What is the difference between the pioneer dv 340 and 343? (1 Viewer)

[Gary_Roberts]

I've seen both of these models, and the 340 is cheaper. So does anybody know what the difference is?

 

[KeithH]

Gary, I haven't seen a Pioneer DVD player with a '340' in the model number. Pioneer does market the DV-341 and DV-440, which sell at Best Buy and the like for around $130 and $180, respectively. The '343 was a predecessor to the '341 and '440, with the '440 being the newest model. The '341 is scaled-back version of the '343. The most obvious difference between the '343 and '341 is that the '341 has no coaxial digital output, just an optical digital output (the '343 has both). The '343 looks like a better-built machine all-around. Frankly, I wouldn't buy the '341. It just looks like a dud to me.

The '440 is a very nice machine from what I have seen from display units at Best Buy. Build quality is very solid for $180, and the '440 has a coaxial digital output in addition to an optical digital output. Also, the '440 offers playback of MP3-encoded CDs, unlike the '343 and '341. Some people here have said that the '440 has a very intuitive interface for access and playback of MP3s from CDs. In fact, the '440 is said to be much better in that regard than the Panasonic DVD-RV31. The '440 is also a very sleek player, as it is only 2.25" tall, and it has a 24/192 Burr-Brown DAC. For $180, the '440 looks to be a lot of player.