Price Paid:  $190.00 from APW Electronics

Summary:
I just bought it today, but I like the look and the price. I owned a Toshiba SD 3205 and it crapped out on me in less than 2 years, same problem that is listed in the reviews for this product. I've owned other Pioneer products and their CD players seem to last forever. I'm hoping that the quality is much better than the Toshiba I owned. I've browsed through the menus and everything seems to be easy to operate and setup. The picture quality is good although I think the Toshiba's was better, but I also paid $475.00 for it. I've tried different formats such as VCD and SVCD and they both work without a problem. The MP3 decoder is one of the main reasons why I bought this player. The remote is basic and easy to use, it's not as bad as the other reviews may state. although a backlit one would've been nice. Great buy for that price range of DVD players currently on the market. Recommended.

Strengths:
Slim design/ optical and coaxial digital out (unlike others in this price range)/ component, s-video, and composite video out for flexibility in hookups/ plays almost any common video format available/ PRICE-VALUE

Weaknesses:
kind of plain looking (no biggy)/ on-screen menus are boring to look at, but Pioneer has always been that way as far as I'm concerned.

Similar Products Used:
Toshiba SD-3205 Toshiba SD-3750 Toshiba SD-412

Price Paid:  $200.00 from Sears

Summary:
Having been fantastically satisfied with my previous Pioneer DV-333 I began looking for a new DVD player after I gave my DV-333 to my Mom & Little Sister. I had the opportunity to compare the Panasonics / Sonys / RCAs / Zeniths / JVCs in this price range as I was selling them at the time. The remote control is significantly better than the Fall 2001/Spring 2002 remotes of those brands - much more compact - but not as good as the DV-333's remote. The build quality is excellent - Coax & Toslink optical outputs @ 192khz no less. I noticed a difference, just little things in some of my favorite movies that never really stood out before, a few things in Unbreakable i never heard till I got this DVD player. CDs as well seem to sound richer with more depth and warmth than before as well. Reads scratched discs well - anything i throw at it works - great so impressed.

Strengths:
Great Audio Quality (in the price range) Coax / Toslink Optical Outputs Component/S-Vid/Composite Video MP3 Playback (Great interface for it as well)

Weaknesses:
No CD-Text Support (Very Minor Criticism) Drive Tray doesn't feel as sturdy as DV-333.

Similar Products Used:
Any Sony/JVC/RCA/Zenith/Panasonic under 300$ produced in the last two years.

Price Paid:  $220.00 from electronic center,ar

Summary:
Very good entry-level machine.I bought it after my Sony dvp-360 broke up.Great quality image and sound.Excellent mp3 interface.Plays all kinds of cd-r and cd-rw.At this price is one of the best machines you can buy.

Strengths:
Read summary

Weaknesses:
poor remote control(c'mon guys,you can do much better)

Similar Products Used:
sony dvp-360

Price Paid:  $250.00 from Sears

Summary:
I have tried all the other major brands of DVD players. This is by far the best. It is quite, unlike the Toshiba. It doesn't screw up and pause, like the Hatachi. It has a random option for mp3s, unlike the Sony. And it has both optical and coaxial output, unlike the Panasonic. I would highly recomend this DVD player. It isn't the best, I have tried an Onkyo which has way better sound and video quality, but it was also 4 times as much. For the price it is the best DVD player on the market.

Strengths:
Thin Optical + Coaxial Digital output Price

Weaknesses:
Remote control sucks, but everyone has a master remote and therefore wouldn't use this one anyway

Similar Products Used:
Onkyo Sony Toshiba Panasonic Hatachi