Page 1 of `new` Scan Sc2000

I brought a scan sc2000 , before, reading that it differs from the one most mags/site reviewed.
I also read a recent review on this site for the Manhattan (which is a clone) which I where I get confused, `cos it got a good review.

Can someone let me know what the problem with them is,etc,etc and
if there is some test I can do to see if mines dodgy or not.


..and also your advice whether I should `try` and send it back or keep it..

thanx in advance
Damon.

First off, I bought a Scan back on Oct. 30th 2000 - one of the `new` batch with upgradeable firmware and new MPEG hardware card. There were problems with earlier batches, mainly before October last year. If you purchased recently, you should be fine. I haven`t seen any articles alleging that review models differ from Scan`s regular stock.

I`ve had no problems with my player, the picture and sound are good quality for the money, as are the extra features e.g. MP3 playback, region bypass . So I am a very happy Scan owner! I`ve got mates with far more expensive Sony players that do not beat its picture or sound quality!

You`ll find lots of opinions on these forums. That`s all they are - opinions!

I assume you bought the Scan because of its feature set, picture quality and value for money. If it plays every disk you throw at it, what`s changed?

I`ve got mates with far more expensive Sony players that do not beat its picture or sound quality!


And another pig flys by.

Not really, bear - I just trust my own eyes and ears! I`ve seen several DVDs now on my mates` Sony players such as Gladiator, American Beauty - and I couldn`t see any difference between them and my Scan. I don`t know the model numbers so I can`t list them here. But I know that one of them was £500, the other £450 I think. So I don`t think the £175 Scan is at all bad.

In fact, one of my mates has exactly the same Sony 24" widescreen TV as me- so the only differences are likely to be down to the player.

But then your hatred of Scan is obvious to everyone reading your previous posts. Did they let you down personally or something?!

Your in the minority Tim if you think a scans picture quality is as good as sony.

sorry but you are.

Don`t get me wrong, Duke - I`m not dumping on the Sony players - Sony make great pieces of kit (after all I have plenty of Sony kit myself: widescreen TV, MD walkman and full size MD recorder). I`m happy with the Scan coz` I couldn`t see any appreciable difference between my player and a mate`s costing almost 3 times as much.

I just didn`t want to blow £400 -£600 on a DVD player.

Tim tell me some of your movies you have got?

the scan is prone to artifacts in dark shaded areas due ro it being an ESS chipset. Scan have took measures to reduce it but not fixed.


Do you have Magnolia?

I watched American Beauty last night (which has plenty of dark/black scenes) and didn`t notice any artifacts in black shades. Neither did my mate who`s got a Sony player - who was also watching it.

I`ve got about 15 other disks, including Gattaca, Cube, Gladiator, Toy Story 2, Heat, Fight Club (2 disk version), Get Carter, Taxi Driver, Big Blue, Pi. No problems with any of these.

I haven`t got Magnolia.

Then you have a player that defies the ESS problem ao many people have:P

The problem with pixellisation in dark areas varies widely with the title.
Some equally dark scenes play quite well on some discs but horribly on others (Matrix or 6th sense for example).

I think the quality of the encoding plays a big part.... but I suppose a better (more expensive) player should play anything well...will have to try when I know someone else with a DVD player :-)