Page 1 of Aiwa 370 vs Encore

OK - it`s one or the other, but I can`t make up my mind!

Re the Aiwa;

1) The Macro disable. I presume from discussion on this forum is a hardware mod - i.e. get you wire cutters out!!

2) RCE - although it is mentioned that the hack allows region selection, I presume from this that when region 1 is selected, it plays RCE disks no probs?


Re the Encore;

1) Do versions bought now come with the upto date firmware - i.e. no lip sync probs with R1 disks?

2) The component video interests me. Although I can`t make use of it at the moment, come the new year when it`s decorating time the wife thinks all I am doing is whitewashing the rear wall - but I plan to hide a projector in there somewhere. Is a `budget` player with component video out a bit like buying a twin barrel Ansa exhaust for your 1.1 Escort - i.e. it looks the biz to a 16 year old but really it sounds like it`s on steroids and does f**k all for speed?


& for both;

1) Has anyone seen the picture quality on both of these machines and if so are there any noticeable differences (and do either have blockovision)?

2) I already have a DD 5.1 decoder so the onboard decoder with the Encore is not necessary - therefore, am I wasting my money on a feature?

I have heard R1 Fight Club & Three Kings skip with the AIWA!

HITACHI 505 ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!

Unfortunately, not being a millionaire like Camilla`s cousin (or as The Sun quaintly put it, a `Camillionaire`) there is no way I can comment on the Encore`s component output. It is VERY strange to see one on a UK player, and this particular facility even beats some of the mid-rangers.

The quality ? Who knows ? When Home Entertainment did their test, they were comparing 18 DVD players like for like (the Encore was one of two Best Buys), and thus component was not tested. Similarly Total DVD didn`t exercise it either, opting for RGB instead.

However DVD Monthly noted "Using either the RGB (through the SCART) or the component video signal, things improve drastically, offering excellent colour definition and lovely, crisp, clean edges. It does have a little trouble with dark colours though..." (May 2000 issue) - it doesn`t say what they hooked it up to though!

Ring Encore and find out : 01895 450450 - they should be able to help. There`s a guy who knows his stuff in the technical department (forget his name, tho` I think it`s Dave - yes, really). He should know about the latest firmware too - there has definitely been one since I got mine in May because they did it for me.

As for blocking, it`s definitely not something I`ve encountered with the 450. And I don`t use the decoder either, as I have it hooked up to a Yamaha DSPA5.

Hope this helps, Roger

This item was edited on Tuesday, 21st November 2000, 20:39

Having used the Aiwa DV370 for a couple of days now, I must say I`m very pleased with it, it is in fact an LG 3200E, with a different front(same at rear) and a bios that supports VCD+MP3, but you don`t get the 15 disc resume feature of the 3350 nor the DD 5.1 decoder. Also the drive it self is silent when playing films, so much so that you have to get right up to it to hear it, the only time you can hear it is when it`s accessing the root menu. Other than that it`s a damn fine player, no blocks in dark scenes, only the usual banding in shades or around the halo of lights on some of the older discs etc. But every player I`ve had does that, must be a DVD thing. And I`ve had a few players!! Samsung, Ariston, Matsui, Wharfedale, JVC, Daewoo/Scan(absolute crap, block pixel master) and finally this Aiwa. Plus I have R1 Fight Club and i`ve not noticed any skipping at all? I would like to know where this happens(chapter, time etc.). Just simply enter the PI code (314159), supplied by Jimbo and Robert`s your farthers brother

Cheers

LOZ

You mention that the Aiwa does not have the 15 disc resume feature, but does it have an ordinary resume function (ie turn the player off and it picks up at the same point in the disc when you turn it on).