people with small size TVs.

I have spent several months looking for the right player, reading reviews and speaking with the 'experts' in a number of dvd stores, and my final decision was down to a Pioneer DV626. (Spending hours on one-to-one tests between players can really be recommended).

The picture quality is at least as good as the more expensive dv-717 and the menues are far better to work with.

The Dolby Digital and DTS capabilities of this machine is superb taking the price into account. I know that you can get better separate decoders, but then we are talking a different level of price.
This is the best solution when you got an amplifier without any of the above deocers but a 5.1 input.

I have got it modified with the E-Mod, which is an external modification that do not require any solvering of the machine. It is a small chip inserted via a cooling hole in the right side.
Removing the E-Mod will return an upgraded player to its absolute VIRGIN STATE (single region, without VCR Mode) without ANY trace of any modification. So you keep the original warranty.

This machine playes anything with a solid impression.

Digital Noise Reduction circuit, 96kHz audio out,DTS/VCD/CDr

Pan & Zoom would be nice.

When I received this player (DV626), its was Dead on Arival too. The manufacture date was Oct.1999. After i got everything hooked up, theres was no VIDEO only Sound. What a bummer, i was expecting Pioneer quality. From this review, I see im not the only that has this problem.
So I brought it for repair under warranty. AS of now (over a month),Im still waiting for it to be fix. I guess since this is a new machine, theres no parts available yet.

Similar Products Used:

Toshiba SD2109

HIGH QUALITY VIDEO;Gold Plated Connectors; Dual Svideo Outs; Digital Out; Component Video Out.

Remote Shuttle Feature

I have had this unit for one year. It works great! I have a Mitsubishi Large Screen (All glass lenses, Studio Quality) and I have to say I am impressed. I get a very clean picture (provided the DVD has been tranfered clean) and it has played every single DVD I have purchased.

The only thing I don't like is the jog on the remote.

Similar Products Used:

Sony DVP-S550D;RCA

Best image quality around.

Cheap design. Poor plastic. Remote made in Hong-Kong...

Ability to modify the sharpness, gamma correction, edge enhancement, noise reduction...
Sharpest image ever seen. compared with 5 players.
I own a huge screen (Philips Fellini 100 projector), so sharpness is very important. The Sony was very blurry in comparisio with this one.
Only the Pioneer 626 and the 717 has this feature. Don't look further!!

Similar Products Used:

Sony DVP S525D

smooth scan feature, good picture quality and can play all region disk

no zoom, low res screen-saver

I've tried a lot of players before finally deciding to get this one and I have no regrets. The scan feature is great; you can scan forward and backward at different speeds.
Picture quality is great but sometimes the picture gets distorted during blast or explosion scenes.
Sound quality is also great when used with a Dolby Digital receiver, but the built-in decoder is not that good. There are no lip-sync problem so far. I've played DVDs, VCDs, CDs and CDRs on it and it all worked okay.
Another thing, it was manufactured on October 1999 and it worked fine.