Just call me 'Retro Gal' :D

[luckydog]

I also have a Phillips CDI game system with the movie player for VCD's and a VCD player for my PS1.

with a bunch of CDI movies and games.

call me Mr. Retrodog

[new in town]

I bought a Super VHS while I was Stationed in Japan. The price was right and the tapes were cheap. There was an Army Base 2 miles as the crow flies but 5 miles by road from where I was stationed at Atsigi. The Library there had about 5000 Laser Discs on hand. Over three years I probably copied about 300 of them over to Super VHS. When I got back to the states friends were bummed that they could not borrow the tapes to watch them on their regular VHS players.

One of my favorite collections from that endeavor is the complete James bond Movie collection.

[mr. fixx]

Ahh yes, laser disc. I remember this. Saw my 1st disc back in high school in the mid-80's. It was supposed to be the next big thing. Played Dragon's Lair in the arcade too.. Almost got me a laser disc player back then. Dunno why I didnt..

Fixx..

[Jarl Ayari]

The main difference between Laserdisc and DVD is the picture and some sound channels are completely analogue. The best picture quality I have managed to get yet out fo my LD player (Also a Pioneer) is the Star Wars trilogy Box Set.

Andi

[hanabi]

I am noticing that the sound thing is strange...

All this AC-3 business...



My Pioneer Player is the CLD 925 Model (NTSC & Pal compatable) and my amp should be able to handle this AC-3 decoding...

Some discs I can get 5.1 and some are only happy with Pro logic??

Using the Optical Output

I have Discs stating DTS, THX, etc etc

My poor head hurts!! but it's fun trying to figure it all out!!

[MrGneiss]

I'll have to get the Laserdiscs back out...could never afford many movies when they where new, but now with ebay, might be able to get a few!!

[FTKServices]

New in Town. I use to have the complete James Bond Collection on VHS but a lot got damaged. So now as of this weekend I have the complete collection on DVD. I love that series. Can't wait for next years new one.

[hanabi]

I am noticing that the sound thing is strange...All this AC-3 business...My Pioneer Player is the CLD 925 Model (NTSC & Pal compatable) and my amp should be able to handle this AC-3 decoding...Some discs I can get 5.1 and some are only happy with Pro logic??Using the Optical Output - I have Discs stating DTS, THX, etc etc
My poor head hurts!! but it's fun trying to figure it all out!!

Oh look I'm quoting myself!!


Seriously though, I have just discovered that I need a DD AC-3 Demodulator in order to receive the correct signal for my Amp (apparently my Amp is expecting a digital bitstream signal and laserdisc Players output RF?? although earlier Amps had these demodulators??)

I am now looking for a 'Stand Alone AC-3 Demodulator' so if anyone knows where I can purchase one - could they let me know

I have tried ebay, but only a couple are showing from Japan

This is a long shot (ok it's a really really really long shot!!) but if a member in England has one gathering dust and is willing to sell it let me know and we can do this through the PT Auction


Any help gratefully received as always

[daverob]

I am now looking for a 'Stand Alone AC-3 Demodulator' so if anyone knows where I can purchase one - could they let me know

They are extremely rare. Pretty much all of the early Dolby Digital amps had one built in, and it wasn't until DVD had taken over the market that amps started coming out without built in demodulators. Of course by this time the market for Laserdisc had dried up, so nobody needed a stand alone demodulator.

[hanabi]

They are extremely rare. Pretty much all of the early Dolby Digital amps had one built in, and it wasn't until DVD had taken over the market that amps started coming out without built in demodulators. Of course by this time the market for Laserdisc had dried up, so nobody needed a stand alone demodulator.

I suppose if I can't acquire a 'Stand Alone' then I could always source an older Amp, although I am reluctant to do that as I am more than happy with my current one for everything else...

I have also made enquiries on an AVforum, as there appears to be quite a few LD enthusiasts still around and they reckon they do come up on ebay now and again, although generally costing £100 or more

It would be a shame not to enjoy the Proper Sound Experience - so I will keep searching...

[Youngjedi]

You all have me intrigued! How is the quality? Is it "between" vhs and DVD? I started looking online, and from a fan POV, I would be interested in getting the original Star Wars trilogy (without the add-ons) and a player.

I would be interested in getting one that I don't have to flip the disc and I would be playing it on my Plasma.

[luckydog]

here's a good site for info

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laserdisc

screen resolution is almost double that of vhs for a lot sharper picture.

Laser rot was a problem, I have a few movie with it on some disks.

[hanabi]

Yes the Picture Quality is much better than VHS!!

The Sound will be fantastic as soon as I get that sorted properly!!

On my Pioneer Model - you don't have to flip the discs, although obviously if you're going to be watching all those sides
of Star Wars then you are going to have to get up eventually to change discs!!

I do believe there are Models that can carry two discs at a time??

and this is a great Website:

http://www.laserdiscarchive.co.uk/

[luckydog]

here's the one I got from goodwill with remote and manual for $14.99

http://www.laserdiscarchive.co.uk/la...r_cld-1070.htm

I also have one somewhere around here that has the karoake feature.

[fronzdan]

Wow, this is a trip down memory lane. I have a Pioneer LD player with maybe 20 discs. I don't have it hooked up to my current system, but after this, I'll probably do that. I have a lot of Disney animated features in CAV...one of my favorite 80's teen flicks "Can't But Me Love"...umm...Star Wars Ep4.. the two Timothy Dalton Bond flicks...some concert videos...Terminator...geez, now I'll have to go home and dig out my "giant DVDs" as my daughter calls them.

I think my old receiver could do AC-3...but do I even have it anymore? I might have sold it at a yard sale a while back.

[troydogtvtv]

This is the ld player I got. It looks like there still making them?
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pn...069747,00.html

[MrGneiss]

I got the LD player set back up!!

It's so cool!! I watched Speed..it looked great and sounded awesome!!

[hanabi]

I watched Return of the Jedi and Apollo 13 on Laserdisc a couple of days ago and it was like watching those movies for the very first time!!

I also have some very nice Star Trek Movies on their way to me this week and am looking forward to rediscovering them too!!



LLTR
LLLD

[Tulsa]

This trip down memory lane is very nice but before you go pumping money into this little jaunt, why don't you simply invest in new DVD titles to match what you have that work with todays equipment and will last longer and play better and sound better and well you know the rest?

[hanabi]

because I have been buying some HD DVD Titles...

but they just don't seem to be as much fun, for me, anyway

but I love Vinyl Records too - it's just 'me'!!