Off Topic : New DVD player for me!

I bid and won a local-ish auction for a Pioneer DVD-V7400. It's a pro unit, so it's got some stuff I won't use, but that's fine. Hopefully it'll be built like a tank like my Pioneer laserdisc player. It will replace my Teac DV-H500 that I wish I never would have bought, and will be connected to my 9444A in the living room.

A couple of things on the downside....... no remote, so I'll have to see if a universal will work, and in order to use Component video, I'll have to buy a cable that has BNC connectors on one side, and RCA's on the other.

I have to wait until next week to pick it up.

Here's a picture form the web.

http://www.hostboard.com/forums/hbmc...2011/11/34.jpg

Anybody use BNC to RCA adapters? They're pretty cheap through Amazon, and I could use my existing cables. I'm just wondering if that would be any worse than a cheap cable with the correct connectors.

Awesome grab buddy, Check out mine!!! It'll be here Thursday. WOOT!!!!!
I paid 103 bucks for it, Originally Retailed for 850 back in 98. :/

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cradeldorf

Awesome grab buddy, Check out mine!!! It'll be here Thursday. WOOT!!!!!

---

Marantz! Do you know who actually made it? Maybe DVD isn't like laserdisc......... Pioneer was making some of the other brands. I'm not sure who developed the DVD, Though.

Just about the time I decided to buy adapters instead of cables, becasue of the price, I realized that I only have RCA cables for audio, not video, so I need to buy cables of some sort anyway.

Anybody here have problems with Paramount DVD's from the video store? I've had three movies not work on my Teac...... all Paramount. That was what finally pushed me to buy the Pioneer DVD-V7400.

I've been chastised by a few people for not getting a Blu-Ray player, but I haven't been able to spend the money for a player, or the TV. Plus my TV is a decent Sony tube TV, not some Walmart special. I have to admit, that my sister and BIL's flat screen is pretty nice. I guess I'm a bit old fashioned and slow to accept the latest and "greatest". I prefer two channel stereo for movies, for instance, a la my Altec 9444A. Unfortunately, I'm not currently running Altec speakers.

Use the component hookups they give the best quality. they're 3 different rca outputs. Google it and you'll see.
I'm actually going to a surround sound system. Also hooked into a set of Onkyo surround sound speakers all 5 of them for 94 bucks. won those today. ; ) Funny you ask about who made it because it was the label made in japan that got me to buy it, all the newer Marantz say made in China on them. Yeah Thought about blue ray and the ability to just plug a memory key in and listen to mp3's but I wanted quality too and I know I'll find that in a marantz.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cradeldorf

Use the component hookups they give the best quality. they're 3 different rca outputs.

---

Yes, that was what I was going for....... it's just that on the back of the Pioneer they're BNC connectors, rather than RCA. Just a minute ago, I decided to look on the back of my TV, and rediscovered that I only have one set of component video inputs on the TV. Those are taken by my cable box. I'll just use the S-video, like I have been doing with the Teac.

Quote:

---

...........Funny you ask about who made it because it was the label made in japan that got me to buy it, all the newer Marantz say made in China on them.

---

Yes, that's definitely good. I don't like the Japanese brands being built in China any more than I do US brands.

Quote:

---

Yeah Thought about blue ray and the ability to just plug a memory key in and listen to mp3's..........

---

I'm not sure what you're talking about here....... do they take USB drives like a computer? I don't even have music on my computer.

I use the adapters all the time for work for this very purpose, no problem. You can buy the BNC to RCA female adapters and put them on the back of the Pioneer. You can even find BNC to RCA male cables, if you know where to look.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Audio_by_Goodwill

I'm not sure what you're talking about here....... do they take USB drives like a computer? I don't even have music on my computer.

---

The newer ones have front USB ports...I assume you can use the flash drives with MP3's on them it them.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Panomaniac

I use the adapters all the time for work for this very purpose, no problem. You can buy the BNC to RCA female adapters and put them on the back of the Pioneer. You can even find BNC to RCA male cables, if you know where to look.

---

Yes, a cable was my first thought, and I have found them online, but the adapters are cheaper. Unfortunately, all the questions and searching were for naught since I now realize my one set of component inputs on the TV are occupied. I'm just going to use the S-video cable that I have been using with my Teac DVD player, that lacks a component output.

I should check to see if I ever bought RCA connectors. I know I bought wire to make my own RCA cables. This would be a good opportunity to make some audio cables to connect to my amp, since the 9444A has a barrier strip with 1/2 of two different RCA cables cut with wires bared and screwed down. Or I could try to add RCA's to the amp.

Another thought is that I could get some RCA to XLR cables, for the audio.

Laserdisc... That brings back some memories!

I still have my Dads Pioneer somewhere. :biggrin2:
A big monster that plays both sides. Quite a few laserdiscs and some he never opened!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Audio_by_Goodwill

Unfortunately, all the questions and searching were for naught since I now realize my one set of component inputs on the TV are occupied.

---

Bummer! You can get component switchers, but it may not be worth the trouble and expense.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Nipper

Laserdisc... That brings back some memories!

I still have my Dads Pioneer somewhere. :biggrin2:
A big monster that plays both sides. Quite a few laserdiscs and some he never opened!

---

I used to have one that flipped. It was an interesting mechanism for sure. Something happened to it, when I moved. I hadn't used it since moving and decided to use it to play a CD (it would do those too) and it wouldn't turn on. I ended up selling it to a guy on ebay that repaired them and resold them. It was capable of karaoke, but was essentially a home model. The one I have now is a commercial model meant to play over and over again. I've got to flip the disc over, but that's fine. It's built like a tank. The drawer is actually strong enough to push stuff out of the way, when opening :-)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Panomaniac

Bummer! You can get component switchers, but it may not be worth the trouble and expense.

---

Yeah, it's not worth it to me. I don't watch that many DVD's, and I'd rather keep things simple. If I were going to add something to the system it would be a pre-amp.

I understand there is still a market for Laserdisc players.... Pirates love them for some reason.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Nipper

I understand there is still a market for Laserdisc players.... Pirates love them for some reason.

---

Well the first Star Wars movies on DVD were copies of the Laserdiscs........ or so I've heard.

It's because pirates wear an eye patch and have a parrot squawking in one ear. They are not likely to adopt 3D Blu-ray and 7.1 surround anytime soon.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Panomaniac

It's because pirates wear an eye patch and have a parrot squawking in one ear. They are not likely to adopt 3D Blu-ray and 7.1 surround anytime soon.

---

Groan:rolleyes:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Panomaniac

It's because pirates wear an eye patch and have a parrot squawking in one ear. They are not likely to adopt 3D Blu-ray and 7.1 surround anytime soon.

---

Hmmmm. Good point. I was thinking it might be the lack of a copy guard. :biggrin2:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Nipper

Hmmmm. Good point. I was thinking it might be the lack of a copy guard. :biggrin2:

---

That and the quality can be better than VHS. Laserdisc video quality varies by movie/pressing. Just so everyone is on the same page, laserdisc is optical like a CD and DVD, but is analog..... well some of them do have digital audio, I think. There was also something cad CED by Magnavox that actually used a stylus (needle) like a record, but I've never messed with those.

I picked up my DVD player and I'm kind of disappointed. I've tried one DVD and that seems to work okay, but it's finicky with CD's. It's like its having a hard time figuring out what the disc is, or something. Sometimes they won't play and it spits it out, sometimes they play garbled, and sometime they play fine. Anyone have any ideas?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Audio_by_Goodwill

I picked up my DVD player and I'm kind of disappointed. I've tried one DVD and that seems to work okay, but it's finicky with CD's. It's like its having a hard time figuring out what the disc is, or something. Sometimes they won't play and it spits it out, sometimes they play garbled, and sometime they play fine. Anyone have any ideas?

---

Some of the older units will not play "burned" discs. First thing I would do is clean the laser, an actual cleaning, not a cleaner disc.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Nipper

Some of the older units will not play "burned" discs. First thing I would do is clean the laser, an actual cleaning, not a cleaner disc.

---

I think this is supposed to play burned discs, but these were commercially done, any way. I also found that this DVD player is newer than my Teac. The Teac is from 2000, I think. The Pioneer was made in 2004.

I haven't opened the it up yet. I may still have some 99% alcohol...... hopefully.

I've found that when burning my own discs if i write them at the lowest possible speed, they'll play in just about anything a factory written disc will play in. Higher write speeds seem to reduce the number of transports that will play them successfully.

If you record your own DVD's you also want to use the DVD -R type media. They have the highest playback compatibility.

If you didnt know.... I notice your player has the capability of playing NTSC and PAL formats. If this is not an automatic selection you probably need it set to NTSC.

NTSC is the video system or standard used in North America and most of South America. In NTSC, 30 frames are transmitted each second. Each frame is made up of 525 individual scan lines.

PAL is the predominant video system or standard mostly used overseas. In PAL, 25 frames are transmitted each second. Each frame is made up of 625 individual scan lines.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Nipper

NTSC is the video system or standard used in North America and most of South America. In NTSC, 30 frames are transmitted each second. Each frame is made up of 525 individual scan lines.

PAL is the predominant video system or standard mostly used overseas. In PAL, 25 frames are transmitted each second. Each frame is made up of 625 individual scan lines.

---

There is a switch in the back and it's set to auto. It's CD's, not DVD's, that seem to be the problem....... although, I've only tried on DVD. It played fine.

I think I'm going to need a remote to access some stuff, Though. I was hoping I could use the mouse, but that seems to only for drawing lines, boxes, and ovals. I can select scenes with it too, but no setup type stuff.

This reminds me........ I need to go to the library and print the manual out. My home printer needs work, as it prints crappy.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Audio_by_Goodwill

It's CD's, not DVD's, that seem to be the problem....... although, I've only tried on DVD.

---

Thats strange, its usually the opposite. I'm still thinking that cleaning the laser will do the trick. Especially if it was around a smoker.

Well scratch printing the manual out at the library....... 10 cents a page is almost $9.00. I guess I'll print it at home, and just deal with the vertical lines.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Audio_by_Goodwill

Well scratch printing the manual out at the library....... 10 cents a page is almost $9.00. I guess I'll print it at home, and just deal with the vertical lines.

---

Save it as a PDF and forget the printer, ink and paper!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Audio_by_Goodwill

Another thought is that I could get some RCA to XLR cables, for the audio.

---

Could do to 1/4" TRS...

I use the HOSA ones for a tape machine: Hosa STXF XLR Female to Male TRS 1/4 in. Interconnect Cable

I think ZZounds or American Musical had them bundled for cheap, but in odd numbers (like a 3 pack).
IIRC, there was a 10 pack for good money, just didn't need that many.

If going that route, note the pinout-TRS scheme. (The ones I got, had pin2 hot, needed for the deck in question, of course this can be modded.)

...then adapt from the TRS to RCA if you like.

Though of course perhaps you want fewer connections afforded by a discreet cable.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Nipper

Save it as a PDF and forget the printer, ink and paper!

---

I can't stand reading stuff like that on a computer screen.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gearfreak

Could do to 1/4" TRS...

---

The 9444A doesn't have 1/4" jacks........ I checked, as I thought I remembered seeing them, but that must have been the electronic crossover that I bought and never used, and have since re-sold (at a small profit!)

Hooray for small profits. They offset the large (sold at a loss) -es. :-)

Yup, agreed afaik. I meant then adapt the 1/4" TRS to your RCA needs. Sorry for confusing.

So... the DVD has RCA out for the audio and not XLR?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gearfreak

Yup, agreed afaik. I meant then adapt the 1/4" TRS to your RCA needs. Sorry for confusing.

---

Oh...... sorry, I didn't read your post thoroughly.

Quote:

---

So... the DVD has RCA out for the audio and not XLR?

---

Correct. RCA's for audio, but BNC for video.

I pulled the cover off today. Cleaning that laser is going to be a pain. It's built sort of like a computer dvd drive, but larger, and with boards screwed down on top of it, with wires/ribbons going to the front panel and power supply. So that means a bunch of stuff has to be removed, just to get to another steal box that needs to be opened.