APEX Reliability and SPECIAL Features...

[Erwin]

I have been playing around with an Apex 500W today. I am impressed at how easy it is to simply install a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM (6 screws and 2 plugs). Wouldn't this tend to make this product more reliable since one could simply replace the ROM Drive with a DVD-ROM for as low as $39 (I have seen the Hi-Vals) or get an $18 CD-ROM( if you only watch XVCDs/XSVCDs. Is it the drive or other parts that tend to mess up on the Apex Players. Some minor things I don't like about is the access time between tracks(not real long but slow) and the famous 2 sec cut-off at the end. I put one disc in the player and the audio suddenly jumped ahead 10 seconds from the video, and I think it was because it was one of the XVCDs that I made where 770Megs were cramed onto a 700Meg CD. I actually like the remote (it seems to reach from anywhere).

[FloppyRod]

If I replace the DVD drive of my APEX 703 will it fix the cut off on audio CD's?

[Erwin]

I don't see why not. It's worth a try. Any DVD-ROM or CD-ROM has got to be better made than the Apex. I mean, you can't expect to much for under $100. I have seen it used with a cheap Hi-Val DVD-ROM and it seems to work better with the Hi-Val.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Erwin on 2001-09-04 17:12:33 ]</font>

[FloppyRod]

Could someone please e-mail me a guide on how to swap out the DVD drives? Will it work in an APEX with a three disc changer?

-Stephen-
floppy_rod@hotmail.com

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: FloppyRod on 2001-09-04 17:40:28 ]</font>

[Erwin]

Now I feel like a complete idiot. I am not sure whether you can change the drive on the 703 now that you mention that it's a "3 disc changer". You might be able to still though---anything is possible.

[FloppyRod]

Has anyone tried it on the 703? You wanna share? Thanks...

[Drizzt]

what about the apex 1500
can it be swapped?

[Erwin]

Here are some of the models. I looks like most would work assuming they have similar "insides" as the AD500W.
AD3201


AD1500


AD600A


AD800


AD703


AD660A


AD500W



I think the 3201 looks the best (appearance wise).

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Erwin on 2001-09-04 20:33:31 ]</font>

[ilc]

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On 2001-09-04 20:29:50, Erwin wrote:
Here are some of the models. I looks like most would work assuming they have similar "insides" as the AD500W.
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With Apex, you cannot assume that the models are pretty much the same on the inside. Trust me on this.

For example, the 500, 500A, and 500B (also sold as the 500W) are completely different machines on the inside. Many people who have a 500A, 500B, or 500W simply refer to their player as a "500" when asking for information, but because of the dramatic differences between these models, those people often get incorrect information.

With the "no-letter" 500, there's even more confusion, as the early versions of the 500 seem to be quite different than the later versions of the 500.

The 703 and 703A are also VERY different, primarily because they're not made by the same original manufacturer.

The 660 and 700 seem to be somewhat related, as firmware from a 700 will sometimes work in a 660. Complicating the matter is the fact that some 660's are upgradeable via CD while others require a chip replacement. I think the 660's that are CD upgradeable are the ones that will accept firmware from the 700.

The 600A is pretty much in its own world, although one of many firmwares released for the 600A will work on those newer versions of the 500 mentioned above.

The 800 and the 1500 each seem to be quite unique in their design.

The 3201 is a completely different animal than any of the other Apex players. I believe it uses the Zoran (?) video chip while most of the other Apex units use the ESS video chip. Yet, the 3201's outside design makes it look nearly identical to a 660, and its remote control is very similar to that of a 600A!

Finally, there's the 5131, which, at least on the outside, looks just like a 703A. But who knows how different the two models are on the inside.

Confused yet?




<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: ilc on 2001-09-05 12:04:00 ]</font>

[Erwin]

"Confused yet?"
You might say that

It's pretty amazing that Apex alone has that many players in less than 2 years. I am pretty amazed with the AD500w. Is the 600A a better player in terms of performance and a long life-span.

[nesscm]

The only difference I know of between the AD703 and AD5131 is the 5131 has HDCD (progressive scan) capability, which I really don't know anything about. I was wondering if there was a hack/upgrade (firmware) to upgrade the 703 to have this capability or is a decoder card/chip needed. I'm a newbie at all of this. I have a 703 and just upgraded the no region/macrovision firmware. Any one know about the HDCD capability ??

[sracer]

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On 2001-09-06 21:16:09, Erwin wrote:
"Confused yet?"
You might say that

It's pretty amazing that Apex alone has that many players in less than 2 years. I am pretty amazed with the AD500w. Is the 600A a better player in terms of performance and a long life-span.
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>

Not really amazing considering that they just slap their logo on a unit made by somebody else. And as ilc so logically stated, there are many subtle and not so subtle differences between the models and model codes... and to get even more convoluted, not all model codes (eg. 703A) are the same. Many have different firmware levels.

With an Apex all you can be sure of is that the letters "A", "P", "E", and "X" will appear somewhere on the unit.

Although I know that they are inferior players, (I prefer the RCA 5220P I used to have, or my current Pioneer DV-434) I am seriously considering picking up a 500W just to experiment with.

[Erwin]

"I am seriously considering picking up a 500W just to experiment with."
Just the fact that you can change the roms and chips with ease is the only reason I considered it. And it plays VCDs and SVCDs better than most DVD players. I was going to get it for playing DVDs, there is no way I would even consider it.

[nesscm]

I posted earlier asking if there was anyway to upgrade (firware) the 703 to make it HDCD compatible (as the 5131 is). I haven't really received a good answer.

I was wondering if you can hack the 5131 just like the 703 for macrovision and regions ?? Any one know ?? Please reply here and/or email me.

Thanks.... I'm considering taking the 703 back and getting the 5131 (that's why I'm asking).

[Erwin]

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On 2001-09-07 23:38:32, nesscm wrote:
I posted earlier asking if there was anyway to upgrade (firware) the 703 to make it HDCD compatible (as the 5131 is). I haven't really received a good answer.

I was wondering if you can hack the 5131 just like the 703 for macrovision and regions ?? Any one know ?? Please reply here and/or email me.

Thanks.... I'm considering taking the 703 back and getting the 5131 (that's why I'm asking).
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>

There is no hacks that I am aware of. I did a search with several reports saying there is no hack yet. sorry

[ilc]

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On 2001-09-07 00:02:28, nesscm wrote:
The only difference I know of between the AD703 and AD5131 is the 5131 has HDCD (progressive scan) capability, which I really don't know anything about. I was wondering if there was a hack/upgrade (firmware) to upgrade the 703 to have this capability or is a decoder card/chip needed. I'm a newbie at all of this. I have a 703 and just upgraded the no region/macrovision firmware. Any one know about the HDCD capability ??
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>

Believe me, there are a lot more differences between the 703 and the 5131 than you realize. What you have to keep in mind is this:

Even though both players say "APEX" on the front, they are NOT even CLOSE to being the same or similar on the inside. The 703 is made by a company called Shinco while the 5131 is made by some other company (definitely not Shinco).

The 703 will likely never have HDCD compatibility and the 5131 will likely never be hacked.

Sorry.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: ilc on 2001-09-09 02:17:23 ]</font>

[ilc]

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and to get even more convoluted, not all model codes (eg. 703A) are the same. Many have different firmware levels.
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>

Exactly. There is SO much confusion between the 703 and 703A! It's understandable, but it gets old telling people over and over and over that the 703 and 703A are not the same or even similar.

The 703A is, quite possibly, the worst Apex player ever made. It cannot read CD-R's or CD-RW's. That obviously rules out upgrading the firmware via CD and of course playing homemade VCDs. The player itself has a very 'clunky' feel to it (did you know that if you turn it on its side, the tray slides right out?) The only way to eject your disc is by pushing Stop, OPEN/CLOSE, AND pushing the disc number of one of the other two disc slots. So if you are playing something in Disc 1, you have to push Stop, OPEN/CLOSE and then hold down DISC 2 or DISC 3 (for at least one second), just to get Disc 1 out. (It should just be a matter of pushing OPEN/CLOSE, with the player doing the rest, but that's definitely not the case here.)

The firmware chip is in a socket, which is good in case you're stuck with this player and you want to hack it to make it Macrovision-free and Region-free. The problem is that you'd have to program the firmware into a new chip...like I said above, because the player seems to lack CD-R/CD-RW compatibility, you can't upgrade the firmware via CD.

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I am seriously considering picking up a 500W just to experiment with.
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>

The 500W also cannot be upgraded via CD-R/CD-RW - not because of CD-R/CD-RW incompatibility (it is compatible with both), but because the firmare simply does not have the ability to be flashed.

The best type of firmware chip as far as hacking goes is one that's in a socket AND is upgradeable via CD -- provided that the player can read CD-R's and CD-RW's!


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: ilc on 2001-09-09 17:24:40 ]</font>