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Posted: 30 Jul 2020, 08:00 

Ended up fixing the problem getting a new projector that will zoom regardless of resolution (up to 1080p)... Epson 4000. So I'll go composite to my AVR, it will comb/deinterlace/scale to 1080p and then the projector can handle the zoom. The upgrade wasn't for this reason... I'm hoping to move to a 2.35:1 screen in the near future and the Epson has power lend zoom/focus with memory to facilitate that. I can't imagine a 2.35:1 LD looking all that great at 125" (~272 lines of resolution scaled to ~817 along with magnification of all the flaws inherent to the format and signal path).... but it will still be nice to be able to put a disc in and watch it without any hacky workarounds or investing in a stand-alone VP.

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Posted: 30 Jul 2020, 08:27 

Having spent a brief period of time writing for a couple of consumer electronics magazines, a lot of these types of articles are pay-to-play (Mfg pays a certain amount of money or runs a certain amount of ads to be included in the shootout) and keeping advertisers happy can definitely play into the calculus of how these types of articles (and even objective individual reviews) are written.

I can say I never let advertiser interests dictate any of my equipment reviews, but I did have a handful of reviews shelved either because they weren't flattering to mfgs that were advertisers, revealed too much about the manufacturing lineage, or even for positive reviews of brands that were not advertisers that might step on the toes brands that were. I remember an early Onkyo BD player review that was shelved both because I pointed out specific objective failings in its chroma and cadence handling and also because I mentioned it was a Funai-manufactured reference design... even though Onkyo wouldn't comment on if/how they had improved the reference design (because they hadn't, other than inflating the weight with a heavier frame/case).

In another instance, I had a review of an excellent budget set of internet-direct speakers shelved because ID was an emerging threat to the established mfgs/advertisers at the time and the publication didn't want to step on any toes. I ended up publishing the review personally on AVS and HTF to make it up to the company since they provided the review sample and went above-and-beyond to answer any-and-all questions I had when researching the article/review.

Needless to say, I didn't make it in the mainstream consumer electronics publishing world very long and returned to the aviation maintenance industry.

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Posted: 05 Aug 2020, 21:43 

I'm in the midst of a mild theater renovation/upgrade which includes:

- Projector Upgrade (Epson 4000)
- CIH Screen (Silver Ticket 125" 2.35:1 Woven Acoustic)
- Recliners (Latitude Run Red Leather 3-Seat)
- DVD/BD/LD Shelf with integrated projector hush box

The top shelf is going to be used for LD display (not bulk storage). As such, I wanted some sort of frame/easel/stand for 3 discs. I'd seen some wood easels at the Dollar Tree but when I went back they were gone, and I think they may have been too short to hold the weight of an LD without tipping. What I came up with instead is a combination of Lexan 8x10 picture frames and command-strip hooks. The display the LDs while remaining mostly invisible (I may paint them black to blend/disappear even more). The only downside is they lean a little more or less depending on the weight of the disc(s), but this shouldn't be a problem since my plan is to display the Star Wars Faces LDs (which should all be the same weight).

Total cost for 3 frames/easels - $5 (with 2 leftover hooks)

https://i.ibb.co/XFJjn8P/20200804-210528.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/S60XmJQ/20200804-210539.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/x6XQDwS/20200804-210608.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/MZrB9QK/20200804-210615.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/LQ8SLzX/20200804-210622.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/F53jSD5/20200804-210636.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/YtmSpjH/20200804-210912.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/ZVNZmf8/20200804-211309.jpg

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Posted: 18 Aug 2020, 02:54 

Got the LV520 in this afternoon... it survived the trip and was packaged EXTREMELY well. Hooked up and working just as described, and would even play a slightly warped disc just fine that my CLD-3070 would choke on. Image quality seems a tad sharper than the 3070, but I'll have to watch a few discs to get a better impression.

I just got home from picking up the Rotel RDA-980 locally, so should have it hooked up and checked out shortly.

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Posted: 04 Sep 2020, 07:28 

Gladiator DTS comes to mind...

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Posted: 12 Sep 2020, 06:30 

13 discs, 25 sides in CAV if my math is correct... that's 6.5lb just for the discs, and probably 10lb+ once you add a collector's worth box.

If you looked like Peter Jackson before he mate LOTR when you started watching, you'd look like he did after just from calories burned on disc changes, especially with a single-side player!

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Posted: 14 Oct 2020, 23:36 

I watched a little over 2/3 of The English Patient AC3 LD last night... while the soundtrack was impressive and the cinematography solid, the story just came across as indulgent and pretentious... kind of a mix of Laurance of Arabia and Million Dollar Baby :roll:

My Epson HC 4000 projector apparently agreed, because either the bulb or the projector itself abruptly and unexpectedly (only around 3 months and 500 hours on both) died with about 40 minutes left. I ended up watching the rest of the film on HBO Max in the living room. Epson is sending a replacement bulb and, if that doesn't take care of it, a replacement projector... downside to both is I had it ISF calibrated a month ago, and that will need to be redone as well.

First up when the projector is back in operation will either be True Lies AC3 or Mars Attacks! AC3.

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Posted: 24 Feb 2021, 04:07 

Which Pioneer amp/receiver do you have? Knowing this might help others familiar with it chime in about its video processing capabilities. It may just be a case of adjusting expectations.

I'm currently using my Marantz SR6011 AVR for comb, A/D, and deinterlacing and then sending the 480p 4:3 signal on to my Epson 4000 projector over HDMI for scaling to 1080p and aspect ratio zoom (for Letterbox discs). Without adding a stand-alone Video Processor (which I've considered), this is the only path I have since the projector does not have composite input and will not do aspect ratio zoom for resolutions above 480p. For the number of LDs I watch (1 or 2 a month, unless I happen to get click-happy on eBay), this path works reliably and acceptably... unless I just stumble on a great deal on a VP30/VP50/similar, it's just not worth the cost for my occasional usage.

Also, PLEASE DO NOT SELL YOUR TV just to get one with a composite video input. That's like telling a single guy to sell his Corvette because once a month he takes his nieces/nephews out for ice cream. An LG OLED is a purpose-built machine, and that purpose is excellent image quality for 4K/UHD/HDR and 1080p/SDR digital content (which I'll bet is still 90% or more of your viewing). If you're watching a couple of LDs a month, just stick with your AVR as VP and maybe consider a player upgrade at some point (you mention an interest in AC3 in another thread). If you're watching more LDs than other physical media (but still less than streaming content), maybe consider dropping $150-$300 on a stand-alone VP or put together a retro system (4:3 CRT, vintage AVR with built-in AC3 Demod, budget 5.1 speakers/sub, etc) in another room.

Regardless of where you land, manage your expectations, prioritize how you consume most of your media, and let those be the bounds of how you optimized your LD consumption.

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Posted: 03 Mar 2021, 23:28 

1080p -> 4K scaling isn't all that difficult since it's an even multiple. You can try both the TV and the AVR, but I doubt you'll see much if any difference unless one is just particularly bad.

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Posted: 05 Mar 2021, 04:20 

Keen to know how you get on. I have a 2015 Shield that sees daily use. Never play games on it, solely a streaming device.

Thought about an upgrade to the tube over the pro though the 2015/2019 differences are supposedly minimal?

I only upgraded for Netflix and Disney+ Atmos... if you don't need those, there's no major reason to upgrade at all. I will say the AI Upscaling for sub-4K content is pretty impressive, but I wouldn't have upgraded just for that.

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Posted: 30 Apr 2021, 21:30 

I went ahead and pulled the trigger on an Extron DSC-301 HD from eBay. A seller with 3 available (2 now) for $99 auto-accepted an offer for $80, so they probably would have taken less. This particular seller also includes the power adapter where most listings do not. Also grabbed a female RCA to male BNC adapter from Amazon for $4 that will likely be here before the Extron is.

I'll give it a try when I get it in and report back. My player (D504 clone) has dual composite outputs, so I can easily compare both my current path (Marantz AVR doing comb/AD/deinterlace to 480p 4:3 HDMI, projector doing further scaling and letterbox zoom) and the Extron quickly/easily and see if either has the edge.

The biggest question mark for me is if it will do letterbox zoom (since my projector will not for anything above 480p). For $80 shipped, I can be the guinea pig.

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Posted: 27 May 2021, 19:27 

My theater went through a bit of a refresh last summer, around the time I was re-integrating LD after having abandoned it back in '05ish after the Star Wars SE DVD was released. As it stands I currently have:

Video
Epson HC 4000 4k eShift Projector
Silver Ticket 128" 2.35:1 WVS Acoustic Transparent Screen

Pioneer CDL-D704 (Recent upgrade from Marantz LV520, not shown)
Philips BD7502 UHD Blu-Ray Player
Onkyo HD805 HD-DVD Player (Toshiba XA2 Clone)
Nvidia Shield 2019 (Tube) Streaming Player
XBox One
Nintendo Switch (not shows, it goes back-and-forth with the kids)

Audio
Marantz SR6011 AVR
Adcom GFA-7500 THX-Ultra 5ch Amplifier
Adcom GFA-2535 4ch Amplifier (Atmos, not shown)
Crown DSi-1000 DSP Amplifier (Subwoofer, not shown)
Crown CE1000 Amplifier (Buttkicker, not shown)
Denon AVD-2000 Demodulator/Decodor
Fluance RP80 Turntable w/ LP Gear CFN3600LE Cartridge (Cartridge not shown)
Pro-ject Phono Box E (not shown)

Speakers
3x Monolith THX-LCR Ultra In-Walls (Left/Center/Right, Behind Screen)
2x Atlantic Technologies IWTS-30SR (Bipole Surrounds)
4x Speakercraft Profile AIM7-TWO (Atmos)
DIY Dayton Ultimax UM15 Ported Subwoofer (~11cuft, ~18hz tune)
Buttkicker Advance BK4-3

Power & Control
Panamax M5100-EX
Harmony Elite w/ Hub
Google Home Mini
Dayton UMM-6 Calibration Microphone

Arcade & Snacks
DIY Star Wars "Starcade" (Work in Progress)
Cuisinart CPM-30 Popcorn Machine
Nestle Pixie Nespresso Machine
DIY Snack Stand w/ integrated 1.7 cuft Fridge

LD Video Path
Marantz LV520 -> (Composite, 480i) -> Marantz AVR -> (HDMI, 4:3 480p) -> Epson Projector

LD Audio Path
Marantz LV520 -> (Coax, AC3 RF) -> Denon AVD-2000 -> (Optical, DD 5.1) -> Marantz AVR
Marantz LV520 -> (Optical, PCM) -> Denon AVD-2000 -> (Optical, PCM Stereo) -> Marantz AVR

https://i.imgur.com/Zey8snI.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/z3JVuOS.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/onLh3nH.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/NG0kaRC.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/YFbtiFT.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/DG9KNqx.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/uuoC1tM.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/VwycLre.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/vL3il9a.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/rYC40xJ.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/ysldPdH.jpg

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Posted: 17 Aug 2021, 21:57 

I had an HK import of Star Wars Trilogy SE in the late-90s, prior to the DVD release, and that was enough to dissuade me from giving VCD much of a look since then. It was neat to see the films on a DVDish form factor and play them back on a laptop DVD drive... but the low resolution and compression artifacts were too much to stomach, even on a 12" 4:3 laptop screen. These days I'm way too much or an Aspect Ratio snob to even consider P&S, and the resolution is just too low for letterboxing to leave enough usable image.

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 Post subject: Re: AC3 Delay/Sync Query
Posted: 25 Sep 2021, 22:07 

When I was using a similar Rotel RDA-980 demod/decoder over 5.1 analog outputs, I didn't have any notable delay. I had both 5.1 Analog Audio and Composite video going to my Marantz SR6011, 480p 4:3 HDMI going out to my Epson 4000 projector, and scaling/zoom handled by the Epson.

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Posted: 26 Sep 2021, 16:40 

I can't help with someone doing repair in your area but, heads up, the CLD-D504 isn't an LD/DVD combo player. LD/DVD combo players will have a model number starting with "DVL", while LD/CD players will have a model starting with "CLD".

Have you tested with a CD instead of a DVD?

Otherwise, the LD tray not opening is likely as simple as a belt.

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Posted: 04 Nov 2021, 23:38 

The more south you are in the UK the more groups you’re obligated to make fun of.
Weird, it's the opposite in the US... coming from someone who lives in the south. :lol:

why do youtube videos suck, they are always shot the same with same angles and same facial expressions, and same stupid tone in voices.
I've seen one with guitars and a fool, its the same.
Well 90% of them are made in someone's living room or bedroom by amateur content creators, so there's only so much you can do... even more so during/since covid. Even the relatively well produced ones I watch (New Rockstars, Andrew Robinson, Techmoan, and Tech Connections come to mind) don't stray too far from a pretty proven formula. Well done, it's not the worst thing in the world depending on the content... poorly done (I'm thinking Scott the Woz, even though I still watch all his stuff) it can be pretty grating.

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Posted: 07 Nov 2021, 21:21 

Most of my Youtube viewing skews educational/historical or at least informational/instructional, even if what I'm learning about is a dumb topic (retro gaming definitely falls in that category). I should probably finish my arcade cabinet build instead of watching 10 more nearly identical videos about people building theirs from a Raspberry Pi and/or converting an Arcade1up.

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Posted: 17 Jan 2022, 17:58 

Received the Indiana Jones UHD 4-movie set (non-Steel Book) for Christmas.

Also got this cool little case and some 2.4ghz SNES controllers to go along with a spare 3B+ I had laying around for my daughter to build a RetroPi setup.

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/811FoA-2kHL._AC_SL1500_.jpg

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71YsTSRqF2L._AC_SL1500_.jpg

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Posted: 30 Jan 2022, 00:16 

I take a break from buying LDs pretty much every time I watch an LD... and then start buying them again every time I swing by McCay's in Chattanooga and find something just barely interesting enough to justify spending $2 on.

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Posted: 10 Feb 2022, 19:52 

Might be the exception here, but I picked up an M401 locally for $50 for a friend... it worked as-purchased but the tray need some help (prying) to open. A tray belt replacement (not the easiest I've done, but got through it) got the tray moving correctly and it's been solid for him for the last year ~2 years. He uses it once or twice a month, so critical PQ wasn't a huge concern so it does the trick.
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