Malata and beyond: discussing the Region-Free DVD player options
12-23-01, 10:14 AM
#51
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I'm still trying to decide between the malata and the moded jvc 75... I have a xbr400 so the xy scaling feature is not a concern. I am only looking for dvd and potentially vcd playing, so dvd audio cd's are not a factor. There is a $70 price difference (including shipping) with the malata coming out cheaper - and the possibility of an extended warranty (through avdeals). The JVC is sleeker... hmm.
Ok question: Will the JVC modification cancel the 1 year warranty that naturally comes with it? And at the end of the day, without the xy scaling as a factor, Which do people ultimately prefer?
Ok question: Will the JVC modification cancel the 1 year warranty that naturally comes with it? And at the end of the day, without the xy scaling as a factor, Which do people ultimately prefer?
Last edited by bhomatude; 12-23-01 at 10:16 AM.
12-23-01, 07:44 PM
#52
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The seller of the JVC offers a warranty, but not a year. His alteration voids the factory warranty.
I do prefer the Malata. With a 4:3 XBR, just be aware that when viewing "non-anamorphic" DVD's, you must change the user settings to 4:3, otherwise the picture will be formatted for 16X9 sets.
I do prefer the Malata. With a 4:3 XBR, just be aware that when viewing "non-anamorphic" DVD's, you must change the user settings to 4:3, otherwise the picture will be formatted for 16X9 sets.
12-28-01, 07:43 PM
#55
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Got my Black 996 today. Very happy. Right out of the box it ran all my HKL, Dragon, Tartan, Legacy DVDs without a hitch.
Only thing I did have to change is the video filter. Wow. I thought I'd have to do some remote control hack or something.
I was thinking of the JVC before I bought the Malata, but realized the independent x-y scaling was a must.
Only thing I did have to change is the video filter. Wow. I thought I'd have to do some remote control hack or something.
I was thinking of the JVC before I bought the Malata, but realized the independent x-y scaling was a must.
12-29-01, 10:45 AM
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Re: JVC XV-S60 is decent MALATA N996 alternative
Originally posted by Matt Stevens
Player can correct the aspect ratio of non-anamorphic DVD's in 480p mode on HDTV's that force anamorphic squeeze, but widescreen material is over-zoomed by aprox 15 to 20 percent. There is no X-Y scaling with the player, unlike the N996.
Player can correct the aspect ratio of non-anamorphic DVD's in 480p mode on HDTV's that force anamorphic squeeze, but widescreen material is over-zoomed by aprox 15 to 20 percent. There is no X-Y scaling with the player, unlike the N996.
12-29-01, 03:02 PM
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AVDeals shows a VGA output model for the Malata that is $100 more. What is this? Anyone have the "fixed" Malata? Is it really fixed? I have waited for the upgrade so I want to know if it's safe to get one now.
Thanks!
Thanks!
12-29-01, 06:16 PM
#58
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Wow. VGA output would have been sweet! The Malata should be shipping with the 11/9/2001 Firmware. I just checked mine. Absolutely no problems thus far. Pioneer VSX-509 Reciever.
12-30-01, 12:48 PM
#59
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a few questions-
i'm just making my first, tentative steps into watching PAL movies on my FP. i'm assuming that the projector will take the pal signal without the need of PAL to NTSC conversion. if this is the case, then wouldn't i want to get the best value player and just have it region moded?
right now i have a panasonic rp56.
it was a close call between a JVC 65GD and the panny, and in the end i went with the panny for the superior deinterlacing ( an absolute must on an 80" screen, imho). however i liked just about everything else better on the jvc.
if i have a jvc modified, i'm still going to be stuck w/ the inferior deinterlacing, right?
if the conversion isn't an issue would i be smarter to go w/ another RP56?
any other issues i need to know in regards to viewing PAL here in the US?
i'm just making my first, tentative steps into watching PAL movies on my FP. i'm assuming that the projector will take the pal signal without the need of PAL to NTSC conversion. if this is the case, then wouldn't i want to get the best value player and just have it region moded?
right now i have a panasonic rp56.
it was a close call between a JVC 65GD and the panny, and in the end i went with the panny for the superior deinterlacing ( an absolute must on an 80" screen, imho). however i liked just about everything else better on the jvc.
if i have a jvc modified, i'm still going to be stuck w/ the inferior deinterlacing, right?
if the conversion isn't an issue would i be smarter to go w/ another RP56?
any other issues i need to know in regards to viewing PAL here in the US?
12-30-01, 05:43 PM
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So you're saying the JVC auto-zooms on non-anamorphic ws DVD's, but it zooms too much? Could this be corrected by zooming manually w/ the JVC?
12-30-01, 11:32 PM
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I haven't kept up with Malata happenings since AVDeals initially stopped selling them. IIRC, they stopped shipping them because the firmware upgradeable version had problems retaining the firmware after upgrades, and because of poor support from Malata... is that correct?
So, not only do I see that they're selling them again, they've added an upgrade switch. The thing is, I've read that the VGA version has the switch, but it isn't clear to me whether or not the non-VGA version does. Can anyone who has seen, or has bought, a recent unit confirm either way?
Now that there's new firmware, does this fix all of the previously known bugs? Finally, while this may not be known, I'll put the question forth anyway... Can Malata be counted on to provide more support via additional firmware upgrades, should any be required, in the future?
Out of curiosity, can the player defeat non-removable player-generated subtitles? This might have been asked (and answered) before, which leads me to my next question... Is there a Malata FAQ on the web somewhere? If not, any of our resident connoisseurs care to volunteer?
So, not only do I see that they're selling them again, they've added an upgrade switch. The thing is, I've read that the VGA version has the switch, but it isn't clear to me whether or not the non-VGA version does. Can anyone who has seen, or has bought, a recent unit confirm either way?
Now that there's new firmware, does this fix all of the previously known bugs? Finally, while this may not be known, I'll put the question forth anyway... Can Malata be counted on to provide more support via additional firmware upgrades, should any be required, in the future?
Out of curiosity, can the player defeat non-removable player-generated subtitles? This might have been asked (and answered) before, which leads me to my next question... Is there a Malata FAQ on the web somewhere? If not, any of our resident connoisseurs care to volunteer?
12-31-01, 01:42 AM
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I'm not sure if they'll have a new firmware in the future, but the current firmware seems to fix all the problems (except for the TPM subtitles that are the faults of the Mediamatics chip, not of the player). I guess AV Deals started selling the player again because they couldn't find the replacement player... Malata N996 is still the best of a kind.
There is one FAQ that I know exists (http://www.peterfinzel.de/cufaq.htm), but it's in German. You can get most of the info at this message board and others, including Home Theater Forum and AVS Forum. Just do the search and tons of threads should show up.
BTW, it doesn't defeat the forced subs.
There is one FAQ that I know exists (http://www.peterfinzel.de/cufaq.htm), but it's in German. You can get most of the info at this message board and others, including Home Theater Forum and AVS Forum. Just do the search and tons of threads should show up.
BTW, it doesn't defeat the forced subs.
01-06-02, 04:49 PM
#63
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Hey not sure if this is the proper forum or not but... I have a Toshiba DVD-Rom player with a Holloywood Plus Decoder Card & my computer has 192 MBs of RAM and an Intel Celeron 400 MH processor, On the computer the DVD's play flawlessly, Region 2 DVD's on the TV out when I hook up an S-Video cable to my TV the Video looks very good but it looks like in some areas that the video is a little choppy kinda studdering. Is this because of my Graphic card on my computer? I only have a standard graphics card on my computer not a fancy 3D, gaming one. Or is it because of the PAL conversion from the computer doesn't work very well when played on the TV? Like I said it plays perfectly on my computer only when I play it out to my TV does it look like it is kinda choppy not so bad that I can't watch it after awhile you don't notice it because you get used to it. The picture is still perfect but the video movement is not as smooth. The TV is a Philips Magnavox TV(only 1 year old).
So any suggestion or idea's why this is happening?? I am in the process of getting a better graphics card but have not got it yet.
BUT what I really want to know is IF I purchse a Malata N 996 will the same thing happen. I am seconds away from purchasing one of these. Everyday I visit the site and go through the check out but I need to know if the video playback is giong to be the same as when I play a DVD from my DVD-Rom. I really want one of these babies but if the video playback is no better than the DVD-Rom I will be no better off. Is it something to do with the PAL conversion?
So any suggestion or idea's why this is happening?? I am in the process of getting a better graphics card but have not got it yet.
BUT what I really want to know is IF I purchse a Malata N 996 will the same thing happen. I am seconds away from purchasing one of these. Everyday I visit the site and go through the check out but I need to know if the video playback is giong to be the same as when I play a DVD from my DVD-Rom. I really want one of these babies but if the video playback is no better than the DVD-Rom I will be no better off. Is it something to do with the PAL conversion?
01-07-02, 08:49 AM
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I had the Holyywood + card and the exact same problem. Stuttering with PAL titles. It drove me nuts.
So no more Hollywood + and I am a now long time MALATA N996 owner. Do it. Trust me, you WILL be loving it.
www.avdeals.com has the best deal and service, though they are on vacation now. Make sure if you buy from someone else that it has the NOVEMBER FIRMWARE! Ask and make sure! That is very important.
So no more Hollywood + and I am a now long time MALATA N996 owner. Do it. Trust me, you WILL be loving it.
www.avdeals.com has the best deal and service, though they are on vacation now. Make sure if you buy from someone else that it has the NOVEMBER FIRMWARE! Ask and make sure! That is very important.
01-07-02, 05:58 PM
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Re: Modifying JVC XV-S6x (was JVC XV-S60 is decent MALATA N996 alternative)
Originally posted by Matt Stevens
For all you international DVD watchers... The modified JVC XV-S60: A quick report. In depth review coming soon...
I have had the player for two days now, using it in both interlaced (via S-Video) and 480p (via component) modes. So far this modified, MEDIAMATICS chip driven player is performing nicely, with a perfect PAL to NTSC conversion and the ability to play DVD's from any region with 2 presses of the remote.
...
Default is region 1. Changing [regions] is annoying, because you have to wait for the player to reset ...
For all you international DVD watchers... The modified JVC XV-S60: A quick report. In depth review coming soon...
I have had the player for two days now, using it in both interlaced (via S-Video) and 480p (via component) modes. So far this modified, MEDIAMATICS chip driven player is performing nicely, with a perfect PAL to NTSC conversion and the ability to play DVD's from any region with 2 presses of the remote.
...
Default is region 1. Changing [regions] is annoying, because you have to wait for the player to reset ...
What did you have to do to modify the player to be multiregion? Send it off somewhere? Where? What cost? Is the mod something that a person who is handy with a soldering iron could do himself?
Keywords for other people looking: XV-S60BK, XV-S62SL, XV-S65GD (same model with different color cases).
01-07-02, 06:07 PM
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The thing is, I've read that the VGA version has the switch, but it isn't clear to me whether or not the non-VGA version does.
Cheers.
01-07-02, 06:17 PM
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What's VGA output and is it worth an extra $100?
Last edited by Abstrakt; 01-07-02 at 06:22 PM.
01-07-02, 06:23 PM
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Re: Re: Modifying JVC XV-S6x (was JVC XV-S60 is decent MALATA N996 alternative)
<small>
</small>Welcome to the forum, David_C.
Can I point you in the direction of the "Malata Problems Busting Threads" part one & part two with the observation that there are a lot of good points to be found therein.
A search (see above on the right for the button) using the term malata* and specifying to look in the titles only, in this forum over the past 6 months might also throw up a wealth of potentially helpful info.
Originally posted by David_C
What did you have to do to modify the player to be multiregion? Send it off somewhere? Where? What cost? Is the mod something that a person who is handy with a soldering iron could do himself?
What did you have to do to modify the player to be multiregion? Send it off somewhere? Where? What cost? Is the mod something that a person who is handy with a soldering iron could do himself?
Can I point you in the direction of the "Malata Problems Busting Threads" part one & part two with the observation that there are a lot of good points to be found therein.
A search (see above on the right for the button) using the term malata* and specifying to look in the titles only, in this forum over the past 6 months might also throw up a wealth of potentially helpful info.
01-08-02, 01:24 PM
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David_C,
Try JVB Digital (http://www.jvb.nl/digital/). They sell the mod kit, as well as do the modification by themselves. According to the website, the Do-It-Yourself mod seems to be easy to do.
Try JVB Digital (http://www.jvb.nl/digital/). They sell the mod kit, as well as do the modification by themselves. According to the website, the Do-It-Yourself mod seems to be easy to do.
01-09-02, 02:59 PM
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So does this "upgrade switch" on the Malata N996 now mean that we can safely upgrade with newer firmware ourselves by CD-R if the need and opportunity arises?
There may be one of these in my future yet.
There may be one of these in my future yet.
01-16-02, 11:11 PM
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ok, after reading all of the glowing reviews that the malata has gotten i am very close to purchasing this. since it is a foreign made player, is it worth it to buy a warranty along with it or would i just be throwing my money away?