Adding 2.09 firmware to DV-578a: Anybody Know Definitively?

corysndyer28 · 03-30-05, 12:14 AM

Hi everybody,
After reading the helpful reviews on AVSForum, I bought a Pioneer DV-578a and am very pleased with it.

I'm wondering if it's possible to upgrade the firmware from my current vers (2.05) to 2.09, in hopes of adding DivX support. I have the neccesary files...I'm just wondering if it'll work.

I've found a few threads where people come close to saying, but there's always a 'might' or a 'may' in there somewhere. I don't want to fry my machine, so I'm a little anxious about trying it w/o confirmation that it'll work.

Has anybody w/a 578a succesfully ENABLED DivX support by upgrading the firmware to 2.09? Will this work, even though the firmware upgrade floating around seems aimed at the DVD-575?

Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks!

-CS

corysndyer28 · 03-31-05, 02:01 PM

Had one PM response that was a bit ambiguous about the issue. Can anybody else help? If so, please post to the forum so others can benefit.

Thanks!

-CS

Dazog · 03-31-05, 03:46 PM

I just upgraded my region 1 dvd player from an old 1.38 to 2.09 with the firmware floating around the net.

Its still region 1 and updated just fine.

TY4.2 · 04-01-05, 01:47 AM

how can i check the version of firmware on pioneer??

Foxbat121 · 04-01-05, 08:40 AM

It's on one of the setup screen. Don't remember which one.

DigiPete · 04-01-05, 10:08 AM

Confirmed! I just upgraded my region 1 578a from 1.44 to 2.09 with the DV-575 firmware posted elsewhere in avsforum.

Still region 1

I have no DIVX to try out

DigiPete

TomInCanada · 04-02-05, 12:40 AM

I have a pioneer 578a-s that came with firmware 2.09 already on it (just bought it recently - 139.99 in Canada which is a great price here)

Anyhoo, I tried a divx file burnt onto a cd and it couldn't read it. I don't know anything else to try but am open to suggestions.

Tom

MrPorterhouse · 05-11-05, 11:04 AM

The 578a will NOT be able to play DivX with a firmware option to the best of my knowledge. I believe its a hardware issue, so DivX is a No on the 578a.

DigiPete · 05-11-05, 11:36 AM

Hi Folks,

If you want Divx and region free for your 578a try this link. I don't know if it will work, but I have contacted the owner of the site for its application to the 578a specifically.

http://mtz.softpedia.com/index.php?o...id=70&Itemid=4

DigiPete

UPDATE: apparently MTZ says this will not work for 578a even though the 575a is almost identical to the 578a. Looks like 588a will do it.

rickardl · 05-12-05, 09:13 AM

Apparently user james-151 managed to upgrade via serial cable:
http://board.softpedia.com/index.php...pic=917&st=65#

CCarncross · 05-12-05, 11:50 AM

NEWSFLASH.......There is no firmware that will add divx support to the 578's, the video chips are different, thats why the 575 has it and the 578 does not..If you want divx in an very inexpensive uni, sell your 578 for $10 and buy a 588

zoro · 05-12-05, 12:00 PM

Dude give me region free hack for 588, I'll abide by your kind advise!

Brajesh · 05-12-05, 12:05 PM

I have a 578A that's already region-free, but I'd like to install the latest firmware. Will region-free status be unaffected? Also, using the Pio 575 firmware to update the 578 seems like asking for trouble (or are they really identical units w/different models numbers for the U.S. vs. European markets?).

DigiPete · 05-13-05, 01:49 AM

I updated my 578a with the 2.09 firmware for the 575 with no ill effects.
My unit remained region 1. I don't think this update affects the region.

How did you get your 578a to be region free?

DigiPete

Brajesh · 05-13-05, 09:21 AM

DigiPete, I bought my 578A already region-free hacked from eBay. It was just $125 shipped (seller was "staraudiovideo").

rickardl · 05-13-05, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DigiPete
I updated my 578a with the 2.09 firmware for the 575 with no ill effects.
My unit remained region 1. I don't think this update affects the region.

How did you do it? cable or CD?
Did anything get added in terms of functionality and menues?
such as divx-capability?

DigiPete · 05-13-05, 11:15 AM

Hi Rickardl,

I used a cd.

go here: http://www.avland.co.uk/pioneer/dv575/dv575.htm

A link on this page gives you the firmware and instructions.

I don't think you will get DivX on the 578a because it has a different video chip which does not support it. The 588 does have this capability.

After the update in noticed nothing new, except now I had 2.09 firmware.

DigiPete

rickardl · 05-13-05, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DigiPete
Hi Rickardl,

I used a cd.

go here: http://www.avland.co.uk/pioneer/dv575/dv575.htm

A link on this page gives you the firmware and instructions.

I don't think you will get DivX on the 578a because it has a different video chip which does not support it. The 588 does have this capability.

After the update in noticed nothing new, except now I had 2.09 firmware.

DigiPete

I was under the impression that using that BIN-file directly didn't work
because the DV-578A didn't recognize the filename B4BA2096 as
a firmware update?

Nothing new? Did you look in the menu 'Initial Settings'->'Options'?
The DV-575A has a menu entry there for 'DivX VOD' (video on demand).

Anyway, If you have the 2.09 firmware for DV-575A, you might want
to try this firmware which enables 'blacker-than-black' and other things:
http://geocities.com/foncreator

Also, I was under the impression that the DV-578A used a Mediatek 1389EE chip? That is the chip which the DV-575A uses.

DigiPete · 05-13-05, 01:19 PM

Hi Rickardl,

Thanks for the link,

Yes I did look in the options but DivX was not there. The firmware must know that this does not work on the 578a, and so it does not give you the option.

All I can tell you is the upgrade worked for my 578a.

Cheers
DigiPete

zoro · 05-13-05, 01:31 PM

did it become region free too digipete?

DigiPete · 05-13-05, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by zoro
did it become region free too digipete?

No, the Pioneer 575 2.09 firmware did not affect the region status of my 578a

DigiPete · 05-26-05, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zoro

did it become region free too digipete?

Hi folks,

I found this link: http://www.geocities.com/foncreator/

I tried firmware 4b (which is based on the latest Pioneer 2.09/2.10 firmware) on my US Region 1 DV-578a. I now have region free (but no DIVX)

and I have all the features below: COOL

v4b

New feature - DVD Fast Start. Press "Play" to skip any warnings, ads etc at the beginning of DVD video.
DVD prohibited user operations protection removed. Almost

New item in the "Video Adjust" menu - Darker Than Black.
SRT subtitles' milliseconds timing fixed.

v3 (a "lazy" release, don't wanna patch v2.10's 8032)

ARM and DSP from official v2.10 - users report on some subtle DivX/MP3 improvements.
41-char subs filename limitation removed.
Subs body is pure white now, an outline - pure black; alignment - bottom.
Screensaver makes the screen totally blank - no "Pioneer" animation anymore.

v2

Region free (player will stay multizone even after downgrade to original FW).
VFD (Vacuum Fluoricent Display) file navigation: while you're in the filebrowser everything under cursor will be shown on VFD (first 10 chars, ASCII only due to VFD limitations). Can be useful for MP3 users.

v1
Changes relative to original FW:

New filebrowser:
8 rows
no image preview
long (50 chars) ASCII/CP1251 filenames
White black-outlined subs (Font2-3, Impact 20, CP1251).
New system font (Font0-1, Font9-10, Impact 14, CP1251).
New items in the "Audio Settings" menu: Equalizer, Bass boost, Super bass, Treble boost.
New "Video Output" submenu - "TV Type" (Multisync, PAL, NTSC. Off/On player after change).
"V.Surround" key now turns on/off a random (shuffle) play of MP3s. "Virtual Surround" is still available through "Audio Settings" menu.

hancox · 06-04-05, 11:09 AM

stuid question digipete - the .bin file - only required to be on a normal CD? No renames, etc?

DigiPete · 06-04-05, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hancox

stuid question digipete - the .bin file - only required to be on a normal CD? No renames, etc?

Right, just use the same filename as for the 575. I used Nero to make a data cd. I set the software to disc-at-once, 4x burn speed, and verified the write when done. Label the disc: PIONEER

Two firmwares available:

http://www.geocities.com/foncreator/ I used this one and it works

and

http://mtz.softpedia.com/index.php?o...id=70&Itemid=4
has been reported to work

UPGRADING:
1. Turn on the player, and open the disc tray.
2. Put the Firmware Update Disc on the tray, and close the tray(open close button).
3. A screen will be displayed inviting you to push the "play" button to start the update.
4. The player will load the data, and the tray will open again. Remove the Firmware Update Disc from the tray now. Leave the tray open. The update process will complete in few minutes.
5. Wait until the update process finishes, and the Pioneer logo is shown on the screen.
6. Turn off player.

that's it. Now go into the setup to set new features: blacker than black, region free(default), etc, etc

hancox · 06-05-05, 12:19 PM

Bingo. One note to other newbies at this - CD name must be PIONEER

StevenA01 · 06-05-05, 01:48 PM

And does the player work perfectly, with no weird effects as a result of this unofficial firmware?

Hope one for the 588a comes along soon!

DigiPete · 06-05-05, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StevenA01

And does the player work perfectly, with no weird effects as a result of this unofficial firmware?

Hope one for the 588a comes along soon!

I have had no problems, although admittedly I only use this machine to play CDs, SACD and DVD-audio, to my headphone setup at work, and I don't have it hooked up for viewing DVDs. But when I burned the new firmware, I did have it hooked up to a monitor and all looked well, even the blacker than black pluge pattern was visible on DVE.

DigiPete

biznus97 · 06-06-05, 10:15 PM

Just a heads up for anyone trying this. If you have a player with the 2.05 firmware as the base, it doesn't look like a CD upgrade will work.

DigiPete · 06-06-05, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biznus97

Just a heads up for anyone trying this. If you have a player with the 2.05 firmware as the base, it doesn't look like a CD upgrade will work.

Odd... Did you burn it as a CD data disk, and finalize the disc, label the disc PIONEER, and use the file for the 575?

If not, try going to Pioneer v2.09 firware first, and then the aftermarket firmware:

go here: http://www.avland.co.uk/pioneer/dv575/dv575.htm

DigiPete

biznus97 · 06-07-05, 01:08 AM

Thanks for the response however it didn't work on my unit. It can't recognize any disk with a firmware on it. It will just give a message: "Can't play disc". There are links on another site about this (don't have it on me) that basically say that certain players with certain fw versions can only be upgraded via a serial cable.

03-30-05, 12:14 AM	#1 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a4ac4393' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:30&n=a4ac4393' border='0' alt=''></a>
corysndyer28 New Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2	Adding 2.09 firmware to DV-578a: Anybody Know Definitively? Hi everybody, After reading the helpful reviews on AVSForum, I bought a Pioneer DV-578a and am very pleased with it. I'm wondering if it's possible to upgrade the firmware from my current vers (2.05) to 2.09, in hopes of adding DivX support. I have the neccesary files...I'm just wondering if it'll work. I've found a few threads where people come close to saying, but there's always a 'might' or a 'may' in there somewhere. I don't want to fry my machine, so I'm a little anxious about trying it w/o confirmation that it'll work. Has anybody w/a 578a succesfully ENABLED DivX support by upgrading the firmware to 2.09? Will this work, even though the firmware upgrade floating around seems aimed at the DVD-575? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks! -CS

04-01-05, 08:40 AM	#5 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a591f81a' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:36&n=a591f81a' border='0' alt=''></a>
Foxbat121 AVS Special Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: VA Posts: 6,130	It's on one of the setup screen. Don't remember which one.

04-02-05, 12:40 AM	#7 \| Link
TomInCanada Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: london, ontario, canada Posts: 76	I have a pioneer 578a-s that came with firmware 2.09 already on it (just bought it recently - 139.99 in Canada which is a great price here) Anyhoo, I tried a divx file burnt onto a cd and it couldn't read it. I don't know anything else to try but am open to suggestions. Tom __________________ Expert in training ;)

05-11-05, 11:04 AM	#8 \| Link
MrPorterhouse Advanced Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Cedar Lake, IN Posts: 517	The 578a will NOT be able to play DivX with a firmware option to the best of my knowledge. I believe its a hardware issue, so DivX is a No on the 578a. __________________ How do you go low? A SVS PB10-isd(LFE) and a Cerwin Vega LW-15(Speaker Level), that's how I go Sony 60GB PS3 for Blu-ray Movies

05-11-05, 11:36 AM	#9 \| Link
DigiPete Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: So Cal Posts: 433 Classified Rating: 100% (4)	Hi Folks, If you want Divx and region free for your 578a try this link. I don't know if it will work, but I have contacted the owner of the site for its application to the 578a specifically. http://mtz.softpedia.com/index.php?o...id=70&Itemid=4 DigiPete UPDATE: apparently MTZ says this will not work for 578a even though the 575a is almost identical to the 578a. Looks like 588a will do it. Last edited by DigiPete; 05-11-05 at 05:29 PM..

03-31-05, 02:01 PM	#2 \| Link
corysndyer28 New Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2	Had one PM response that was a bit ambiguous about the issue. Can anybody else help? If so, please post to the forum so others can benefit. Thanks! -CS

03-31-05, 03:46 PM	#3 \| Link
Dazog Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 351	I just upgraded my region 1 dvd player from an old 1.38 to 2.09 with the firmware floating around the net. Its still region 1 and updated just fine.

04-01-05, 01:47 AM	#4 \| Link
TY4.2 Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: WA, USA Posts: 16	how can i check the version of firmware on pioneer??

04-01-05, 10:08 AM	#6 \| Link
DigiPete Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: So Cal Posts: 433 Classified Rating: 100% (4)	Confirmed! I just upgraded my region 1 578a from 1.44 to 2.09 with the DV-575 firmware posted elsewhere in avsforum. Still region 1 I have no DIVX to try out DigiPete

05-12-05, 09:13 AM	#10 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a591f81a' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:36&n=a591f81a' border='0' alt=''></a>
rickardl Rickard L - Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 756	Apparently user james-151 managed to upgrade via serial cable: http://board.softpedia.com/index.php...pic=917&st=65#

05-12-05, 11:50 AM	#11 \| Link
CCarncross Happy and Broke Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 3,361	NEWSFLASH.......There is no firmware that will add divx support to the 578's, the video chips are different, thats why the 575 has it and the 578 does not..If you want divx in an very inexpensive uni, sell your 578 for $10 and buy a 588

05-12-05, 12:00 PM	#12 \| Link
zoro AVS Special Member AVS CLUB MEMBER Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 8,387	Dude give me region free hack for 588, I'll abide by your kind advise!

05-12-05, 12:05 PM	#13 \| Link
Brajesh AVS Special Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Georgia on my Mind Posts: 3,250 Classified Rating: 100% (35)	I have a 578A that's already region-free, but I'd like to install the latest firmware. Will region-free status be unaffected? Also, using the Pio 575 firmware to update the 578 seems like asking for trouble (or are they really identical units w/different models numbers for the U.S. vs. European markets?). __________________ HDMedia Fan

05-13-05, 01:49 AM	#14 \| Link
DigiPete Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: So Cal Posts: 433 Classified Rating: 100% (4)	I updated my 578a with the 2.09 firmware for the 575 with no ill effects. My unit remained region 1. I don't think this update affects the region. How did you get your 578a to be region free? DigiPete

05-13-05, 09:21 AM	#15 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a591f81a' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:36&n=a591f81a' border='0' alt=''></a>
Brajesh AVS Special Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Georgia on my Mind Posts: 3,250 Classified Rating: 100% (35)	DigiPete, I bought my 578A already region-free hacked from eBay. It was just $125 shipped (seller was "staraudiovideo"). __________________ HDMedia Fan

05-13-05, 11:15 AM	#17 \| Link
DigiPete Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: So Cal Posts: 433 Classified Rating: 100% (4)	Hi Rickardl, I used a cd. go here: http://www.avland.co.uk/pioneer/dv575/dv575.htm A link on this page gives you the firmware and instructions. I don't think you will get DivX on the 578a because it has a different video chip which does not support it. The 588 does have this capability. After the update in noticed nothing new, except now I had 2.09 firmware. DigiPete

05-13-05, 01:19 PM	#19 \| Link
DigiPete Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: So Cal Posts: 433 Classified Rating: 100% (4)	Hi Rickardl, Thanks for the link, Yes I did look in the options but DivX was not there. The firmware must know that this does not work on the 578a, and so it does not give you the option. All I can tell you is the upgrade worked for my 578a. Cheers DigiPete

05-13-05, 01:31 PM	#20 \| Link
zoro AVS Special Member AVS CLUB MEMBER Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 8,387	did it become region free too digipete?

06-04-05, 11:09 AM	#23 \| Link
hancox UConn-a-holic Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Monroe, CT Posts: 511	stuid question digipete - the .bin file - only required to be on a normal CD? No renames, etc?

06-05-05, 12:19 PM	#25 \| Link
hancox UConn-a-holic Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Monroe, CT Posts: 511	Bingo. One note to other newbies at this - CD name must be PIONEER

06-05-05, 01:48 PM	#26 \| Link
StevenA01 Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 65	And does the player work perfectly, with no weird effects as a result of this unofficial firmware? Hope one for the 588a comes along soon!

06-06-05, 10:15 PM	#28 \| Link
biznus97 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 308	Just a heads up for anyone trying this. If you have a player with the 2.05 firmware as the base, it doesn't look like a CD upgrade will work.

06-07-05, 01:08 AM	#30 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a591f81a' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:36&n=a591f81a' border='0' alt=''></a>
biznus97 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 308	Thanks for the response however it didn't work on my unit. It can't recognize any disk with a firmware on it. It will just give a message: "Can't play disc". There are links on another site about this (don't have it on me) that basically say that certain players with certain fw versions can only be upgraded via a serial cable.