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What, someone still playing around with an obsolete video format? Answer is yes when the individual is not prepared to junk 700+ LDs, half of which are operas, ballets and other musical genre which will be looked at for years to come.

What is the Pioneer HLD-X9? Basically it is a player designed to play both laserdiscs (but not CDs) and the Japanese muse discs that use a narrower laser beam and, from reports, gave stunning pictures. I understand it is hand made but that production may soon cease despite the strong following LDs have in Japan. The unit under review came from the Chinese Discount centre in Hong Kong. [Email address: daniel@mainkey.com ] and cost $2600 USD. I researched this player on the net and contacted an enthusiastic owner before taking the plunge. It is everything it is cracked up to be and if anyone is serious about revitalising viewing of a large LD collection then this unit is strongly recommended.

Note that we project images via a BARCO 808S projector with line quadrupling via a BARCO VSE40 onto a Stewart EMH 110 96” X 54” (for 16:9) or 72” X 54” (for 4:3) screen. The sound system is 7.1, processed by a Meridian 861, with all the frequencies above 200 hz via electrostats amplified by Plinius. The room is a combined lounge/audio/HT living room with pentagonal shape, a volume of 6300 cubic ft and floor area of 350 square ft. The ceiling is vaulted with the projector on the floor.

The picture from laserdisc via the previously used Theta Data III player was significantly inferior to the latest DVDs via a Toshiba player, that was until the arrival of the Pioneer HLD-X9. The improvements noted:

1. Much cleaner picture on all discs, particularly some which were so noisy that they were unwatchable earlier.
2. Sharper image, with previously fuzzy pictures now very watchable.
3. Deeper blacks ( using the D-Ext function) and crisper colours.
4. No discernable smearing with rapidly moving dancers on black backgrounds – a facet of the other player which previously distracted viewing enjoyment. I had blamed the BARCO projector and VSE40 switcher/enhancer for this problem and spent useless hours adjusting every possible parameter. There are a mind boggling array of these which apply across the board to all NTSC settings but a different set applies to all PAL settings. It is now obvious the problem was in the player, not the Barco.
5. Improved digital audio output to the Meridian 861 processor and remarkably good analog output from older FM modulated soundtracks.

So, in a nutshell, the HLD-X9 gives dramatically better audio-visual enjoyment from laserdiscs, some of which I was prepared to discard as they were thought to be so inherently poor.

An added bonus of the HLD-X9 is the build quality. It has a substantial, solid and attractive casing with champagne finish. The drawer action is smooth and the remote logical and easy to use, although I have transferred the functions onto our PRONTO.

Note that unfortunately the HLD-X9 will not play CDs as it is an LD (and Japanese muse) only player. It is also designed to use 100 volts so a step down transformer is required.

Previously, most of the LDs in this collection had picture quality on a par to “free to air TV” or a little poorer and leveled with a few of the poorer satellite TV broadcasts. Now I would judge the quality as superior to nearly all broadcasts with the exception of intensity of whiteness. By comparison the LDs are a little more washed out than the PAL TV broadcasts so I figure this might be a function of PAL vs NTSC more than anything else. A top DVD is superior but not by as much as previously.

Dissatisfied that I was not getting the most out of the player I have refocussed the Barco & did an extra critical convergence on the standard 4:3 screen size. The reward was an improvement, making previously relatively fuzzy images on the Theta much more acceptable on the HLD-X9. I now feel I am getting the best possible return from the LDs.

It is now obvious that the resultant picture is now primarily dependent on the software. We use the following video sources:

1. Free to air UHF & one VHF TV
2. VHS tapes of 1.
3. Free digital Satellite broadcasts which duplicate some of 1 – designed for remote outback areas of Australia
4. Pay digital Satellite broadcasts (use same satellite as 3. But fed from a separate dish & decoder) of movies, CNN, National Geographic, Discovery, …….
5. VHS tapes recorded on two S-VHS recorders of 3 & 4.
6. NTSC LDS + a few PAL LDs
7. NTSC DVDs & a few PAL DVDs

Not surprisingly 1 & 2 give the poorest picture quality. However after this the picture (pun intended) becomes confused. Recently we looked at a videotape, taken off the pay digital satellite of “Lethal Weapon 4”. It was ex a Panasonic S-VHS recorder but on normal quality TDK tape but the picture was stunning, even though it was broadcast on 4:3 and I pumped it up to 16:9 by chopping off some top & bottom. It was the equal of any DVD or LD in the collection.

So, I’m extremely happy with the HLD-X9. Many of our LDs which were not very exciting to look at because of smearing and a relative fuzziness are now very watchable. When I dig into the best ones in the collection I’m sure I’ll see some of the best pictures possible. Using the D-Ext function has improved the contrast but the bottom line is that PAL is a better system for colour and superb whites than NTSC. However the HLD-X9 gives us better colour and quality on NTSC than the more lowly Pioneer can give us on PAL LDs. Given top material, our best pictures are from digital PAL satellite broadcasts and PAL DVDs, but nearly all broadcasts are presently in 4:3 format. HDTV and 16:9 broadcasts are just around the corner here down under.

Unreservedly recommended.

John

Product Weakness:	Not capable of playing Cds or DVDs
Product Strengths:	Superb picture & excellent audio

• Pioneer HLD-X9 Other -- Home Theater - Michael 10:14:48 08/09/01 (0)
  In Reply to: Pioneer HLD-X9 Other -- Home Theater posted by John C. - Aussie on August 08, 2001 at 18:39:12:

  John,

  Glad to hear that the HLD-X9 is working well for you. It is a pity that Pioneer never saw fit to bring the player to market outside of Japan. Even if you don't use the Muse capability it certainly is a worthy player for its NTSC playback alone. The downside to this player is that there is no local warrantee support.
  
  

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• Pioneer HLD-X9 Other -- Home Theater - michael w 00:12:58 08/09/01 (0)
  In Reply to: Pioneer HLD-X9 Other -- Home Theater posted by John C. - Aussie on August 08, 2001 at 18:39:12:

  Great review John !

  A pity I can't justify the cost of such a nice machine.

  Enjoy,

  
  michael w
  
  

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