Pioneer DV-444 review....tell me its not true!!

[vice86]

After looking on the recommended DVD players list on hear and reading the reviews...seems like the Pioneers are the best to get...I'd settle for a 333 or 343 model but I like the MP3 capability and Progressive Scan feature of the DV-444 model. So I placed an order for a Pioneer DV-444.

Now I just read a review on Epinions.com. Tell me this guy doesnt know what he's talking about. Here are clips from his review.

Pioneer DV-444 DVD Player - Want Progressive Scan? Get Progressive Scam!
by dkozin | Oct*03*'01

Pros: Slim design, MP3 playback with ability to select files, excellent interlaced performance
Cons: High price, poor progressive scan performance, poor remote
The Bottom Line Unless you are Pioneer fan, need a slim DVD player or a DVD player with convenient MP3 playback, it doesn't make sense to buy this player,
Recommended: No

The Pioneer DV-444 is advertised as providing “film-like quality images” and “very smooth film-like picture” by using progressive scan. Unfortunately, this player does not have “real” progressive scan with 2:3 pulldown that is featured in JVC S60BK, JVC S65GD or Panasonic RP56.

Picture

Progressive Scan Mode: The DV-444 has line doubling circuitry without the 2:3 pulldown, which results in noise in the patches of solid color, artifacts on the edges of the objects and overall soft picture. There are also artifacts in the areas with fine detail.

Standard (Interlaced) Mode: The player produces very good picture quality in the standard mode with no video noise and good color reproduction.

Since the player does not feature excellent picture quality in the progressive scan mode, I believe there is no point in choosing it over the less expensive DVD players. If the main objective is picture quality in the progressive scan mode.

CD-R, CD-RW And MP3

The player accepts recordable and rewriteable discs (CD-R and CD-RW), provided they are finalized. It also plays MP3s and features the ability to select the file to play using an onscreen menu.

Front Panel

The player is slim and the display is located at right of the disc tray. There are only basic buttons on the front panel

Features

There are a lot of parameters you can adjust, including sharpness, chroma level, contrast, hue, noise reduction, gamma, chroma delay, detail (last 4 are for progressive scan mode). There is slow motion playback and still frame advance in both directions.

Remote

The supplied remote control has buttons that are all similar in shape and not backlit. Majority of buttons are very small, other buttons are just small. In other words, the remote looks cheap. At least it allows you control some basic functions on your TV like volume and channel selection.

Conclusion

The DV-444 is advertised as a progressive scan player. At $250 it is $30 more expensive than JVC S60BK or S65GD progressive scan player and costs the same as Panasonic RP56. Both of which deliver “real” progressive scan with no artifacts and video noise that plague the Pioneer. So if you want a good progressive scan player, you can get either JVC or Panasonic for less and with better results.

Neither DV-444 makes sense if you want good performance in the standard “interlaced” mode – other players do the same for less. So, based on the price, poor remote control design and poor performance in the progressive scan mode, it doesn’t make sense to buy this player. Unless you are Pioneer fan, need a slim DVD player or a DVD player with convenient MP3 playback.

Anyone see any of this stuff this guy is talking about? I still have time to cancel



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: vice86 on 2001-10-18 17:15:36 ]</font>

[Baldrick]

if you really need progressive scan(for example if you are thinking of using it with a projector) get another dvd player...I have not even added the progressive scan as feature to our list because it is not real progressive scan.

[sracer]

Right. From what I understand the 444 and 434 have very weak progressive scan playback. I bought the DV-434, and am absolutely delighted with playback of every disc (DVD, VCD, SVCD, whathaveyou)... but progressive scan playback wasn't even a factor for me.

I have it connected to my Toshiba flatscreen tube TV via component video cables and the picture is breathtaking.

But as Baldrick said, if progressive scan is important to you, look for a different player...and when it comes to progressive scan playback, higher prices do offer better quality.

If you don't care about PS, then I'm sure that the 444 will be perfect for you.

[Belgarion]

vice86: YES, it IS true. I bought one, and got screwed, like many others.

The DV-444 only has the marketing aspect of progressive scan. In real life, its PS output is so horrible you're going to stay in interlaced mode.. I know. I've got a 50" projection HDTV, and believe me when I tell you all that this reviewer said is true.. Unfortunately.

Now the shop won't take that piece of junk back, so i'm stuck with it. Pioneer just got permanently removed from my "to buy from" list.

[Carlos C]

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote:</font><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>
On 2001-12-08 09:01:47, Belgarion wrote:

vice86: YES, it IS true. I bought one, and got screwed, like many others.

The DV-444 only has the marketing aspect of progressive scan. In real life, its PS output is so horrible you're going to stay in interlaced mode.. I know. I've got a 50" projection HDTV, and believe me when I tell you all that this reviewer said is true.. Unfortunately.

Now the shop won't take that piece of junk back, so i'm stuck with it. Pioneer just got permanently removed from my "to buy from" list.

</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>

You should really put things into perspective before you go labeling a product POJ, and deeming a "not to buy" brand.

It's a $150 ( got it for $130) DVD player. Fot that price I don't think it's a piece if junk. I don't even care about progressive scan. I was really concerned about (S)VCD play back.

If you spend so much money on a projection HDTV, I really think you should get a matching dvd player. Did you really expect it to be an awesome PS player for under $200? In general it's a very versatile, reliable, quailty DVD player IMO.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Carlos C on 2001-12-10 03:17:45 ]</font>

[sracer]

Well said, Carlos C. I have to wonder why someone who owns a 50" HDTV set doesn't purchase a comparable DVD player. (I won't comment on the wisdom of buying a PROJECTION HDTV set)

If Progressive Scan is a high priority, then the it is a simple matter of the-more-you-spend-the-better-you-get.

[Belgarion]

vice86: If you take similarly priced DVD players, such as the Panasonic RP56 or the JVC S65GD players, you will get stunning quality.

Carlos C: If you have been lucky to find it out on special or something (maybe because retailers they want to get rid of it becaues of a high return rate when sold at the same price of a decent-quality progressive scan dvd player?)
Reg. price for all these players is 200$ US (do a search on the major online retailers). I'm in Canada and paid 450$ CDN tax included for that player. That is on average about 150-200$ higher than a non-progressive player.
I think that qualifies as high enough a difference so that I should actually be able to use the progressive scan output, reason for that price difference?



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Belgarion on 2001-12-10 14:13:11 ]</font>

[Belgarion]

sracer : How can you dare to comment on something you have no idea? I did not mention the brand, the type, the model, the price or the specific technology on that HDTV? Can I see your crystal ball?

[BALLO]

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote:</font><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>
On 2001-12-08 09:01:47, Belgarion wrote:

vice86: YES, it IS true. I bought one, and got screwed, like many others.

The DV-444 only has the marketing aspect of progressive scan. In real life, its PS output is so horrible you're going to stay in interlaced mode.. I know. I've got a 50" projection HDTV, and believe me when I tell you all that this reviewer said is true.. Unfortunately.

Now the shop won't take that piece of junk back, so i'm stuck with it. Pioneer just got permanently removed from my "to buy from" list.

</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>



Belgarion, I have a Philips 622 and I really want to trade it with your pioneer...... The Philips is really a bommer.....It doesn't eat all my cd-R's.....