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I recieved this product today ( 07/06/2001 ), I think it looks great but after playing only two DVD's I have seen that the picture freezes as does the audio. I have read the other reveiws and can only say I agree, this product is a complete load of rubbish. I paid far less for my old player and had it for 18 months with no problems. I have today requested a return number from B&D Electronics and will return it for a refund as per their great 15 day no questions asked returns policy. I will update you all on the progress of this.

Has anyone got any ideas on what I can get for around the same money that won't let me down?

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer DVD

Good Price for what it's supposed to do

I'm experiencing the same problems everyone else here has - I wish I had stopped by here first :(

Brought the DVD 50 home. Hooked it up. It freezes, pixlates, drops DTS audio and locks up from time to time on shutdown.

It's going back in the box and getting returned tonight.

Too bad - it had a lot going for it on paper...

Locks up like a 486 running Windows NT, and skips like my daughter on her way to school.

I have had the unit for a three days and it has not held up well. It started off nicely, playing all media but soon started skipping on DVDs, CCDs, CDRs, and locks up when trying to read MP3 discs that it initially (i.e. the first five hours) played fine. At this time it locks up 100% of the time when reading MP3 discs. I have to unplug it to be able to turn it off when it locks up. I called the service line and was pretty much given the run arround. "Try burning MP3s with different software, Try different discs." It played them all fine at first,

For you out there that have mentioned the problem of no direct disc access from the remote, it can be done. Although it is not mentioned in the manual, if you hit skip disc and then the number of the disc you want, it will go directly to that disc. Of course this is of no use to me as it will just lock up anyway.

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer

Don't know yet waiting for it to arrive =)

I just wanted to drop this note of for people that maybe finding problems with their DVD50's in progressive scan. I will be back to do a Full review when I recieve it.

When a DVD 50 is setup, Harman Kardon recommends that a connection for the composite video be made in parallel with any other video connection between the DVD 50 and a TV or Receiver. The composite video output is always available from the DVD 50, except while the progressive scan is activated. This means that a consumer does not have to use an expensive S-Video cable to access the Setup Menu on the screen in order to activate the progressive scan. Once the progressive scan has been activated, you lose the composite video. This is because Harman Kardon is utilizing the available video handling capability of the PANTERA II chip up to its maximum capacity.
For your convenience the following are a few simple steps to activating the component video outputs on the DVD50 To engage Progressive Video via Component output.


For users utilizing the Progressive Video Component outputs:


Hook up the s-video or composite video output of the DVD50 into the corresponding input of your Display device.


Select the corresponding video input of your display device.


Turn on the DVD50.


Without a DVD disc in the player, push the MENU key on the top right of the remote, second button down from the top.


Choose the Video output option from the On Screen Menu.


Select Component video output, via rocking the Right arrow key placed in the middle of the remote control.


On the Component video output menu, select the Progressive feature*, Push the ENTER key, located on the remote control, right side, under the MENU key.

*Note, when you engage the Component Progressive Output, it will disengage the S-video output, thus making your screen go blank.


Turn off the DVD50.


Connect the Progressive Video Component outputs to your display device (If you have not done so already).


Turn on the DVD50.


Select the corresponding Component input on your display device.


Enjoy your new progressive unit.

the remote is a little tricky,but not bad once you get used to it

This is a real nice dvd changer,that plays everything you probly have to throw at it without any disc errors!the picture is really sharp and im only using it with a sony vega tv, {no progressive scan}Im using monster cable S video cable and so far so good.the onkyo integra i had kept giving me disc errors when i tried to play critierian dvd and also anything that was gold in color so i took it back and got this model, and and its lookin pretty good so far so im giving it five big ones....good job Harman Kardon..

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Toshiba sd 2700 onkyo integra dvp 6.1

The weaknesses were as stated, the cd text reader did not work. Sometimes gets stuck turning it off to the point where you have to unplug it to reset the unit. However I believe I just got a defective unit and in the end all will be good.

I've waited two mounths for this unit and I have mixed emotitions on it. This unit does everything. Plays every format I need - ccdrs, cdrws, cds, mp3s, dvds.
Excellent picture and sound quality. Very smooth running
tray upon loading discs.
My problem with this unit is the cd text writer dosnt work at all. The reasons I know this disc works is I've played it in my car and on my Harman Kardon cdr 30 cd recorder and it works great on both of these other units.
Also sometimes when you turn the unit off the display says bye, which it's supposed to do. But it is supposed to go out after a few seconds and shut completely down.
When this light stays on you can't shut the unit off or turn it back on. You have to unplug the unit to reset it.
One more thing, I hear a small distortion comming from the left front speaker periodically.
Let me say I have upgraded my system over the last year with Harman Kardon components and have had to send everyone back on the first try. But after receiving the final product it always turns out fantastic. I dont know if its just my bad luck or there's a slight problem in their manufacturing, but in the end the other products have worked great and in the end I'm sure this one will to.

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Sony CDP-C745 Five disc CD changer
Panasonic DVD-X410 DVD player

Apparently not that many like the remote. It can take a little while to recognize a CD, although DVD's are recognized very fast. It can take 10 seconds to recognize and load all of the mp3's on a disc.

I have only had this unit a couple of days and it is FANTASTIC! The mp3 navigation on screen is much better than I had anticipated and the 14 character file names give you a lot of room to write the track names. The video is outstanding, as is the sound. I cannot find anything wrong with this unit (No hissing whatsoever and it has played every disc I have put in) I love the progressive scan and I think the component output's provide much more detail. I was a little worried when I first got it and it hadn't been reviewed yet but after playing with it I knew that I was very happy with it.
I also wasn't surprised when this review came out -
If you want to read a very good review from a very reliable source visit:
http://www.hometheaterspot.com/ubb/Forum6/HTML/000348.html

The only problem I have found is you can only change one disc at a time, and on the remote you can't select which disc you want, just skip through them. Also I wish the enter button was inside of the navigation buttons.

Overall this is fantastic! I give it two 5's!

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Lower quality DVD and CD players.

plays CD-R's, MP3's; nice onscreen display when playing CD's or MP3's

no random function when playing MP3's; can be hard to find a certain MP3 on a disc since they are all put in one big list, but only about 10 of the list are on screen at a time (have to scroll thru the list forever)

First, I must say that I've only had the unit for one day so far, but I wanted to get a review up since there are only 4 reviews right now for this player. So far I'm really pleased with it. I've been able to play a DVD, CD, CD-R, and MP3 disc all with no problems (no skipping or anything like that). I don't have it hooked up to a stereo yet so I can't comment on the sound (I play it thru the TV speakers right now). I'm no video expert, but I think it looks great (and I'm currently using just the composite connection). I've seen that a lot of people were unhappy with the remote for the HK DVD-5, but I'm satisfied with this remote. It's nothing special, but it does the job (and is backlit). My only complaints so far have dealt with the MP3 playback. It's a little crude compared to using Winamp on the computer, but most DVD players do not even offer this so I shouldn't complain. It's still pretty cool to be able to put about 150 songs on one disc and be able to play it on your stereo.

I am anxious to hook this unit up to my stereo and see how it really sounds. Like I said, I have only had it for a day so far, so I'm still in the honeymoon period, as they say. I will post a follow up review later if I have a change of heart.

As far as the ratings, I give it a 4 for value, since it was quite expensive but it does have progressive scan and MP3 playback (and multidisc changers cost quite a bit more anyway). Overall I am giving it a 5 since it does everything I expected it to do and does it well. It even exceeded my expectations in regards to the nice onscreen displays it has in addition to the front display on the unit itself.

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none

Just a quick update on the seemingly excellent "convergence" product that, given the delays in its shipment, harman kardon can't seem to converge upon. Either it's a manufacturing bug or a supplier hangup--more likely the former (a bug). Here's the actual e-mail I got:

The DVD50 will become available early April 2001. The DVD50 will not be capable of playing DVD-A discs.

Regards,

Ernie Luedemann
Web Support 3

Excellent sound!!!Vivid picture on Svideo with my Sony VPL projector. Looks really pretty, and matches my HK receiver.
Remote control is also lighted.

Picture from component video is not as good as I thought it would be. I get a better picture with the interlaced mode on Svideo. Difficult to use remote when trying to change discs, no numbers for each disc--need to use disc skip. For the price paid, I thought the progressive scan should give me more vivid picture. Picture looks grainy with progressive scan mode. Better picture clarity with Svideo monster cable.

Well, it was a long wait for this mother!Thanks to OneCall.com!!! I was expecting a much better performing machine. I am disappointed with the component video picture via progressive scan mode. Picture however looks excellent with the Svideo in interlaced mode. But a lesser priced DVD like the Pioneer 434 gives you the same quality of picture--for less than $300! Changing from one disc to the next is also difficult.
But in fairness to HK, I just had this unit for a day. I will keep you posted after 2 weeks of using it, and exploring its features. Thanks to One Call, I think I am one of the earliest recipients of this DVD player!!!

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer DV434--not true progressive scan, but works well for Svideo with DRCx4. Okay for the price.
Using this DVD50 with a Sony projector VPLW10HT