Pioneer DV454

Author's product rating:   

Picture Playback	Excellent
Sound Level	Excellent
Range of Features	Excellent
Durability	Excellent
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Above average all - round unit
Disadvantages:	May struggle to find it except second hand

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I thought it might be worth writing a review of this DVD player as I have now owned it for almost 5 years and it is still going strong as well as having survived 3 house moves and some time in storage!

It should be noted that this unit has now been superceded by the DV464, so I am basing this review on people looking to pick up a second hand unit.

SPECIFICATIONS

Playable Disks DVD video, Video CD, music CD, MP3 CD /CD-R/CD-RW
DVD-R/DVD-RW and CDV (only audio part)
Horizontal Line Resolution >500
Signal to noise 118dB
Dynamic range 101dB
Frequency Response CD 4hz - 20kHz
DVD 48kHz 16bit,20bit,24bit: 4hz - 22kHz
DVD 96kHz 16bit,20bit,24bit: 4hz - 44kHz
Power Requirements 220-240V, 50/60Hz
Power Consumption 14W (0.25w in standby)
Dimensions Width 420 mm
Height 55 mm
Depth 278 mm
Weight 2.5 kg
192kHz/24-bit Audio DACs (Can only be used at 96kHz 24bit)
x2 and x4 picture zoom (still image and full-motion)
New On Screen Graphics
Picture parameter adjustments
Includes MP3 playback with on-screen navigator
On screen MP3 Bit-rate Meter
With an MP3 CD up to 250 folders with 250 files can be played
Sleek, super-slim design: just 55mm high
1 x SCART socket with RGB output

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

The DV454 is a unit that looks good, is sleek and matches up to most modern units - the remote control is a good size and not too bulky. The silver colour always helps these types of units look modern and it is an attractive thing to have sat underneath your telly!

SET-UP

On initial install, this unit is not the easiest to set-up - I should add, I am by no means a tech-wizard, but using it in conjunction with the Pioneer VSX-C100 amplifier and a Sky system so that I could set up a home cinema made for a tricky few hours of swearing and sweating. Although the instruction manual is comprehensive, it just didn't seem to match to my TV/Sky system too well.

If I had just set up the DVD player, I think it would have been easier so I should mention that as a caveat.

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

Good - disappointed to see there is no trouble shooting guide, and stupidly, there are no helpline/contact details for the UK, but it does act as a thorough manual.

PLAYBACK

Excellent performance from Pioneer. The visuals are superb, and sound quality is good too (try it with an audio CD to see what I mean!) - I've added the amplifier and bass unit to surround sound speakers, which only serve to heighten the experience, but even on its own, the DV454 is a superb piece of kit. The added bonus of MP3 playback may be useful, but I've only tried it once so far and it worked fine.

My only gripe on playback is that it doesn't play Region 1 DVD's - so I play any foreign imports on my £49.99 Sainsbury's TV/DVD player!!

REMOTE CONTROL

There are very few controls on the unit, so you'll have to use this rather dated looking looking piece of kit. It's fine though, and works well, with buttons that can work with chunky fingers - it's big enough to fit comfortably in your hand without being oversized and you can handle all the operating functions easily from here.

PERFORMANCE

I've already mentioned the length of time that I have had the machine - it's durability cannot be called into question and there have been no issues with any of it's features; it's obviously a well-made unit. Yes, it may have been surpassed by some of the newer players available, but if you want sonething that will do what it says on the tin and be a step up from a starter level DVD player, this is well worth considering.

OVERALL

A more than useful unit that will last, with plenty of features and good playback. Pioneer are a brand to trust and if you can pick this up cheaply, you'll have a bargain on your hands.