[Jon Weaver]

For years I have been looking for something to replace my Samsung 709.

My only requirements are 2xSCARTS and SVCD support.

As it likely that there will be huge changes in DVD players over the next few years, I don't want to spend too much and have set a budget of around £300. Its clear that in a few years there will be all singing- all dancing models, but I wantSVCD now. So, I am
willing to spend £300 now which will tide me over for a few years.

I was waiting on the Toshiba 510, which is slightly over budget, but as the 210 doesn't have what I want, then I would have no choice but to get the 510.

But I have started to look at the Pioneer range, which has a nice player, with no DVD-A, which is pretty much what I want.

I got the following prices:

444 £230
545 £280 - The same as the 444 but better remote and 2xSCARTs
646 £499 - Better gubbins (video decoders etc) and DVD-A.

Apparantly, the only difference between the 444 and 545 is the remote (which I don't need as I have the Pronto) and the extra scart.
There is £50 difference, which is a lot
for the SCART, but I can just write that off as a necessity.

My supplier has told me that they don't think much of the 545, because it
doesn't offer enough over the 444 to justify the extra cash.. But as I said, its £50
and for the extra SCART its worth it to me..

But they are doing an offer on the 444/646

This puts the prices as

444 £200
545 £280
646 £420.

Its clear that the 444 and 646 are the bargins.. But i don't want either.. However
£80 for the extra Scart is false economy.. If I spend the extra £80 I might as
well spend a further £130 and get DVD-A and the better gubbin.

But getting a player for £420 takes it out of the 'disposible' catagory.

Plus, I was always waiting on the new Toshiba which I like better than the Pioneer.. If I go Tosh, they only have 2 models.. the 210 at £160 which doesn't do what I want, or the 510 at £500 which does everything (Too much)..
Whilst I wouldn't use all the features of the 510, I would have no choice.. Its either
the 210 or the 510.

When I saw the Pioneer 545, I was pleased as it did everything that I wanted. It was middle of the road.. It didn't have features that I didn't want and was within my budget!

I can afford the 646.. Its just that I don't like wasting money on things that I don't really want...

Does anyone have any info which might help me choose?

[Grubert]

Main differences between 545 and 444:

* Better remote
* 2 SCARTs
* Hi-bit upsampling
* Legato PRO

The last two features are useful only if your DVD is going to double as a CD player.

The DV-444 is a bargain at £200.

[Jon Weaver]

A bargin indeed.. At £200, even more so!!

Trouble is that I really REALLY want a 2nd SCART.

I am sharing my RGB socket between 2 devices and have a switch.

This means that its a pain and I can't put high-quality cables in.

I really want to connect my DVD to the TV via a high quality cable and then connect my other RGB device(s) to the 2nd SCART of the DVD.

But for £80, its just not worth it.. Saying that, even though the 444 is £80 cheaper, I am not going to buy that either, because I want the Scarts!

Why does life have to be so complicated.

[GarethH]

Jon, who are selling the Tosh? If not yet, where did you see it advertised?

[Jon Weaver]

Gareth.

Do you mean the Tosh 510e?

Its not out yet.. Its been pushed back to November now and even thats not guaranteed.

All I ment is that I was waiting on the 510, but now that the Pioneers are here, I am tempted to get one of them instead.

[GarethH]

Ok, thanks for the news on that player!

Have you seen the Pioneer 747A, 108MHz / 12Bit Video DAC, but at £999 they can keep it

It annoys me because i'm sure next years Pioneer 656A or whatever it will be, will probably have these features at £400.

Question I ask myself now is, do I really need to replace my Pioneer 626D? ofcourse not, just saw the picture on Star Wars! No way do i need to replace it with the quality i saw.

DVD Audio? Nothing is out yet!

Higher Quality DVD Picture? Will a small quality difference really make me enjoy my movie any more? NO!!!!

MP3 Playback? Ok good, but really worth £450?

I'm gonna keep my DVD Player until it breaks down. :-)


http://www.homecinemaheaven.co.uk/pr...dvd/dv747a.htm