LiteOn LVD-2002 DivX/MPEG-4/DVD Player

[radek]

Thx,
so far, so good -- I just got the email with the RMA request form.

[Roundabout]

boden11,

Regardless of what your opinion is of my opinions, I will continue to state them. You can use personal attacks all you wish against me, but that will not change my mind regarding the issue at hand.

I will not be attacking you irrespective of your attempt to bait me into a flame war. I will not resort to name calling and childishness.

Further posts attacking me for stating my opinion will be disregarded.

As far as the issue regarding LiteOn not supporting the products they sold to us with the implied or implicit promise of updates, I have not changed my mind - they have shirked their responsibility to the consumers who purchased the product expecting a reasonable amount of support. It has nothing to do with "hate" as you described it. I have worked for a large consumer electronics company for a larger part of my life, and I know what the consumer expects can sometimes be unreasonable, but this does not fall into that category.

If it irritates you so much that I keep mentioning this issue of non-support, I suggest you stop reading this thread. I will continue to discuss it, as it is the only hope that someone, somewhere at LiteOn will read it and possibly, just possibly, decide it is in their company's best interests to change their mind on further F/W upgrades.

Have a nice day.

[radek]

You know, for somebody who spent a whopping $99 on a dvd standalone player ... IT WAS FRICKING $99!!!

What's that supposed to mean?
To me, it makes no difference whether I spend $100 on a DVD player,
or $50k on a car. I buy products with warranties.
The price includes the support, I paid for that, it's MY FRIGGIN' money.
I don't think Roundabout hates them. I don't, but I'm pissed.
I will get the replacement and put it on e-bay for the guys who like waste their money.
Meanwhile, I'm going to stop on way home at Target/Wal-Mart/ BestBuy (CompUSA doesn't have it at the moment) and get Phillips DVP 642.
I will stay away from L/O in the future (I just regret I bought 2 more LVD2002s as gifts for my friends)

PS Just got the RMA

[boden11]

Just read through this thread and watch how many times Roundabout uses the phrases "LieOn" or insults the management of LiteOn or comlains about a poorly made dvd player. Then search for how much he paid for it.

$99

Now think about it, it's a DVD player, not a car. Noone is forcing him to keep it and use this 'poorly built' dvd player. At any time he could sell it on ebay in its current condition MAKE a profit, and then buy a cheaper divx player if he wished. But he doesn't want to do that, it's just so much more fun to complain about his "LieOn". It only makes sense if:

1) He works for a competitor
2) He just likes to complain

So which is it?

I know if I bought something and was unsatisfied, I would definitely get rid of it and buy something else. No point in continuing to kvetch all year about it.

[Roundabout]

You know, for somebody who spent a whopping $99 on a dvd standalone player ... IT WAS FRICKING $99!!!

What's that supposed to mean?
To me, it makes no difference whether I spend $100 on a DVD player,
or $50k on a car. I buy products with warranties.
The price includes the support, I paid for that, it's MY FRIGGIN' money.
I don't think Roundabout hates them. I don't, but I'm pissed.
I will get the replacement and put it on e-bay for the guys who like waste their money.
Meanwhile, I'm going to stop on way home at Target/Wal-Mart/ BestBuy (CompUSA doesn't have it at the moment) and get Phillips DVP 642.
I will stay away from L/O in the future (I just regret I bought 2 more LVD2002s as gifts for my friends)

PS Just got the RMA

Glad you got them to RMA the unit. I agree with you 110% that L/O had the responsibility to their customers to support this unit, regardless of whether it costs $99.00, $199.00, or $9.00. The issue is not price, but support of a product sold with the idea that it could and would be updated regularly. As you stated (and it's easy to see) I do not hate them, how can you "hate" a non-entity? I am extremely disappointed with them and I'M NOT ALONE, irrespective of what some people seem to think. If I feel like voicing my opinion in a thread that I started, then I can and will continue to do so. No one has to read, respond to, or agree with my opinion, this is a free country. This being a discussion forum, we discuss things here.

I won't be selling mine on Ebay (I'd probably get negative feedback for selling it to someone that would have the same problems with it), but will most likely send it overseas to relatives that will get better use of it, as there are more DivX Pre-recorded discs available there (that hopefully this thing will be able to play). I'll be looking at getting one of the Philips units also, seems they work much better according to reports in the other thread. So far, I haven't been able to find one in my area yet, but CompUSA says they'll have some more in soon.

[radek]

Well, I'll probably keep mine, too. Phillips does not support subtitles.
And if I ever get something that'll work for me, I can send L/O overseas, too.
It's a shame, because if not for the problem that I have (other people don't seem to complain about this multi-file DVD), it would've been a great player.
One of the factors I based my selection on, was they LO seemed to be so enthusiastic about fixing the bugs and improving the features, judging from their tech support wab site. I was aware of the problems of the previous F/W, but I also was sure of new release taking care of it.
Such a disappoimtment when it introduced a new bug. And to hear: "we won't support it anymore", few moths after it was released...
I have a couple other DVD players but I never even thought about complaining they are out-of-date, even though they were more like $300.
It's because they always played to the specification and I accept the fact that technology changes so fast.
With 2002, I feel cheated, it never played as specified, and it never will.
And they say they don't care. This as smart as:
Bob Woodward: "President Bush, how will history remember your war in Iraq?"
Bush: "History, what do I care...we'll all be dead!"

[EatMoreChickens]

I think my Lite-on is a lemon. The player freezes near the end of most of my DivX ISO DVDs. I also have a Philips LVP642, and the files play fine on that unit, but my Lite-on has problems reading DivX/Mpeg ISO files near end of a disc.

I'm using 4x Maxell DVD+R on a TDK Indi 8x Burner (rebadged Plextor 708 w/ firmware 1.06) and Nero 6.3.1.10. And I do finalize the discs and burn at 8x. I've tried burning at 2.4 and 4x, and still have the same problem. The file format of the freezing files is an Xvid 23.976fps 624x352.

I tested the files on the DVD w/ VirtualDUb and there were no freeze frames.

Are there any other test I can perform before I request an RMA? TIA

[junkmalle]

I think my Lite-on is a lemon. The player freezes near the end of most of my DivX ISO DVDs.

You don't by any chance have paper labels on your DVDs do you? I found that the drive in the 2002 is very sensitive to balance problems -- especially at the end of DVDs. I had several DVDs that didn't play properly and eventually I noticed the problems were always on DVDs with paper labels. I removed the labels and every one of them worked perfectly afterwards.

[EatMoreChickens]

You don't by any chance have paper labels on your DVDs do you?

Great, now what am going to do w/ my box of 300 labels from Staples?

Anyway, I haven't been using labels. So far, I've been writing on the discs w/ a permenant marker.

BTW, what do you use to check the video integretity prior to burning? I use VirtualDub, but I still get freezes on my Philips. TIA

[Ryu69]

Hi. I downloaded a movie and it was 3 files, .divx, .idx, and .sub. i have tried to just copy these files onto a disk and run it on my liteon 2002, but it doesn't work. is this xvid format? as that is what the caption said when i was downloading this movie. how can i make it work on my liteon hopefully with subtitles? any help will be great, thanks

[junkmalle]

what do you use to check the video integretity?

I just play files with WMP or some other player. A little at the start, middle and end. I especially watch for audio sync problems.

I downloaded a movie and it was 3 files, .divx, .idx, and .sub

You'll probably have to rename the .DIVX file to .AVI.

I don't think the Liteon 2002 supports IDX/SUB format subtitles. I've usually use .SRT. The one .SUB I tried didn't work.

[Roundabout]

Ryu69,

Junkmalle is right, you will need to rename the .divx file to .avi and it should play. As far as subs go, you will need to use .srt format, and you can find a free program to convert .sub to .srt format HERE. However, it's a command line tool for linux, and the writer doesn't know how to make it run in Windows, although he states it will if you know how. There is also more help here about this subject: https://www.videohelp.com/forum/archive/t218015.html
And one more program that should work, although I haven't tried it - take a look HERE.

EatMoreChickens,

I would send it back for repair. I have a lot of complaints about my player but it never has a problem playing discs to the end, even when I overburn discs to 703MB or so. If you're having a problem with it freezing up you should send it back while it's still in warranty.

[boden11]

To check video quality you can download a program called DivFix and then check the file for errors. It will spit out any frame errors it detects (tho I wouldn't recommend using DivFix to fix frame errors, its mostly for error detection and rebuilding indices for partial downloads). Try using different media with the drive. I've had no problem with a +RW, but I mostly just thrown on the latest from tvtorrents and then reburn every time so I'm not using the outer portion of the disc. But I've got like 50 ISO DVD-Rs with DIVX stuff and never had any problems with those. I'm guessing its a media issue and not a player problem.

[radek]

That's great if they'll replace the unit. (...)

That said, maybe we can hope that at least if L/O doesn't intend to provide upgrades, they'll at least fix these damn players when they crap out. (...).
Good luck and let us know if LieOn lies again. :P

OK, here's the update.
I sent the unit back, and after maybe 2 weeks I got it back.
It wouldn't play anything, It would not even recognize any DVD.
The emphasis should be on DVD, because when I tried CDs, it played everything: DivX, MP3, etc.
I called L/O again, told them I wasn't paying for the shipping again, and was told they'd send me a label. After a couple of days a UPS guy shows up at my door, and turns out he's here to pick up the LVD. Not bad.
I got a brand new unit 2 weeks ago. I have no problem with this one at all. It plays everything, no matter old F/W or the new one.
Only once it stuck on some movie, I had to unplug it, but after I cleaned the DVD, it plays.
Remember, I had a problem with many AVIs on one DVD.
So maybe it was just faulty DVD drive
I'm still disapointed with their upgrade police, but the customer service
surprided me. They respond 24/7, literally, and the UPS pick uo was nice, too.
In the meantime, I bought Phillips, look much better, plays with no problem. I sent it back two weks ago, because -- don't laugh -- I managed to mess up the F/W in this one too.
I'm a computer guy (app developer), but I was very sloppy while upgrading the F/W to new one, with subs support, and I powered off in the middle of the process.
I like this one, but the lon file name display sucks, I hope they'll do something about it. If not, maybe I'll keep the L/O.
If they do then I'm selling it

[whoster69]

Well, here's another nail in Lie-On's coffin as far as I'm concerned. XVID has now been finalized and guess what? It seems the 1.01 final version doesn't work properly with the Lie-On 2002 model.

I originally bought this play for it's XVID support and it's promised regular firmware updates. The one and only firmware update was about a month before XVID was finalized and now it seems even that won't work. Great. Another $115 down drain.

If anyone hears of a way to use newer firmware from Lie-On's current model (whatever that is for the moment), please post.

[junkmalle]

I've encoded many videos with XVID 1.0.1 and don't have any problems playing them on my LVD 2002 with the latest firmware.

There are two MPEG 4 features that most of the hardware players can't handle: Global Motion Compensation, and Quarter Pixel. If you are encoding your own videos be sure to disable those two items.

[whoster69]

I've encoded many videos with XVID 1.0.1 and don't have any problems playing them on my LVD 2002 with the latest firmware.

There are two MPEG 4 features that most of the hardware players can't handle: Global Motion Compensation, and Quarter Pixel. If you are encoding your own videos be sure to disable those two items.

Thanks for the info, but unfortunately I need these features to work. I do appreciate the info though.

[junkmalle]

I've encoded many videos with XVID 1.0.1 and don't have any problems playing them on my LVD 2002 with the latest firmware.

There are two MPEG 4 features that most of the hardware players can't handle: Global Motion Compensation, and Quarter Pixel. If you are encoding your own videos be sure to disable those two items.

Thanks for the info, but unfortunately I need these features to work. I do appreciate the info though.

I don't think there are any set top players that support those two features because the MPEG4 decoder chips don't have them. I seem to recall one of the chipset manufacturers announcing support for them in the next generation.

[whoster69]

I've encoded many videos with XVID 1.0.1 and don't have any problems playing them on my LVD 2002 with the latest firmware.

There are two MPEG 4 features that most of the hardware players can't handle: Global Motion Compensation, and Quarter Pixel. If you are encoding your own videos be sure to disable those two items.

Thanks for the info, but unfortunately I need these features to work. I do appreciate the info though.

I don't think there are any set top players that support those two features because the MPEG4 decoder chips don't have them. I seem to recall one of the chipset manufacturers announcing support for them in the next generation.

So you don't think this is something that can be fixed with a firmware patch eh?

I wonder why they'd add it at the last then. Seems kind of strange.

Again, thanks for the info.

[junkmalle]

I've encoded many videos with XVID 1.0.1 and don't have any problems playing them on my LVD 2002 with the latest firmware.

There are two MPEG 4 features that most of the hardware players can't handle: Global Motion Compensation, and Quarter Pixel. If you are encoding your own videos be sure to disable those two items.

Thanks for the info, but unfortunately I need these features to work. I do appreciate the info though.

I don't think there are any set top players that support those two features because the MPEG4 decoder chips don't have them. I seem to recall one of the chipset manufacturers announcing support for them in the next generation.

I was wrong, it looks like there's at least one player now that supports Quarter Pixel and Global Motion Compensation: the Zensonic Z300.

[Roundabout]

My 2002 is still going, albeit with the usual (and regular) freezing and lockups requiring the plug to be pulled from the back to reset it. A couple of days ago it stopped playing halfway through a disc that was working - I had to let it sit unplugged for about 3 minutes and plugged it back in and it continued.

In looking today, the LO website still has the 2k1 and 2k2 listed as if they were current products, looks like the 2010 has fallen forever by the wayside.

Maybe they intend to get out of the CE end of products and go back to only producing optical drives. Maybe they found out that it's too much trouble to support their products. Who the hell knows?

I've just been re-encoding whatever has to be done to get the unit to play. As long as that's done, then it MOL works o.k. - although the heat factor (crapping out after warmup) is making it even flakier than it was before. Radek, since you've had both units, what is your opinion of the Philips vs. LO? It sounds like you like the Philips more so far.

[ovex]

I think the cheapest DivX player on the U.S. market is Philips DVP642 which can be found in Wal Mart for 80$. It has progressive scan, DTS 5.1 on optical or coaxial output and with the latest firmware it can display external subtitles.

[junkmalle]

I have the Liteon LVD 2002 and I know someone who has the Philips DVP 642.

The Philips doesn't have independent scaling of the width and height of images -- and it often picks the wrong aspect ratio. It doesn't support AC3 audio in DIVX/XVID files, and it seems to have problems with some unfinalized DVD+R disks (which the Liteon had no problems playing).

I don't know if they've fixed some of these issues with firmware updates. The player I have access to had the first update applied (ver 302 I think it is?).

On the other hand, I don't think I've ever seen the Philips lockup the way the Liteon does. And it runs much cooler than the Liteon.

[wiggie]

Hi, everyone, I haven't check this board in a while, so have Lite-on reverse their foolish decision to end support for this player?

Just the other day, I found this annoying bug, if I have a srt subtitle in a folder name with spaces, it's not recognized, such as:

Blah - The Movie\BLAH_-_The_Movie.avi
Blah - The Movie\BLAH_-_The_Movie.srt

[ovex]

I have the Liteon LVD 2002 and I know someone who has the Philips DVP 642.

The Philips doesn't have independent scaling of the width and height of images -- and it often picks the wrong aspect ratio. It doesn't support AC3 audio in DIVX/XVID files, and it seems to have problems with some unfinalized DVD+R disks (which the Liteon had no problems playing).

I don't know if they've fixed some of these issues with firmware updates. The player I have access to had the first update applied (ver 302 I think it is?).

On the other hand, I don't think I've ever seen the Philips lockup the way the Liteon does. And it runs much cooler than the Liteon.

I have the Philips dvd player and I can assure you that it supports very well AC3 and also plays well movies on unfinalized DVD+R disks.
Anyway for the price it sells I think it's the best deal so far.

[junkmalle]

I have the Liteon LVD 2002 and I know someone who has the Philips DVP 642.

The Philips doesn't have independent scaling of the width and height of images -- and it often picks the wrong aspect ratio. It doesn't support AC3 audio in DIVX/XVID files, and it seems to have problems with some unfinalized DVD+R disks (which the Liteon had no problems playing).

I don't know if they've fixed some of these issues with firmware updates. The player I have access to had the first update applied (ver 302 I think it is?).

On the other hand, I don't think I've ever seen the Philips lockup the way the Liteon does. And it runs much cooler than the Liteon.

I have the Philips dvd player and I can assure you that it supports very well AC3 and also plays well movies on unfinalized DVD+R disks.
Anyway for the price it sells I think it's the best deal so far.

Well, I have several DIVX files with AC3 (2.0 and 5.1) soundtracks that won't play at all. (Obviously DVD video with AC3 works fine.) And I have several unfinalized UDF/ISO DVD+R disks that won't load at all. Maybe later firmware revs fixed these issues.

[stevec50]

I have an LVD-2002 and the playback is slow and jerky and sound cuts out when playing MPEG's or avi's. I updated to the latest firmware and tried replacing the loader but it still does that. Anyone know how to speed it up? Thanks.

[Roundabout]

Glad to see someone resurrected my over one year old thread

Have you checked the bitrates for audio and video on the discs you're trying to play? This unit is very picky about bitrates, and I've noted in the past that anything encoded with a too low audio bitrate will refuse to play at all, or play then freeze. Too high of a video bitrate will cause the same thing. Does it only happen on DivX discs and VCD's, or have you seen it happen on DVD's too? Do these same discs play OK on your PC? What kind of media are you using, and are you using labels? Have you tried reburning the same file to a new blank CD? Have you tried cleaning the lens? Does it only happen when the unit is warm or hot?

When you mention you replaced the 'loader', what part are you talking about? I understand you updated the FW with the last version, but are you talking about having replaced the loading mechanism? A little more information would help.

Cheers, Roundabout

[stevec50]

Wow, I don't have any idea what the bitrates are. They are ripped DVD's of different movies and TV shows that I downloaded with Bittorrent and burned to DVD's They do play OK on the PC! I tried burning some of the TV shows onto a CD and it still has the same problems. I tried different brands of DVDs but I've found the brand makes no difference in playing as long as it recorded properly. Once the bits are on there they are on there. Doesn't matter if it's warm or hot it still plays too slow, sound cuts in and out and video is jerky.
The spindle motor froze up in the Liteon DTD-166S loader so I replaced it with a DVS DSL-710A. I read through a lot of the old messages and nobody mentioned this problem. Isn't there some way to speed this thing up so it will play smoothly?

[Roundabout]

stevec50,

...a word to the wise, don't mention that you have downloaded movies and/or DVD rips from BT (or anywhere else, for that matter). TV shows are OK per admin (Baldrick) but there is really no need to mention what your files are, only the basic specs of the file itself, or you probably will find yourself with a warning from the mods. Downloaded DVD's and movies are considered warez (illegal downloads) and cannot be discussed on this forum.

The question I asked was, what are the bitrates (audio and video) of the files you...um...obtained. You can use a free program like Gspot to determine this. You can then post the information here (no screenshots, please, unless you delete the filename info first).

The LVD-2001 and 2002 both have problems with playing certain files, usually .avi's that are outside the operating parameters of the unit. However, I don't know of any exact specs on what the files should be, but in general, the audio should be 128Kb/s and the video at least 1000Kb/s IIRC - not positive on those numbers and someone may correct me if I'm wrong.

The easiest thing to do IMO is download a trial of a program like Dr.DivX and reencode the files (just the ones that don't play properly) so that they will meet the requirements of the player. For a test, find a relatively short file and try reencoding, then reburning it and see if it plays. Beyond that, there isn't much else I can suggest, since you already have upgraded the firmware. I take it you're sure the spindle motor is essentially the same as the one you originally had in the unit?