Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I won this player and at first I was very excited. Pioneer has allways been one of my fav. brands. I was so happy in fact I sold off my "cheapest in town" Technosonic OOPS! This thing is a piece of useless junk, it will only play about 5% of the cd r/rw's I've tried and never has it played a single SVCD though I have tried many.

Strengths:
It works amazingly well for Music CD's and the menu system is well laid out

Weaknesses:
won't play cd r/rw's and when it does it takes FOREVER to read them

Similar Products Used:
it's predecessor a Technosonic, and it's replacement a Panasonic 5 disc

Price Paid:  $78.00 from Wally World

Summary:
I've actually been "eyeing" this particulat player for while since it first came out with a price of over $100. When I saw it drop to $78 I decided to buy it with knowing new models will be coming out soon and I did not want to miss the chance to buy it. This player is the twin of the DV-353K execept the front panel buttons are a different shape. The player includes 192Khz/24 bit D/A converters, MP3 playback, 2-4x zoom, CD-R/RW playback, and all the standard DVD video features. It only lacks progressive scan video and DVD Audio/SACD playback. I replaced a defective RCA unit (what else is new) and this unit blows away the RCA (and is $10 less than the RCA). The load time and operation is very quick. The picture quality is also excellent using the component inputs on my JVC TV. The neatest thing about this player that I've never seen before is how the zoom feature zooms in on an object. Instead of the usual press the zoom button and the enlarged section "pops" up, you can acutally see the Pionner zoom, like you were looking through a camera and using the optical zoom. The audio side was also top-notch and the Tru-Surround is effective through my TV speakers. I cannot wait till I can run it through a home theater system and haved the full experience. (I had one but someone else wanted it more so it was stolen out of my house. I'm rebuilding now). This is by far the best DVD player you can get for the money.

Strengths:
Zoom feature, A/V quality is excellent, speedy loadtime and track access

Weaknesses:
You have to press "enter" for direct track access.

Similar Products Used:
RCA, Sony, Pioneer, Samsung, Philips

Price Paid:  $88.00 from Walmart

Summary:
Based my purchase on other reviews. So far it seems to work ok but the S-Video output does not work right. I took the first unit back and the second one has the same problem. It plays in BLack and white with distortion on high contrast edges. Menu is also unreadable with S-Video. Composite video output is OK

Strengths:
Everything else works as advertized

Weaknesses:
S-Video is defective

Similar Products Used:
APEX AD500W

Price Paid:  $188.00 from Conforama

Summary:
hi! Ive bought this machine 2 weeks ago and my opinion couldnt be more positive. I paid €188 for it, wich was a bargain. The sound will surprise you,and the image wont let you down! I even replaced my Technics Cd player to listen to music only... Looked for the Panasonic RV32 also, but its more expensive, and it can not read SVCDs, wich this can. So i decided for this ( in Portugal its DV-350), and im very happy with it.

Price Paid:  $88.00 from Walmart

Summary:
Yes the Poineer DV-250 is the same player as the DV-353K.I have it hooked up via the component video outputs,and the picture quality is excellent.I played the MATRIX through this player,and it played fine. Some people have trouble with this disc on some other dvd players,but not on this Pioneer.For the money,this is an excellent dvd player,and everyone who doesn't own a dvd player yet should go out and grab this baby.

Strengths:
Excellent picture and sound Coaxial,Digital,and Component Video Outputs

Weaknesses:
NONE

Similar Products Used:
Toshiba SD-1800 Panasonic DVD-R32