So, as I have mentioned elsewhere, I have a MUSE decoder (Sony MST-2000 — too bad the 3000 model was "MSC"), but no player as yet. I don't feel the need for one of the "ultra" players, X9 or X0 ; a simple Sony or Panasonic, even one of the Pioneer industrial models, would be good enough for me, as long as it did its job.

I do, however, have discs, two of them : Chaplin & the Sony Test Disc. The latter was one I wanted, & wound up obtaining through Yahoo Japan Auctions, while the former was a lucky buy, picked up years ago in an eBay auction from a Japanese seller who had described the item so poorly that I barely figured out what it was he was offering, & I'm pretty sure nobody else did. Of course, I haven't had a chance to watch either of them yet.

There are two more discs which I really want, Imperial Wedding Ceremony & Ursa Minor Blue. (As an anime fan, how could I resist the one piece of animation on Hi-Vision LD? There were rumours that some of the Ghibli films were to be released, but they never came out.) I also confess to some interest in the various demo discs. I like to see a system put through its paces, I guess, & most of the movie releases interest me not at all.

So, I thought I would ask people what their opinions are. What are the best & worst MUSE discs in your opinion, which ones would you particularly like to have, which ones do you have but not care for, even what do you think of the ones I mentioned? Programme content, nideo quality, audio quality, packaging, just general thoughts — anything is fair game.

Maybe theses reviews can help you put some light in the darkness.
I found the link on the n$a Hi-Vision page and it has been very useful for me.

In my personal collection, the most spectacular Muse LD's I could find were Okinawa underwater and Tahiti. These are the ones I'll use if a demo is required.
The worst Muse LD's in my collection are Top Gun and Silence of the Lambs

Of course, "spectacular" or "worst" is meant in term of image quality.

I do have some titles but only one of them is really stunning. That is the demo disc from DENON demonstrating the flower of Japan.
I still could not figure out why the hi vision movie will display some vertical color bar on my plasma panel. Thus, in my collection, the "wolf" represents the highest quality as it gave me the least color noise by far.

Just got my sony test disk today. And I must add it in the most spectacular LD's in Hi-Vision format.

The image quality is really stunning... too bad we cannot have that with the movie releases

Sony Test Disc - best quality MUSE disc imho.

The worst in my opinion: Basic Instinct.

I really like Sea of Okhotsk 00MW-0012, moody music and a really nice atmosphere.

can somebody explain the sound capabilities of a muse disc ?
Its never 5.1, is it ?

If it indeed isn't, why didn't they include DTS or AC3 capabilities in this "high end" technology ?

It is in two modes:
A: 3+1 (left, centre, right and one mono surround channel)
B: 2 (left and right)

Since MUSE is an all-in-one compression signal, it is not even intended to include any discrete surround system like DD or DTS due to the bandwidth it employed for on-the-air broadcasting.

It is by far what I know, correct me whichever necessary.

MUSE Hi-Vision LD has two audio capabilities.

Firstly, the MUSE signal itself contains not only video but also digital audio, in a form known as DANCE. This can provide 4 channels in "A-Mode", sampling at 15 bits/32 kHz, or 2 in 'B-Mode", 16/48. The usual arrangements are "3+1" surround sound, like standard Dolby Surround except discrete, & 2-channel stereo, respectively. Other channel assignments are allowed by the standard, including multiple audio programmes & "2-2" or four-corner surround sound (think quadraphonic records), but I do not know that they were ever used on LD. This audio is available only at the MUSE decoder.

Secondly, "Redbook" stereo PCM digital audio can be recorded on the disc, just as on a standard LD. This is optional, & not all some discs have it. (In theory, this would allow dts 5.1 surround, but I do not believe even experimental pressings were made.) This audio is output from jacks on the player only. Some references suggest that there were discs with analog audio, but I am sure this is an error, as I have found no such provision in the technical documents I have examined.

I've read that Image Entertainment had Hi-Vision LD test pressings done, when it looked like the Japanese consumer-electronics manufacturers might introduce MUSE to the American market. Does anyone know the truth of this? I'd love to know about these discs, if anyone can tell anything about them, or really any test, demo, industrial, or other odd MUSE discs.

I don't have a Muse player, and probably won't because of the cost. Some of the Hi-Vision discs though were also released as regular ntsc laserdiscs, as I have some of them.

But was some stuff only released on Hi-Vision LD? I've been looking at these scenery/documentary ones, and nothing listed or referenced for regular LD release.

Coral / Dolphin Story [00MW-0006]
Monument Valley [VALY-001]
Penguins [00MW-0015]
Song of Africa [00MW-0014]
Sea Forest (1995) [00MW-0013]

For a while there, one could find the occasional HIL-C2EX or something like that for $300 or so, but I guess maybe I've missed the boat there. It's not that the prices have gone up ; I just can't seem to find any for sale!

I would never buy a Sony Muse Player...parts aren't available.
Sony has an awful parts service....

That, and the noise a HIL-C2EX makes when you insert a disc/start playing a disc/side turn a disc always gave me near heart attacks!
Tho the player sure is good looking, a real babe.

Since i have a bad experience with Sony, when i had my first palyer. It was an MDP-650D, PAL and NTSC.
One day the player sotped ejecting and took it to Sony.

They told me it didnt justify to spend money fixing it. And i told them i wasnt asking prices. Then they told me they werent interested anyway, as they had to search parts.

RIDICULOUS.....

Since then i have bought only Pioneer...

Today a Muse Hi-Vision disc Okinawa (fish exhibition) ended at bids just over 64.00 so that gives you an idea for price on that one.

I saw that one, & considered bidding on it, but it doesn't really appeal to me that much. I've already got two discs, so it seems better to wait to get more until I have a player to use them with!

I didn't bid either being no muse player, and that I already have the regular ntsc ld for it. (which looks really good) So I can only imagine how good the Muse would look.

I never had many "scenario" Hi-Vision Discs. I think the only ones i have is "Spring...something" (Blue Cover and Released by Sony), and Tahiti.

I was more into Muse Hi-Vision Movies.

And Despite the fact many of them had a resolution below expectations they are still good to watch, and there are a few very nice

hi I have a Sony HIL-CE2X, when trying to turn on you have to press the button and wait to see if it comes to life, it sounds like its going to switching but after a few seconds it turns off. But after you do this about 7 times it switches on and plays fine, does anyone know what this is or have you come across it before.

has anyone got New York Hi-vision laserdisc. On the look out for it,

Questions about players should go in the players area.
My opinion is that the problem could be an interlock switch. If the switch is dirty, or if the tray is not in just right, this might happen.
I will mention to Julien about uploading the HIL-C2EX service manual which I have.