Laseractive LD playback quality?

[0x15e]

I thought about posting this in the Sega CD section but figured it might fit better here since it's not so much related to the Sega functionality.

I've just recently gotten into LD collecting and figured I might want to pick up a Laseractive if I see one. Right now, I'm using a Pioneer CLD-2090 and it's getting the job done, but it's basically mine just on long-term loan so if I can find something better, I'm all for it.

So how is the LD playback on these? From what I can tell, it won't auto-flip the disc, but that may not be a big deal since the 2090 only does it correctly about 50% of the time anyway. I'm mostly interested in whether the picture looks relatively decent and they're relatively reliable. Will they output DTS over the optical output properly? Are they difficult to AC3 mod (if I ever decide to bother with that)? I'd appreciate any info you have to offer.

Edit: I was wrong, it's a 2090, not a 2080, like that matters.

[Joe Redifer]

All LaserDiscs are limited to analog composite video (even if the player has an s-video jack) because that's what is on the disc. That's right, the luma and chroma aren't even separated. The LD player may have a better Y/C converter than your TV, so s-video out may (or may not) look better than the composite jack. I have no idea if the LaserActive even offers s-video. I'm sure it doesn't flip sides. If it has a digital output for audio, then it can play DTS discs without any problem. I have no idea if they can be modded for Dolby Digital, but I imagine it would be a huge pain in the ass and not cheap.

[0x15e]

Thanks for the info.

I'm pretty sure it doesn't have an S-Video jack but from what I can tell, they're pretty much useless on anything but the very last models (all Japanese-only imports that are way over what I'm willing to pay). I know for a fact the one on the 2090 isn't worth the parts it's made of so I'm not particularly worried about it.

They do have an optical out, so I guess DTS is covered. I wasn't sure if that was one of those things where the player had to recognize anything special about the disc or not.

[David J.]

I think you have to mod the laseractive for Dolby Digital.

I was looking at getting into LD collecting... but I'm also sure it doesn't flipsides either.

[Joe Redifer]

I have a combo LD/DVD player for sale along with a few LDs and an RF Demodulator (for Dolby Digital). If anyone cares, send me a PM. Yes, it flips sides, but the LD player does get confused sometimes and takes a bit to start side two. Also, the DVD player kind of sucks (it's one of the first, and my personal first).

[Austn Vodville]

Yes, please.

[David J.]

I know those DVD players on the LD/DVD player combos suck, but how do they do for someone who really doesn't care about a fully loaded DVD player?

[Joe Redifer]

LaserDisc video hasn't aged well, but as an LD player I always thought that the combo player I have put out good video for the format. It supposedly switches sides faster than most players as well. The one good thing about those combo players is the amount of outputs on the back, often with multiple s-video and digital audio outs.

[McMasters]

Laserdiscs look better depending on what type of player you have. With DVD players, a Sony or Panasonic looks just as good as a Runco or Marantz. The Pioneer Laseractive CLD-A100 is considered a higher end LD player. I used to have a really nice Sony XBR Flat Screen with a built-in line doubler and LD's looked indistinguishable from DVD's. However, LD's look terrible on HDTV's. You would have to buy a line doubler or have an older TV to get the best out of you Laseractive player.

[0x15e]

I can't really seem to find a good list of specs for the CLD-A100. Everything is about its game capabilities but short on actual LD specs. Something that notes its video signal-to-noise ratio or which other LD player they based it on would be really useful. Since I was mostly looking for a good LD player at the time, I couldn't justify the premium these carry due to the MD/PCE capability (even though that would be really cool to have).

I ended up getting a CLD-D703 that I modified to have AC-3 output. From what I've read, it's about as good as LD gets without spending a huge chunk of change and with some later pressings (Strange Days DTS, for instance), it really looks great.

I am dreading the day I move to HDTV, though. I'm sure I'll have to invest in an outboard processor to get the LD to look anywhere near passable.

[Joe Redifer]

When that happens, just buy your movies on Blu-ray. In fact, Blu-ray will beat the shit out of LD even on standard definition TVs. LD is pure composite, and composite = evil.