Pioneer DVD Player with HD Upconversion (DV-400V)

[sub780lime]

After hearing about quality loss of SD DVD's on HD Players I started looking at a few 1080p upconverting SD DVD players and I decided to go with the Pioneer DV-400. I have only watched the Star Wars OT DVD's so far, but I really need to borrow some DVD's that I already own from a neighbor so I can compare them between the HD Player and the Upconverting SD Player.


Details below


General
Disc Capacity Single
Playback Disc Dual-Layer DVD-R/DVD/DVD-R/DVD-RW/DVD+R/DVD+RW Compatible
JPEG Photoviewer
MP3 Playback
DivXTM Playback
WMA Playback
Dialog Enhancer
Video Adjustments
Photo Slideshow with Music
Windows Media Video (WMV) Playback
Features
Pure Cinema 2:3 Progressive Scan
Audio Digital/Analog Converter (DAC) 96 kHz/24-bit Audio DAC
Video Digital/Analog Converter (DAC) 108 MHz/12-bit Video DAC
HDMI(TM)
DTS(R) (Digital Theater Systems) 2-Channel Downmix Decoding
Picture Zoom
Advanced GUI with Set-up Navigator
Output/Input
Component Video Output (DVD,Video CD)
S-Video Output 1
Video Output 1
Audio Output 1
Coaxial Digital Output (for Dolby Digital L PCM/DTS)
Dimensions
Dimensions (inches) 16-9/16 x 1-15/16 x 8-7/16 (WxHxD)
Dimensions (mm) 420 x 49.5 x 215
Weight 3 lbs. 15 oz. (1.8 kg)

[chlngr1970]

I thought about getting this when I saw it a few months ago. I also considered getting the Elite DV 46 till I found out it doesn't do SACD over HDMI.

j

[tomdkat]

I was looking at this player on Pioneer's website the other day. I was thinking of getting it for my dad as a gift but it doesn't support DVD-A/SACD so I'll pass.

What do you think of the player so far?

Peace...

[sub780lime]

Originally Posted by tomdkat

I was looking at this player on Pioneer's website the other day. I was thinking of getting it for my dad as a gift but it doesn't support DVD-A/SACD so I'll pass.

What do you think of the player so far?

Peace...

Initially, I am impressed, but I dont know if that is wishful thinking or wishful assestment. I still need to borrow a DVD so I can compare.

[sub780lime]

Finally did some side by side....well really not side by side, but...you know what I mean, comparisons. I decided to use Star Wars Episode 4 and queued up track 3 so I could watch the introduction of the Tantive IV and the Star Destroyer. I watched the seen once on my HD-DVD Add-on and then on the new player. I noticed an improvement on the pioneers picture that I didn't see on the HD Add-on. It was definitely sharper. I made sure the picture settings were identical for the TV. The big question was, would my wife see a difference. You should could potentially veto this purchase. Also, if she noticed a difference, it means it is not minor, anyone could see the difference, not just someone with my trained eye. Lo and behold, she did notice a difference, so I get to keep my shiny new player.

I am still going to try some other source material.

[Frankie]

Originally Posted by sub780lime

After hearing about quality loss of SD DVD's on HD Players I

What

I was under the impression that SD disks looked a little better on HD players. I'm sure I remember reading that someplace. Does the same rule apply to BD players?

This changes everything for me.

F

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by Frankie

What

I was under the impression that SD disks looked a little better on HD players. I'm sure I remember reading that someplace. Does the same rule apply to BD players?

This changes everything for me.

F

Have you not seen this thread?

Peace...

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by sub780lime

I watched the seen once on my HD-DVD Add-on and then on the new player. I noticed an improvement on the pioneers picture that I didn't see on the HD Add-on. It was definitely sharper.

Were the machines outputting 720p or 1080i? Also, did you perform video calibrations on each player separately? You will most likely end up with different video settings on your TV from each player but at least the TV would have been "tuned" for each player.

Glad the wife noticed a difference as well.

Maybe I'll give this player another look-see...

Peace...

[sub780lime]

I have since calibrated the Players individually, but I was initially interested in seeing what each player looked like with the same TV settings. I have to say, I think the thing I have watched on the player have looked great, better then what I was seeing on my HD-Player.

To answer your question about output. The HD was putting out 1080i updconverted to 1080p by the TV, while the SD player was upconverting to 1080p.

Now that I have calibrated the Pioneer, I think the image is even better than before. Definitely worth the 100 bucks I had to spend on it.

[tomdkat]

I'm now thinking I'll get this player for my dad for Christmas.

EDIT: Have you had any problems with it yet?

Peace...

[sub780lime]

None at all, but take note, I don't use DIVX at all. Also, Bestbuy just put it on sale for $99, though you can probably find it for cheaper online somewhere.

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by sub780lime

None at all, but take note, I don't use DIVX at all.

My dad won't either.

Also, Bestbuy just put it on sale for $99, though you can probably find it for cheaper online somewhere.

Sweet! I'll definitely check out my local BestBuy then!

Thanks!

Peace...

[sub780lime]

Originally Posted by tomdkat

My dad won't either.

Sweet! I'll definitely check out my local BestBuy then!

Thanks!

Peace...

Yeah, I still need to go do my Price Match.

[jdurg]

I've been seriously looking at Oppo's latest upconverting SD-DVD player since I'm not quite ready to dip into the HD-DVD/Blue-Ray market yet. Considering that the Oppo player I want is about $230, do you think the price on this Pioneer DVD player is worth it? I would LOVE to get a good upconverting SD-DVD player for only $100 if possible, but I also don't want the "Gee, I should have saved a bit more and gotten the Oppo" feeling to kick in.

Do you think it's worth it?

[chlngr1970]

Originally Posted by jdurg

I've been seriously looking at Oppo's latest upconverting SD-DVD player since I'm not quite ready to dip into the HD-DVD/Blue-Ray market yet. Considering that the Oppo player I want is about $230, do you think the price on this Pioneer DVD player is worth it? I would LOVE to get a good upconverting SD-DVD player for only $100 if possible, but I also don't want the "Gee, I should have saved a bit more and gotten the Oppo" feeling to kick in.

Do you think it's worth it?

Considering you can get a brand new Toshiba HD-A2 For about the same price ( 229.98 at Amazon ), it would seem to me that the Toshiba would be the better deal. Superior up-scaling abilities and HD DVD to boot!

j

[sub780lime]

Originally Posted by chlngr1970

For about the same price ( 229.98 at Amazon ), it would seem to me that the Toshiba would be the better deal. Superior up-scaling abilities and HD DVD to boot!

j

The argument, though, is that SD DVD's dont look as good on next gen players. I have read this in numerous places but only experienced it with my HDAO. However, I say a sharper cleaner images using the upconverting player instead of the HDAO.

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by sub780lime

The argument, though, is that SD DVD's dont look as good on next gen players.

Do you mean when upscaled or when displayed at 480p?

Peace...

[sub780lime]

Originally Posted by tomdkat

Do you mean when upscaled or when displayed at 480p?

Peace...

upscaled.

[jdurg]

With the help of a Best Buy Gift Card that I found on the ground (and it was for $100 too!), I decided to go and get the Pioneer DVD player. I freaking love it! Very small, compact, but loaded with options and an upconversion that looks friggen stunning. It helped that I found the giftcard that I figured would be worth $25 but instead was worth $100, but still, it is well worth the asking price. Sucks to be the person who lost the gift card, but oh well. It was left in the parking lot and not claimed.

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by sub780lime

upscaled.

Wow, ok. This is the first I've heard about upscaled DVDs not on a HD player not looking as good (if not better) than an upscaled DVD on a SD upscaling player. Seamonkey has a Denon DVD-3910 (I believe) and it does upscaling to 720p/1080i and he thinks his Toshiba HD-XA2 upscales better than his Denon, which is quite the upscaling "beast".

Anywho, thanks for the feedback! This player is looking more attractive the more I think about it.

Peace...

[PunkMunkey]

Originally Posted by tomdkat

Wow, ok. This is the first I've heard about upscaled DVDs not on a HD player not looking as good (if not better) than an upscaled DVD on a SD upscaling player. Seamonkey has a Denon DVD-3910 (I believe) and it does upscaling to 720p/1080i and he thinks his Toshiba HD-XA2 upscales better than his Denon, which is quite the upscaling "beast".

Well, to be fair, the HD-XA2 is an $800 player with the Silicon Optix scaler/deinterlacer (probably the best out there right now)...the HD-A2, while a "decent" upscaler, probably uses a much less expensive and robust scaler/deinterlacer and definitely wouldn't outperform the Denon DVD-3910 (with it's once top-of-the-line Faroudja chipset).

Taking into account the chipsets used by the individual players themselves gives a one a better overall idea of thier upscaling prowess. Just because the HD-A2 is a great HD-DVD player doesn't necessarily mean it'll outperform a top-of-the-line SD upconverter like the Denon. The HD processing and SD processing are handled totally independently, hence the different HD/SD capabilities.

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by PunkMunkey

Well, to be fair, the HD-XA2 is an $800 player with the Silicon Optix scaler/deinterlacer (probably the best out there right now)...the HD-A2, while a "decent" upscaler, probably uses a much less expensive and robust scaler/deinterlacer and definitely wouldn't outperform the Denon DVD-3910 (with it's once top-of-the-line Faroudja chipset).

Taking into account the chipsets used by the individual players themselves gives a one a better overall idea of thier upscaling prowess. Just because the HD-A2 is a great HD-DVD player doesn't necessarily mean it'll outperform a top-of-the-line SD upconverter like the Denon. The HD processing and SD processing are handled totally independently, hence the different HD/SD capabilities.

Good point. Fair enough.

Peace...

[sub780lime]

Originally Posted by tomdkat

Wow, ok. This is the first I've heard about upscaled DVDs not on a HD player not looking as good (if not better) than an upscaled DVD on a SD upscaling player. Seamonkey has a Denon DVD-3910 (I believe) and it does upscaling to 720p/1080i and he thinks his Toshiba HD-XA2 upscales better than his Denon, which is quite the upscaling "beast".

Anywho, thanks for the feedback! This player is looking more attractive the more I think about it.

Peace...

wouldnt the XD-XA2 upscale to 1080p, unlike his Denon? The Pioneer upscales to 1080p.