Recent content by Phil Nichols

Jesse, "Besides being well-built, I'd like a pro model because they can play the linear (non-Hi-Fi, often referred to as "normal audio") in stereo with Dolby NR. Most consumer Hi-Fi decks can only play it in mono, which has bugged me for over 20 years now. A number of tapes were released in...

Mattias, "Too me, great VHS playback is extremly importent, because too many great movies are still only on VHS and not on DVD(or LD)." Right you are! That's why I keep my S-VHS/VHS system tuned up and in my HT system. I'd keep LD equipment around too if I had it.

"It's quite a nice VCR, but the picture quality isn't quite as good as my Mitsubishi HR-S770" Ummmm ............ the only VCR I've ever heard that could match or perhaps very slightly best the R1000 was the professional Pany AG1980 that sported a retail of ~$1800. (The R1000 retailed for...

"But for HT a good VCR (yes I said it) is important." I agree 100%. I actually have a pretty good HT DVD system but nevertheless am not replacing many of my widescreen VHS movies because they appear so good through my system from this Sony VCR. I even have some Super VHS commercial movies...

Steve Berger, I'm using a Sony SLV-R1000 SVHS prosumer VCR that puts out spectacular VHS images that almost equal my best SAT channels in PQ quality. No noise to speak of, no jitter, licensed Faroudja built-in digital sine filtering, and superlative FM stereo sound. What's you opinion of...

Tim, I responded to your same post with my 2 cents worth over on the AVS DVD Players forum. :)

Nathan_R, "....quite frankly I'm happy I don't have to sit through forced trailers and pointless animated menus." I just found out on another forum how to stop this with most DVDs: When the first DVD screen comes on (after the FBI screen) hit stop twice then hit run. The DVD then starts...

Mattias_ka, Interesting setup and comments related to your continued use of a VCR! I assume you feed your VCR into the Crystalio for upscaling/processing before feeding the CRT projector? How do your VCR images look after this treatment? I get some pretty good viewing from my R1000...

I guess I'm about the only one left here who actually use a VCR for commercial prerecorded movies! I know, Iknow .... insane. I use a 20lb Sony SLV-R1000 pro VCR (with Nordost S-Video cabling) for VHS and S-VHS OAR movies in my collection that I can't see replacing with DVD. Some are not...

Chuck, '....what could possibly make a DVD player worth 1K these days? You would have to be crazy to pay that much for such a machine. Methinks it is probably pointed at those with egos just as big as the price." I assume you saw my post above on analog audio and video? Re even analog...

Seth, "There's nothing stopping someone from making a good sub $200 DVD player. All you would need is a properly programmed Genesis/Sage/Faroudja chip and a DVI...." Of course you're not going to get good analog sound out of an El Cheapo player. Some of us don't use A/V's as we go direct...

ChrisWiggles, You reminded me that on my Elite RPTV I do have a pure RGBHV input that is left alone all the way to the guns. I've tried it once for HD from my DISH STB, but no image adjustment is permitted by the RPTV. I wonder how this would look for DVD's?? Interesting idea. I don't use...

Eric, "How to spot a weak argument:" Interesting list, but I wonder if it's academically sound? Now about how a matching list of "How to make a strong argument:" - without consistingly only of the usual stuff such as: - "the scientific method" - "facts/facts/facts" -...

You guys may not want to take your ears too much for granted. I have my HT audio-calibrated at 75dB but rarely run it that loud regardless of the DVD's inherent dynamic range. Tinitus (ringing) started up in my left ear about 3 years ago, it won't go away, and it's no fun. The only cause I...

MannyE, How "universal" do you want to be? Are you willing to settle for DVD-A audio and forego SACD?? If you, why not at least consider a world class used DVD player to "get you by" for as long as you keep standard DVDs in your collection. One of the finest players ever built (without...