Pioneer DV-454-S

Author's product rating:   

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

Advantages:	Chock full of features for a great price !
Disadvantages:	No inbuilt Dobly/DTS decoders no DVD + R support .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

DVD has taken-off in the UK, and many people - many of used to the simple yet flawed VHS tape are considering taking the plunge and entering the DVD format.

Never feat Pioneer is here, for a DVD newbie - or someone who wants the convenience of DVD without the expense this offering from Pioneer is perfect.

Pioneer helped invent the DVD format, and nowadays they make (in my opinion) the best DVD format hardware around. Check out my Pioneer DVR106D review!

Pioneer have also bowed to pressure (and market demands) for an entry-level DVD player with great features and the slim-line design that expensive models had enjoyed.

Pioneer DV454-S
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Important Features:
-->Slimline design (only 5.5cm high!) whic is both ergonomic and great looking!
-->MP3 CD: MP3 Data discs (MP3 files burnt onto CDs in data mode) and can be played. Very useful if your player is in a living room, long playlists (170 or so tracks!) can be put on and played.
-->CD-R/-RW playback: Can support information written onto both CD writables and CD rewritables.
-->DVD-R/-RW playback: Backuped films and homebrew movies can be played on the unit.

Technical Information:
Playback Media: DVD/VCD/SVCD/CD-R/DVD-R/CD-RW/DVD-RW

Twin-Wave Laser Pickup: Simply means that the player has two lasers (one for CD and one for DVD). Correct laser is automatically selected, just means that the playback is smoother and better quality.

Audio:
Unfortunately this unit does not have built in DTS/Dolby AC3 (5.1) decoders. Which means that for a buyer really looking to keep the price down they will be unable to have proper cinema-like surround sound only fake surround sound out of two speakers.

Virtual Dolby Digital (ProLogic): Downmixes a Dolby 5.1 surround source and recreates the same effect through 2 speakers. Useful for users who aren't willing to splash-out on costly Home Theater Equipment but want the similar effect.

TruSurround by SRS: Same as above but with a few enhancments to make the "surround sound" experience out of 2 speakers even better.

Dolby Digital 5.1 output: Can output the Dolby Digital 5.1 signal to a Digital Audio coaxial cable or Optical Digital cable. This must then be fed into an A/V (Audio/Visual) receiver with a built-in Dolby Digital 5.1 decoder. From this receiver the sound is then outputted to the 5 speakers and 1 subwoofer. The ability to turn the Dolby Digital 5.1 on and off is included.

Dolby Digital EX (6.1): The unit can output to Dolby Digital EX 6.1, which simply adds another speaker directly behind the listener. This adds to the "localisation" of the audience and makes the experience more akin to that of a cinema. This requires both a compatible to decoder and additional cables/speaker which of course adds cost the equipment. A nice feature, but one that is rarely used by me (I use plain old 5.1!), or anyone else I know that has such a setup.

DTS Output: A rival format to Dolby 5.1/EX 6.1: Has far superior quality (in scientific tests and through experience). This feature is fantastic to have, unfortunately many DVDs don't come with DTS (because the soundtrack is huge compared to Dolby which means they can't always fit it on). It is also more costly to license. Note: Because Dolby is so more widely used, if you want DTS it must be selected from an audio menu WITHIN THE DVD itself (Navigation Home>Audio Setup>DTS) or something to that effect. It is not selected from the A/V receiver on the DVD itself!

MPEG Audio Output: Another format for regular DVD playback (stereo or mono). Is irrelevant for everyday knowledge. See Below.

LPCM Output: A rival to the above regular DVD audio (stereo or mono). Both LPCM and MPEG Audio (MPA) are widely used, depending on the film studio. All DVDs have support for both so this feature is irrelevant.

Video Features:
Zoom Feature: Great for err...Zooming! This is good for action shots or whatever when higher detail is required. Never use it myself and many DVDs have this anyway (search around on your remote) but nice to have anyway.

Terminals:
Scart: Has 1 Scart output for direct connection to Television sets.

RGB-Y/C Video Output (on Scart): Don't actually get a RGB-Y/C output, simply fits an adapter over the Scart terminal. Great for television sets that don't have Scarts or almost all A/V receivers which don't have Scart inputs.

S-Video: Essentially identical to Scart cables except it comes in a much smaller spherical package. Again for direct connection to TV sets.

Video/Audio Output: Regular Video and Audio output for older equipment.

Digital Coaxial Output: Used to transfer Dolby Digital 5.1/DTS to A/V receivers or other equipment which can then decode them and feed them along to speakers. Standard for most A/V receivers - fantastic Digital quality.

Digital Optical Output: Same as above except a tiny optical output, used usually on more expensive A/V receivers and equipment.

Other features:
Great User Screen: Includes a great GUI (graphical user interface) for more aesthetic and easy operation. Selectable to allow basic operation or expert function (expert includes selection of audio track etc).

Slow-Play DVD: Allows DVDs to be played in slow-motion. Interesting!

Size: 42cm wide, 5.5cm high, 27.6 cm deep.

Price:
This DVD player can be found widely online and instores. Expect to pay between £115.00 and £130.00 for this player.

Overall:
Phew I've said alot already but this is a great player crammed with features (and a great slimline design) at an amazing price!

Chris