Home > Consumer Reviews > Pioneer DV454-S Silver Multi-region DVD Player

Now, purchasing my 2nd DVD Player, I wanted a better one than last obviously. On receiving the DVD player it has all my expectations
1) Must be multi-region
2) Must Play RCE Disks
3) Optical Out
4) Easy to use and setup

I tested the player with Gladiator (R1), Charlies Angels (R1), Snatch (R1), all playing beautifully.

I would reccommend this product to anyone wanting a quality DVD, plus you get the added bonus of it being so slimline.

...The quality of video and audio on offer is simply incredible.

My last DVD player was a Sony. Since my 3-year-old girl had put the poor unit through (what seemed like) a 10,000 hour tour-of-duty we decided it was time to renew.

I was lucky enough to test drive the 454s in the flesh at a specialist hi-fi store (I own a 32-inch Toshiba wide screen TV) and had originally decided to opt for a Toshiba player. Boy am as I glad I checked this out first ...

Quite simply, the Pioneer's output quality left everything Toshiba & Sony had in this price bracket for dust. Razor sharp picture, colours I hadn't even noticed in previous viewing(!) & optically delivered digital audio.

An important feature (to me anyway) was the ease by which 454s read home-footage DVD's I'd burnt on my PC (take note other manufacturers!). DVD-R in my test was a 99p DiskPlanet job with 45 mins of MPEG2 footage loaded. The 454s loaded all content with ease and skipped through my home-made chapters no problem.

No complaints - 5 star quality.

Yes, it is that good.

No, I don't know why it's this cheap.

All in all a very nice unit, excellent playback, good build quality, nice remote, no hassle to set up. Plays all the disks I have tried in it with no problems even some that have glitched on other players. Hard to beat at this price point

Without a doubt this is the best purchase I have made as of yet using the amazon service; I mean, Considering I was only buying a DVD player because my Playstation 2 conked out and I wasnt willing to spend alot of money, Im amazed by the quality, styling and price of this player, all being superb.

o Pro's over the PS2
Quieter
NO skipping or jumping
MUCH (x1000) better sound quality
MUCH (x20) better picture quality, using a gold plated RGB cable bought seperately - note the default AV cable is poor quality and shouldnt be used)
EASIER to play multi-ergion discs (the DVD-Region X CD by Datel was unreliable and time consuming)
MP3 and DVD-R compatiable (I can finally listen to my MP3 files on my Hi-Fi)
OPTICAL out AND AV out for mltiple ways of getting surround sound
COOL zoom feature allows lots of 'fun' with certain films in my collection

o Cons compared to the PS2
Wider (this is all I can think of! REALLY!)

Overall I love this player, there were a few important things it HAD to have to part me with my Hard-Saved cash (hey, remember Im only 16!)
1. Multi Region Compatiability
2. Easy set up (infact only 2 button presses were needed!) and navigation
3. DVD-R playback
4. RGB and DTS compatiability
- - as this player offers these features, and performs excellently in EVERY other dept. I have to give it a perfect rating, Its as simple as that!

This is my first DVD player and I wanted to be sure to make the right decision...and this is it. Spent a loooong time checking out its competitors and was fed up hearing about 'artifacts', 'poor audio', 'dodgy audio CD playback','stalling picture','no MP3', blah, blah, blah. I just wanted something to knock me off my feet without costing the earth. Test disks were 'Shrek' & 'LOTR'. Astounding rich colours and crisp sound. You will not be disappointed. Slimline and stylish. Just wish now that I got a bigger TV.