My Malata isn't firmware upgradeable and the DTS dropouts were constant like a strobe light... it wasn't even watchable with DTS. Also, the first disc froze up on my Malata about 30 minutes in. The Malata gave me some funky message that indicated that the disc was fatal or something, but the disc is fine - I watched it on my PC. Since I can't watch it with DTS, I'm gonna sell my set I think. Damn this Malata. Guess I gotta wait for the US release now.

Trigger,

I gave up on my Malata 996 since I had so many problems with it. I had exchanged it once and both still had failed on me. The disc problem that you mentioned is due to overheat. I then purchased a JVC VX-S502 from HKFlix (with DVDTalk member discount!), and all problem solved.

Thank you, guys. I'll order the R4 BTTF.


MFmahler

Is this dvd problematic with all malata996? Right after finding out DTS is only R4 exclusive, I went and bought it at cdwow, then Tigger posts the DTS dropout and I'm like "What the crap?" Too late to cancel because cdwow is quick on the dispatch and they've already sent it out. What to do what to do, I guess eBay is the last resort.

No it is not... Mine played perfectly and sounded great. I have not encountered this drop-out problem that others seem to have.

Well, I have encountered the DTS dropout problem. Up until BTTF, it was only on a few discs and it was very mild - like once or twice per movie. BTTF was dropping out every few seconds - or every second. It was maddening. I really wish I could get this Malata problem to go away.

I have the Malata 520 and I don't have any DTS dropouts on BTTF (or any other discs that I have for that matter).

Yeah - the 520 Malata doesn't have that problem... the older n996 ones do.

Trigger,

Time to go out and get the JVC XV 500. I don't think I would buy a Malata again after all this. Granted the Malata has performed pretty good, but I still get a few dropouts now and then with all 3 BTTF movies in DTS (and that is with the upgrade).

Also remember folks, the huge dropout problem Trigger has is with the pre-upgrade n996. After November 9 upgraded n996s don't have dropouts (or very few, like in my case).

The JVC is ideal except that it doesn't have the X-Y scaling which is something I really like. I'd hate to lose that feature. Any suggestions?

I have the Malata N996 with the November upgrade and haven't had any problems with dts dropouts whatsoever. So far I've watched BTTF 1&2 and both played flawlessly! Superb transfer and great dts remixes!