[TheFerret]

Howdy Folks,


I am thinking of breaking down and buying the Sony DVP-CX985V megachanger after about five months of unsuccessfully trying to find a reseller that still had inventory on the 975. I understand I will lose two desirable features (bookmarking and disk-flipping), but anything beats having to handle DVD cases which are piling up on the floor.


In a remote chance I would consider the CX777ES, but I cannot easily determine the feature-differences between these two models. I know the CX777ES is from the Sony ES line, but this means nothing to me in terms of 'features'.


I have a 10% off BB coupon which will get the 985 to me for $360+tax, which is almost a little better then what I could get it for the Internet after including some stiff S&H charges ($30-40!). Is anyone using or compared the 985V to the 777ES on features alone?

 

[Don Black]

The search function is your friend.... Lots of topics about this subject.


Good external link here:

http://www.pixelwright.com/av/MegaChangers.asp


Don't be lazy! =)

 

[TheFerret]

Don, I am no stranger to the AVS Search function--trust me on this one, as I've used it a couple of hundred times in the past 2.5 years.


I have read plenty of posts on either product, but nothing comparitively between these two models. I do thank you for that external link, though!!!

 

[Don Black]

I'm just ribbing ya. Glad it was helpful. Full credit goes to the author though.

 

[Kingdaddy]

If your going to buy a mega changer then don’t even think about anything but the CX777ES, the RS232 option alone makes this in a class by it's self. The different options for software driven interfaces makes this changer work like it should, all the others including the 777ES have terrible on-board disk management that makes these barley better then a regular single player, but until you add automated remote control you don't know what you’re missing. Even if you don't want to do it now, at least you have the option to add it later. Others will require more complicated IR interface devices (slink-e) that don't work as well as directly controlling via 232 buss, plus there much more expensive.


I bought the $109 DVD Lobby package and made my own cable, routed it up the wall, thru the attic and down to my computer. After just a few discs, I was thinking, this is the only way I will ever do movie selection again. The SACD capability is quite nice too, but as with all DVD-A and SACD players, there are bass management problems. Also be aware that all the new Sony DVD mega changers have a less then average layer change time.


KD

 

[DaveFi]

985 and Harmony Remote is fine. Just scroll to DVD you want.

 

[Kingdaddy]

Nice thing about the DirectDisc command thru the RS232 is that it will on nearly all movies skip all the BS and go straight to the beginning of the movie, no FBI, no Previews, and no top menu. Plus having Hi-Rez color DVD jacket icons in a Thumbnail view with many sort options and other tricks makes these kind of interface much better then any IR/Remote selection, IMO.

 

[Don Black]

Agreed. DVD Lobby is totally worth it.

 

[TheFerret]

DaveFi, I caught your post(s) over at Agoraquest. Can you reply to my questions I posed to you, or should I re-ask them here?


UPDATE: Went to BB this evening and found the DVP-985V on sale. Inquiring further I learned its discontinued without replacement. Maybe BB doesn't sell many magechangers. I got it for $375 plus 10% off. I'll install it tomorrow or on Monday, but what is the keyboard port for?

 

[pulper]

The keyboard port is to connect a keyboard so that you can input the names of your dvd's using the keyboard. Very handy.


I have the 985 and have had it for little less than a month. I have it connected to an HS20 projector using Audioquest cables (about $300). The picture from it is amazing, even at 119". However, there is one thing that make me think twice about keeping it:


NO BOOKMARKING. This drives me crazy, since anytime you change to another disk, you have to go through the whole waiting period again when you go back to the original disk and then find where you were before. Is this something that I am willing to put up with in order to have the amazing convenience of having all my dvd's loaded and available at the touch of a button? I think so, but I have a week to decide before being "stuck with it" (I use that term loosely - being "stuck" with a 400 dvd changer with amazing SACD abilities and a very nice picture is not too shabby).


I made the decision to buy this DVD player since it wasn't nearly as expensive as other top line models and kwowing that HD-DVD is not too far into the future, although the time when having reasonable prices for HD-DVD (or Blu-Ray) is anyone's guess when that will happen. I figure that I will still use the 400 dvd changer even when this happens (ie it will not be totally obsolete) and when it is I will not have paid a fortune for a Denon DVD-2200 or Arcam DV78. At least this was my thinking. If the CX777ES is considerably more expensive, than I would not have considered it due to the reasons above. Since you have already purchased the 985, I hope you enjoy it.

 

[TheFerret]

pulper, I agree! This is why I spent four months looking for an DVP-CX875D. I had no success whatsoever.

 

[btrvalik]

Can DVD lobby be controlled via remote or do you have to use the keyboard ?

 

[pulper]

What is DVD Lobby?

 

[TheFerret]

Front end software.

 

[pulper]

Sorry, but I still don't know what it is (not quite sure what "front end software" means). I guess since I own the player and don't recognize it, my guess is that it isn't in the DVD player.

 

[TheFerret]

Is something you use with a computer, I think, that drives/access the changer.


Does anyone know if slot 001 (#1) is empty will the Sony not try to autoload and autoplay 002 (#2)? I find this 'feature' to be quite annoying.

 

[Kingdaddy]

I don't have any trouble with Autoplay when using DVD Lobby. The previous DVD will be cued up at the last chapter and scene that it was in when the unit was last powered up, but it will not play unless you push play, this is the way it is supposed to work. When I double click a new movie cover it bypass the current cued disc from Autoplay memory and go straight to the newly selected disc. I don't understand everyone’s problems with Autoplay, or at least not with the RS232 control, it's always worked well for me.

 

[Omen]

Quote:

Originally posted by pulper What is DVD Lobby?

DVDLobby Pro

 

[TheFerret]

DVDLobby Pro, which is $60, requires MainLobby, too, which is also $60. What hardware is needed to interface this software with the changer?

 

[Kingdaddy]

An RS232 Null cable, must be Null. Connect one end to your Computer's serial port, the other to the 777ES RS232 port, set to Comm1 or 2, then run the software. There is a bit of a learning curve, but once you get it it's very easy. This will only work with the CX777ES mega changer, no other Sony will do this.