TVs with built-in MUSE decoding?

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.laserdisc (More info?)

I came across an old Pioneer press release from 1999 for then-new
Plasma display, model PDP-502HD (see it here:
http/www.pioneer.co.jp/press/release52.html).
According to the specs, this unit had a built-in MUSE decoder. I guess
this is a stupid question to ask, but is this set capable of directly
accepting the video signal from a MUSE player without needing a
decoder? It seems like it'd be particularly nice not to have to use the
decoder. Also, I've been trying to find a diagram showing how the MUSE
players (mainly the HLD-X9) connect to the decoders and how the audio
output from the decoders could be connected to a modern A/V reciever.
Does anyone know of such a diagram available on the net?

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.laserdisc (More info?)

Hi,

Yes, such diplays take the MUSE feed directly from the LD player. There
were quite a few such MUSE decoding built-in displays, Pioneer were the
last to offer them (this feature is now dropped from their lineup),
before that i believe JVC and Sony (the 2 other forces behind analog
HDTV in Japan) also had some. Don't forget that, by large, the major
application of MUSE was not the LD market but the satellite HDTV (since
1992 !), so it made sense to offer TV sets that could display the HDTV
without any external decoder, and to subsequently add inputs to that
internal decoder in case the user had another tuner or MUSE LD deck.

The connection of X9 to decoder is simple: one cable. The audio output
of the decoder is usually sent in 5.0 analog form (5 cables, no
subwoofer) to an amp/receiver/preamp 5.1 input zone, leaving .1 empty.

Nicolas

 

[thad]

Archived from groups: alt.video.laserdisc (More info?)

n$a wrote:
> Yes, such diplays take the MUSE feed directly from the LD
> player. There
> were quite a few such MUSE decoding built-in displays,
> Pioneer were the
> last to offer them (this feature is now dropped from their lineup),
> before that i believe JVC and Sony (the 2 other forces behind
> analog HDTV in Japan) also had some.

As did Toshiba (one of which I imported direct from Japan) with
about a bazillion inputs on the back including direct MUSE in.

It's been working fine now 8 years and it also handles USA
HDTV perfectly, too.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.laserdisc (More info?)

Is there a list available somewhere of whcih Pioneer sets had the MUSE
input? Seeing as how the sets apparently work properly with North
American HDTV, I'd be interested in having one. I assume that none of
those sets were sold in North America?

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.laserdisc (More info?)

As your last assumption is probably true, you'll have to search through
the Pioneer Japan website for details on past hardware. However, do you
realize that importing such an item would be expensive and somewhat
risky ? You'd be much better off buying a stand-alone decoder, just
like everybody else.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.laserdisc (More info?)

Kevin Hawerchuk wrote:
> Steve, as you are interested in a Muse-capable tv set, can I assume you
> now have a Muse laserdisc player?
> What type did you get boy? An X0 or and X9?
> Perhaps you got a Sony model?

Kevin, you know quite well that Steve has NOT bought either an X0 or an
X9. You should also know (based upon his CONSTANT posts over two years
ago asking about this LD player vs. that LD player ad nauseum) that
Steve is the type of person who has to have all of his "ducks" in a row
before he forces his wallet open to purchase *any* A/V equipment. My
guess is that Steve just wants to know what TV to buy "just in case" he
ever musters up enough cash to purchase a Muse LD player and doesn't
want to splurge for a Muse decoder.

Naturally, I could be wrong about all of this, but I doubt it.

-Junior

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.laserdisc (More info?)

Steve, as you are interested in a Muse-capable tv set, can I assume you
now have a Muse laserdisc player?
What type did you get boy? An X0 or and X9?
Perhaps you got a Sony model?
I'm sure we'd all like to hear about your Muse player. Nothing much
going on in the ng these days....
Fill us in!
Kevin

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.laserdisc (More info?)

As much as it pains me Kevin, Unclejr is correct, I haven't purchsed a
MUSE player.
I recently purchsed a Sony HDTV set for my bedroom, and am not going to
be in the market for another set until I move into my place in January,
at which point I'll want a larger set for my living room. I decided
awhile to back to purchase the CLD-79 I was borrowing from a family
friend and it's been getting light use since I bought it. At this
point, I'm solely interested in the MUSE sets for the sake of knowing
about them, but the idea of purchasing another HD set and an X9 has
crossed my mind and I find the idea of not needing an outboard decoder
to be intriguing.

<<Steve is the type of person who has to have all of his "ducks" in a
row
before he forces his wallet open to purchase *any* A/V equipment.>>

Is that a bad thing? A/V equipment can cost a lot of money! And I'm
much happier at the end of the day knowing I got what I really
wanted/needed than I would be if I simply ran out and bought everything
I thought I wanted.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.laserdisc (More info?)

Steve, tell us about your Sony HDTV. Is it a CRT tube, LCD, ect?
Do you enjoy watching laserdiscs on it? Do you use zoom or black side
bars?
I've heard that the Sony LCD projection sets seem to be getting better
each model year with better and better black levels. Is this true?
From what I remember, you work at Best Buy so should have all the
"dope" on what's coming down the pike in regards to tv sets.
I've actually been impressed with a 32 inch 16 X 9 Digistar(Prima) LCD
direct-view tv that I see at my local Walmart. 800:1 contrast and a
very natural looking picture for LCD.
Bit of a greenish outline to figures but I guess that can be
calibrated out.
My Philips 30 inch 16 X 9 set puts out a great dvd progressive scan
picture, but the set takes up a lot of space and I'm kind of attracted
to the slim-line LCD look.
Anyway, not much going on in the ng. and I'd like to hear about the
latest and greatest way to view laserdiscs!!
Kevin

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.laserdisc (More info?)

<<Steve, tell us about your Sony HDTV. Is it a CRT tube, LCD, ect?>>

It's a KV-34XBR960, a 34-inch, 16:9 CRT tube set.

<<Do you enjoy watching laserdiscs on it? Do you use zoom or black side

bars?>>

I've been switching around, I'm still not entirely sure which mode is
"proper" for a LD.

<< I've heard that the Sony LCD projection sets seem to be getting
better
each model year with better and better black levels. Is this true?>>

LCD technology has been getting better across the board IMO. I've seen
noticeable upgrades in quality in Sony and Samsung sets, although the
best LCDs I've seen are coming from Panasonic and Toshiba. I'm not
really a big fan of LCD, DLP or Plasma sets though. Although they have
come a long way, they still look very "artificial" to me. Given a
choice, I'd always go with either a tube or a CRT-lens based
rear-projection set. Mitsubishi has CRT-lens driven HD-RPTVs with 9"
lenses that loom stunning when they're properly calibrated.

<< From what I remember, you work at Best Buy so should have all the
"dope" on what's coming down the pike in regards to tv sets.>>

I worked as a floor salesman for Best Buy more than 2 years ago, I left
to go work at a different store after I was offered an assistant
manager position, a job I subsequently left earlier this year when I
was offered a higher paying job as a "department" manager at a
different electronics store. As my college career is now within a year
of being finished, I'm (hopefully) at the end of having to work retail,
I've got some promising leads into the film business, which was my real
goal anyway.

<< I've actually been impressed with a 32 inch 16 X 9 Digistar(Prima)
LCD
direct-view tv that I see at my local Walmart. 800:1 contrast and a
very natural looking picture for LCD.
Bit of a greenish outline to figures but I guess that can be
calibrated out.>>

I'm not familiar with that set, and I wouldn't know about correcting
that green-halo issue, although I'd imagine on an LCD set that it's
related to pixels that are improperly color shifting and causing the
green outline.

<<My Philips 30 inch 16 X 9 set puts out a great dvd progressive scan
picture, but the set takes up a lot of space and I'm kind of attracted
to the slim-line LCD look.>>

I've been told in the [ast that the Phillps sets have good comb
filters, and I know that Loewe sets, which I've always liked, are built
around Phillips tubes. Although if you're really interested in a slim
set, my first reccomendation would be to see if any of the LCD sets
being offered by Toshiba or Panasonic fit your needs/wants and budget.