Best DVD players for layer switching?

[Evolution]

Lately my famliy has become driven by DVDs, and as such we currently have a Sony 530, 2 Sony 560s, and an Apex AD600 (the one with the hidden menu). I find it odd though, that the Apex changes layers MUCH more smoothly than either Sony model. You think a major corporation like Sony would be able to stick a buffer in their DVD players or something to avoid the annoying pause between layers. Anyways, I was just wondering if anyone knew of other players (besides the Apex) that DON'T PAUSE when they switch layers. Originally I thought it was just a Sony thing, but I've heard Pioneer models are even worse?!?! If anyone has any suggestions, please post them here.

'E

[Furious]

I've never noticed any pauses on my Pioneer 525 when switching layers.

[bothanspy]

Back in the heyday of Divx, I believe the player with the least amount of trigger time for the layer switch was a Proscan Divx player. I don't recall discussing this much here after the demise of Divx.

BothanSpy

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Many Bothan spies died to bring you this information.
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[Jeff L]

The fastest DVD player I have seen for layer changes is the Proscan but it's a mediocre DVD player. I used to own the Sony DVP-S7000 and it was pretty fast too. My current Pioneer isn't much different than the Sony 7000 but it's a tad slower on some DVD's but not much.

The best results you will get is with DVD rom drives since they have buffering. BTW, the Apex is a DVD rom drive.


Jeff

[wrath]

I don't know if I agree with your assessment that the Proscan is a mediocre DVD player. The Proscan not only handles 99% off all layer switches flawlessly it has the best anamorphic downconversion I have ever seen. I have had mine for quite some time and it has worked without a hitch handling everything I throw it's way. In case you would like more in depth analysis of just how competent a player the Proscan is you can find another gentlemens view of it here http://www.smr-home-theatre.org/Reviews/Proscan/index.html

[This message has been edited by wrath (edited June 22, 2000).]

[scurry3]

My Pioneer DV525 has a pretty noticeable skip during layer changes, I have a friend who say's his Pioneer DV514 is about the same.



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"lighten up Francis"
"Wake up son, I'll be takin these huggies and whatever cash you got"

[Cat]

My old Pioneer DV-414 was horrible about layer changes. Very noticeable. My new Toshiba SD-1200 is pretty good because I haven't noticed a single layer change.

Cat

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"This here's the bottomless pit baby...2 1/2 miles straight down."

[mooky7]

I notice layer changes on my SD-1200. Sometimes more noticeable then others, depending on where in the action (or non-action) it comes. Its not _that_ bad though, its tolerable. But generally, ya, you would think they'd be building in buffers into players. Guess it's a matter of time for the technology to keep on maturing.

As for the Apex, I remember seeing what you said about it being a DVD-rom when I was looking at a review page that had disected one for an internal analysis. Its a standard DVD-rom (i forget teh brand name, but it was an actual brand name, pioneer?)with an IDE cable attaching it to the hardware board. Do DVD-rom's themselves have caches, or is it the software/hardware decode boards on PC's cache the stream? Maybe its just the rom in itself is good, maybe they do have a buffer. http://talk.dvdtalk.com/ubb/confused.gif

Mike

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DVD's ARE Addictive (http://www.dvdtracker.com/~mooky7)

[bomb99]

got a pioneer dv-525 don't notice it really

[JBDomain]

I have a pioneer dv-606 - the transition between layers are minute. Most disc I've played fine except when the layer change occurs during an action scene or cut-off during middle dialogue(mid-sentence) are noticeable.

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[RoboDad]

The fastest layer change I've seen on any DVD player is on the new Panasonic RV30, which is a decent (though not stellar) player that can be found for as low as $200-225. It changes layers in less than a quarter of a second, and sometimes the change is virtually immediate. I owned one for a while, but eventually exchanged it for a Sony 360. The Sony has a somewhat slower layer change than the Panasonic, but it is still pretty good. The other features of the player more than make up for the (approximate) one second pause at layer changes.

Robo

[Jeff L]

Wrath, you can read my review of it here, scroll down until you see "JEFF":
http://www.audioreview.com/reviews/DVD/product_15891.shtml


It's the Canadian version but the same as the US minus the DIVX. (I've seen the DIVX one too)

I've evaluated 8 DVD players and this one was my least favorit but that's just my opinion.


Jeff

[bakiller]

I have the pioneer 525 and i would say on about 3/4 of the disks it is not noticable but on about 1/4 you can tell.

[Patman]

I have the Proscan dVD player, and the only real complaint I can make about it is that its menu access is slow, otherwise, it's been a good performer for me the past 15 months I've had it so far.


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PatCave (http://www.io.com/~patman/) ;HT Pix (http://www.io.com/~patman/ht.html) ;Pat's DVDs (http://www.dvdtracker.com/~patman.asp)

[Knives]

I don't know about you but my Sony 530d layer chages flawlessly.

I bought mine in November 23, 1999, and got the new shipment of these dvd players.

[Stoney]

Sometimes my Toshiba SD2109 can be a little crazy w/layer changes. I've watched dvds w/blazingly fast changed, but with fight club, I noticed that the layer changes lasted like three seconds, it scared the crap out of me when it happened.

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-wicket87@skynet.net

[Electric2k]

I've probably seen at least 10 different brands/models of DVD players, and the Apex far surpasses everything else with layer changes. Unfortunately, the player is about as stable as Mike Tyson when he goes off his meds before a fight...

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Electric2k

Visit Region Free (http://www.geocities.com/freeregiondvd) for DVD reviews and retail information for Import DVDs!

[wrath]

Jeff,
Man sounds like you got a bad one. That's too bad as the Proscan is a really solid performer. As you can look at all the reviews and see that about 50 out of 57 reviewers of the 8680 gave the unit 4 + stars noting how brilliantly anamorphic downconversions are handled and how seemless layer changes are. The seven bad reviews including yours leads me to think there could be a Quality Control issue, seems like either you get a good one or you get a really bad one. You mentioned that most people who purchase this player aren't going to be into "high end" gear. Again, I must disagree, people who purchase "high end" gear usually do so for the quality and for the details. Well, if you can find me a DVD player that handles layer changes like the Proscan and sports anamorphic downconversion that is in this league for less than a grand please let me know. I may not have the highest end gear in the world but what I do have, I purchased only after testing multiple applications. I compared many DVD players when I was searching, from Toshiba to Pioneer to Sony to Panasonic etc. and the Proscan not only beat them all but it clearly beat them. Granted, I did this about a year ago so the aforementioned companies may have other models today that are more comparable to the Proscan but at the time I was shopping the Proscan was head and shoulders above the units I tested. Now I guess if you have some deep hatred for the four letter D**X word being on the front of the unit then yes by all means pass this player up. Or maybe you have a HD 16X9 TV and anamorphic downconversion isn't that much of an issue with you. But for me, someone that uses a 4X3 set, anamorphic downconversion is a really big deal as it should be for anyone that has a 4X3 standard set.

As far as the popping you were experiencing, most likely that has to do with the receiver that you are using. What kind of receiver do you have? I know that some Sony receivers have that kind of problem. As far as my gear, I am running all separate power amps for all my channels and my DD pro is a Denon. I hear no such popping. My guess is that it is your receiver, it really shouldn't have anything to do with how much power someone is using. The more power the merrier.

wrath


[This message has been edited by wrath (edited June 26, 2000).]

[Patman]

The first Proscan DVD player I got was a dud after playing a couple of DVDs (it pixellated, and jumped around erratically - denoting a bad transport mechanism or it got dropped in shipment to the store), but since the reviews were so strong for this DVD player, I decided to return the dud, and get another one, and this one has served me quite well. I haven't seen a layer change for 95% of the DVD I throw at it, and the other 5% have a layer change delay on the order of half a second.


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[electronix_kid]

stoney, thanks for the warning, i just rented FightClub, (also ahve 2109)...