Pioneer DVD 578

[Edmundo]

Features

DVD-Audio and SACD Compatible: The Pioneer DV-578A-S is compatible with DVD-Audio and SACD formats. With hundreds of titles available in both formats, you can  enjoy both multi-channel super high-quality music formats in one player.

Video D/A Converter: This player uses a 108MHz/10-bit video digital-to-analog converter. This high-bit, high sampling D/A converter helps to reduce digital artifacts to give you a better picture.

Audio D/A Converter: This unit includes a 192kHz/24-bit audio digital-to-analog converter, making it fully compatible with high sampling-rate discs, capable of delivering exceptional sound quality in terms of dynamic range, low-level resolution, and high-frequency detail.

PureCinema Progressive Scan: When connected to a progressive scan-compatible TV or monitor using the component video outputs, you can enjoy extremely stable, flicker free images, with the same frame refresh rate as the original movie.

Dolby Digital/DTS Decoding: This player features built-in decoders for Dolby Digital and DTS, plus multi-channel analog outputs for connection to an AV amplifier to give you exceptional surround sound.

Direct Stream Digital (DSD) Encoding: Unlike PCM based technology (CD/MiniDisc/DVD/Audio DVD, etc.), Super Audio CD is based on DSD encoding, which does not require decimation and interpolation filters. DSD is much simpler and enables a 1-bit signal to be recorded directly. DSD encodes music at 2,822,400 samples per second (64 times that of standard CD) allowing you to hear sound with incredible detail and clarity. DSD combines the advantages of digital recording with the best characteristics of analog sound.

2-Channel and Multi-channel SACD Playback: In addition to standard 2-channel CD playback, this unit will play 2-channel and multi-channel Super Audio CDs. During SACD playback, the digital outputs do not operate; the analog outputs must be connected to listen to SACDs. There is one set of stereo RCA outputs for standard 2-channel playback, and there is a set of 5.1-channel RCA for multi-channel playback. For multi-channel playback, the 5.1-channel outputs must be connected to a multi-channel input on a receiver or preamp. Multi-channel SACDs may have 3, 4, 5 or 6 channels of audio.

MP3/WMA Playback: This unit will play MP3 and WMA files recorded onto CD-ROM, CD-R, and CD-RW discs using the ISO 9660 level 1/level2, Romeo, or Joliet formats. Fixed bit-rate MP3/WMA files at 128 kbps or higher are recommended. Variable bit-rate MP3/WMA files are not playable on this unit. Each disc can have a maximum of 299 folders and up to 648 folders and files combined.

JPEG Disc Playback: This unit will play back JPEG files recorded onto CD-ROM, CD-R, and CD-RW discs using the ISO 9660 level 1/level2, Romeo, or Joliet formats. Baseline JPEG and Exif 2.2 still image files up to a resolution of 3072 x 2048. Discs can contain up to 299 folders and up to 648 folders and files combined. During playback, you can use the Disc Navigator to find a particular folder or picture by filename. During image playback, you can magnify the picture using the zoom feature, enlarging it 2x or 4x normal size.

Digital Audio Output Capabilities: When multi-channel DVD Audio is played through the digital outputs, it is downmixed to 2-channel stereo before being passed by the digital outputs. Also, depending on the disc, when a DVD-Audio disc using a sampling rate of 192kHz or 176.4kHz is played, the sampling rate will be down-converted to 96kHz for playback through the digital outputs. Some DVD-Audio signals and all SACD signals will be available only through the analog outputs. The digital outputs are capable of passing linear PCM digital signals from DVD Video discs with sampling rates as high as 96kHz. If a DVD Video disc with 96kHz sampling rate is copy-protected, the unit will down-convert the sampling frequency to 48kHz before passing the signal through the digital outputs.

Digital Bass Management: This unit has built-in bass management for the 5.1-channel analog output that allows you to adjust the settings of the front, center, and surround speakers and the subwoofer. The settings include:

* Speaker Size: Large, small or none. The front left and right and the surround left and right are paired and cannot be set differently. The subwoofer can be set to "on" or "off".
* Speaker Distance:
* Front: 1 to 30 feet in 1-foot increments
* Center: -7 to 0 feet relative to the front speakers
* Surround: -20 to 0 feet relative to the front speakers




Disc Navigator: You can easily browse through the video content of a DVD-Video, DVD-RW or Video CD to find the part you want to play. After selecting whether you want to view the available titles or chapters, the Disc Navigator displays up to six moving thumbnail images one after another. You can choose one of the six thumbnails or browse the next/previous six thumbnails until you find the one you're looking for. On a MP3/WMA or JPEG disc, the Disc Navigator lets you view the available folders on the disc, and will display a thumbnail image of any file that you highlight with the cursor.

On-Screen Display (OSD): For ease of use, this player makes extensive use of graphical on-screen displays.

Virtual Surround: You can enjoy realistic surround sound effects from just two speakers. The audio mode must be set to 2 Channel operation before Virtual Surround can be switched on.

Dialog Feature: The Dialog feature is designed to make the dialog stand out from other background sounds in the soundtrack. You can set the Dialog feature to High, Medium, Low or Off.

Audio DRC: The Audio DRC (Dynamic Range Control) is helpful when watching Dolby Digital discs late at night. When Audio DRC is switched on, the quieter sounds are increased while loud peaks are suppressed.

Zoom: When watching a DVD, Video CD or a JPEG disc, the zoom feature can be used to enlarge any part of the picture by 2x or 4x.

Resume Play: With the exception of DVD-Audio and SACD discs, when you stop playback of a disc, "Resume" is shown in the display, indicating you can resume playback again from that point. The resume point is lost if the disc tray is opened or "Stop" is pressed again.

Last Memory: If you take a Video CD out of the player after stopping playback, the last play position is stored in memory. If the next disc you load is the same one, the display shows "Last Mem" and playback will resume. For DVD-Video discs, the player stores the play position of the last 5 discs. When one of these discs is loaded, you can resume playback.

Video Adjust Memory Presets: You can adjust the following picture quality settings: sharpness, brightness, contrast, gamma, hue, chroma level, and BNR (block noise reduction).