CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

[CxTurbo]

I am feeling nostalgic and am thinking on starting the hunt for a Pioneer Elite LD-S2,LD-S9,CLD-97,CLD-99 or CLD-D99 Or Runco LD-RJI or LD-RJII.

I have some LD movies and wish to continue to gather more over time.

Thoughts? Waste of time? Should I just keep collecting them and not bother being able to play them.

James

[Nashou66]

I have the DVL elite 93 and a DVL 909. Both are combi players. I'd try to find a low use one. Mine hardly get used now but I plan to set up a LD DVD only set up with a spare PJ in a Spare room. Why not right? Go for it!!

[CIR Engineering]

To me, it's a waste of time... but different things for different people. I don't understand why anyone would want to watch a low quality source that you have to flip in the middle of the movie.

But I guess a lot of people feel CRT is a waste of time too.

craigr

[AnalogRocks]

I have 4 LD players. All are broken

[AnalogRocks]

I have 4 LD players. All are broken

[stridsvognen]

I have 500+ LD movies.. And its not because i admire the PQ.. But the sound. It can really blow your socks off..

I have never seen the Elite players, i have a broken HLD X9 who crash landed on its way here.. But i'm sure all of the last Pioneer machines are good. And i never seen any defect LD players, who couldn't be fixed with a bit of laser cleaning and a new belt, or a belt cleaning.

Blu ray have 10x better PQ, but 100x more compression to the sound track.. Only problem with LD sound track is that you cant find the right volume..

Lumagen is my preferred LD scaler.. it looks amassing compared to DVDO or other scalers i seen. except for some comb effect that i cant get rid off.

I have these LD players whos working...

MSB Gold
2x Pioneer CLD 925
Pioneer CLD 2950
Denon LA 2300
Denon LA 2700

If possible try a PAL player and a PAL LD movie.. It really looks much better than NTSC LD...

Go for it..

[CxTurbo]

Thanks for the input guys.

I know it is an old format and picture quality is lower then BD. I might pick one up just to have to make some use of my collection should I get a reference quality player on the cheap and am feeling old school.

I have an old VCR for the same reason.

James

[Curt Palme]

I get them from time to time, and most are still running, but they always seem to be the low end ones. I think there are one or two models that put out 480p via component. That's what you'd want to get. I'd always expect something shipped via eBay like this to arrive damaged, so I'd try CL where you can try it before you buy.

I still have T2 and Judas Priest UNleashed in the East on the shelf as test discs.

[Curt Palme]

I get them from time to time, and most are still running, but they always seem to be the low end ones. I think there are one or two models that put out 480p via component. That's what you'd want to get. I'd always expect something shipped via eBay like this to arrive damaged, so I'd try CL where you can try it before you buy.

I still have T2 and Judas Priest UNleashed in the East on the shelf as test discs.

[CxTurbo]

The fact that some of the models I listed weigh in at around 70lbs it would be a local type sale for sure. Shipping would destroy the value of even getting one.

[stridsvognen]

If i was over there i would look up a CLD 97, it looks like the most solid player. If you just want something cheep to try it out the CLD 925 CLD 2950, or Denon LA2700 is a good start.. They are all with SMPS where the better players are with huge transformers.

The Clamper in a CLD 2950 looks exactly like the one in the HLD X9.

Panasonic machines have a better/ cleaner picture, and more quiet operation. But the sound output from the Panasonic sucks big time.

My MSB Gold is a moddet Panasonic, and Denons LA 3500 is a Panasonic.

I have always used the composite video output, and i never seen one with component outputs, except those DVD LD combo players.

And doubt that they have deinterlacing worth using.

How did you intend to use it..? with Projector or a tv set.? Putting LD up on the big screen calls for the best deinterlacing and scaling, or you will for sure not finish the film..

[CxTurbo]

I would be using it in my theater on my projector no doubt.

I have a Lumagen Mini as well as a Runco processor that was part of the IDP-900 package I picked up several years ago. Regardless I am not in a hurry so should I find one of those rarer reference devices I just might jump on it. If not, no big deal.

Looks as though the going rate on Videogon for some of the aforementioned Runco,Theta,McIntosh or to end Elites are running upwards of $1,000 dollars at the moment so it very well may never happen.

[stridsvognen]

If everything fails, the LD covers can be used as decoration in your HT.

Is there any high quality converter that do composite to HDMI, so it can be used with the Lumagen mini.?

Next time i get my setup up running i want to try both my DVDO VP50 and my Lumagen XS+.

Want the DVDO to handel the deinterlacing.. And the Lumagen handels the scaling.

Unless there is a software update for the lumagen that handels the comb effect i cant get under control.

[Nashou66]

[stridsvognen]

[Jeremy112]

I had 2 pioneer elite LD players for a while, I recently sold off my CLD-59 because it wasnt a top end model and becaue it got damaged in shipping (amazing it still worked at all considering there was NO packaging in the box)

I recently picked up a Pioneer Elite DVL-91, and though it is a hefty player, the video quality on it is a bit below my standards for low def material, but the audio quality everytime gets me. I use the Coaxial digital out with AC-3 decoding and for stereo sound, I think even a record could have a run for the money.

If you are dead serious about a laserdisc player, ebay is an excellent source. I know there are many who are weary of shipping these units. You have to look out for ones that require transit screws. A lot of the time most of the people selling these LD units dont think about that, and if their unit has a need for a transit screw, it WILL get damaged.

If you buy a unit that does not need a transit screw, as long as it is packaged well, it will be just fine. I have not had any issues with the few LD units I have sold, because they are packaged properly.

Stick with getting a CLD-97 CLD-99 LD-S2 or one of the HLD-Xx series units. These are your best ones. Stick with pioneer, they are the INVENTOR of laserdisc. McIntosh, Runco, etc... are all made by PIONEER, I have spent enough years learning and using these things to tell you that 90% of LDs out there are pioneer, regardless of their brand.

If you like the look of a runco or the McIntosh, you can go for them, they may even be a bit better, but I wouldn't count on it. Chances are that the look is about all thats been changed.

Another thing, if the unit you are buying uses belts, get them replaced. I also recommend checking over capacitors since I have had one or 2 that wouldnt cooperate until new capacitors were installed. If the unit you buy is acting up, its most likely a belt, capacitors, or fear the worst; it got damaged from carelessness.

All in all, LDs are a blast to use and quite the conversation piece. I never get over the looks I get when I pull out the 12" shiny Aladdin and throw it in the LDP

And to the rest of you non nostalgic peeps, whats so bad about a LD in the rack? Ill have that, Betamax, SVHS, MiniDV, Cassette, and HD DVD, all the failed/outdated formats that I love, and the reason I need to install an additional rack

[Nashou66]

Good info there Jeremy. I agree the sound from a LD is just awesome. I have the Outbreak LD and the BD and I must say the sound from the LD kicks the BD's ass!!! I would love to be able to start both and sync them and watch the BD and listen to the LD .



Nashou

[stridsvognen]

I found my DVDO PS, I tested both inputting composite in to Lumagen XS+ and DVDO VP50.. On my sh*tty 42" Sony Bravia i prefer composite in to Lumagen, and then output HDMI 1080I to DVDO, who handels the deinterlacing.

Its hard to find anything to complain about, not sure its any different than a upscaled DVD.

Im using my Pioneer CLD 2950.

[stridsvognen]

[ecrabb]

[theprof291166]

Laser disc is still perfectly watchable but only on a CRT projector. It totally sucks on a modern flat screen digital TV. The CRT projectors are made to scan an analogue composite signal from Laser disc so it works really well. Yes PAL discs are significantly better than NTSC (Never The Same Colour - ha ha). I have about 30 laser discs and quite enjoy playing these monsters. I bought Laser disc only because there was a Laurie Anderson Film called 'Home of the Brave' that was only produced on LD or VHS. As I didn't want crappy VHS it had to be Laserdisc. It transferred to DVD perfectly and also plays really well natively on my CRT Barco. Sound is great too. Laserdisc is dated but way cooler than boring DVDs. Of course I am not a idiot - I normally play Blu-ray in HD.

Have fun!!

[CxTurbo]