View Full Version : Goodmans 3500 system
elfranko
22-10-2001, 09:53
Hi everyone - I've seen an ad for a Goodmans 3500 system which looks okay - anyone know if it is, or knows where I can find an online or offline review? Also is it "multiregion/region selectable for RCE" compatible? I've seen on dvdreviewer that the Goodmans 3000 has such a handset hack, so can I assume that this model has the same-ish firmware, just with updated bits, and can use the same hack?
ta
frank
I went into my local Comet to ask about region coding and surprise surprise they didn't know. Having asked could I have 2 minutes with the remote, I was asked to leave. Not a bad looking setup though - I thought there would have been more interest on here about it?
elfranko
23-10-2001, 09:50
Thats interesting because I asked them about it on their telephone ordering line that if it didn't do what I wanted it to do could I return it? I tried to explain a bit about region coding setting, but the operator wasn't too sure what I was talking about, so she Their reply was go to your local store and have a play with it and see if it does what I wanted it to do - well, I'm going to need the remote, so they can't refuse me. Did you tell them it was to check for region-free setting or just to try it out, because they can't chuck you out if it was just to see what it does!! :eek:
frank
Not such a good idea. I went in all gung ho and asked about the region coding. The I produced a piece of paper and asked nicley if they minded me having a go! They said I could buy one and try, but failiure to work did not mean I could return it.
There are also codes out for other Goodmans that make them VCD compat', do you know of these as well. I have a few VCD's you see. Also, the 50W total RMS, will this be large enough?
Marny
elfranko
24-10-2001, 09:08
Not such a good idea. I went in all gung ho and asked about the region coding. The I produced a piece of paper and asked nicley if they minded me having a go! They said I could buy one and try, but failiure to work did not mean I could return it.
There are also codes out for other Goodmans that make them VCD compat', do you know of these as well. I have a few VCD's you see. Also, the 50W total RMS, will this be large enough?
Marny
I think your mistake was saying it was to check for region coding setting as that is still technically illegal and stores will not comment on players abilities to have their coding set or reset. Although they were a bit extreme in throwing you out. :)
I will still try to get to have a go with my local store - I'll take a R1 disc with me and ask can I play it just to see what the quality is like etc. They cannot refuse a product test. I'll then try to put the region setting code in and see what happens.
I haven't seen any specs on the speakers - I really want to see a review of the whole setup - anyone seen one??? I don't know much about speakers anyhow - is 50w RMS rubbish then?
Yes I saw a VCD hack I think at dvdreviewer.co.uk, under their remote hack section for the goodmans 3000.
frank
Just me and you in here then Frank?:D
just a note on the 50w total rms, I am using the comparison table in the Comet brochure. The nearest rival is the LG at 180w total RMS - no expert, but this is where my suggestion of is it large enough!
If I here anything, I'll keep you posted. Vice versa please.
elfranko
25-10-2001, 08:59
Come on everyone else! We need some help here! I scoured the various DVD and What? type mags in WHsmith last night to no avail.
Marny - I'm going to my local Comet on Saturday and will be taking T2 R1 with me to test with. They can't complain that I want to test a dvd to see its quality because their own rules say that I have to test the hardware out before I buy because I can't return it afterwards if it simply doesn't do what I want it to do. I'll put the hack in and see what happens. Then I'll just return it to Region 2.
A colleague here with some audio info says its the amps that goes through the speakers that makes all the difference. I phoned Comet and asked, apart from the speakers, what was the difference between the DVD3000 and the -3500pk. They just said it was a slightly better version with newer features (ie they didn't have a clue.).
I found a review on the Home cinema choice.com website of the -3000 who said it was quite good for a budget player - but I'm no 'It has to be like a Sony machine or else' man - I currently have a Wharfedale 750s (second gen), but I want a DTS/DD5.1 system, hence the 'upgrade'. If its anything like the Wharfie then I'll be happy cos thats fine for me.
Will let you know of any more details Marny.
frank
Don't be surprised if the hack does not work.Goodmans' products are often badge engineered (just a Goodmans badge on someone else's product, same as Bush,Matsui etc).This model could be made by a totally different manufacturer than the 3000.Even if made by the same manufacturer, it could have newer firmware and a different hack.
If i recall correctly some previous Goodmans players were made by Teco.You could try searching on them to see if they offer a similar looking player ;)
How much does this system sell for ?
Remember you could buy a Cyberhome ADL528 (£99 at wh smiths) and a Digitheatre LC (for about £112, note the LC ).This will give you Dolby digital sound. The player is multiregion and plays CDR,CDRW,VCD,SVCD, MP3,.It has a built in DD decoder that will output to the six-phono input of the Digitheatre LC.The Digitheatre LC include a Subwoofer (containing the amplifiers)and 5 speakers.It outputs 7.5 W rms per channel (5 channels) + the Sub outputs 25W rms .So the power is higher than the Goodmans.
elfranko
25-10-2001, 15:44
Aww nuts! Talk about confusion now. This setup sells for £199, but are you saying this other kit is better?? Where can I order them from? Are there any reviews for these products you mentioned?
thanks for the reply!!
frank
Cheers Franko - keep me posted.
Simes is right, they do other firmware and Matsui codes and "optimo" have worked in the past.
elfrank-at-home
26-10-2001, 20:09
WHSmith are doing the Cyberhome at my local for £120 now. The woman behind the counter told me it does do multi region cos she has one and it does. I even phoned Cyberhome and they confirmed everything, even supplied me with the multiregion setting code!!!
I checked the manual and saw it does have an in-built decoder. But it does need an amplifier - which is what I assume comes with the Digitheatre LC?? Anyone know where I can get this kit from for around the £120 mark?
ta
frank
elfrank-at-home
26-10-2001, 20:26
Does the Digitheatre come with all the cables? With the Cyberhome, it comes to about £240. Can anything compete?
f
Originally posted by elfranko
I think your mistake was saying it was to check for region coding setting as that is still technically illegal
There is no law against having a multiregion player or even owning region 1 discs,the only bit that is illegal is selling region 1 discs in the uk as they are unclassified by the BBFC.
elfrank-at-home
27-10-2001, 21:37
I stand corrected on the multi-region illegal thing. :o
Update on the Comet/Goodmans thing - I went to my "local" Comet (15 miles by train) to check on the setup - found the item, but it was not setup for display. I asked could I see it plugged in, connected to a TV etc cos the telephone Comet people had said you have to ask at your local store for any details before you take it home as you can only return it iif it is faulty, and not because it just doesn't do some thing you didn't check up on the store.
Would you believe they refused to do it??? I didn't even mention multi region or anything. The guy checked with his manager who said no, we said can you at least plug in the speakers so we can hear their quality - the assistant said no because he didnt have all the cables. Fine I said and left. No £200 to Comet then.
Complained to their telephone ordering people who got on the phone to them to say to arrange a viewing of the kit because the shop had broken their own rules - the manager still refused and even refused to talk to the guy on the phone from Comet itself!!! :mad: Not enough staff - I could maybe get it set up for next Saturday was the reply from the store.
Sod that I said. The guy from the telephone ordering line was incredilous at the @@@@e attitude of the store. He told me to write in to complain. I phoned head office who got the local store manager to phone me back and apologise - his excuse was that the assistant had never talked to him the first place - yeah right. The word Goat and Scape come to mind.
They offered to set up the kit for tomorrow. But I've changed my mind. WHSmith are doing the Cyberhome for £120 which is definately Multiregion and RCE-region setable and the VideoLogic 5.1 kit is £129 from VideoLogic and both got fab reviews. Don't shop at Comet I say (Well Crawley, West Sussex at least).
Anyone know of a better price for the Videologic kit - my local Tiny store wanted £349 for it!!! Bu**er that. :)
frank
The Cyberhome is multiregion and plays CDR,CDRW, VCDs (and many various other vcd standards eg SVCD ). It also plays MP3 encoded CDRs (or CDRWs).
It has an inbuilt Dolby digital decoder .So it has the 6 individual channel phono sockets on the back.
It is available for £99.99 including free delivery from www.whsmiths.co.uk
direct link to cyberhome DVD player at £99 click here (http://www.whsmith.co.uk/WHS/Go.asp?isbn=29868421&DB=320)
The Digitheatre LC includes 5 speakers and subwoofer. It includes an amplifier for all speaker channels (its in the subwoofer box).
The Digitheatre LC is available for £116.32 at www.dabs.com
direct link to the digitheatre lc for £116 click here (http://www.dabs.com/products/prod-info3-info.asp?&m=y&quicklinx=W1H) (if the link works ;) )
Hope this is of help...At least with this set up you know you definately have multiregion (and VCD / MP3 support).
elfranko
29-10-2001, 09:57
Tried out the hack for the Cyberhome (The AD-M 512 model) - got the 'secret' engineers console, but no Region switch!! Found out from their tech help line, plus from DVDReviewer, that you have to update the firmware with a small download on a CD-R which enables the Region switching mode.
Has anyone else done this? Is the AD-M 512 model a good one to have? I see there is an -N version, but again you have to update the firmware. Only the L (None DTS decoder) version allows you do everything via the remote with no fiddling with the EPROM.
elfranko
29-10-2001, 13:56
Just a note for anyone following this - I noticed the player on the WHSmith site is the L- version, without the inbuilt decoder, whilst the one in the shops is the M- version which does. Hence the price difference.
f
The AD-L528 at wh smiths (online) is hackable without updating the firmware and includes a Dolby digital decoder for £99 delivered.
The 512 is the older model and does need the firmware upgrading( to an earlier version) for the multiregion hack.The stores probably have the older 512 model, at the £120 price.Richer sounds used to sell the 512 too, at £119.They tried to charge £20 for a CDR with the firmware for multiregion :eek: Its a free download at the cyberhome.de site along with all other firmware revisions.
elfranko
30-10-2001, 08:41
From what I understand I have the -512 as my manual on the front cover says 'AD-M 212/512'. If I have a Dolby Digital Decoder, I should have the 5 speaker output on the back, yes? If so, I have the model that has this - would this be the -512?. But I still needed to up/downgrade the firmware. Which I did successfully last night I might add - Now I have single region access, multiregion access and I can switch off Macrovision. Hurraay! :D
If I have got the older kit for £120 - what is the difference between this and £99 one? should I just stick to the one I have got, which I am happy with as it is better than my Wharfedale 750s, or is the difference dramatic enough for me to get an exchange??
Then all I need is the Digitheatre for £116 inc VAT from Dabs and I'm made. Cheers for all the info on these pieces of kit Simes! :)
elfranko
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