XSVCD Apex 660/1500 Suggestions

[toadatrix]

I have been trying to come up with a TMPGEnc template for high quality XSVCDs to be played back on my Apex 660 and Apex 1500 players. The fourm suggests that these players will play back XSVCDs with bitrates as high as 5,000 kbps. I cannot duplicate those results or come even close to them. I find that if I use TMPGEnc 2pass VBR with an average bit rate of 2450 kbps and a maximum bitrate of 3450 kbps I get excellect quality, but both players will stutter once and a while on high motion scences. I am using 480x480 resolution and interlaced source and output. Picture quality is great, but I still get the occassional stutter from both players, although the Apex 1500 seems to deal with it a little better.

Has anyone developed a TMPGEnc template for FLAWLESS play back on the Apex series at bitrates exceeding the SVCD specs? If so, what are you doing that I may be missing. Thanks.

[Steve_h]

I get "FLAWLESS" playback on my Apex 660 with XSVCD's set at 480x480, 4500 bps CBR. The quality is excellent.

However, this only works with CD-R disks. Every brand of CR-RW disk I've tried has at least some playback glitches.

[toadatrix]

I am also using CD-Rs. I use both Sony and Phillips brands. What brand of CD-R are you using?

[Steve_h]

Mainly Imation because I got a bunch of those for 10 cents each.

BTW, I forgot to mention that I use the standard TMPGENC SVCD template, then unlock it and change only the bit rate settings.