Laser Disc Player Questions

[pacmania_2001]

I found a good deal on a Sony MDP-A3 and was wondering whether this is a good player or not and what are its pros and cons. Also what are the pros and cons of laser discs as a whole?

[treed68]

I am a laser nut. So I will probably be biased. But, I would say that you are looking at a pretty good player. I personally have only used Pioneer players.
One really big point in LD's favor is a large catalog of material to play. However a huge chunk of titles previously only available on LD are now on DVD. Who ever would have dreamed that "Slugs" would be re-released on any format? Also, if you can get hold of one of those titles that is rumored to never be released in the US. That makes it all worth while. I love the fact that I have both the Japanese and Hong Kong versions of "Song Of The South" and something to play them on. A copy of SOTS (Hong Kong Edition without subtitles) just closed on Ebay for $1102.00! On a side note I just installed an ATI All-In-Wonder and have SOTS HK edition on my hard drive. I hope to make a SVCD from it. So I say go for the Sony!

[Robbins1940]

Don't buy sony for laserdisc players.

Stick with Pioneer for ld.

David

[sommersby]

I have been using laser disks since the players were top loading, at that time we never thought anything would beat the quality, my advice though is to convert any titles that you have that are not replacable on dvd to vcd as the one problem they have, especially the earlier disks, is they deteriate over time. I have a few that won't even play anymore and a few others are very noisy.

[David4Real]

storage your ld's in a non-damp, hot environment is a good way to avoid the "laser-rot". It happened to me with a ld from Hong Kong called "Comet & Butterfly". At first I thought it must be my Pioneer player freaking out on me...but it was the disc..which was fairly new..I took my remaining ld's & bought heavy plastic sleeves to encase them in.

Yet..here in the states...ld market has tumbled...it's strictly dvd's now @the shops.

[sommersby]

well, My storage is about perfect then, I live in the high desert where it is as dry and hot as possible....lol