New forum member here so hi guy's
Quick question,I've got a pioneer 868 DVD player which I think is brilliant,but I recently saw a 989 in action and I thought it knocked spots off my 868,I've recently asked a reliable retailer about upgrading to the 989 but he thought it would be a poor upgrade option what do you guy's think?

[Dutch]

Welcome to the forum. It might be worth your while looking through this thread. Gandley has owned both machines, in addition to several others!

Pioneer 989 Review...

Steve

[Nic Rhodes]

and check out secrets reviews of the US machines.

[Monk888]

Originally Posted by marty34

New forum member here so hi guy's
Quick question,I've got a pioneer 868 DVD player which I think is brilliant,but I recently saw a 989 in action and I thought it knocked spots off my 868,I've recently asked a reliable retailer about upgrading to the 989 but he thought it would be a poor upgrade option what do you guy's think?

Hi There,

If you're considering the 989, maybe try and get a home demo with your screen and test side by side and go though your DVD collection.

Be careful about viewing on a new LCD HD TV as this alone will look better than many CRTs as the LCD will upscale to the panel resolution.

So what I'm saying is test both players on the same screen, so you have a point of reference. If the dealer will not permit a home review take your 898 to the dealer showroom and compare on the same screen.

I tested the 989 recently and the dealer peformed the demos on the same screen as mine, Tosh 58 series.


Hope this helps, you can read reviews to give you an idea and I do think the Pio 989 is the best one in this price bracket, but it's best to test and draw your own conclusions as every player will have strengths are weaknesses.

Regards,

Mike Paul

The 989 that I saw in action was linked up to a pioneer 436 plasma and it's the screen that the retailer told me was giving the excellent picture not the DVD player,he told me that my 868 would give virtually the same picture quality on the 436 as the 989 so that's why he thought the 989 was a bad upgrade,he's was basically saying the best upgrade for me would be the screen(well of course he would £800 against £2300) fair comment what do you guy's think? .

[Costas]

I have the 434 plasma and the 868 player. my friend who bought recently has the 436 and the 989. I have borrowed it and tried it again and again against the 868. Absolutley not worth it as an upgrade with such a set up. Any difference is practically non existent and extremely hard to see for justifying a purchase. I have seen gandley review too. What I am telling has also been observed by at least another 6 people (all keen enthusciasts, looking for best quality).

You have an excellent DVD player, you can invest elsewhere in your system!

Thanks for that reply that could save me a few bob,although I have to say the picture I saw on the 436 + 989 looked sharper than my setup maybe my settings aren't quite right,could someone give me an expert opinion of the ideal settings for a pioneer 435 plasma and 868 DVD player it would be appreciated.

[Costas]

Marty34

Settings could vary from one unit to another. Do not copy from others. Get the THX basic calibration program that appears on many DVDs (Star Wars, Monsters Inc and many more..). For more details get the DVE (Digital Video Essentials) set up disc or the AVIA disc. For total perfection and correct Colour Temperature, get the screen professionally calibrated. I highly recommend Piers (Home Cinema Engineering). When he did mine last year my set up was not far out at all using DVE and AVIA. However the Gray Scale Colour Temperature correction did make a siginifcant difference.

[Eitzel]

Originally Posted by Costas

Marty34

Settings could very from one unit to another. Do not copy from others. Get the THX basic calibration program that appears on many DVDs (Star Wars, Monsters Inc and many more..). For more details get the DVE (Digital Video Essentials) set up disc or the AVIA disc. For total perfection and correct Colour Temperature, get the screen professionally calibrated. I highly recommend Piers (Home Cinema Engineering). When he did mine last year my set up was not far out at all using DVe and AVIA. However the Gray Scale Colour Temperature correction did make a siginifcant difference.

I agree. If you are serious about image quality then do investigate ISF calibration of your set up. It really makes a difference. Gordon of Convergent AV did mine. Piers is also excellent, as stated above. You can check a little more out here:-
http://www.convergent-av.co.uk/calibration.html
and here:-
http://www.homecinemaengineering.com/services1.html

[Ekko Star]

Well I've done exactly that upgrade, from a 868 to a 989 and had the same advice given that the money should be spent better elsewhere.

The Video quality difference between the two machines is very minimal via HDMI. The 989 is much better via component though. The biggest upside though is the Audio side as the 989 rocks in this department, especially movie soundtracks via iLink

All in all if you did or didn't upgrade I don't think you'll be making a mistake either way. If you were in the market for a new player of this calibre then I guess you may as well go for a 989.

[Timbo21]

Yes, I think better sound is a good reason to upgrade. However, I think it's getting close to the time when you have to ask is it worth upgrading your SD DVD player for the possible minimal improvements in pq.

[Ekko Star]

Originally Posted by Timbo21

I think it's getting close to the time when you have to ask is it worth upgrading your SD DVD player for the possible minimal improvements in pq.

I think that question has always held true at any time for top kit. Law of diminishing returns will always apply.

However the 989 is certainly not to be sniffed at. Yes, it's expensive. At a time when HD is becoming more and more talked about that maybe considered a bold move for some.

However, Pioneer have seemed fit to launch it. Personally I believe it holds a firm place in the market. Seriously good player indeed

[Smurfin]

Originally Posted by Ekko Star

The biggest upside though is the Audio side as the 989 rocks in this department, especially movie soundtracks via iLink

Seriously, or is that emperors clothes? That's not a baiting comment btw...just wondering how much better these 2 machines really are for movie audio...

[Ekko Star]

As always a demo is recommended to satisfy yourself at this level of equipment.

iLink into a Pioneer amp is very good indeed. The difference between the two machines is the single biggest reason for the upgrade should anyone decide to do so. The 989 is very, very good via this route and a partnered amp. I have to say I was more than pleasantly shocked by this improvement.

Lots are also convinced about the picture quality. As I say on the Video side there is an slight improvement but not one I would say to take as the sole reason for upgrade.The 989 is the better built machine out of the two as well.

Thanks for all your advice guy's much appreciated,as you all definately have more expertise than I in the Home cinema department this is my system could someone guide me as to where they'd spend their money on an upgrade if any?
Pioneer 435XDE,Pioneer 868 DVD,Pioneer AX5ai amp and the Energy Encore speaker package,the system is linked via HDMI and i.link with good quality speaker cable.

[Welwynnick]

That's a great system, don't know why you'd want to change anything!

Buy more DVDs!

Nick

[Ekko Star]

Originally Posted by marty34

Pioneer 435XDE,Pioneer 868 DVD,Pioneer AX5ai amp and the Energy Encore speaker package,the system is linked via HDMI and i.link with good quality speaker cable.

Well you know enough about good systems to have one going there !

I use the same amp and if you think it partners well with the AE's then I would say you should definately demo the 989 with it.

My 868 worked well with my AX5Ai but the difference when the 989 was put in it's place was staggering. The amp came to life in a way I never expected at all. If I'm honest I was quite disappointed with the step up in Video quality as I didn't think it was that significant a jump. However, the sound improvement more than made up for it, that to me was and is by far and away the major improvement.

If you had any other amp than a AX5/10i I would probably say don't bother and simply stick with your 868. The AX5Ai/868 combo was sublime, AX5Ai/989 is heavenly

[Welwynnick]

Mart and Echo, are you both using iLink?

Nick

[Ekko Star]

Yes.