Zenith DVB 318 & LG 7832 DVD Player merged thread - Page 8

Rob,

You should also give the component a try. Most of us prefer the component over the DVI. The zenith is a good player, but not a great player. It also has issues of it's own, along with some video issues. Still, a good player for the price.

Update from Zenith Customer Service.

I called this morning and talked to a CSR about my DVI connection problem. He said it might be a handshake issue between my TV (Mits 65413) and the DVB318. He told me that they had another call recently from an owner of a Mits 65613 TV who had the same problem. So it might be a Zenith-to-Mitsubishi compatibility problem.

He asked if I knew anyone else with a HD tv with a DVI connector so I could hook up the DVB318 to it. That would help narrow down the problem.

I had a Samsung connected to my tv via the DVI and it worked fine, so I'm assuming it's either the DVB318 or a compatibility issue.

The plot thickens...

It almost sounds like a voltage level problem and/or ground from one of the devices to another if it is totally locking the unit up. But not knowing the schems on the player this may or may not be the case...

Are they plugged into a common AC source?

Yes they're plugged in to the same power source. I'll try plugging the DVD player into another outlet and see if anything changes.

None of my friends own a TV with a DVI connector. Would it be unethical to go to a local store and tell them "I'd like to see how my DVD player looks on your TV"? It's not hurting anyone, but since I have no intention of buying their TV I would feel awkward doing that.

I don't have many choices, unless a volunteer in the Phoenix area steps forward

I just recieved mine!! WooHooo!!!

Pretty cool, that it includes DVI cable, Audio and Video RCA cables, Svideo, and Component Video Cables. Heck, why didn't they just throw in an Optical as well??? lol

My build date looks like March 2004 on the thing, or that was the date on a lable on the seal inner packing anyways.

About another hour of work before I get to go home and play some, but I'm not excited or anything. Yeah right!

That's the same build info as mine. I thought it was interesting that the defaults were to have the dynamic range control on, and the voice karioke setting on as well. When I turned mine on, there was no sound, but got that straightened out soon enough. I was concerned for a second, though.

I wish I had a display I could test the upscaling on, though to make sure it works. . .

Wes

DRC only works with the analog L&R audio outs, not digital outs.

Speaking of settings, are there any other settings that should be enabled/disabled for optimal performance? (I am thinking particularly on the video side)

The DVB-318 has no video adjustments other than the usual choice of 4/3 or 16/9 screen shape (mine arrived defaulted to 16/9, the first of the 10 or so dvd players I've had that did so). There is no "enhanced black level" setting or any other picture setting. There is a setting for 3/2 pulldown which is oddly not available when it's in 1080i output mode. I set it to "auto" in 480p mode, which I think was the default.

You will definitely want to recalibrate with AVIA or VE when you first get the player. I had to turn brightness down several clicks to get blacks instead of grays.

If you have a CRT based HDTV that allows 1080i on component video inputs... Get this player. Even if you have a widescreen HDTV and cannot watch 4:3 material with it effectively, get it just to watch anamorphic widescreen material. It is that good.

If you have an older 4:3 set with a native 16x9 mode this is the perfect player for all DVD viewing use. On a side note I seem to have misplaced my widescreen disc of "Finding Nemo" UUHHGG, so I watched the 1.40:1 version, 4:3 1080i way cool!!!! The vivid colors, oh man, the detail, the smoothness....

I don't have a fair way to compare to my other players, because I can only get my native widescreen mode on 1080i sources, so I didn't even bother. But the week prior I did make mental notes of NTSC artifacts in some of the movies I screened, and I can say, that NTSC artifacts are almost enitely a thing of the past with this player at 1080i out the component video outs.

I screened Attack of the Clones, Jurasic Park III, The Last Cursade all in Anamorphic Widescreen. What ever this player is doing to get 1080i out of NTSC out to those analog component video outs works and works really well.
As soon as I sat down for Clones, I exlaimed, now that's what I'm talk'n about.... lol


Today, I finally am doing my Lord of the Rings trilogy marathon.... I know it is not real HD, but it definetly has that HDTV feel for me.


CRT display? Like to watch anamorphic widescreen DVD's? Got component video inputs that take 1080i? Got a 16x9 HDTV or a native 16x9 1080i mode on your 4:3 HDTV?

If yes to all the above.. GET THIS PLAYER!!!

PS: Mine has not locked up once.... Knock on wood. It is the most perfect player for my setup, and knowing how some older Panasonic Player owners felt about their player, I am going to order a 2nd one, and leave it in the box, for if/when my current DVB-318 goes out, hopefully many moons from now.

just wait till the Star Wars Trilogy is out!

that will ve sweet.

The component out is better than the DVI. Zenith is working on a firmware upgrade that is supposed to fix the DVI issues, and there is a ISF calibrator there who is "beta" testing it for them. I agree with Rob though. The Zenith is a good player, especially for the price, but not a great player. I have a CRT HDTV that allows Native 480p, and the Panasonic XP30 at 480p provides a better image than the zenith at 1080i. The zenith is a good player, but it has it's issues.

Yes, but for those of us who don't want to spend more than $175 or so on a dvd player, it fills a nice niche. To have the Zenith and an Infocus 4805 is a pretty nice setup for under $1700 for those on a tight budget. I'm happy if they fix the DVI, but I don't mind using component if it performs as well as it is supposed to.

Wes

If you do some searching on the net of the Zenith player model number you will find a fair amount of professional reviewers, that have changed from long beloved Panasonic and even high end Denon Players for the new Zenith... That has to say something for it.

On my particular display, I'd call the 2nd comming or better than sliced bread for me.

Oh yeah, on the Star Wars Trilogy!!!!

I actually thought it was out, and went to buy it Friday night, when I was informed it was not out yet. (sigh)

So what is the actual release date for it? I'm sure somebody invloved in this thread knows.

Sept 21

Hey guys:

I have the Sony KP-51WS500 and was wondering if this would be a good match?
I live in Canada so we have the LG version does anyone know if there are any differences?
I am upgrading from a Toshiba SD-1200 "non progressive scan" featureless DVD player.
Any ideas on what I can expect upgrading to the LG/Zenith?
Any and all info is greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Tyler_T, if your 1080i HD looks totally awesome for you on your component video inputs. You cannot go wrong with the player as far as watching anamorphic widescreen DVD's on it goes. From what you have, you will be totally blown away by the difference.

I don't know if the LG is exactly the same or not though, sorry....

Can any new purchasers of the DVB318 attest to whether or not the upconversion thru the components outs is still functioning? I just purchased a new one (not sure when it was built) and I'm crossing my fingers. 1080i would look sweet on a WS-48313.

If anyone's interested, there are a few left on eBay.
The auction # is 5710936219

My inner packaging, was sealed with what looks like a build date of March 2004, and it works on mine. Do not be alarmed by the warning in the manual about copy protected DVD's. I played lots of DVDs over the weekend. They all played fantastic for me. I recieved my DVB-318 on 7-23-2004 by the way.

I have to assume that these reviews only apply to the component output.

The reviews I have seen (including the one at the Secrets website) say that this player definitely has some issues with the DVI output. I agree....

Rob,

Gee, your mits crt set does have component inputs, doesn't it? Have you even tried them with the Zenith?

I frankly don't understand what advantage there is to DVI on a crt based set other than allowing connectivity to some future device that won't pass HD via component, which the Zenith DOES! crts are an analog display technology, not digital like dlp, lcd, plasma, etc, so using component just eliminates a digital to analog conversion in the set.

Yes, Rob.. They all seem to be using the analog component outs, with many of them still using CRT front projection systems.


Steve, I agree... I was thinking about this last night...
In a world where we like to limit conversions, ect..ect.. With a CRT display, the player does all the conversion within itself digitally, then only one conversion to analog, and that's it, til it hits your eye anyways.