Pioneer CLD-D704 vs Elite players
Leslie Walter
I'm looking to buy a laser disc player with "digital effects" and
more or less had made up my mind to purchase the CLD-D704. While
calling around for prices, one shop tried to convince my husband
to buy the Elite 59 or the Elite 79 instead. Unfortunately, I
don't know anything about the relative merits of the Elite models.
I'm looking for a 2-sided player with digital effects for CLV discs.
Although this will be the first LD player I own, I'm not interested
in the "entry-level" models. I made that mistake with VCRs, buying
a low-end hi-fi VCR and ending up wanting a better one almost
immediately. Any info would be appreciated.
--
Leslie
David Feld
>
>I'm looking to buy a laser disc player with "digital effects" and
>more or less had made up my mind to purchase the CLD-D704. While
>calling around for prices, one shop tried to convince my husband
>to buy the Elite 59 or the Elite 79 instead. Unfortunately, I
>don't know anything about the relative merits of the Elite models.
the new elite series is relatively new he couldn't give me much info.
He did say, however, that the Elite series is better built ... better
components, and has a 3 yr warranty (1 yr with 704). and the specs are
better...ie, S/N ratio, etc.
dave
George Sidor
: I'm looking to buy a laser disc player with "digital effects" and
: more or less had made up my mind to purchase the CLD-D704. While
: calling around for prices, one shop tried to convince my husband
: to buy the Elite 59 or the Elite 79 instead. Unfortunately, I
: don't know anything about the relative merits of the Elite models.
: I'm looking for a 2-sided player with digital effects for CLV discs.
: Although this will be the first LD player I own, I'm not interested
: in the "entry-level" models. I made that mistake with VCRs, buying
: a low-end hi-fi VCR and ending up wanting a better one almost
: immediately. Any info would be appreciated.
: --
The reason why the shops tried to sell you an Elite model insted of the
CLD-D704 is because they are more expensive and they can make more
money on them.
Video magazine did a review on the Pioneer CLD-D703 a few months back.
This player rivaled the Pioneer Elite 97 (the top of the line model) in
terms of picture quality and was actually better in some measurements.
The Pioneer Elite 97 is Video Magazine's reference player, it's results
and picture were the best out there when they reviewed it. For a regular
model Pioneer to have the Elite 97's performance is quite an achievement.
The CLD-D703 has all of the digital special effects and also has quite
good audio performance as well. The difference in price between them
is close to $1000. The CLD-D703 is definitely the best value out there.
Now, the CLD-D704 is the replacement model for the CLD-D703. Basically,
it add a RF output for AC-3 digital sound. As long as Pioneer didn't
change the rest of the player, then the CLD-D704 should be one of the
top laserdisc players out there. If someone out there definitely knows
if the CLD-D704 is a CLD-D703 with the AC-3 circuitry added, please
let us know. Thanks.
George Sidor
Tom Ascher
CLD-99 you're better off sticking to the CLD-704. My own experience was
going from a CLD3080 to an Elite CLD97. I'm not sure that I'd do it again.
There was a very slight improvement in picture resolution/color saturation
which took a top line monitor to reveal. And somewhat more substantial
construction. If you have the kind of discretionary income that allows you
to spend thousands of dollars on slight tweaks, or the kind of addictive
to A/V personality that makes it worthwhile, you will find some benefits.
But, go for the CLD99 if you do....!
=====================================================================
Tom Ascher Internet: u15...@uicvm.cc.uic.edu
University of Illinois at Chicago Phone: (312) 413-3665
mflynn
>
>
>I'm looking to buy a laser disc player with "digital effects" and
>more or less had made up my mind to purchase the CLD-D704. While
>calling around for prices, one shop tried to convince my husband
>to buy the Elite 59 or the Elite 79 instead. Unfortunately, I
>don't know anything about the relative merits of the Elite models.
>I'm looking for a 2-sided player with digital effects for CLV discs.
>Although this will be the first LD player I own, I'm not interested
>in the "entry-level" models. I made that mistake with VCRs, buying
>a low-end hi-fi VCR and ending up wanting a better one almost
>immediately. Any info would be appreciated.
>
>--
>
>
>les...@snoopy.usask.ca
>
I have a CLD 703 and an Elite CLD-95. I do not think that there is a
picture quality difference and since I use outboard DACs on these I cannot
attest to the sound quality objectivly. However, I must say that the
Elite product is MUCH quieter, much smoother in operation and exudes a
high level of attention to detail in overal construction. If I had to
choose between the two I would pick the Elite product.
Hope that helps!
Mike
Roger Hess
the Video Standard disk. The Elite is certainly substantial and quiet in operation, but the
704 offered the best value by far, in my opinion. I did notice slightly less color noise on
difficult colors like magenta and turquoise. I would have paid an extra $100 for the picture
improvement, but not the $1300 or so that they were asking.
If you have a large screen, and a data or graphics grade front projection system with a
Faroudja line doubler, go with the Elite. You need the best and you don't mind approaching
perfection asymptotically.
If you are feeding a rear projection or direct view monitor, I would go with the 704 and a nice
starter set of 30 or so of your favorite discs. The weakest part of your system will not be
the laserdic player.
One other consideration on high end equipment vs more mid-range stuff: warranties and service
agreements aside, it can be an aggravating experience trying to keep the high end stuff working
to the level of performance that most videophiles pay dearly to get. The products are usually
(but not always!!) engineered to perform to high standards, but the factory calibration and
quality control can sometimes fall short. If your eye detects the difference in picture
quality, and it drives you to buy high end stuff, don't be surprised if you go through two (or
more) to find a good one.
Pioneer does not (or would not in my case) do any servicing or provide me with tech support for
my player (CLD 3090) when the local authorized service center could not repair it. The service
center would have been *way* out of its league with an Elite. Pioneer did offer a replacement
upgrade deal, which prompted this comparison, and which I also declined. I know that there are
repair people/videophiles out there (right here in rec.video) that can give the high end stuff
the TLC that it needs, but they're not the people you'll get when your time comes.
Have fun.
MrTruthMan
Kosala Wickramasiwghe
: I had the opportunity to compare the Elite up against the CLD-D704 on the same monitor, using
: 704 offered the best value by far, in my opinion. I did notice slightly less color noise on
: difficult colors like magenta and turquoise. I would have paid an extra $100 for the picture
: improvement, but not the $1300 or so that they were asking.
It appears that you compared the CLD-79 with the CLD-D704. Based on price
alone I would expect the '79 to be better, so its interesting that the
differences you noticed didn't justify the extra $300 (based on list of
$1300 for '79 and list of $1000 for 704, though most mail order places
have them for much less).
Has anyone out there compared a CLD-59 with a '704? They are very
similarly priced with a street price of around $700.
Kosala
Roger Hess
Sorry. I failed to mention that it was the CLD-97 that I looked at. The prices may be hard to
equate to retail since it was a factory replacement offer.
>
>It appears that you compared the CLD-79 with the CLD-D704. Based on price
>Kosala
Robert Wallace
: Today's disc: North By Northwest
Sorry, that was yesterday's disc.
Robert Wallace
rob...@metronet.com
Greg Rogers
si...@neurocog.lrdc.pitt.edu (George Sidor) wrote:
>
> Video magazine did a review on the Pioneer CLD-D703 a few months back.
> This player rivaled the Pioneer Elite 97 (the top of the line model) in
> terms of picture quality and was actually better in some measurements.
> The Pioneer Elite 97 is Video Magazine's reference player, it's results
> and picture were the best out there when they reviewed it. For a regular
> model Pioneer to have the Elite 97's performance is quite an achievement.
I was (and still am) certainly puzzled by Video magazines review of the
CLD-D703. I have never seen a CLD-703 that comes close to the CLD-97 in
terms of actual chroma noise, and low chroma noise is what separates the
best LD players from the merely good ones. In my opinion the CLD-97 and
Runco LJR-II are in a class by themselves for laserdisc performance. The
CLD-97 also has an extraordinarily good digital 2-D adaptive Y/C
separation filter (that's a real good digital comb filter in English). I
will soon have a CLD-99 for evaluation and I will post my observations
about it here in alt.video.laserdisc.
Leslie Walter
: I'm looking to buy a laser disc player with "digital effects" and
: more or less had made up my mind to purchase the CLD-D704. While
: calling around for prices, one shop tried to convince my husband
: to buy the Elite 59 or the Elite 79 instead. Unfortunately, I
: don't know anything about the relative merits of the Elite models.
: I'm looking for a 2-sided player with digital effects for CLV discs.
: Although this will be the first LD player I own, I'm not interested
: in the "entry-level" models. I made that mistake with VCRs, buying
: a low-end hi-fi VCR and ending up wanting a better one almost
: immediately. Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks for all the help. I ended up buying the 704.
--
Leslie
John R Pierce
>Leslie Walter (les...@snoopy.usask.ca) wrote:
I'm not familiar with the Elite 79 or 97's, I thought the Elites were
the S1 and S2 (I've got a old Elite LD S-1, still working great, even
after a big crash during the 89' earthquake in Santa Cruz...)
It was my understanding that the S1 and S2 had full FRAME buffers,
whereas the CLD-???? models with digital effects only had FIELD
buffers? (FRAME == 30Hz, 484 lines, FIELD=60Hz, 242 lines...) Now, I
know I'm a coupla years out of touch with the new models, so YMMV!
-jrp
John Steinbock
on Tue, 22 Aug 1995 08:58:52 GMT,
John R Pierce <pie...@diamondmm.com> writes:
>It was my understanding that the S1 and S2 had full FRAME buffers,
>whereas the CLD-???? models with digital effects only had FIELD
>buffers? (FRAME == 30Hz, 484 lines, FIELD=60Hz, 242 lines...) Now, I
None of the Pioneer Elite model players (to date) have/had full frame
buffers. To the best of my knowledge the only Pioneer player that
has that is an industrial model (LD-V8000?).
John Steinbock