Recommend an LD player please

[Lenny Nero]

There are a few movies I like out on LDs and not on DVD yet, some even in widescreen, so I only need the player for a few films and don't want to buy a 200-300 dollar one, nothing too expensive.
I suppose eBay is the way to go, but I really know nothing about the players.
There are some CAV/CLV compatibility issues? Also not all have dolby digital surround sound support?
Which would you recommend me to get that can play any LD and support at least 2.0 sound, have an SVideo out, maybe optical, but normal red/white/yellow component outputs are fine. No auto-flip needed.
So, any suggestions?

[Lenny Nero]

Thanks for all the help, I've found all the info I need, gona get either a Sony MDP-800 or Pioneer CLD-D702, both have digital memory for scanning and still/frame by frame option even on CLV discs, as well as SVideo and optical audio out! :cool:

[Andy_C]

Just a small caveat, make absolutely sure any Laserdisc player explicitly states that it has either AC-3 or DD 5.1 output.

With just a standard optical out you can only get DTS sound from DTS only discs. DD5.1 tracks are 'hidden' on the analog left(?) channel, and need special processing.

Once you have your LD player, try going to <a href="http://www.dvdplanet.com/laserdisc.asp">Ken Cranes</a> - they have a lot of LDs, at really stupid prices. Better be quick though, they stop selling LDs on the 31st of October.

[Lenny Nero]

Wow! Thanks a lot for that link man, some good stuff and at 2 dollars each, I don't mind getting some I've never seen either!

There seems to be almost every movie available on LD, every crappy one, every TV movie, everything! How come they don't crank them out this way on DVD is beyond me.

Do you know of other places that still sells LDs? Going through eBay each time's gotta suck and all the local stores got rid of LDs long time ago, last I've seen any was in 1999.

[Lenny Nero]

Originally posted by Andy_C
Just a small caveat, make absolutely sure any Laserdisc player explicitly states that it has either AC-3 or DD 5.1 output.

With just a standard optical out you can only get DTS sound from DTS only discs. DD5.1 tracks are 'hidden' on the analog left(?) channel, and need special processing.


Hmm, are you sure? So I can't listen to every kind of audio track through the same optical output, like I'm doing on the DVD player?
Hidden on analog left? So to get 5.1 you gotta use analog component red and white standard connection? But that way you'll only get 2.0 surround, you cannot have 5.1 through that, 5.1 and DTS only go through either optical or an individual connection to each speaker right from the player. But I guess if there is an optical out then the player supports AC-3 output right?
Here is the one I'll most likely get through the auction in 32 hours:
There are a few photos and manual pages scans:
http://www.laserdiscarchive.co.uk/laserdisc_archive/pioneer/pioneer_cld-d702/pioneer_cld-d702.htm

But anyway, most LDs just have basic stereo or 2.0 surround anyway, and I'm mostly getting it for the picture, as I don't want those bootleg DVDs or terrible terrible VCDs.

[LauraLC]

Originally posted by Lenny Nero


Hmm, are you sure? So I can't listen to every kind of audio track through the same optical output, like I'm doing on the DVD player?
Hidden on analog left? So to get 5.1 you gotta use analog component red and white standard connection? But that way you'll only get 2.0 surround, you cannot have 5.1 through that, 5.1 and DTS only go through either optical or an individual connection to each speaker right from the player. But I guess if there is an optical out then the player supports AC-3 output right?



On Laserdisc there is a digital PCM track that contains the digital stereo sound, there are also 2 analog tracks. These are often used for things like alternative languages or directors commentary. On an AC-3 (DD) disk one of the analog tracks is 'stolen' to carry the AC-3 signal. If you select the analog tracks you can hear the digital stream.

I'm not 100% certain that you'll be able to access the AC3 via the optical. Normally it's outputed via the coaxial output and needs an external demodulator. Though that said I've only had experience of my 2950 which doesn't have AC-3 output (without a mod) and the 925 which was it's successor which does have AC-3 output. On my 2950 the optical output is just for digital PCM ala CD players.

laura.

[Confucius]

Pioneer's CLD-D925 was widely regarded as the best of the PAL players (last of it's kind too:()

AC-3, as DD was called back then, can only be accessed via the RF AC-3 output. You will also need to ensure your receiver has an AC-3 demodulator, or you could try to get hold of an external device. Any standard (SPDIF) digital output, almost always optical on LD players, is for PCM and DTS only.