I currently have in my entertainment rack a Pioneer CLD-59 Elite player - but I'm looking for something better, something with better noise reduction, and perhaps a better comb filter - I'm pretty much disillusioned on the quality I initially thought this player had when I acquired it almost two years ago. I was perhaps thinking a CLD-79, but this might be a tad bit out of my price range. Does any of the veritable number of player experts have any suggestions? My only real criteria for a new player is that it has to have an AC-3 RF output, as I have already invested in an AC-3 demodulator.

Well none of the players have good comb filters, not even the HLDs (though that I don't know personally), so scratch that and look for an external solution.
I can't really speak to the noise reduction aspect, as I always turn any noise reduction off in any device I use. I find it almost always takes away detail.
If you want the CLD-79, I'd recommend the CLD-D704, it's the same player, except without the ELITE look. I think krbahr was selling one for $250.

If you buy a player from Kurtis Bahr or Duncan Hunter at bayview electronics they can add AC-3 to any non-ac-3 player fairly cheaply, so don't let that narrow your player choices.

What kind of display do you use? CRTs are going to be the most unforgiving for noise in the picture.

To go cheaper than the CLD-79 you would need to go with the CLD-D704. My real question is what bother you about the CLD-59? Something like the 79/99/704 will have a higher looking noise level and uses DNR to lower the level. If you have a digital TV, combining DNR in the player along with the TV digitizing the picture it normally doesn't look that good. The best results are with using a high quality scaler or buy a HLD-X0 with a DNR that leaves an analog looking picture but the X0 is $3000 to $5000. Little more to consider to determine exactly what you are trying to accomplish.

You say that as if it's trivial to do. FINDING an X0 for sale from anyone not named Nicolas is very difficult to accomplish.

TLK

The X0 & X9 show up on Yahoo Japan Auctions pretty often. In fact there's almost always one or two up for sale, whereas you may have to wait weeks for a cheaper HLD-1000 or HIL-C2EX.

There is a HLDX9 on yahoo auctions. starting price is pretty cheap!
http://page2.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/b129467730

Yabbut, the importers I have contacted won't touch the X0, because its weight.

TLK

The X0 is 44Kg or 94lbs boxed at least, it is definitely heavy. After seeing both I would scratch my head why someone would spend big bucks and not choose the X0 unless you had to have dual sided playback. The X9 is a good player but the noise levels are too high for me, the X0 is the first that has lived up to it's reputation for me. But I'll keep my CLD-97 or HLD-1000 if I ever get it working and use the DNR in my Pioneer Elite Plasma which works as good as the HLD players DNR except the options are very limited.

Someone either buying me and X0 or giving me one would be the right thing to do. lol

To be honest, it likes to spit out discs every now and then, and recently I've become very aware of the noise levels in my laserdiscs, so maybe its just me being self conscious. I do use a CRT for most of my laserdisc viewing, so perhaps it is my television?

If it is spitting out LDs once in awhile then you needs to clean the loading belt and the small pulley on the motor.

I'd try that, but I'm too twitchy and nervous to open up my best player