paranoized

pro-bassoonist,

The aspect ratio (4:3, 16:9) of the television has nothing to do with it. I assume you mean to ask how the PAL/NTSC conversion is different with a *progressive-scan* television as opposed to an interlaced television.

Progressive-scan eliminates the PAL shimmering problem completely, making the conversion transparent.

pro-bassoonist

Yes, indeed....that is what I meant. Thank you....looks like I should start saving for a big, 16/9, "progressive-scan" TV. It appears that this is the only way to avoid all these conversion issues.

Thank you!!

Matt Stevens

It's confirmed that the Malata 520 and later can play Fade subtitles. Only the N996 had a problem with them.

The JVC's ZOOM icon will not go away if you Zoom in on a non-anamorphic DVD. Obviously, if you don't havea widescreen TV, that is not an issue. If you do, it sure as heck is.

digitalfreaknyc

I haven't tried Phantom Menace but as I reported yesterday, the subtitles are there on Clones.

Truffaut Fan

Yeah, the JVC ZOOM icon is annoying as hell. I've played around with it a few times just out of curiousity but I'm using a 4:3 set so, I don't have a use for it anyway.

I'm using an interlaced TV. I have yet to see any "combing effects" that have been reported and I've watched about 50 DVDs on it so far.

It's pretty much flawless to my eyes. It's far beyond my expectations. Without a dual-standard TV, the only proper way to view PAL discs is with a player using the Mediamatics chip. The brands that come to mind are : JVC, Malata, Conia & Classic. I think there's a few more but I can't think of them right now.

So far, the only thing that annoys me is the PAL speedup. But there is no way around this whatsoever if you want to buy PAL DVDs. I have seen National Lampoon's Vacation probably 100 times in my life. I bought the Region 4 PAL disc from Australia because it is widescreen (although non-anamorphic) and the speedup was very, very distracting at first. However, I'll take the speedup over the lousy R1 version anyday. The color is really nice on the PAL disc.

My JVC seems to play DVD-R's flawlessly as well.

Jeff

Ted Kontos

pro-basoonist,

I have been using the JVC 500 for a few months now. My TV is a Wega, non-progressive, but with anamorphic squeeze capability. There is no shimmering on film-based PAL material when I use the "film" progressive mode. I know, you (and I) don't have a progressive scan TV, but this setting really works, for the conversion method reasons given in this thread. I was stunned at the difference when I switched from "auto" to "film". No shimmer at all! However, in video-based material (concerts, etc.), I see combing in the film mode. I find "auto" works best for video, but doesn't eliminate 100% of the shimmer.

That's my personal JVC experience.

pro-bassoonist

Truffaut Fan.......thank you for taking some time off to answer my questions. This makes me certain that the JVC will be my next player. I simply wantedto get some final thoughts from people around here before I order one. I have been readling this thread for over 3 months now and it appears that different people get different results. So....thank's for your info!!

Ted Kontos....thank you for the info as well. The only reason, as noted above, for me to obtain one of these players is so I get many of the French movies that are not available on the DVD market. I will hardly ever get a direct-to-TV-material....at least before I get a progressive scan TV.

So ......I take it from both of your comments that if I wish to view film-based materila on PAL dvd I should be relatively safe....or as much as this is feasible......

Later.

Matt Stevens

OK, scratch that. HKflix has stated they do NOT work on the 520's they have in stock. This is getting beyond confusing. How can different people be having different results?

digitalfreaknyc

No idea...but again...Clones works fine.

Heliosphann

Pro-Bass let me know when you get your JVC and then we can go in on an order from CINESTORE to save on shipping!

Just to put my two cents in I've got a n996 and a Wega 32" w/16x9 squeeze. The Shimmering is a bitch on some discs and others it's no problem. I'd definitley go with the JVC if I had to go with a player now. It sucks the 520 can't play MPEG audio and has had some other problems... I've been so pleased w/my n996!!!

no pants

any one have the malata dav-3600 and what do you think of it?? i have a n996 and love it and was thinking of getting another, just curious.

thanks

pants

pro-bassoonist

Heliosphan.....THIS WOULD BE GREAT!!!
I have quite a few titles I want to get.....but the shipping over there is a killer.

Where in Indiana do you live......I would love to do this.....let me know......??

Heliosphann

sent you an e-mail Pro-Bassoonist

raptor3076

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's confirmed that the Malata 520 and later can play Fade subtitles. Only the N996 had a problem with them.

OK, scratch that. HKflix has stated they do NOT work on the 520's they have in stock. This is getting beyond confusing. How can different people be having different results?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I just got a JVC 500 from hkflix and it will not play the fade subs. Is this something that can be fixed with a firmware upgrade? Is the 500 even upgradable? It is not that big of a deal but would be nice if it could be fixed.

pro-bassoonist

Heliosphann.....I sent you an email!!!

Ted Todorov

Is that really true?? I asked a friend who has a 520 and he reported it playing MPEG II audio just fine. Do you have a digital (optical) connection to your receiver?

Heck, even my lamo Toshiba 3109 can play MPEG II audio when set to PCM out. My Malata 996 doesn't need to be reset in any way -- both a conected via optical cable to a Denon AVR-2800.

Ted

digitalfreaknyc

no...amend that. It works on Attack of the Clones. I don't think that TPM works on it. I got TPM before it was released...well...about 2 weeks before it was released...as I've received Clones 2 weeks before it was released. So no repressing.

Matt Stevens

From what it looks like, it's a firmware issue. Some of the mods revert the firmware back to an earlier firmware that does NOT support the faded subtitles. Needless to say, that's bad.

Whatever player I buy MUST be able to play the Fade subtitles from both STAR WARS dvd's AND, it must be able to play the subtitles from the AnimEigo MACROSS DVD Boxed Set properly. My Malata N996 chokes on those subtitles.

Josh McBride

I'm planning on getting a region free player this Christmas but all this talk has me MORE than confused. I'm not technically minded, so all this talk has me scratching my head...

I was leaning towards the JVC 500 but even that one seems to be having some problems. First I had thought about the Malata 3600 but I've heard of multiple problems with that one, the one bothering me most was the overheating issue.

Seeker

I got my 3600, but it's still in the box. Won't be able to crack it till this weekend... work gets in the way.

paranoized

::cringe:: Yuck, I forgot to consider that possibilty. Firmware downgrading is indeed a very lame practice, as proven by this subtitle bug.

We know raptor3076's JVC500 has the bug, so it would appear that HKflix are selling downgraded JVCs. Not pointing the finger, as they might not even be aware of what their mods are doing. However, an up to date mod should *never* require reverting to an older firmware version.

So, does anyone have a modded JVC that plays the fade subtitles alright?

raptor3076

Thing thing that makes me mad is that even if they do get it so that the mod can be done with a new version of the firmware that fixes the problem those of us who bought the ones with the problem are just SOL.

Matt Stevens

It's also possible they had a large stock of the older JVC's (before JVC fixed the problem) and are just going through it.

I have been on this problem and talking with a lot of people, including HKflix, and am currently looking for the best option for us. In other words: A player that will play ALL subtitles properly. Malata has newer models with the Panterra III chip coming very soon.

If you all can wait until mid-December, I think we'll have an option by then. I really do. So no worries. Just hang in there.

paranoized

Matt -

Have you contacted JVB Digital about this? For what it's worth, I fired off a few emails to some dealers. I asked them straight out if their JVC XV-S500 mods involve any type of firmware downgrading.

JVB seems to be the most knowledgeable of the bunch, and assured me that their mod does not interfere with the player's firmware as received from the factory.

I'm curious about the new Malatas, but my faith in them is shaken since all their "improvements" so far involve removing functionality from the product.

Matt Stevens

I haven't talked with them. Malata removed some of the Expert menu stuff because they were getting flooded with problems from users who didn't know what the hell they were doing in there. Heck, look at all the HELP questions in this very forum. People were always mucking up the settings, sticking the player in PAL mode when they have an NTSC TV, etc etc.

I'm hoping to settle on a new player in less than 30 days (IF one will handle the Fade subs). If I do, I'll test the living hell out of it and post the results here.