Video Asylum

Posted by John C. - Aussie (B) on May 02, 2002 at 17:52:07

In Reply to: Samsung Laserdisk players... posted by Estes on May 02, 2002 at 17:22:08:

Pioneer put out the best players although I do not know about how good or bad a Samsung might be. Most likely it has a mechanism inside from a Sony, Philips or even Pioneer and different Samsung models might have different insides.

I've owned 4 Pioneer laserdisc players (one in Theta disguise) and find them fine but they do differ markedly in their video output quality. Do not reject the Pioneer merely because it has Kaeokee features as they add little to the cost and you can ignore those functions as we do on our DVD player.

Parts on quite a few Pioneer LD players are still available as so many were sold so this is another reason to go for them. I suggest you look for the following -

* one of their last releases (do a Google net search to check that)

* it has S-video out - not all do

* it plays both sides without turnover

* it has an AC3 out for Dolby Digital (you will need an external modulator)

One downside to Pioneer is that most seem to have optical digital audio out but that should not bother you if movies are your main interest.

John

Peace at AA