Price Paid:  $239.00 from Circuit City

Summary:
The Pioneer DV-333 has been reliable for over 5 years. Newer machines have better video performance. But the music playback is just excellent in the low price range of the DVD-333.

I was hooked on the rave reviews of the new Toshiba 3950 last year (2004). Great for DVD movies, the Toshiba 3950 music playback was simply horrid! Then, I performed the 'Secret CB' type mods from the 'audiophiles' best advice on the internet audio sites. Still a load of $hit folks.

Strengths:
Good music playback. Reads all DVD movies without any issues.

Weaknesses:
It is now an old machine. Although I never experienced any failures, others report a different story. Must have had a bad production run.

Similar Products Used:
Toshiba 3950.

Price Paid:  $189.00 from Best Buy

Summary:
Ours also has failed! We have had it almost 3 years, but have watched so very few dvds on it, maybe used it 20 times over the last 3 years, that it seems ridiculous that it's not working already! It just quit reading the dvds and would just spit them out.

Strengths:
Worked for awhile. While it worked, was easy to use and seemed pretty good.

Weaknesses:
Doesn't work anymore

Price Paid:  $179.00 from Local Retailer

Summary:
Fairly good player for the money. Keeps going and going. Will play any DVD, CD, or CD-R you put in the tray.

Strengths:
plays about anything

Weaknesses:
remote, sometimes the disc tray is reluctant to stay open when you want it to.

Similar Products Used:
Yamaha, Sony

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I thought it might be of interest to some readers out there, that this little unit does have somethig to offer. Since purchasing this item a few years ago and having to go through 4 other players before then, I've not a single negative thing to say about it. This unit has played everything that I throw at it. It offers more features than other players on the market, given that it was released before progressive scan or mp3. This unit is also region free and code free automatically, so you can watch pal discs or dub ntsc discs to tape without a rediculous complex code of buttons to press, which to me comes in very handy. It also plays cd, cdrw, dvdr, dvdrw and video cd. Awsome resume capabilities. If you turn off the power, it remembers the last position of the disc, unlike some units I've come across. Not to mention a ton of other useful features which are all accessible from the remote. It's too bad if your item failed after a short time, that can happen and you can return it. However, mine is still partying like it was 1999! P.S. This unit is the heart of my dedicated 100" front project theater, and also supplies video to other rooms of the house.
Thanks for your time.

Strengths:
Everything!

Weaknesses:
Nothing!

Similar Products Used:
Toshiba, Hitatchi, Panasonic, Sony.

Price Paid:  $199.00 from Best Buy

Summary:
I got the DV 333 last Christmas and watch about 3 DVD's per month. Last week it stopped working - insert the disc, screen goes black. It's in the repair shop now, which will cost a minimum of $50. Needless to say, not pleased. Considering I clean it with a Lens cleaning disc once a month and hav watched minimal movies on it, very poor.

Strengths:
None - everything is average.

Weaknesses:
Broke after 6 months.

Similar Products Used:
Toshiba DVD