[Paul D]

Hi
I've just picked up my 868i. (Multi-Region etc)
No HDMI cable supplied.
Does come with i-Link cable though.

Bought from Sound And Vision Bolton.

Shop said one left (not pre-ordered), warehouse said five left?.

[Paul D]

front

[Paul D]

From the rear (HDMI)

Who on earth would buy a HDMI player and use composite video outs or a scart socket!!!??

[Paul D]

Hi Captain

The 868i is a fine player in it's own right. The fact that it has an HDMI output is just a bonus to some people, for future compatibilty etc.

A lot of people may only have a RGB display (via scart etc) at the moment, but are planning to upgrade to a display that can take HDMI/DVI/Component in the future.
I agree that Composite output does seem a little pointless. But it does have some use when trying to adjust things in the menu like RGB/Component/progressive when you can't get an image. (due to having set something wrong etc)

It also plays DVD-Audio and SACD, which may be more important to some than it's video playback etc.

I have a Pioneer 737 at the moment, and view the 868i as a normal upgrade.
I bought another Pioneer DVD deck, as the 737 has performed flawlessly.

Even without using the HDMI connection, it has I-Link and a wealth of video/sound adjustments that have to be seen to be believed!

I will post back when i have had more time with it

I'm getting my 868AVi during the next days, maybe tomorrow,,
(region free ofcourse)
Gonna hook it up to my Panasonic TX-W36D3DP through RGB.
I've bought a Monster Cable THX® Ultra RGB that I'm planing to use,,
Check it out @ Monster's home page here:
_http://www.monstercable.com/europe/thx/productPageTHX.asp?pin=1965
As fulabeer pointed out, I think the HDMI feature is a nice thing to have for future upgrades.

[inzaman]

Glad they are now shipping once i hear how good the picture is via dvi and 1:1 pixel mapping i think i might have to put my 757 up for sale to part fund a purchase

Hey Paul, if possible can you check to see if the 868 does actually allow RGB pass-thru on the two scart sockets? Just so I know whether I'll need an additional switch before mine arrives.

Ta!

I was told yesterday that the 668AV is availiable in Norway now, but the 868AVi won't be availiable until January..
I'm so ****** right now!!
I ordered the 868 months ago, way before it was first mentioned on the web..
First I was told it would arrive in Norway in October, then November,,now it's JANUARY!!?
@#%£*!!
Anyway, I'm just gonna wait it out..
Maybe even the waiting will pay off with a new firmware version or something,,

[Nic Rhodes]

Paul

can you output an interlaced signal via you HDMI?

[rscott4563]

Obvously we wont actually know for definite till the arrival of the HDMI cables, but the manual states it can output 480/576i and apparently the ability to output an interlaced signal is one of the changes to the DVI standard that has been made for the video side of HDMI

[Brogan]

My 868 will be with me tomorrow but unfortunately it looks like it'll be on CD playback duty only until I get my 504 and an HDMI cable.
I really don't want to fork out for a temporay component or scart cable (not to mention that those inputs on the media receiver are already spoken for).
I'm so annoyed about this HDMI cable situation that I've just fired off an email to Pioneer telling them what a complete screw-up this is.

[Paul D]

ailean,
sorry i can't check for RGB passthrough as my setup(cables) are composite/svideo/component only.
If you are really desperate to know, i will nip "it" round to my friends to check etc. (Let me know etc)

Brogan, good point in the other thread about HDMI cables. When i said i would be trying it next week, i meant that my new PJ was arriving. It never occured to me that there was still a shortage of HDMI cables (DOH!)
I had been pricing DVI cables up in error!(PJ is DVI in)

Right i'm off to start the great big HDMI to DVI cable hunt!

[Brogan]

Originally posted by fulabeer
Brogan, good point in the other thread about HDMI cables. When i said i would be trying it next week, i meant that my new PJ was arriving. It never occured to me that there was still a shortage of HDMI cables (DOH!)
I had been pricing DVI cables up in error!(PJ is DVI in)

Thanks for clarifying and bugger..thought I might get a cable for a minute there...

Thanks Paul, if it's a hassle don't bother I'm sure someone else will get there's before me (only been on back order and paid for for three months ) and I can bodge it if I need to while waiting for a RGB switch.

[Nic Rhodes]

Brogan

dp you need to borrow any cables to get you going? PM me if you do, SCART and componets available, fresh out of HDMI at the moment though

[Brogan]

Thanks for the offer Beekeeper but I do have a spare scart of (slightly above) average quality which I can use in the interim.
I may however take you up on the offer of a component if I feel the scart output is rubbish
Kind of defeats the object of getting an 868 though if it's true about the 868 non-HDMI output as has been purported in the other thread
Perhaps I should cancel my £800 868 order and go for £15k worth of TAG equipment just to make sure I'm getting the best quality...

[Brogan]

Well I've just tried my 868 with a few DVD's to check the iLINK and decoding (still using an old 4:3 TV so can't really play with the video).
I tried Matrix, LOTR - The Two Towers and Gladiator.
Compared to my old Sony amp and Wharfedale DVD the sound is in another dimension.
Clarity and separation is unbelievable.
I can hear things on the soundtrack that I never knew were there.
I don't care whether it's rubbish compared to other systems or not, it has literally blown me away so it's money well spent.
A big from me

Roll on the 504 and HDMI....

[gandley]

well if your using the ax5i you didnt expect it to be rubish did u.
that amp will make an average dvd player sound better. I know my AX10 did.
i dont recall anyone saying the 868 is rubish but compared to other decks in both sound and vision this deck is behind the pack.
but as i said hdmi could save it or it will just highlight the problems even more.

that said there is of coarse worse out there. and it is a nice price.

just DONT demo the A11 and you will be ok

but if your thrilled then you made a great purchase and that what counts, so well done.

[Brogan]

Originally posted by gandley
just DONT demo the A11 and you will be ok

I doubt I would notice any difference.
I've tried my 868 via phono, iLINK and coaxial and used the Pure Audio and Hi-Bit settings and they all sound the same to me.
I doubt I would be able to hear any difference/improvement with a more expensive player.

[gandley]

Dam u some old bloke with bad hearing?

well id say there is a slight improvment via ilink, it just sounds cleaner.
But no diff via phono an analoge signal, u sure?
well as for the A11 i guess i meant more for video performance but it does sound sweet too.
we now have a 434 to test on so as soon as we get a cable will see how good HDMI realy is over a long demo

i hope its good

[gandley]

Fulabeer.

Nice home setup btw. Sweet. Shame about the car, no accounting for taste see.

I read on avs your going to be getting the marantz 12s3 PJ.
This is currently on my list as the pj to get unless sim2 can release a model soon with HDMI, DVI HDCP at a good price.

Cheapest i have seen the marantz for is £7000 but i think its worth it.

Good luck on the upgrades

[Paul D]

Thanks gandley.

The PJ should be with me very soon.

Saw it at the Manchester show, and was very impressed.

I have a Barcodata 808s at the moment, and i'm not totally sure i'am doing the right thing.

However, if i decide i've made a mistake i'am sure that i will no trouble selling it on!

The S3 has DCDi Faroudja on board, but i'am still searchng for a suitable scaler/de-interlacer.

I plan to have DVD via the 868 in 480i/576i(HDMI), JVC Dtheater via IE1394 and my HTPC via DVI!

Sky will be via Component

The scaler then sending this via DVI to the S3 @ 1280x720p.

I only hope the scalers start to come out with HDMI/DVI/IE1394 very soon!