What's your verdict on these Pioneer players?

Guest · Posted: 28 Nov 2015, 20:40

They both looks to have the same chassie design but obviously different models?
Pioneer CLD-HF9G vs Pioneer LD-S9
Laserdisc archive doesn't reveal much intel about these players?

What can ya say about them?
I guess the LD-S9 is the successor newer version than CLD-HF9G?
Are they good or bad players?
Picture quality any good without smear on tv-screen?
Are they both better players than Pioneer CLD-R7G?
I loev my CLD-R7G which plays pefect!!!

Pictures shows players are dressed in copper chassie for more better transport in audio/video stability compared to lesser models.
My CLD-R7G doesn't have any copper chassie, does copper chassie improve audio/picture quality with less noise or static interference?

http://www.laserdiscarchive.co.uk/laser ... d-hf9g.htm

http://www.laserdiscarchive.co.uk/laser ... _ld-s9.htm

Would you buy one of these players above?
Which one's the better?

Do they play Dolby Digital and DTS discs?
CLD-HF9G and LD-S9 plays AC3

Thanks

substance · Posted: 28 Nov 2015, 20:53

Metal chassis/box on the electronics act as a Faraday's cage which nets the magnetic field inside the box zero. Copper is a better conductor which makes it a better Faraday's cage with more interference rejection. Afaik S9 has a 3D comb filter and HF9G doesn't but other than that they are both based on CLD-704/99.

Guest · Posted: 28 Nov 2015, 21:13

substance wrote:

Metal chassis/box on the electronics act as a Faraday's cage which nets the magnetic field inside the box zero. Copper is a better conductor which makes it a better Faraday's cage with more interference rejection. Afaik S9 has a 3D comb filter and HF9G doesn't but other than that they are both based on CLD-704/99.

so there's isn't much difference between both players besides the comb filter?
the S9 does it share the same 3D comb filter like CLD-R7G?

the CLD-D99 player is it a different player than the above mentioned players?

I found a HF9G on Ebay for $500 bucks, don't know if it's worth the money?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pioneer-CLD-HF9 ... SwgyxWUmSg

substance · Posted: 28 Nov 2015, 21:36

D99 has an early generation Nec 3D comb filter
S9 and X9 has an early generation Mitsubishi 3D comb filter
R7G and DVL-H9 has later generation Nec 3D comb filter

HF9G isn't worth $500. If you have a decent comb filter in your TV, CLD-97 and LD-S2 are better players than all of these.

Guest · Posted: 28 Nov 2015, 22:26

thanks for letting me know.

i won't buy the HF9G player as you say it's not worth the money
player looks very nice and somehow exclusive

samaron · Posted: 28 Nov 2015, 23:57

I've owned the S9 and can't complain on anything really. Excellent player. My experience is that the s-video output is much better, composite introduces a lot of ranbow coloring in the image. Don't like the finish, would prefer a dark finish that most equipment had in the 90s. They are really fragile, so if you plan on importing one, get it double boxed.

All players with a digital output can play DTS discs, including the LD-S9.

I've upgraded to a HLD-X9. That thing plays everything you throw at it, and much more robust built. My old S9 suffered an unfortunate short-circuit accident while it were away for some tune-up/repair. Had it not been for that, I'd most likely still be using it. It performed really well, so not much reason to upgrade it. I'd say it is among the best standard LD players. Any better would be those with the different lasers for the hi-vision system, like the X9, in my opinion.

audioboyz1973 · Posted: 29 Nov 2015, 02:24

You mentioned smear. If you want to avoid that then in my opinion avoid the S9, I found it to be quite bad for that. The R7G is much better as far as smear goes, but it does have more video noise than the S9. I also think the comb filter in the R7G is much better than the one in the S9. If you already have the R7G and are happy then I would say stick with it!

Guest · Posted: 29 Nov 2015, 12:51

thanks for the input guys.

i'll stick with my R7G and DVL-909 for now until something else turns up.

what year was HLD-X9 reliesed?
do these players play rotted discs without problems?
is there any player that handles rotted discs without playback/audio problems?

this seller on ebay describes his player that it handles rotted discs w/o problems?
is this correct?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/PIONEER-HLD-X0- ... Sw4UtWRZP0

samaron · Posted: 29 Nov 2015, 15:58

It handles the discs to some degree. If it is light rot, it can "ignore" it. Discs with bad rot still show the symptoms during playback. I have a couple of discs that regular players couldn't play (completely dead), but the X9 managed to play those. It did have a lot of distortion in both the picture and sound, though. I'm sure the HLD-X0 will do the same as the X9 when it comes to playing rotted discs. The X0 is a heavy beast, the weight is something like 30kg. Single side player as well. Simply put, the benefit is that it supposedly produces no picture noise during playback because of the heavy weight. In theory it produces the best possible picture quality.

The HLD-X9 was produced between 1996 and 2002 I think. The late models have the new Pioneer logo on the front, at least. I think that logo came in 2000.

Guest · Posted: 29 Nov 2015, 18:39

samaron wrote:

It handles the discs to some degree. If it is light rot, it can "ignore" it. Discs with bad rot still show the symptoms during playback. I have a couple of discs that regular players couldn't play (completely dead), but the X9 managed to play those. It did have a lot of distortion in both the picture and sound, though. I'm sure the HLD-X0 will do the same as the X9 when it comes to playing rotted discs. The X0 is a heavy beast, the weight is something like 30kg. Single side player as well. Simply put, the benefit is that it supposedly produces no picture noise during playback because of the heavy weight. In theory it produces the best possible picture quality.

The HLD-X9 was produced between 1996 and 2002 I think. The late models have the new Pioneer logo on the front, at least. I think that logo came in 2000.

when you bought your HLD-X9, did you buy it from Japan?
did you have to pay high customs fees or did you tell seller to lower the value?

if HLD-X0 is a heavy beast of 30 kg, is HLD-X9 of similar weight?
shipping cost must be a b**ch shipped to europe from japan?!

je280 · Posted: 29 Nov 2015, 20:11

carlosthejackal wrote:

shipping cost must be a b**ch shipped to europe from japan?!

More than a b**ch, given the size & weight more like a b**tard to ship to Europe from Japan.

The figure quoted for sending looks to be pretty spot-on unless there are carriers willing to it carry fully covered for less that I have not found. An HLD-X0 is around 37 kilos or so & packed to protect will add a few kilos to that.

the HLD-X9 is less than 20 kilos (I believe) so would be a bit cheaper to send out perhaps.

Would be so happy to be spinning my discs on any of those players but that is not going to happen.

substance · Posted: 29 Nov 2015, 20:31

I paid $1200 for double boxed over mfg box, insured fedex 4-5 days from Japan to USA. The most outer box was completely destroyed when it arrived. Fortunately inner box and the player didn't observe any damage. I wouldn't recommend any less than double box and fast shipping. Slower shipping means more stops and drops. I was quoted $500 or less for X9 for the same type shipping but X9 doesn't need that much care as it is half the weight of X0. I think I paid about $300 for my X9 double boxed over mfg box and insured.

gumbyandpals · Posted: 29 Nov 2015, 21:23

Make an excuse to go on vacation in Japan and carry it back on your lap

. You're already going to be spending a fortune so make it fun.

samaron · Posted: 29 Nov 2015, 23:25

carlosthejackal wrote:

when you bought your HLD-X9, did you buy it from Japan?
did you have to pay high customs fees or did you tell seller to lower the value?

if HLD-X0 is a heavy beast of 30 kg, is HLD-X9 of similar weight?
shipping cost must be a b**ch shipped to europe from japan?!

Yes, I bought mine from Japan. Really lucky find on Yahoo Auctions. Came with the original box, all the contents (manual, remote, cables etc), and appear to be unused. Still had protective plastic on the tray. Got it for around 1000 USD, a bit expensive, but really didn't care at that point since my previous player had broken down (and was the 3rd one).

I paid for express shipping, which was something like 300 USD. I have a theory that express parcels are handled "nicer". Less stops and drops. Plus I wanted proper tracking on it. The proxy I used declared it as a gift and valued it below the tax limit. Not that I refuse to pay taxes, I just feel it is a bit unnecessary on a 20 year old second hand player without any real value... I instructed to have it double boxed, of course.

The HLD-X0 actually weighs 36kg. The X9 is only 18kg.

Guest · Posted: 09 Dec 2015, 14:15

DVL-H9 is it based on DVL-909 or DVL-919?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pioneer-DVL-H9- ... SwiLdV-QJ9

This player is it worth the money from this auction?
What's so special about this boxy player besides it having gold plated RCA connectors?

elahrairrah · Posted: 09 Dec 2015, 17:08

The DVL-H9 has the same NEC #7 3D comb filter that the CLD-R7G has (and that comb filter is a powerful one as you might know.)

Some say it even outperforms the R7G, but I've never actually seen one in action.

Guest · Posted: 09 Dec 2015, 17:42

this LD player must be helluva lot better than standard DVL series?
it's huge compared to my 909!

components and circuits on H9 must be a lot better and stock 909/919?
maybe it's dressed in copper inside for less static interference?

would you know if the laser is of better quality (like from MUSE machines) than stock DVL's?

according to LDP database this is a 1999 model year

kris · Posted: 09 Dec 2015, 21:49

carlosthejackal wrote:

this LD player much be helluva lot better than standard DVL series?
it's huge compared to my 909!

components and circuits on H9 must be a lot better and stock 909/919?
maybe it's dressed in copper inside for less static interference?

would you know if the laser is of better quality (like from MUSE machines) than stock DVL's?

according to LDP database this is a 1999 model year

owned a DVL-H9 some years ago.
Superb comb filter. Looked and felt like a Muse machine. Very solid build quality. Power cable was huge!
909-919 are far from the same buid quality.
Worth getting...? I guees if you can stockpile spare players or parts for future use...
That's why I sold mine. Never regretted it.
it looked 8-)

it played

High end? In ld terms maybe... one can only go so far LD Picture quality wise.
Dvdo unit can make any player look at it's best IMHO

Guest · Posted: 10 Dec 2015, 00:03

if it was a high end player why did you sell it, maybe you didn't like it?
do you have a better player now?

did H9 have solid video and audio performance?'
this is a lesser player than X9 but they have almost the same weight
did H9 have standard laser optics?
laserdisc archive gives jack crap information about this player.
can't see any reviews

audioboyz1973 · Posted: 10 Dec 2015, 06:43

substance wrote:

How did DVL-H9 turn out?

audioboyz1973 wrote:

It's really a very good player I think (my signature ranks the players in order of preference).

The best output from it is the s-video; the composite suffers from a softening/reduction in sharpness by comparison that I wouldn't be happy to live with (same for the S9 and I didn't specifically compare the outputs of the R7G but expect it would be the same). Only the X9 didn't suffer this so it's the only one I'd really recommend using for an outboard y/c filter 'upgrade'.

So if using the s-video out then the H9 has the NEC 3D comb filter which seems to be one of the better ones and I could live with it quite happily. Likewise for the R7G. Minimal artefacts and some useful user adjustments. No real point in connecting either of these through an external filter in any case with such a good inbuilt one.

It's built like a tank, much along the lines of the X9/X0 style. Noticeably lower video noise than the R7G. I've seen a few comments that the R7G is often overlooked or underrated; well that applies several-fold over for the H9 I think, especially when you can get one on Yahoo JP for a similar price (though the shipping will cost more due to the weight).

The difference in my system between the X9 via composite and H9 via s-video is actually a fairly close call. Very similar detail/sharpness/clarity, similar noise levels. Where the X9 wins out is absolutely minimal bleeding of any kind even in the hardest scenes/material. Neither suffers anything like 'clv smear' but in any analogue video I've seen there will be some bleed. And less by way of comb filter artefacts with the X9 by making use of what seems to be a very good comb filter in the DVDO. I'd probably live quite happily with the H9, but given the choice to watch on the X9 instead I'll choose that, overall the picture is just that bit better.

So the X9 is the player of choice for Hi-Vision and NTSC on the projector. For watching NTSC on the little 32" LCD then the H9 will stay permanently hooked up in the system and the X9 can rest; on that screen those fairly minor differences become pretty irrelevant.

Btw I have a copy of video essentials on the way so it will be interesting to do some comb filter comparisons using the test pattern, though with real world material there's no doubt in my mind about which works the best!

What's your verdict on these Pioneer players?

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