Pioneer DV444 Progressive-Scan DVD Player (Silver)

• Progressive-scan ouput reduces flicker and artifacts for a more filmic image
• 10-bit video DAC for excellent video quality with analog devices
• 192 kHz/24-bit audio DAC for superb sound quality
• Dolby Digital- and DTS-compatible digital output
• MP3-CD playback

Bought this player in September/2001. It has an excellent range of hook-up options including a full range of digital and analog alternatives. This means that it will fit whatever configuration you have and will take advantage of the top end features of your other units (monitor/TV/amplifier/receiver). It also means that it will be able to grow along with your system. The manual is well structured and steps you through the hookup and basic setup quickly. You can then move into the custom setup to mix and match to your preferences and the other components of your system. Once you get used to the on screen menu with navigation through the features and options then finer tuning of your setup is a piece of cake.

The player features are as advertised including the Audio CD (off-the-shelf and burned) and MP3 playback and navigation functions. I was looking primarily for progressive scan DVD features and was not disappointed. The quality of image is excellent and it is able to drive my Hitachii projection TV better than the older Pioneer DVD/LD player that it replaced (being retired to another room with our LD collection).

The slimline features and easy to read display make this unit easy to fit into any setup. If you have a TV/DVD setup in mind, then the feature of being able to control both the set and player from the one control will come in handy. The unit does a good job of self identifying the features of your components as well as the media that you have fed it. It takes the guesswork out of setup and operations.

Bottom Line: I'd highly recommend the Pioneer DVD-444 if you are looking for a first time DVD/CD unit, an extension to your existing setup or an upgrade to a DVD unit that can deliver a higher quality image.

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I have had this machine for three months now and have a high end home theater system. I have been using laser discs since the invention of AC-3 and had two other DVD players before this one. I can say that this has been the most solid player to date the the sound and video output are awesome. I would highly recommend this player to anyone seeking a high quality player that supports most new and old formats in the DVD universe today.

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This DVD player is nice looking. Very thin and the remote works well. I found the picture to be a little bit grainy on a 57" Sony widescreen HDTV. I dont know if I expected too much or what. It does look better than my laser disc player, but not much difference between the xbox and the dvd player. I think for the price, you cant go wrong.

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BUYERS, BE AWARE.

I had 2 DVD players made by Pioneer. They are nice machines... for a little over a year. Then the warranty expires. The problem these players seem to have has to do with poorly designed dual laser pick up (one for DVDs, the other one for CDs and Video CDs). The first player I had stopped playing CDs and Video CDs, I got the other one this one stopped playing DVDs.

On the positive side the picture is very good, so if you are after a short-term buy go ahead, otherwise look for another brand.

Pioneer DVDR software suck! stay away. they need to actually hire interface designers to redo the software.. its unusable.