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Looking for a PAL player
https://forum.lddb.com/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=1516		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  elviscaprice [ 10 Aug 2012, 07:04 ]
Post subject:  Looking for a PAL player
Decided to bite the bullet and get that PAL player for some high quality transfers. Any suggestions? I take it the PAL players are also NTSC compatible. Digital sound output also a must. AC3 not important since movies aren't my priority.

Thanks
Elvis
Author:  hippiedalek [ 10 Aug 2012, 07:38 ]
Post subject:  Re: Looking for a PAL player
elviscaprice wrote:
I take it the PAL players are also NTSC combatible.

Some are, but certainly not all. PAL/NTSC players are probably more common than NTSC/PAL ones though.
Author:  laserdisc_fan [ 10 Aug 2012, 09:11 ]
Post subject:  Re: Looking for a PAL player
This is not like you Elvis to invest in laserdisc technology - have you banged your head?.....does this mean you are sticking with the format a while longer or is this purely to get some laserdiscs dubbed?

In terms of players be careful because many of the players have essentially the same names in different regions but only the ones from Europe are likely to have PAL/NTSC playback and even then you need to check. A good example is the Pioneer DVL-909 or DVL919. Look for the DVL-909E or DVL919E - the E standing for European model. Also be warned just because it is bought from Europe doesn't mean it is dual play as I have one of those from Japan which looks identical to the European models in terms of champagne gold finish etc but only plays NTSC and I bought it in the UK! Ask the seller for a picture of the back of the unit to check the sockets. Every PAL/NTSC compatible player I've ever seen had SCART sockets and usually on the laser box that juts out at the back it will say PAL/NTSC compatible or just NTSC compatible if that is all it offers.

For my money the best dual play machine for actual playback quality is the Pioneer CLD-2950 but this will be tougher to find and also quite expensive.
A good compromise is the later model - the CLD-D925 which is easy to obtain and half the price.
Alternatively go for a DVL-909E or DVL-919E - they tend to be highly sought after as they are the last two machines made in Europe and have nice exterior build quality but are
slightly inferior in terms of actual playback quality. I do have 5 or so of those machines and like them still. They look pretty respectable even sitting beside an HLD-X9.

If you are on a really tight budget you could buy a PAL only player which always sells for far less than a dual machine. In the UK you might get a decent PAL only Pioneer machine for £15 + shipping.
Author:  hippiedalek [ 10 Aug 2012, 09:57 ]
Post subject:  Re: Looking for a PAL player
I've got a DVL-919E (seems to be becoming my catchphrase) and I can vouch that it's good enough quality (I've even used it to do a few laserdisc rips) though I agree with laserdisc_fan, if you can get a CLD-D925 then it's probably the best PAL player you can get. I was aiming to get one of them but I found a DVL for cheaper.

I've also used a CLD-V2120D to rip laserdiscs, it's a fairly middle of the road PAL/NTSC player, I think it's a bit like the CLD-D515, no digital out though. Here's an example of a rip I made using it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kakNj_SMso
Author:  elahrairrah [ 10 Aug 2012, 14:34 ]
Post subject:  Re: Looking for a PAL player
Looks like your video is blocked here in the US! Maybe Elvis will have better luck in Costa Rica :D
Author:  hippiedalek [ 10 Aug 2012, 14:45 ]
Post subject:  Re: Looking for a PAL player
elahrairrah wrote:
Looks like your video is blocked here in the US! Maybe Elvis will have better luck in Costa Rica :D

Interesting. Apparently it's blocked in Canada, Mexico, United States by "Eagle Rock." If they own the rights to it I'd love to see them finally put this concert out again as LD is the best quality it's ever been available in.
Author:  elviscaprice [ 10 Aug 2012, 16:15 ]
Post subject:  Re: Looking for a PAL player
Thanks for the advice and info Laserdisc_fan and hippiedalek, yeah, just a few rips but probably won't be worth getting rid of the player once I have it here in the States.
Elvis
Author:  laserdisc_fan [ 10 Aug 2012, 16:47 ]
Post subject:  Re: Looking for a PAL player
I'm adding more and more titles to my wishlist that were only released on PAL.
My main concern about PAL discs is the quality of manufacturing.

It is like playing russian roulette buying early PAL LDs as they are so hit and miss in terms of quality.
Some of the discs were so bad they totally oxidised and turned completely brown, others literally fell apart!
Anyone who has been used to only buying NTSC discs needs to prepare themselves for the worst if you are going to start
collecting early PAL LDs as it can be real shock to the system.

Best case the early ones will still play but usually have black flecks or some coloured speckes.
Worst case they don't play at all and look like they have been cooked in an oven or the sides have come apart because they used water based glue!
Author:  elviscaprice [ 11 Aug 2012, 03:06 ]
Post subject:  Re: Looking for a PAL player
[quote="laserdisc_fan"]If you are on a really tight budget you could buy a PAL only player which always sells for far less than a dual machine. In the UK you might get a decent PAL only Pioneer machine for £15 + shipping.[/quote]


What would you recommend for a PAL/NTSC player with these specifics in mind. High quality capture both picture and digital/audio sound. Music promo and concert laserdiscs only. Using a Panasonic DMR ES-10 for pass thru, so DNR or comb filter will not be of need or at least capable of being disabled. One sided play is sufficient.

If only PAL, what would you recommend with my needs?

Thanks Elvis
Author:  rein-o [ 11 Aug 2012, 04:34 ]
Post subject:  Re: Looking for a PAL player
laserdisc_fan wrote:
the sides have come apart because they used water based glue!

:wtf: i guess that's worse than the sticky edges.

that is just crazy.
Author:  laserdisc_fan [ 11 Aug 2012, 11:19 ]
Post subject:  Re: Looking for a PAL player
elviscaprice wrote:
What would you recommend for a PAL/NTSC player with these specifics in mind. High quality capture both picture and digital/audio sound. Music promo and concert laserdiscs only. Using a Panasonic DMR ES-10 for pass thru, so DNR or comb filter will not be of need or at least capable of being disabled. One sided play is sufficient.

If only PAL, what would you recommend with my needs?

Thanks Elvis


Stick with Pioneer and don't buy any other brand especially Sony.
Be wary of buying some Pioneer models like the CLD-1850, CLD-S315 which claim to offer PAL/NTSC capabilities but drop the playback of analogue sound PAL discs which would be fatal for you since many of those promo music and concert LDs have only analogue audio. Same applies for buying a PAL only LD players - some of those (for example CLD-700, CLD-800) don't support playing analogue PAL discs so always check first and buy second.

For PAL/NTSC I'd recommend a CLD-D925 every time. It supports everything you could possibly need and is the best price/value ratio.
There are also lots of them available so it is easy to obtain - you'll get one for under £100. I couldn't recommend it enough.

For PAL only playback check and double check the machine actually supports playing analogue PAL discs - that is the most important criteria for your needs.
I don't have any PAL only LD players currently but if I was going to get one then I'd check the specs on http://www.laserdiscarchive.co.uk for exact details on what specific players offer to ensure I don't end up buying the wrong one. You can then draw up a shortlist of ones you might consider.
Author:  rixrex [ 15 Aug 2012, 06:50 ]
Post subject:  Re: Looking for a PAL player
In the US you may get lucky and find a NTSC/PAL player for sale somebody already brought in.

After getting outbid all the time on such players on ebay, I stumbled over a CLD-D515 in a thrift store for $10 and got it for $8 because the drawer wouldn't open. One belt replacement later, and the player worked fine. Had only one PAL disc to try out, but forgot that the video output would be PAL!

So I routed it through a DVDO HD, and converted it to HD format 1080 and that was fine. Fortunately the CLD-515 has the kind of transformer that can accept either 220 or 110 and step both down to correct DC voltages that the player uses.

Now I have about 100 PAL discs that were never released in the US on NTSC.
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