Yamaha DVD players...the lowdown

[Pyrrho]

HDCD is a Panasonic invention and I am not the only one to say Yamaha has issues with HDCD. It is a well known issue. I actually asked someone about it at Yamaha Canada one day when I had them on the phone for another issue.

Even in the manual, HDCD is not listed as a format of discs the Yamaha player supports.

It is possible to play HDCD through analog, but digitally, you will hear pops and clicks, almost like a VCR sounds when the tracking is off.

JC

The discs I have play perfectly in my player with the digital output.

 

[morkys]

I am looking around for a Yamaha 5 disc changer of some sort that has disc access disc numbered buttons on the remote to try and steal the codes for use with the C750. No luck so far.

I hear there is a firmware update for the C950 out there. Does anybody know if there may be a similar update for the C750?
I am trying to find out more on the AVS forum.

 

[morkys]

Actually I found this in the S2500 thread over on AVS. A US firmware download site on the Yamaha US server.

What is your firmware version on your C750? Mine is v28. There is a v38 available on the US website. Not sure if there are different dvd players in different countries that require a different firmware update. There was talk on the S2500 thread about a previous international firmware download link but it was possibly the same. I am not positive:

http://www.yamaha.com/yec/dealers/dealer_download.htm

Is it ok to use this on a Canadian Yamaha C750?
I don't know if you are able to use this for non-US models.

UPGRADE AT OWN RISK.

 

[morkys]

Upgraded my C750. Can't say I know what to look for. Works ok I guess. Audio video sync seemed ok until I pressed rewind during a PAL dvd and then it got funky. I think I got it back in sync by pressing back chapter and pause etc before playing again. Not 100% sure. Have to try it again. Still defaults to DPLII during CD audio playback.

 

[Pyrrho]

Actually I found this in the S2500 thread over on AVS. A US firmware download site on the Yamaha US server.

What is your firmware version on your C750? Mine is v28. There is a v38 available on the US website. Not sure if there are different dvd players in different countries that require a different firmware update. There was talk on the S2500 thread about a previous international firmware download link but it was possibly the same. I am not positive:

http://www.yamaha.com/yec/dealers/dealer_download.htm

Is it ok to use this on a Canadian Yamaha C750?
I don't know if you are able to use this for non-US models.

UPGRADE AT OWN RISK.

I have version 28. Do you have any idea what the new firmware does differently from the old firmware?

 

[Pyrrho]

Upgraded my C750. Can't say I know what to look for. Works ok I guess. Audio video sync seemed ok until I pressed rewind during a PAL dvd and then it got funky. I think I got it back in sync by pressing back chapter and pause etc before playing again. Not 100% sure. Have to try it again. Still defaults to DPLII during CD audio playback.

I think it defaults to DPLII for CDs when you have it set up to default to multichannel output. That way, when you switch from an SACD to a CD, you still get sound from all channels. I don't like it, but I think if you want it to default to stereo playback of CDs, you need to set the player to default to stereo output.

Were you having some sort of problem before you decided to upgrade the firmware? Does it affect the region free playback (have you made your player region free)? Have you noticed any difference with the new firmware at all?

 

[morkys]

Not a clue what the differences are. I could not find the information. Hopefully I didn't make a mistake choosing to upgrade. I played some audio CD's and video DVD's as mentioned above and all seems ok so far. I cannot say whether or not it is a good idea.

I thought I changed my player from multi-channel playback to stereo for now, but I will re-check it. To me, this DPLII default is not that big of an issue for me. I listen to Audio CD's via the two rca outputs or the digital output anyhow. I guess it could be a problem with SACD's?

I did not have any serious issues before upgrading the firmware except for a problem with the audio/video sync. I have not noticed any big differences yet. I had not even used it much with the original firmware, nevermind comparing from old to new firmware.

I played my Region 2 PAL dvd of "It's All Gone Pete Tong" and it worked ok. Like I said, I went ahead and back (fast forward or rewind) and it got out of sync, but I think I fixed that by going back a chapter or pressing pause, or perhaps it fixed itself.

 

[Pyrrho]

Not a clue what the differences are. I could not find the information. Hopefully I didn't make a mistake choosing to upgrade. I played some audio CD's and video DVD's as mentioned above and all seems ok so far. I cannot say whether or not it is a good idea.

I thought I changed my player from multi-channel playback to stereo for now, but I will re-check it. To me, this DPLII default is not that big of an issue for me. I listen to Audio CD's via the two rca outputs or the digital output anyhow. I guess it could be a problem with SACD's?

I did not have any serious issues before upgrading the firmware except for a problem with the audio/video sync. I have not noticed any big differences yet. I had not even used it much with the original firmware, nevermind comparing from old to new firmware.

I played my Region 2 PAL dvd of "It's All Gone Pete Tong" and it worked ok. Like I said, I went ahead and back (fast forward or rewind) and it got out of sync, but I think I fixed that by going back a chapter or pressing pause, or perhaps it fixed itself.

Audio video sync is a problem with many players with many DVDs, which is why so many receivers these days have an adjustable delay built in so you can compensate for it.

DPLII is not an issue with SACDs, as the player never applies it to them. Many SACDs are multichannel, and if you throw in a CD and a multichannel SACD, when using the changer, you always get surround sound if you have the player default to multichannel output (since it defaults to DPL II for the CDs). If the SACD is stereo only, I believe the output is still only stereo.

I just sent Yamaha an email about the firmware update, and if they respond with an answer to the question, what is the difference between the firmware v28 and v38 for the DVD-C750?, I'll post it. However, they might not, given that I bought mine probably from an unauthorized dealer (I paid $101 plus shipping -- how could I refuse? And in case anyone is interested, sorry, the deal no longer exists; the cheapest I have seen lately is about $130 plus shipping for C stock on eBay). So if you bought from an authorized dealer, you might want to send off an email to Yamaha about it.

 

[morkys]

I bought mine used from a fellow Canuck here in Ontario and I paid $200.00 or more after shipping etc. He originally paid $330.00 plus tax in Sept 05 for the player. So far it has been worth while. Sure is a useful player that performs as more than my ALL REGION player.

 

[mak99]

first time posting...

Longtime Yamaha fan for HT receivers and DVD players, longtime reader of this forum, finally posting up. Thought I'd throw in my two cents here...and hopefully it's worth at least that!

"Multi-channel" and "d.mix"

I believe this is covered in detail in the owner's manual, easily access via Yamaha's website. I honestly don't understand it 100% myself, esp. when I get a "no downmix" message scrolling across the display of my old DV-C6480 DVD/DVD-A changer...

I recently upgraded to a DVD-S2300 about two weeks ago (primarily to add SACD capabilities to my 2-channel system) and am still in the process of burning in my Kimber D60 cable connecting to my DAC. Before this upgrade, I have been very happy with the C6480 primarily for DVD-A duties. (BTW, I have a dedicated Rega Planet/Io combination for CDs). So far I like what I'm hearing from the S2300 for both DVD-As and SACDs. I haven't compared CDs to my Planet yet as I have the S2300 hooked to the Io DAC. But comparing DVD-A sound between the S2300s analog outputs and the coax digital thru the Io, the outboard DAC has a slight edge. Even with the S2300's onboard Burr-Brown DAC's, maybe the Kimber D60 digital cable is truly worth its price...

The S2300 has independent DVD-A and SACD circuits, so more opportunities to fine-tune each format. I'll have to find another thread on this forum and contribute there as I can...

I know the 950 is a true universal player with both SACD and DVD-A capabilities, along with the HDMI output. I wonder how this compares to my DVD-CX1 DVD-A changer that I have dedicated to my home theatre system? For now, I would have to assume that the 950 is worth paying the extra $$ for, esp. if you plan on keeping it for a while...

Discs can jump out of their spots due to a fast moving carousel. Has anybody else experienced this? I am going to have a look at the carousel to see if I can MacGyver it so the discs cannot move without destroying the player itself.

Too funny! I know exactly what you mean. The C6480 and CX1 have very nice, slow moving trays so this has not happened to me. I'm about to list my spare C6480 on eBay (I owned three at one time!), and hope to sell to someone who would appreciate one of the best changers ever (4.89/5.0 rating on AudioReview, plus a 2005 Choice Award):

http://www.audioreview.com/mfr/yamaha/dvd-players/PRD_133617_1587crx.aspx

PM me if interested, and you can find me under go.vols! if you want to see my feedback (100% over 273 transactions). The player is in mint condition and works perfectly...