Kamikaze

Yamakawa Multi Region DVD Player $29 after Rebate at eCost

From the ad:
http://www.ecost.com/ecost/shop/deta...229&Action=RAP

Mods, I wasn't sure if this should be in the Hardware Forum, since it is a bargain.

siegfried

I have an earlier model of this DVD player and I am very happy with it.
Plays NTSC and PAL.

eau

Does it do correct PAL -> NTSC conversion?

runner001

someone mentioned in one of the DVD threads for eCost that they don't ever mail your rebate. I still have not received my rebate for the buy 2 get 1 free deal they had (about a month or so ago?)

imp66

I've been waiting on an eCost rebate since November. If you're buying it because of the rebate, DON'T.

Kamikaze

I've bought a lot of stuff from them and as long as I've fulfilled the requirements, I’ve gotten the rebates. One thing to watch out for is that the submission deadline for the rebates is like 10 days after the ship date. That usually means you have to send it in within a couple of days from when you receive it (unless you ship Next Day).

Kamikaze

Reading the description in the ad and on Yamakawa's Web site, neither imply that it does conversion at all. It only says it supports both standards. I'm guessing that for PAL DVDs, it will output PAL. I don't know this for a fact, it's just my guess. Does anyone know otherwise?

runner001

well, looking at the rebate form, it appears that the rebate is directly from the manufacturer and not through eCost.

runner001

FYI, I just got off the telephone with the Yamakawa manufacterer and the CSR was very helpful.

As for converting from PAL to NTSC, he says that if you connect the DVD player to a european TV set, it will play any DVD and display the image. If you connect the DVD player to a North American TV set, it will play any DVD and display the image. You just select which format to display.

An important note for Home Theater owners, this player only outputs in stereo (2 channels) and not 5.1. was about to go ahead and purchase this but that ruined it for me.

eau

Does it simply mean the unit doesn't have a 5.1 decoder onboard? It should have a digital or optical output to stream the audio to a receiver, shouldn't it?

TheNightFlier

I'm on the fence about picking one of these up. I've been wanting a region free player. It's either this or the Philips 642.

Laser Movies

The specifications from the Yamakawa website mention that the DVD player has both optical and coaxial digital outputs. It should output 5.1 if you have a receiver or preamp with a built in surround decoder.

BuddhaWake

you sure about this because when i talked to the yamakawa rep the person said that it would not work and the best that would be would be dolby pro logic or something to that effect.

Laser Movies

Maybe you talked to someone that doesn't know anything, or the information on the web site is wrong?. Their own web site states that it has digital outs, which means it should do Dolby Digital if you have a capable receiver. If it was pro logic it would only have analog outputs. The specs even mention something about DTS output. However it would be nice if there was a rear view of the DVD player to confirm what it actually has on it.

runner001

i would like to know too. if in fact i can connect the DVD player to my receiver and still get 5.1 surround sound, then i'm gonna get this item.

runner001

laser, there is a rear view of the dvd player under "pictures" tab on the page for the DVD-275

edit: so if they have the digital out, then that means it can put out surround sound?

bralph

Confusing... From the manufacturer website:

Audio proccessing: 2 channel downmix audio output for all Dolby
programs
DTS digital output

Digital audio output: Coaxial [S/PDIF(IEC958)]
Optical

Laser Movies

Thanks, I didn't notice the tab the first time. I would find it hard to believe that it wouldn't do 5.1 with digital outs. I never heard of a DVD player before that wouldn't with digital outputs. However, I know some of the early DVD players couldn't output DTS surround DVDs since they were released before the specs were finalized for the discs. It does look like the other models say they will do DD 5.1 but they also appear to have a built in decoder with a 6 channel output. I guess the easiest way to find out is if someone owns an actual player.

Laser Movies

Does your model output 5.1 surround?

runner001

so bralph in your opinion, does that mean it will or will not put out 5.1 surround sound?

Phil I

The DVD-275 does output DD & DTS-5.1/6.1 (using COAX)!!! I have the unit!!! After Video Calibrating everything using DVE (Toshiba 50H81), ... "The Incredibles" looked glorious!!! I'm extremely happy with my $29 Progressive Scan DVD Unit!!!

This is my second Yamakawa Multi-Region DVD player model, bought the DVD-238 (includes built-in DD-5.1 Decoder outputs) last OCT. 2004 ($34 after rebate) & received my Rebate from eCost (+ 2% back from an affliate rebate Internet website)

FYI: So far, I have received ALL, ... submitted eCost rebates, ... about 5 Rebates total!

Phil

Laser Movies

Well that settles that dispute.

runner001

Thanks all that contributed to this thread in finding out if it outputs surround sound. I just ordered mine.

FYI: shipping is free but they charged me a handling charge. I called them up just now and told the rep that other sites (pcmall.com, onsale.com, etc) are offering the same product, same rebate, but free shipping (not exactly) and that I have ordered from eCost before and am familiar with their service and would like to order from them but for $44 flat (no handling charge). He looked up my account and said okay!

Buford T Pusser

Thanks for the info. My friend has been holding out on buying a DVD player until he found a cheap all-region deal.

zyzzle

Can anyone *definitely* confirm that this unit properly converts anamorphic PAL DVDS to NTSC correctly without any stretching. If it does, it is one hell of a bargain for only $29.00. My guess is it has the "stretching" bug as every other player below $200 seems to have.