Pioneer DV-696AV HDMI Multi Region Code Free Zone Free UP-Converting DVD Player PAL/NTSC on ANY TV

Amazon Customer Reviews

(5 out of 5)

Great picture with HDTVs using HDMI cables, and plays Region 2 DVDs

I just hooked up my new Pioneer DV-696AV to my new 42" HDTV today and watched a couple of movies. The quality of the video from normal DVDs is very good, very close to true high definition. I'm connecting to my TV with an HDMI cable, which is what you need for this HDMI player to get the best quality picture. If you're using a home theater with surround sound speakers but don't have HDMI ports and switching on your receiver, like most of us, you will not be able to directly control or switch high definition audio directly through your receiver. [...] For a standard surround sound receiver, there is a work around that will allow you to hear surround sound through your stereo . You can use a digital or S-Video connection (or even a standard cable connection) between your HDMI DVD player and your stereo. You can use an HDMI cable between your HDTV satellite or cable box and your HDTV television. You can run a second HDMI cable from your HDMI DVD player directly to your HDTV . That way you will have surround sound with both your satellite/cable and DVD player inputs. Of course, you will also need to select the currect input device using the menu on your HDTV to run the TV or the DVD player and select the source of input on your receiver.

Also, the Pioneer DV-696AV plays both Region 1 (NTSC video, used in the US and other countries in the Americas and Region 2 (PAL) video used Europe, Greenland, Japan, South Africa, and the Middle East. You can watch movies in Region 2/PAL format on your Region 1/NTSC TV. This is a great advantage if you don't want to wait until movies from those regions get released in the US. I have yet to buy my first PAL DVD to test how this DVD player works however. But I do know that Amazon sites in other countries are the easiest way to buy PAL DVDs in the US since you can use your US logon to purchase DVDs on these websites.

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(5 out of 5)

The ULTIMATE ALL PURPOSE DVD UP-CONVERTER

Pros: If you want a DVD player that plays: DivX files, all region dvd's, Mpeg4's, avi's and having the ability to up-convert your audio video via HDMI or component or toslink, this is your dream machine. It also has the AC3 codec for true 5.1 surround. This DVD player has a great GUI and easy to use. Absolutely easy setup.

Cons: I'm not sure if its operator error or if its the hardware itself or if its the DVD but in some cases the dvd movie doesn't expand all the way on the screen. I would notice these issues with older dvd's but not with newer ones. I may have to do some tweaking.

Overall: excellent DVD player for ALL the bells and whistles it contains. Pioneer DV-696AV HDMI Multi Region Code Free Zone Free UP-Converting DVD Player PAL/NTSC on ANY TV

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