Pioneer 578A Universal DVD player is awesome (DVD-mp3, DVD-wma, SACD, DVD-audio)

malikarshad

I was looking for a DVD Player that plays mp3 and WMA on DVD for a long time and Pioneer DV-578A is the answer.
The one that were available were some brands like Koss, Yamada that I could not buy from any local store or online store in US.
I have tried playing all types of DVD disks and it plays fines.
The DVD-Audio and SACD also plays good thru its analog output. You get only 2 channel output thru digital out.
I just got it last night so I did not have time to try more stuff like playing MPEG files and all. I'll post if I find something new.
I got it for $150 with tax from bestbuy and it seems they just got it.
If you guys want me to try out something more then let me know.

gatemplin

Is it the same as the 563a?

AsSiMiLaTeD

Originally posted by gatemplin
Is it the same as the 563a?

Is this years version of that model...

malikarshad

I think 578a is this year model. The 563a won't play DVD-WMA.

jefft1314

Spec-wise the newer one has better or at least higher dac's, and it's msrp'ing at 179 at the circuit city i won't be working at for much longer. I'd like to pick one up and run it against my 563, but i'm afraid i'd like it and have to keep it, which is not an option with my finances the way they are.

therockman

Originally posted by malikarshad
I was looking for a DVD Player that plays mp3 and WMA on DVD for a long time and Pioneer DV-578A is the answer.
The one that were available were some brands like Koss, Yamada that I could not buy from any local store or online store in US.
I have tried playing all types of DVD disks and it plays fines.
The DVD-Audio and SACD also plays good thru its analog output. You get only 2 channel output thru digital out.
I just got it last night so I did not have time to try more stuff like playing MPEG files and all. I'll post if I find something new.
I got it for $150 with tax from bestbuy and it seems they just got it.
If you guys want me to try out something more then let me know.

That is weird that you can even get any information from a DVD-A and/or SACD from your digital output, even if it is 2 channel. This is suppose to be encoded information and only accesable through the analog output. If what you are saying is true then this player could be a bootleggers dream. I will definately look into this because if this machine could trully do this then it is by far the best value ever made.

therockman

Originally posted by malikarshad
I was looking for a DVD Player that plays mp3 and WMA on DVD for a long time and Pioneer DV-578A is the answer.
The one that were available were some brands like Koss, Yamada that I could not buy from any local store or online store in US.
I have tried playing all types of DVD disks and it plays fines.
The DVD-Audio and SACD also plays good thru its analog output. You get only 2 channel output thru digital out.
I just got it last night so I did not have time to try more stuff like playing MPEG files and all. I'll post if I find something new.
I got it for $150 with tax from bestbuy and it seems they just got it.
If you guys want me to try out something more then let me know.

OK, I just got off the phone with an engineer that has worked with the Pioneer 578A and he informed me that these Pioneers do indeed conform to the RIAA mandate of encoding all high-rez audio information. There is absolutely no audio output from the S/PDIF of any high-rez audio signal, not even 2 channel. If you heard any signal from the S/PDIF of your Pioneer from an SACD, it was probably a hybrid disc that you had on redbook. If you heard any audio signal from a DVD-A through the S/PDIF then you were probably accessing the Dolby Digital soundtrack. There can never be any audio signal from a high-rez source through an S/PDIF, although there can be a signal through a firewire, which this Pioneer does not have.

malikarshad

In the player there is a multichannel option where u can select Mutichannel or 2 Channel. If i remember it correctly if u set it to 2 channel it outputs thru the SPDIF output. I think there is also an output to for DSD TO PCM down conversion.
I think you may be right.
I have to try it again.

punk-roc

So what would people's opinion of this player be overall? I'm looking to get a universal DVD-A/SACD player, but i dont want to spend $400+ just yet...is this is a decent initial pick?

if not, what else would you guys recommend? i'm looking to spend <$200, thanks guys

Jason