Please forgive me for asking such a stupid newbie question like this as I've just learned out about this while doing research on a Pioneer HLD-X0 while looking at this video and on the threads of this forum section here but: What exactly is a Muse Decoder and how exactly does it function?

As I'm saving up to purchase an X0 of my own, which is the top brand/model (if there is one) that would be equivalent to it in quality and performance? And do the types of cables used also play a major role in this?

Do you have any LD player at all and have you ever owned one?

Nicolas Santini legacy page can still give you some good info:

http://home.q03.itscom.net/nsa/muse.htm

Usually mostly used models today are the Victor/JVC HV-MD2 and the SONY MSC-3000/MSC-4000.
Other high-end models (Pioneer, etc.) are way harder to find.

Julien

Do you plan on buying titles like this for 300-500 or more??

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) [PILH-1001]

League of Their Own, A (1992) [HVMC-14589]

If you answer YES then get a decoder

I would say yes but not to those titles.

Well now you know what a decoder is used for, to play those muse Hi-Vision discs.
If you are already planning on picking up an X0 then get that and the decoder.

Without obi's you can get them cheaper but not much.

Thanks.


OK, well now I'm reading up on which brand/model would best be compatible with it. Even if it's hard to find. With LDs PQ and performance etc. is everything to me.

So it’s going to cost you like $5000-8000 to play your first Muse disc. Maybe another $500 to see your second one. What are you looking forward to waching? Also, what LD player do you have now?

Victor and Sony units show up for sale time to time. Other ones are so rare and no guarantees if they are any better. Victor unit is known to be inferior to others.

Yes X0 is the best LD and Muse player no question about it. You need a muse decoder to play muse discs. Basic cables will do fine unless you have special eyes and ears. There were 31 movie titles ever released on muse. Most show up on auctions time to time except few that are impossible to find. Demo discs constantly sell for $150+ and film titles no less than $250 nowadays. Most film titles look awful with few exceptions. Demo and documentary titles are better in general. There are probably 5-6 titles that are good enough to be passable as HD broadcast quality of today.

Well you talked me into it.

Within the last two months I have purchased an HLD-X9, a Sony MSC-4000 decoder and (3) discs for way below that, below $2,000.00 (shipped). You are correct that it can be expensive but we aren't as stupid as paying $8,000.00 to watch a single movie lol. And unless you get into a stupid bidding war with one of these guys that need a rare disc for their collection you will not be paying $500 for a movie.

I can’t win any auction under $200 lately. They aren’t even the rare ones. I stopped bidding on backdraft after it surpassed $250.

You’re right. $8000 for a single movie is nuts. The $2000 you paid is much more reasonable.

Because the X9 only plays Muse discs.....

Why do you care anyway? Maybe I'll buy a $8,000.00 blender next week, how does affect you?

I really dislike this whole discussion regarding what's worth your money or not. Paying top money for an HLD-X9 or X0 (not that $2,000 is top dollar) can be reasonable as long as it serves a purpose. Personally, I just think that the most expensive stuff are those that you don't use. In that case I don't care if you've spent $10 or a grand on something. If it doesn't get any use I consider the money being wasted.

I'd really love to buy an HLD-X0 at some point, but I already know that I won't use it since I pretty much only watch movies on Blu-Ray (or DVD in some rare cases). Therefore, I'm letting other people take care of those that are on the market.

s**t, I'll cover the blender in pure 999 silver coins for 8 grand.
Who's ready!!!!!

Hi nissling,

agree with that.

If it is worth it to someone & makes them happy then that should be it.

I won't be getting anything like the aforementioned but it is a bit like some older cars, I will never be likely to own & enjoy them but glad they are out there..... one day perhaps - I can but dream.

Cheers .

.

If you're gonna pay eight grand to see a movie, you might as well buy your own 35mm copy!

Hmm, I actually started this discussion to find a good Muse Decoder to go with the X0.

As you will quickly discover you can't own anything nice in the LD community without someone telling you how stupid you are for owing it, just kind of comes with the territory.