Marantz DV4001, How to enable TV SYSTEM?

[bsmith]

I recently purchased the Marantz DV4001. According to the user manual and OneCall it should be able to perform PAL -> NTSC and NTSC -> PAL conversions, but I can't get it to do it.

I've already made it region-free and in its default mode it will output a PAL disk as PAL and an NTSC disk as NTSC. According to the manual this is the behavior if the TV SYSTEM option in the Video setup is set to Auto. To force a conversion you just change the setting to either PAL or NTSC. Unfortunately, this option is disabled under the video setup. In addition, I tried the manual remote approach specified in the manual and it also fails to work.

I've contacted Marantz and in their first response they say it can't perform a conversion, which is against what the manual states. I am still waiting for their response to my second inquiry.

Anyone have a Marantz DV 4001 that has worked around this issue?
Anyone with another model Marantz that has a similar setup option or work around?

I'd appreciate anyone's help in working around this limitation.

Thanks.

[Krispy Kritter]

It wouldn't surprise me if it is locked in firmware and can't be changed. Many of the current players are locked and can no longer be hacked. Also note that this player is available in multiple regions and the manual appears to be the same for all English versions. All options don't always work in all regions.

[bsmith]

Well I did get more information on the issue. Marantz's first reply was a bit cryptic by just saying it wasn't supported. The real answer is that it is not supported out the HDMI connection (digital), while it is supported out any of the analog connections.

So once I connected some component cables and switched my display to it, the TV System option under the video setup menu became enabled and I was able to get the PAL to NTSC conversion to work. I verifed it from my display menu that shows the type of signal being received.

I'm guessing it was either a potential legal reason they disabled it for HDMI, or that it is a restruction within the chip set that they use where the conversion can only be done on a analog signal.