Pioneer DV 440 and VBR SVCD

[HighDesert]

I am convinced that Pioneer changed something with the DV 440 player and how it plays VBR SVCD. Sometimes my SVCD's will freeze up for a moment. Usually the Audio will still play but the video will stop and then it will start and catch up. Seems to do that when the bitrate is high and it has big swings in the varible bit rate. I have an Apex AD703 which plays the VBR no problem. I just ordered a Daewoo 5800. My friend has a 5800 and he can play VBR to sweat. I also have another friend who has a Pioneer 333 and it also plays VBR with no troubles. I have been doing some research and it appears that the Daewoo is one of the few players that can do it all. Like play MP3 with good quality, do Pal, SVCD, VCD. and region and macrovison free etc.. I am not sure about other new Pioneer models if they have this VBR problem but I would not recommend the DV 440. I almost bought a 333 pioneer on Ebay but no mp3 support turned me off of that.

[ZAP!!]

I've only tried with VCD but my Pioneer 440 freaks if I try to play a VBR VCD where the minimum bitrate is under 900.