From my experience, this is a great player. It has a really sharp picture. Strangely, it even blows away my CLD 97.

This player has a pretty fast side changing mechanism, which I like a lot. This player is also easy to clean too, e.g. Spindle rubber. The belt is easily accessible as well.

What I don't like with this player is the very limited front panel. Unlike the 97 95 3080, and even the 703 704, this player has very limited front panel controls which means everything is on the remote. Also, a nasty z I found out is that unlike other players, which activate Last Memory when you resume a disc after turning on the player, on the 99, you have to press the button on the remote first. If you don't have that original remote, there is no way to activate Last Memory. Even the 703 704 automatically activates last memory.

All in all, if you're looking for a player which a sharp picture, this is definitely the player for you. Despite the inferior build quality to earlier Elite machines, it is still a good looking player as well.

Do you really prefer it over the CLD-97? Nearly everyone else I've heard of prefers the 97 thanks to its low chroma-noise (which plays a big role for me as well) but maybe the CLD-99 shows better textures? I've never used either of the players myself.

Since the 99 is based off the D703/4, I can attest to the sharpness. Unless the 99 somehow ups the sharpness on the D703/4.

It was only bettered (of the players I've owned) by the R7G and the LX-900u/Runco LJR-I.

Well, one thing I could definitely tell between the two players was that the 99 does better with reds. On any discs, especially the Warning logo, you can see the reds are much more vibrant on the 99 than any other player.

I honestly prefer the build quality of the 97 over the 99. I also like the FDP readout of the 97 better than the 99.

so what is the picture quality like??
just sharper and deeper red in color with a fast side change.

not a very helpful review, please elaborate more in detail about white smear, connecting to what type of TV and
what connections.

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the rein-o official signature:

Both the 97 and 99 are connected to a JVC AV 27530 CRT set. The 97 is connected via S Video and the 99 is connected via composite.

OK could we also get a more elaborate review of the 99 with both S-Video and composite.
along with what these reds are that you posted about, OK more red but is that red more natural or oversaturated without bleeding.

and it would be nice to know an overall of film grain, lack of grain, how it handles thin line details etc.

just overall more info.

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the rein-o official signature:

Hah, from what I've heard, the comb filter in the CLD-99 is quite good while the one in the CLD-97 isn't very good. Try to use composite on the 97 and S-video on the 99.

You probably won't see much difference when you go from S-Video to composite on the 97 as both the player and that TV both feature 2D comb filters.

JVC AV-27530

Though things will proabably improve going from composite to S-Video for the 99 because of its internal 3D comb filter.

feed the 97's composite into a 3D comb filter. It will beat the 99 by a margin.