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Khizhiy
Member


Joined: 05 Dec 2001
Location: Moscow
Post Posted: Dec 17, 2001 23:39 Posts View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
I just bought a Pioneer DV-444-S! Nice little thing. My first experimental SVCD, that I burned some time ago, went without a problem. The first CD-ROM with some MP3's did the same. Sure, I will be experimenting with the unit some more.

[ This Message was edited by: Khizhiy on 2001-12-18 23:48:32 ]

sue denim
Member


Joined: 11 Dec 2001
Post Posted: Dec 18, 2001 07:26 Posts View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
CONGRATULATIONS !!!! wink.gif

I'm trying to sort out just such a DVD player (ie. SVCD support) as the DV-444.
Are you in the UK by any chance? cos I've just been told by a very good internet supplier that the UK versions only play VCD and nothing of higher resolution!

This seems a bit strange to me.
Any thoughts?

Thanks for the tip anyhow.

Sue xxx.

vigilante
Member


Joined: 24 Sep 2001
Post Posted: Dec 18, 2001 08:09 Posts View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
now you just need to work on the spelling.

Khizhiy
Member


Joined: 05 Dec 2001
Location: Moscow
Post Posted: Dec 18, 2001 17:07 Posts View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
Sue,
The unit I just bought was packaged into a cardboard box that bears the [2] region mark, which means Europe. Obviously, it was intended to be sold in Europe, maybe in the UK. The region code for Russia is 5, and most DVD's are in region 1 or 2, so a service center in Moscow remakes Pioneer DVD players's region free. The cost grows by $15-20, of course, plus shipment from Europe to Russia. All these make me think that my unit had an equal chance to be sold in the UK as well as in Moscow. And yes, it does support SVCD.


sue denim
Member


Joined: 11 Dec 2001
Post Posted: Dec 18, 2001 19:02 Posts View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
Hey, thanks a million mate - YOU'RE A STAR! smile.gif

I think I'll wait until after the xmas rush but I'm definately gonna buy one in the New Year!

Have a great Christmas!

Sue xxx wink.gif

vigilante
Member


Joined: 24 Sep 2001
Post Posted: Dec 18, 2001 19:07 Posts View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
Congrats:wink:

leera2
Member


Joined: 12 Sep 2001
Post Posted: Dec 18, 2001 19:16 Posts View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
Sue, Try getting your hands on a ALBA 103 DVD player, there retailing for about £129 in the UK, Ive had mine for over a year now and it plays everything CDR/RW, VCD/SVCD, MP3 & Multi region. Great little player for the price. smile.gif

lee.

bilbogod
Cannibal


Joined: 18 Oct 2001
Post Posted: Dec 18, 2001 22:41 Posts View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
Alba??? (AgrHHHHH!!!). Just pray it isn't like the multitude of other electrical products they do. Having worked in an electrical retailer I can tell you that Alba and Bush (same company??) have more returns than just about any other company in the U.K. But then again, most DVD's are fairly reliable so I could just be scaremongering:smile:
P.s. Probably the cheapest place in the U.K. for consumer electronics is Richer Sounds (they have a website as well). These guys generally know what they are talking about, and operate on a profit margin of 5% and under. Something that has generated entries into the Guiness Book Of World Records for sales turnover.smile.gif They do three years extended warranty for approx £10. With a guaranteed buyback of up to 50% when your three years are up.Oh yes, and finally they even give you that tenner back if you don't use the extended warranty:smile:

[ This Message was edited by: bilbogod on 2001-12-19 05:43:27 ]

leera2
Member


Joined: 12 Sep 2001
Post Posted: Dec 18, 2001 23:05 Posts View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
hey bilbogod, Do you work for Richer Sounds or something??,
I know Alba isnt a great name in electronics, but this particular player is sound. When it was released 'What DVD' gave it a stunning review it was featured on the front cover. So yeah, if you want to go spend excessive amounts on a player do so, but the Alba103 does it all for far less money.

sue denim
Member


Joined: 11 Dec 2001
Post Posted: Dec 18, 2001 23:34 Posts View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
Hi again!
Just a quick comment regarding the Alba DVD player mentioned above.
Thanks for the tip but NO THANKS.
Sounds like you got lucky bilbogod cos I know loads of people who've had problems with this model (and other Alba's).

I suggest you check out this URL :

http://www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog/reports/entertainment/index2.shtml?rpt19

It's from a companion website to a UK consumer affairs show (for all non-UK people!)

Hope this helps someone to miss the potential pitfall!

Sue xxx.

[ This Message was edited by: sue denim on 2001-12-19 06:36:16 ]

Khizhiy
Member


Joined: 05 Dec 2001
Location: Moscow
Post Posted: Dec 19, 2001 00:05 Posts View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
The UK is a very expensive country altogether. When I was there on a business trip I developed an optinion that any price given in the US in dollars will be the same figure in pounds in the UK.

bilbogod
Cannibal


Joined: 18 Oct 2001
Post Posted: Dec 19, 2001 01:17 Posts View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
Hey Sue!! I don't like Alba, I'm certainly not defending it Lol:smile:. Leera2 - I don't work for Richer Sounds (never have done) although I guess it did sound like an advert... To be fair I highly respect consumer mags that carry independent reviews, and if they say its good then it probably is. None of us are able to carry out lab tests. U.K. is a ripoff.. hell a pair of Levis 501's are approx £50 or $70. The only thing stopping us from buying elec's from the states are import tax and lack of worthwhile warranties.

bilbogod
Cannibal


Joined: 18 Oct 2001
Post Posted: Dec 19, 2001 01:35 Posts View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
Pioneer Dv 343 is selling at £119.00. Check out review on:-

http://www.vcdhelp.com/dvdlist/dvdplayers.html. This looks like a bargain.

p.s. cheapest player in the U.K. that I know of is £60 ish pounds through Safeway (unsure of make though)..

Khizhiy
Member


Joined: 05 Dec 2001
Location: Moscow
Post Posted: Dec 20, 2001 18:56 Posts View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
My DV-444 is so slim, it fit into the same enclosure in which my Panasonic VHS VCR sits. The 343 would not.

[ This Message was edited by: Khizhiy on 2001-12-21 01:59:22 ]

Majestyk
Member


Joined: 01 Dec 2001
Post Posted: Dec 20, 2001 19:01 Posts View users profile Send private message Reply with quote

Why are people getting the DV-444 over the DV-440? Are you all using the progressive scanning?

Khizhiy
Member


Joined: 05 Dec 2001
Location: Moscow
Post Posted: Dec 20, 2001 21:11 Posts View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
No, I do not use progressive scan. It was hard to find the 444. The 440 is simply not in stock here where I am.

AndyP
Member


Joined: 20 Dec 2001
Post Posted: Dec 20, 2001 21:15 Posts View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
For anyone condsidering an Alba, bear in mind that the 113 model (successor to the 103 and on sale in Argos for £99) has been getting good reviews but has very poor (i.e. non-existent) compatibility to CD-R and CD-RW, even though it can play original VCD/SVCD.

I had one before I knew any better but recently ditched it for a Cyberhome ADL528 (again, £99 at Richer Sounds). Not sure about SVCD but it played all my CD-Rs (VCD) first time with no problems.

bilbogod
Cannibal


Joined: 18 Oct 2001
Post Posted: Dec 20, 2001 21:47 Posts View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
AndyP - The only reason I stayed quiet about this model (cyberhome) is due to the reviews of it on the left hand side.... It certainly looks good in the mag, and it states it is compatible with most things that you throw at it, but the reviews on this site make it seem quite poor.

[ This Message was edited by: bilbogod on 2001-12-21 04:50:16 ]

AndyP
Member


Joined: 20 Dec 2001
Post Posted: Dec 20, 2001 22:53 Posts View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
Yeah, I saw those reviews and wondered whether to go for it or not. In the end various other reviews,such as the one found at

http://www.totaldvd.net/reviews/hardware/index.html

made up my mind.

Although I've only had it a relatively short time everything about it (for the price!) seems excellent. Haven't encountered any of the problems yet and can't say I've noticed the noisy drive issue.

Of course, it may not suit everyone but for my needs (the main criteria was compatibility) all's well so far!

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