Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater DVD Changers-ad nauseum

OK, I'm gonna do it. I'm going to get a DVD changer and replace the POS Toshiba DVD player and the ancient JVC CD changer with no remote control. Now which one should I get?


Here's my criteria:
*It has to have a good, responsive remote. No mushy buttons, no pressing buttons 14 times to get it to respond. My Toshiba remote is horrible, so bad that we are reluctant to watch DVDs.

*5 or more discs. I am unlikely to use the mega changers, but I'll entertain that.

*It would be nice to have a skip back 8 seconds similar to TiVo function. Anything have that?

*SACD/DVD-A would be really nice, but I only know of two of those: the Yamaha 950 and the Onkyo DV-CP802. The Onkyo does not appear to be available on this mortal plane, nor have they given any indication that it will ever be replaced. The Yamaha has the most miserable disc load times I've ever read about. And does not appear to do random play over different disc types. Please correct me if I'm wrong, and I'll feel nice and stupid for not buying one when they were half off last year.

*DVD memory--I want it to remember where I was on multiple DVDs and let me return to that point. If it can remember that point after I take the DVD out, even better.

*Random play-it's got to be better than the JVC. I know exactly which tracks will play at the beginning: 4, 2, and 1. I have memorized every song on every CD I own that has those track numbers.

*I'd like to be able to get it through Amazon, since I've got a $100 gift cert burning a hole in my pocket.

*Video quality is nice, but I've got a 27" CRT. No biggie. I'm unlikely to replace that any time soon.

Sorry to dig this up again, but I really appreciate any advice anyone has on this.

Ken, I notice that there hasn't been a torrent of suggestions, so I'll give my views. First, although you apparently aren't giving much weight to it, consider a mega-changer even if you don't use all of its features at first. Note that it isn't legally required to load 400 discs at once or even to enter the ones loaded into the memory. For example, a couple dozen could be loaded and a handwritten list made of their positions. Then, when(if?)the complexity became less terrifying more of the capabilities could be utilized.

I don't use my mega-changers for some of the features that you mention, but the Sony 995, which you could get for $200 on Amazon with your certificate, does remember removed DVDs, random play CDs/SACDs(no DVD-A with Sony, of course)and has a replay button to kick back DVDs about 10 seconds. If you're interested in studying it, the Crutchfield site, as usual, has the most detailed info, including a link to the manual.

Unfortunately, it has very low WAF. I appreciate the suggestion, though; it's something I've considered before.

OK, any one have any info on the Yamaha DVC6760? It seems to get good reviews (the 4 or 5 I've found) as opposed to the DVC6770--which on paper sounds like exactly what I want. Sigh...

I can't speak to DVD changers but I just thought I'd toss an alternative out there...

HTPC with big hard drives. Just rip the DVD and its then *online* for instant access to any movie, with a database type systerm so you can search your collection by Title, Actors, Director, etc or just browse it manually.

Just got the 6770, have only played one movie and one SA-CD so far, excellent. The movie was Sky Captain and world of Tomorrow, seemed excellent 5.1. I'm not sure if I had it set up correctly for SA-CD, used the stereo setting instead of the multi channel, (IN Living Stereo recording, recorded in 3 channel originally.) Still sounded great. Have not yet tried a dvd audio. It was ~240 with delivery from B and H photo. Guy

Guy, how's the remote responsiveness?

Also, how are the load times? That seems to be the universal complaint with the Yammies. Well, that and the 6770 not playing dualdisks.

No problems with the remote yet, but again, I've only had it a week. As far as loading, it appears no different than the Phillips,Sony, that I've been using. Guy