View Full Version : Laser Disk Players.
I want a Laser Disk Player that plays PAL and NTSC and plays both sides of
the LD without the need to flip it. Also want good quality video outputs,
as I may copy LD's to DVD down the track.
Never owned one before.
Any advice with models etc welcome.
Thanks.
Darren.
David Norman
07-02-2005, 08:53 PM
Wow you want a lot considering I don't think there was ever a model with
these specifications and as they are no longer made good luck.
"WKC" <wkc@nospam.com.au> wrote in message
news:420712d6$1@news.comindico.com.au...
>I want a Laser Disk Player that plays PAL and NTSC and plays both sides of
>the LD without the need to flip it. Also want good quality video outputs,
>as I may copy LD's to DVD down the track.
>
> Never owned one before.
>
> Any advice with models etc welcome.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Darren.
>
>
>
Yep - there's plenty of players with these specs. Practically every
Laserdisc player made for a few years before their demise was PAL/NTSC and
played both sides. Some of the very last ones played both LD and DVD.
You'll also want to make sure you get one with AC3 out.
Look for Pioneer players second hand on Ebay for starters. Try for a
CLD-590, 790 or 515.
Here's a 515 for sale now:
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=381&item=6363927835&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW#ebayphotohosting
P.S. Pioneer still make Laserdisc players... (CLD-919)
John (top posted to keep with the flow)
"David Norman" <drnorman@optusnet.com.au> wrote in message
news:42073896$0$2201$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au ...
> Wow you want a lot considering I don't think there was ever a model with
> these specifications and as they are no longer made good luck.
>
> "WKC" <wkc@nospam.com.au> wrote in message
> news:420712d6$1@news.comindico.com.au...
>>I want a Laser Disk Player that plays PAL and NTSC and plays both sides of
>>the LD without the need to flip it. Also want good quality video outputs,
>>as I may copy LD's to DVD down the track.
>>
>> Never owned one before.
>>
>> Any advice with models etc welcome.
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> Darren.
>>
>>
>>
>
>
newsreader
07-02-2005, 11:23 PM
"John" <nospam@afp.gov.au> wrote in message
news:42074ced$1@mail.netspeed.com.au...
> Yep - there's plenty of players with these specs. Practically every
> Laserdisc player made for a few years before their demise was PAL/NTSC and
> played both sides. Some of the very last ones played both LD and DVD.
>
No.
Most were NTSC only, catering for the biggest LD markets, Japan and the USA.
The PAL/NTSC LD market was extremely small, mainly Europe and parts of
Asia/Australasia.
LD/DVD capability was the province of two PIoneer players, the DVL-909 and
DVL-919.
> You'll also want to make sure you get one with AC3 out.
>
> Look for Pioneer players second hand on Ebay for starters. Try for a
> CLD-590, 790 or 515.
>
Of those only the 515 is PAL/NTSC.
Locally, only the S315, D515, D925 were PAL/NTSC capable.
> Here's a 515 for sale now:
>
>
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=381&item=6363927835&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW#ebayphotohosting
>
Best look for a CLD-D925, the last and best PAL/NTSC LD player.
> P.S. Pioneer still make Laserdisc players... (CLD-919)
>
No again.
The 919 LD/DVD combi-player was sold until mid 1999.
Even the mighty HLD-X9 MUSE high definition was killed off in February 2002.
http://home.q03.itscom.net/nsa/PioneerHLD-X9.htm
For the OP: if you have never owned a LD player and have been raised on
DVD, you're not likely to be satisfied with LD.
Most of them are vastly inferior to DVD in picture and sound and none have
the format has none of DVD's ease fo use.
Fraser Johnston
08-02-2005, 12:23 AM
"WKC" <wkc@nospam.com.au> wrote in message
news:420712d6$1@news.comindico.com.au...
>I want a Laser Disk Player that plays PAL and NTSC and plays both sides of
>the LD without the need to flip it. Also want good quality video outputs,
>as I may copy LD's to DVD down the track.
>
> Never owned one before.
>
> Any advice with models etc welcome.
>
I have a Pioneer S260 that you can have cheap. Give me a call on 041 717
9741. I'm in Perth.
Fraser
Jace the Ace
08-02-2005, 05:54 AM
"John" <nospam@afp.gov.au> wrote in message
news:42074ced$1@mail.netspeed.com.au...
> Yep - there's plenty of players with these specs. Practically every
> Laserdisc player made for a few years before their demise was PAL/NTSC and
> played both sides. Some of the very last ones played both LD and DVD.
>
No.
Most were NTSC only, catering for the biggest LD markets, Japan and the USA.
The PAL/NTSC LD market was extremely small, mainly Europe and parts of
Asia/Australasia.
LD/DVD capability was the province of two PIoneer players, the DVL-909 and
DVL-919.
> You'll also want to make sure you get one with AC3 out.
>
> Look for Pioneer players second hand on Ebay for starters. Try for a
> CLD-590, 790 or 515.
>
Of those only the 515 is PAL/NTSC.
Locally, only the S315, D515, D925 were PAL/NTSC capable.
> Here's a 515 for sale now:
>
>
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=381&item=6363927835&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW#ebayphotohosting
>
Best look for a CLD-D925, the last and best PAL/NTSC LD player.
> P.S. Pioneer still make Laserdisc players... (CLD-919)
>
No again.
The 919 LD/DVD combi-player was sold until mid 1999.
Even the mighty HLD-X9 MUSE high definition was killed off in February 2002.
http://home.q03.itscom.net/nsa/PioneerHLD-X9.htm
For the OP: if you have never owned a LD player and have been raised on
DVD, you're not likely to be satisfied with LD.
Most of them are vastly inferior to DVD in picture and sound and none have
the format has none of DVD's ease fo use.
Every laser disc player sold in Australia played both NTSC and PAL discs. There were tonnes of them. The OP should have no trouble locating one for a cheap price. Don't go looking for component connnections, though. LD was analogue based and the best connection is, in fact, composite. And don't bother hooking it up to a projector, either. They look like bad VHS in comparison to DVDs through a progressive scan player.
David Williams
08-02-2005, 09:03 AM
> Every laser disc player sold in Australia played both NTSC and PAL
> discs. There were tonnes of them. The OP should have no trouble
> locating one for a cheap price. Don't go looking for component
> connnections, though. LD was analogue based and the best connection
> is, in fact, composite. And don't bother hooking it up to a projector,
> either. They look like bad VHS in comparison to DVDs through a
> progressive scan player.
Mine does S-Video too.
Michael
08-02-2005, 01:03 PM
LD was composite based, but some higher end players made s-video worth
using. DVD's component out is still analogue. Your comparison is a bit
exaggerated too, some LDs look quite nice.
"Jace the Ace" <Jace.the.Ace.1k3knp@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au> wrote in
message news:Jace.the.Ace.1k3knp@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au...
> LD was analogue based and the best connection
> is, in fact, composite. And don't bother hooking it up to a projector,
> either. They look like bad VHS in comparison to DVDs through a
> progressive scan player.
Jace the Ace
09-02-2005, 08:54 AM
LD was composite based, but some higher end players made s-video worth
using. DVD's component out is still analogue. Your comparison is a bit
exaggerated too, some LDs look quite nice.
Not on an 8 foot screen they don't.
Guest
09-02-2005, 11:41 AM
also bear in mind that most of your discs probably have laser rot
Michael
09-02-2005, 12:23 PM
Yes, they can. Dependant on disc and equipment of course. Comparing them
to bad VHS is just silliness.
"Jace the Ace" <Jace.the.Ace.1k5nn3@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au> wrote in
message news:Jace.the.Ace.1k5nn3@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au...
>
> Michael Wrote:
>> LD was composite based, but some higher end players made s-video worth
>> using. DVD's component out is still analogue. Your comparison is a
>> bit
>> exaggerated too, some LDs look quite nice.
>>
>
> Not on an 8 foot screen they don't.
Jace the Ace
09-02-2005, 04:50 PM
Yes, they can. Dependant on disc and equipment of course. Comparing them
to bad VHS is just silliness.
And what LD player do you have? And projector? Is it a 16:9 projector, necessitating further zooming of the non-anamorphic LD picture? You can get an excellent picture on a $200 DVD player through a projector. Try doing that with a cheap laserdisc player. I had, in the day, 400 laserdiscs and none compare to DVD in picture quality. It is a significant step down to go from DVD to LD, particularly given the unstable nature of LD techology. In short, it's a waste of money investing in LD unless you're looking to buy solely 1.33:1 aspect ratio films, preferably in B&W.
"newsreader" <nocom@com.com> wrote in message
news:PYINd.15778$mo2.1237801@news.xtra.co.nz...
>
> "John" <nospam@afp.gov.au> wrote in message
> news:42074ced$1@mail.netspeed.com.au...
>> Yep - there's plenty of players with these specs. Practically every
>> Laserdisc player made for a few years before their demise was PAL/NTSC
>> and
>> played both sides. Some of the very last ones played both LD and DVD.
>>
>
> No.
>
> Most were NTSC only, catering for the biggest LD markets, Japan and the
> USA.
>
> The PAL/NTSC LD market was extremely small, mainly Europe and parts of
> Asia/Australasia.
Okay.. I exagerated by saying practicaly every...
>
> LD/DVD capability was the province of two PIoneer players, the DVL-909 and
> DVL-919.
Correct.
>
>> You'll also want to make sure you get one with AC3 out.
>>
>> Look for Pioneer players second hand on Ebay for starters. Try for a
>> CLD-590, 790 or 515.
>>
>
> Of those only the 515 is PAL/NTSC.
> Locally, only the S315, D515, D925 were PAL/NTSC capable.
I only said 590 and 790 because they (well, the 790) is my favourite.
>> Here's a 515 for sale now:
>>
>>
> http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=381&item=6363927835&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW#ebayphotohosting
>>
>
> Best look for a CLD-D925, the last and best PAL/NTSC LD player.
>
>> P.S. Pioneer still make Laserdisc players... (CLD-919)
>>
>
> No again.
>
> The 919 LD/DVD combi-player was sold until mid 1999.
>
> Even the mighty HLD-X9 MUSE high definition was killed off in February
> 2002.
>
> http://home.q03.itscom.net/nsa/PioneerHLD-X9.htm
>
Really? Last I heard there were stores in the U.S. still selling 919's
alongside the Pioneer CLD-V2800. They may have been old stock, but my mate
said they seemed to be fairly common.
>
> For the OP: if you have never owned a LD player and have been raised on
> DVD, you're not likely to be satisfied with LD.
I agree with this, although I wouldn't part with my 300+ LD's....
> Most of them are vastly inferior to DVD in picture and sound and none have
> the format has none of DVD's ease fo use.
>
Aha! I would say slightly inferior in picture - but it highly depends on
the transfer. I have seen some shocking DVD's that are much worse than a
large percentage of really good LD's. I have even seen some LD's (via
S-Video) being upscaled with a DVDO scaler to a projector on a 120" screen
that would blow away nearly all DVD's.... I guess this comes down to
compression artifacts on DVD's for a large part. Early LD's, yes, they were
pretty bad. This was due to the video market being very much geared around
VHS and not really putting the effort in to master the LD video to it's
capability - mostly they used the same VHS master no doubt... The later LD
pressings were very good.
And as for the sound... The later LD's I found were always better than the
early equivalent DVD. Again this was probably due to early DVD mastering
techniques and dealing with a 5.25" disc. Later DVD's, yes.
John
Italo
10-02-2005, 06:53 AM
"John" <nospam@afp.gov.au> wrote in message
news:4209d441$1@mail.netspeed.com.au...
> And as for the sound... The later LD's I found were always better than
the
> early equivalent DVD. Again this was probably due to early DVD mastering
> techniques and dealing with a 5.25" disc. Later DVD's, yes.
.... and even later DVDs. West Side Story is a perfect example, the 5:1 DD
(and/or the rare DTS disc) literally blows away the recently released DVD in
terms of sound quality. The bass extension and superb dynamics and details
in the 5:1 soundtrack on the laserdisc are like listening to a completely
different movie it's that good.
The laserdisc box sets of 'The Twilight Zone' has better video quality than
the recent DVD releases (but not the recently remastered box set) and a
movie such as 'Glengarry Glenross' has extras not on the DVD release (eg
commentary by Jack Lemmon) and is widescreen unlike its R4 release.
In other words laserdisc still is of interest and is worthwhile for a
variety of reasons.
--
Italo
Michael
10-02-2005, 12:43 PM
I didn't say you could get good results with cheap equipment. There's
plenty of shitty transfers on DVD and plenty of LDs that look nice on decent
equipment.
"Jace the Ace" <Jace.the.Ace.1k69ec@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au> wrote in
message news:Jace.the.Ace.1k69ec@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au...
>
> Michael Wrote:
>> Yes, they can. Dependant on disc and equipment of course. Comparing
>> them
>> to bad VHS is just silliness.
>>
>
> And what LD player do you have? And projector? You can get an
> excellent picture on a $200 DVD player through a projector. Try doing
> that with a cheap laserdisc player. I had, in the day, 400 laserdiscs
> and none compare to DVD in picture quality. It is a significant step
> down to go from DVD to LD, particularly given the unstable nature of LD
> techology.
"Guest" <Guest.1k5v1x@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au> wrote in message
news:Guest.1k5v1x@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au...
>
> also bear in mind that most of your discs probably have laser rot
Only if they haven't been stored or handled properly.
It's only slight bending that causes most LD rot if they weren't one of the
small number of discs with "known problems"... As he runs out to check his
Star Wars trilogy box set discs....
Italo
11-02-2005, 07:03 AM
"John" <nospam@afp.gov.au> wrote in message
news:420b1c1c$1@mail.netspeed.com.au...
> "Guest" <Guest.1k5v1x@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au> wrote in message
> news:Guest.1k5v1x@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au...
> >
> > also bear in mind that most of your discs probably have laser rot
>
> Only if they haven't been stored or handled properly.
No, 'laser rot' is associated specifically with certain manufacturing plants
e.g. SONY in the US. 'Laser rot' is a manufacturing issue due to poor QC at
specific manufacturing sites.
--
Italo
"Italo" <italotettoni.nospammingallowed@gmx.net> wrote in message
news:420bbd35$0$1019$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au ...
> "John" <nospam@afp.gov.au> wrote in message
> news:420b1c1c$1@mail.netspeed.com.au...
>> "Guest" <Guest.1k5v1x@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au> wrote in message
>> news:Guest.1k5v1x@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au...
>> >
>> > also bear in mind that most of your discs probably have laser rot
>>
>> Only if they haven't been stored or handled properly.
>
> No, 'laser rot' is associated specifically with certain manufacturing
> plants
> e.g. SONY in the US. 'Laser rot' is a manufacturing issue due to poor QC
> at
> specific manufacturing sites.
Which is what I said (you cut this from my post), but it is also associated
with oxidisation of the aluminium layer when the discs slightly de-laminate
due to warping - hence my comment about handling and storage (LD's are very
heavy when stacked up and can easily bend if you don't store them right -
talk to anyone with a big LP collection....).
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