Laserdisc

[Moonraker]

I was thinking of getting a cheap LD player on eBay and getting a few LDs of movies I can't get on DVD yet. I see great values there for like 60 bucks (player & 4 movies).

Does anybody else keep their LD player? I was thinking maybe the original star wars trilogy and Ed Wood to start.

BTW... I am not ready to make the LD commitment, but would soimething like this be a good value?

LD on eBay

[Notoriousaurus]

I have about 30 LDs but I would never sell my player. I love it.

[kimfair]

I bought a used machine on eBay for about $40 delivered, and though it's not special, it plays all my discs. The $50 the auction went for seems fair. I had 2 machines that played both sides, and both were nightmares. I went with a single sided player the eBay time. I love my laserdisc player. I keep all the discs that are different than the DVD versions (like the upcoming Lion King it appears, and the Jaws box with full length documentary), and rare stuff that probably won't see the light of day on DVD(Frighteners box set, Criterion Baron Munchausen). You can get some great stuff cheap that's not on DVD, and stuff that is on DVD even cheaper!

[Morticia]

We've got a few threads about this in Hardware. It's one of those topics that sorta straddles the line, so IMO this can stay in Off Topic. Then again, tomdkat is welcome to correct me, as he's a Hardware mod, too!!

But just to help a bit, I found these threads in Hardware:
Cappy wants a laserdisc player...
Laserdisc player recommendations

These may not discuss your exact player, but I bet there's info there that will come in handy!!

[tomdkat]

Well Morticia, since he's talking about a LD player I think this belongs in Hardware...

Moving there now...

Peace...

[Morticia]

Told ya you were welcome to correct me...

Thanks Tom

[Hollow Man]

I did it just to get Star Wars. We'll never get the trilogy on DVD the way I want it, so it was my only option for the best quality Star Wars. Short of buying a film projector and stealing the film reels...

-HM

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by Hollow Man

stealing the film reels...

Remember, "crime doesn't pay..." and not even for our very own Miggy, the Thief!

Moonraker, do a search on "Pioneer Laserdisc" in this forum and you can find discussion on various recommended LD players.

Good luck!

Peace...

[Dr. Evil]

Does anybody else keep their LD player? I was thinking maybe the original star wars trilogy and Ed Wood to start.

Yes, I kept mine for titles like Star Wars and Mulholland Falls, and they look a lot better now that I'm using a Holo3Dgraph-I for deinterlacing.

The players are a lot cheaper than they used to be, and you should be able to find a good used model for under $100 on eBay.

[prof.fate]

Hi,

Laserdisc is a great format, and I still have around 300 titles, some are not, and probably will not make it to dvd. I think a lot of LD owners know it, and have stated it. I have discs that "people will have to pry out of my cold, dead hands", and even then, I plan on putting up a fight!!

There are two players I can recommend: the CLD-1010, and the LD-V8000 industrial player both from Pioneer. If I were you, go with Pioneer. Their players were built really well. The CLD-1010 is the ONLY player in the history of Pioneer players that uses a red laser. It produces clear, sharp, images, and has excellent noise reduction. It also has an excellent cross talk rejection tracking system. I have two: one that is stored away that I bought in 1987 new, and used for 12 years (worked flawlessly, no repairs), and another used one I picked up on ebay for $50.00 that I now use in the bedroom. It has also been running flawlessly for around 3 years now.

The LD-V8000 was THE best player in 1993 industrial wise, and cost around $3,000 new. I picked one up used, like new on ebay that was used at a college for $75.00! Hard to believe, isn't it? This player is built like a tank, and produces fantastic picture. Crosstalk is not even an issue on the worst discs.

Check out ebay, and I am sure you can find one of these for a good price. Laserdisc may have been to big, and cost too much, but it is a hell of a lot better that "El Crapola" VHS!

Have a great day!

Chris

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by prof.fate

There are two players I can recommend: the CLD-1010, and the LD-V8000 industrial player both from Pioneer.

Do these players have AC-3 support and an AC-3 RF output?

Peace...

[doubledown]

I'm selling mine....if anyone cares. I have the player and around 40 discs, including the Star Wars Trilogy....

[videoworx]

Do these players have AC-3 support and an AC-3 RF output?

that's a big no on that one. The first AC-3 players popped up in 94, i believe - and they were the consumer models, not the industrial series.

[Unit]

Originally Posted by prof.fate

The CLD-1010 is the ONLY player in the history of Pioneer players that uses a red laser.

Not sure who told you that one, but most of the old LD players have red lasers in them. Not sure what the later models had, but I suspect they were red as well, as there is no reason to use anything but cheap, red lasers. Biggest change was LED lasers. I've scrapped many a Pioneer chassis and saved the HeNe laser tube (red).

Anyhow, back to the oringinal question.
I still have a LD player, not sure what model, but a later model Pioneer.
The LDV8000 is a rock solid player, but lacks the features required (by me anyway) for home theater use. Here is what to look for...
Must have:
IR remote -The industrial players typically have an RS-232 port for control
AC3-RF output -at a minimum
Front loading tray -top loaders just suck
Would be nice to have:
Autoflip -plays both sides without getting up every 60 mintues
AC3/Dolby Digital output (SPDIF) output

If you only get AC3-RF output, you need another box to demodulate the digital audio. You can still get the Sony MOD-RF1 or you can hunt down a Yamaha ADP-1 demodulator. Many Pioneer AV receivers accept AC3-RF directly.

For me, and others apparently, "Star Wars Trilogy"... no make that "Star Wars Trilogy Special Edition Boxed Set" was the main goal for keeping a LD player alive. As of date, this boxed set is the only way to get the Dolby Digital soundtrack for the trilogy.
Other than that, I can find alot of old classics on ebay for $5 of movies yet to make it to DVD.

[chlngr1970]

Originally Posted by Unit

"Star Wars Trilogy Special Edition Boxed Set" was the main goal for keeping a LD player alive. As of date, this boxed set is the only way to get the Dolby Digital soundtrack for the trilogy.

Unfortunately, that is the SE of the SW Trilogy, NOT the origional Don't get me wrong, I have that box, as well as the THX Remasters and Difinitive box set. I still prefer the origional.

j