Which Apex (MacroVision Free) DVD player is better ?

[LanceSteel]

I have the 500W and I have no complaints about it at all. It plays everything that I throw at it (DVD, VCD, xVCD, xSVCD.) It has played all my CD-R VCD's that I have made. The model that I bought had the older firmware so I bought the newest firmware chip. Anybody correct me if I am wrong but I think the 660 is older than the 500w. Also the 500w is $92 at walmart and the 660 was like $130 at circuit city.

[next]

I've had great luck with both the Apex 703 and the 660. I do agree about the return rate. But I think it's important to understand why it may be high. And I think there are a few reasons:

1. Apex has been embraced by the hacker community because it is easy to make the players both macrovision and region free. But this process requires in many cases an update via a burnt CDR. Many newbies make mistakes and kill the player and it gets returned.

2. These hackers are also looking for the best Apex unit ( in their minds). For example with the Apex 660 everybody wants the 8-am firmware units. If they purchase a unit they simply go through a process to determine the firmware. If its not 8-am they return it, even though other firmare versions are easily hacked.

3. Apex seem to attract buyers that use the heck out of their players. They are heavy users. If they see just the slighest hicup...back it goes. A typical buyer would never notice these hicups. Typical buyers purchase their Sony, play DVD's and enjoy (and not 2 to 12 movies a day). The hacker Apex buyer tends to work it to death playing every combination of DVD's, noticing how chapters change...ad nausium. Apex attracts these buyers because they cost only around $100.

4. The macrovision free aspect seems to attract those that like to copy to VHS. Movie after movie after movie after movie gets run through the players. Ouch it hurts sometimes. I contrast this to my mother who may watch a few DVD's over a period of a month to the avid Apex cultist who has run 30 DVD's though it in the first 70 hours after purchase.

5. The Apex cultists tend to purchase a unit just to play with it with no intentions of keeping it long term. Guess what - it gets returned.

But - Apex is not a top of the line player. Its not priced to be. It's a reasonable player with reasonable limitations. On the upside I've heard users say that it will play a ham sandwich - and if it doesn't it gets returned.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: next on 2001-07-01 19:05:43 ]</font>

[SingSing]

If a hardware hacker is not well equipped with burner, spare chip,....
then the first time he/she mess up, Iassume you can't revive the dead.

I heard apex 660 is doen to $99 retail at circuit city, and $20 rebate.
Who and where is the rebate from ?

[gambit32]

If there's a rebate, it will print up w/your receipt when you buy it at Circuit City.

[next]

The Apex 660 rebate officially ended June 30 although it was not being offered on the web site the last week in June. I picked one up on June 21. There was also an online rebate coupon that is not on the Circuit City site anymore.

[SingSing]

How long will a Apex660 lasted ? I intend to Un-Macrovision it, and
record the movie to a SVHS or ET-VHS video tape.
Should I get an extended warranty from circuit City ?

[Ton]

I own a 600A and a 703 and If i was to suggest one it would be the 600A still. It is a better player than either the 500W or the 660.
The newest 600A's are CD upgradeable to RCE proof firmware (older units are a chip replacement) and the 600A has component video outs which the other units lack.
I also like my 703, but it is not as good at MP3 as the 600A.
The 703 can still get the full loophole menu after a cd upgrade.

The 660 is not RCE proof and the 500W is only with 600A firmware which disables the LCD display and buttons.

[SingSing]

Hi, Ton,

Do you actually use the component video output ?
I saw Apex660 only has composite video, svideo, l+R stereo audio RCA connector at the back.
That is less than an usual DVD player.

What is RCE proof ?

I don't think they sell 600 and 703 anymore. My impression is that there are
no more DVD players with loophole menu.

[muralin]

SingSing asked a very valid question but other than Ton, no one answered his basic question. can some1 clearly explain which is better (or what the pros & cons are) between 660A and 500W?

[Iview]

Just to throw a monkey wrench into this thread, another option is Sampo DVE-620.
Like the Apex it can be hacked for region and Macrovision free from remote, firmware up or downgradable.
Plays CDR/W, CD, DVD, (S)VCD, X(S)VCD, MP3, miniDVD, NTSC or PAL disc. Can handle bitrate up to 4000+kps.
There are composite, S-Video and component out for video. Optical, coaxial and downmix to analog stereo out for audio. DTS and Dolby AC-3 digital out. Everything you need except Dolby AC-3 decoder.
Power requirement 100-240V~50/60Hz, will output to PAL or NTSC TV, which means you can just about take it with you anywhere in the world.
Like the Apex, not a great player, will play a lot of stuff, but it doesn't play a ham sandwich , price similar to Apex too.
Stopped production for new model, Last shipment left Taiwan for North America over a week ago. There is a big rush for it.
check out
http://www.area450.co.uk
http://www.geocities.com/reversengineer_2000/sampo/index_nn4.html
http://www.nerd-out.com/forum/list.php?f=11
and OTHER > DVD Players to your left on this forum for user comments.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Iview on 2001-07-02 18:10:29 ]</font>

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Iview on 2001-07-02 18:11:49 ]</font>

[SingSing]

I did not see Sampo DVE-620 on any major store's DVD player list.
Are these mostly sold through mail-order ?
I though they cost about $200. What is the typical price for DVE-620 ?
The advantage of these look like the hacking is done through remote
instead of changing memory chip.

[Iview]

SingSing,
I seen them as low as $139, but since it stopped production......
http://www.Dynadirect.com/dv-dve620.html
They carry the newer ones with no loophole firmware, need to download loophole firmware if you still want to hack.
or check the last message on this too
http://network54.com/Hide/Forum/thread?forumid=70438&messageid=993844421
Forgot to mention it supose to play DVD-R too, that's the only thing I haven't try yet.

[ This Message was edited by: Iview on 2001-07-05 02:20:42 ]</font>

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Iview on 2001-07-05 02:26:54 ]</font>

[SingSing]

Can I take the DVD drive out from the Apex and
used it in my computer ?
Does Win98SE or WIN2000 pro know where the driver is ?

[statuspending]

you can do it. it's just a standard IDE dvd-rom drive with a wacknappy faceplate.

it's not wise to, however, since you can get a 16x dvdrom drive for your computer for 30 bucks or so @ http://www.pricewatch.com