how does the Apex 5131 3 disc carousel at Sams for $89 compare to this, anyone have any info on it?
http://www.nerd-out.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=18601
Shocking list of DVDs this mother doesn't seem to play.... I think I will never buy a DVD player, there is always something which sucks... :-(
Shocking list of DVDs this mother doesn't seem to play.... I think I will never buy a DVD player, there is always something which sucks... :-(
haha, that's an AWESOME movie! I've seen it a couple of times too
Anywho, I got the 3201 during the CompUSA sale, pretty nice player. Easy Macrovision hack (I don't use it to copy DVDs-who would? but rather to just connect it to my VCR, makes it easier), and I haven't had any problems with it. I did the firmware for drive and total machine and it still works
woohoo,, I went over to Sears and pick one up,, it's the last one too. There was a $79 price tad infront but it ring up at $59, gave them my Sears card to get the aditional $6 off and brought the 2 year warranty for $8.99. total was around $65.. not bad for a player that plays "almost anything".
I can finally play my encoded SVCDs with the normal SVCD header, instead of the VCD header trick.
I can finally play my encoded SVCDs with the normal SVCD header, instead of the VCD header trick.
Nope, unless you hack it. Because this unit came with macrovision on by default, the VCR tuner can't decode the macrovision. And one more thing is that your VCR needs to have composite input (this unit does not have RF output)
Accually, it depends what VCR he has, some will play just fine when you connected through your VCR to TV, But only when you try to record then the Macovision will be noticeable on the recorded VHS TAPE. I not sure how this works but I guess it has something to do with the record button on the VCR, Pressing "REC" will turn on Macrovison in the VCR tuner or something like that. My 6 head Toshiba works just fine but my other 4 head JVC don't seem to do so well. My friend's 4 head Sony works fine too.
My girlfriend bought one today, and here's the experience.
After bringing the DVD player home, it'll play the DVDs and good quality original VCDs (tokyo love story series). However, none of the copied stuffs worked.... The playback jerked non stop on those..
After deactivating macrovision and setting region code to 9. The cheapo VCDs (purchased from Asia) worked, HOWEVER, the original VCDs suffered the same problem now. Switching the region code back to 1 will make it work again...
I do not know what caused it.. Just an irk to have to switch back and forth between region codes..
I'll ask her to try upgrading the firmware and see what happens next.
After bringing the DVD player home, it'll play the DVDs and good quality original VCDs (tokyo love story series). However, none of the copied stuffs worked.... The playback jerked non stop on those..
After deactivating macrovision and setting region code to 9. The cheapo VCDs (purchased from Asia) worked, HOWEVER, the original VCDs suffered the same problem now. Switching the region code back to 1 will make it work again...
I do not know what caused it.. Just an irk to have to switch back and forth between region codes..
I'll ask her to try upgrading the firmware and see what happens next.
ahhh,, I was all hype up about finally able to play my encoded SVCD's with the Svcd header that I forgot all about SVCD's with the VCD header that I have been using on my other dvd player (lots of CDR) ..
But , nooooooo:Q this player would not play SVCD with the VCD header.. On top of that it skipps my normal VCD/normal or CDR after the second time you open the tray after you power on the unit.
Example: power unit on, CD1 plays fine, eject, cd2 now skips, stop, play, still skills, eject, place back cd1, still skipps.
I found a work-around on this at vcdhelper,, when the vcd skips, press the EQUALIZER will stop and fix the skipping.
Why oh why can't there be a cheap but do everything dvd player?
But , nooooooo:Q this player would not play SVCD with the VCD header..
On top of that it skipps my normal VCD/normal or CDR after the second time you open the tray after you power on the unit. Example: power unit on, CD1 plays fine, eject, cd2 now skips, stop, play, still skills, eject, place back cd1, still skipps.
I found a work-around on this at vcdhelper,, when the vcd skips, press the EQUALIZER will stop and fix the skipping.
Why oh why can't there be a cheap but do everything dvd player?
This deal could get a little HOTTER. Did I hear the commercial correctly that Sears is offering 10% everything for this coming weekend??
Just tried to order one online and they come up as out of stock. Might have to call the local B&M when they open to see if they still have any.
EXman
Lifer
- Jul 12, 2001
- 20,079
- 15
- 81
Yes
this is the way mine is hooked up just follow the hack from nerd-out forum. ya I rent dvd's and tape them
I love this player had it for almost a year w/o problems.oh and this will play PAL dvd's as I had a Episode II dvd from malaysia that worked fine last summer.
Okay, I've got one of these. Picked it up at Sears today. I have accessed the menu, set the region code to 9, and the MacroVision to off. I can confirm that the MacroVision does seem to be disabled. To test this, I hooked the DVD up to my VCR and then on to the TV. Played back commercial pressed DVD movies that I know have MacroVision copy protection, picture is perfect. I cannot test the "region" disable, as I have no DVDs that are not region 1 (USA).
That is the good news. Here is the bad news. This unit will not load a DVD+RW disc that I have here. My Toshiba 434 DVD player loads the disc instantly, and plays with no problems. The Apex just hangs forever on "Loading...". I tried 3 different SVCDs. One would not load (same as the DVD+RW disc), one would load but played with weird jagged blobs all over the screen (no real picture), and the 3rd one got a decent picture but the sound was "jumpy". All 3 of the above mentioned SVCDs play perfectly in my Toshiba 434. I tried a VCD, and it worked fine.
DO NOT LOAD THE FIRMWARE on this page: http://www.nerd-out.com/darrenk/AD3201/AD3201.htm
I opened up my unit and could not find a sticker on the drive with "LT-xx" where "xx" is a two digit number like "23". So I hooked it up to my computer and used InfoTool, and this unit does not have an "LT" firmware. The firmware on mine is "1A28".
That is the good news. Here is the bad news. This unit will not load a DVD+RW disc that I have here. My Toshiba 434 DVD player loads the disc instantly, and plays with no problems. The Apex just hangs forever on "Loading...". I tried 3 different SVCDs. One would not load (same as the DVD+RW disc), one would load but played with weird jagged blobs all over the screen (no real picture), and the 3rd one got a decent picture but the sound was "jumpy". All 3 of the above mentioned SVCDs play perfectly in my Toshiba 434. I tried a VCD, and it worked fine.
DO NOT LOAD THE FIRMWARE on this page: http://www.nerd-out.com/darrenk/AD3201/AD3201.htm
I opened up my unit and could not find a sticker on the drive with "LT-xx" where "xx" is a two digit number like "23". So I hooked it up to my computer and used InfoTool, and this unit does not have an "LT" firmware. The firmware on mine is "1A28".
I ordered one to pick up at the Mall of America sears. I go there, wait 25 minutes, only to have them tell me not only do they not have it, but they never carried that model. Then they tell me to go up front to get a refund. I go up front, they tell me they can't give me a refund, I have to go on line and do it. I press the issue, they put their tiny little minds together, go see the dept. manager, who tells me the same thing, I press the issue some more, they then go to the store manager. Finally...someone with brains!!. He gives me a refund and a worthless apology.
one hour at sears and all I got was PO'd. bastages!
UPDATE: I originally was going to pick this up at a B&M store closer to me, but got an email saying they were out. My wife went there today to see if by chance they did have any. Sure enough, they did, but they had just sold the last boxed one, but they had the display model with no paperwork. She picked it up and got a 10% discount because it was a display model...$54! Since it has such a spotty reliability reputation, I went ahead and bought the 2 year protection plan. So $64 and I'm guaranteed a DVD player that will last for 2 years. So...I'm happy I got it a bit cheaper, but it reinforced my perception that they are nincompoops.
one hour at sears and all I got was PO'd. bastages!
UPDATE: I originally was going to pick this up at a B&M store closer to me, but got an email saying they were out. My wife went there today to see if by chance they did have any. Sure enough, they did, but they had just sold the last boxed one, but they had the display model with no paperwork. She picked it up and got a 10% discount because it was a display model...$54! Since it has such a spotty reliability reputation, I went ahead and bought the 2 year protection plan. So $64 and I'm guaranteed a DVD player that will last for 2 years. So...I'm happy I got it a bit cheaper, but it reinforced my perception that they are nincompoops.
TRENDING THREADS
-
Discussion Zen 5 Speculation (EPYC Turin and Strix Point/Granite Ridge - Ryzen 9000)- Started by DisEnchantment
- Replies: 25K
-
Discussion Intel Meteor, Arrow, Lunar & Panther Lakes Discussion Threads
- Started by Tigerick
- Replies: 21K
-
Discussion Intel current and future Lakes & Rapids thread- Started by TheF34RChannel
- Replies: 23K
-
-
Facebook
Twitter