Pioneer DV-343 DVD Player

Other products by Pioneer

Product Details

Product Manual [5.58mb PDF]

• Shipping Weight: 9 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005B9AC
• Item model number: OUTLET-DV343
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #47,052 in Electronics (See Bestsellers in Electronics)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 4, 1999

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The Pioneer DV-343 DVD player includes a twin-wave laser pickup equipped with a 650-nanometer laser diode for playing DVDs and 780-nanometer diode for playing CDs, Video-CDs, CD-Rs, and CD-RWs. The player automatically detects which type of disc is loaded and activates the appropriate diode to provide the optimal laser wavelength for playback. This design provides the best possible performance, regardless of format.

Along with great picture and sound quality, the DV-343 was designed to be user-friendly. One great feature is the 30-disc memory for storing DVD preference settings (like selecting 16:9 aspect ratio for your widescreen TV, or choosing the sound option that best matches your system).

The DV-343's video black-level expansion with Pluge is an essential image-enhancing feature for expanding contrast and producing the deepest blacks available in any video format. The black cutoff level ranges from 7.5 IRE NTSC standard to 0 IRE for wider grayscale contrast, which delivers more vibrant colors. Plus, the system is capable of reproducing "blacker than black" Pluge signals, critical for setting proper picture brightness levels.

The Dolby Digital and DTS optical and coaxial outputs, when connected to a receiver or amplifier with a Dolby Digital or DTS decoder, brings you the phenomenal experience of video through five discrete full-range channels. Stunning sound effects and crystal-clear dialogue are the most notable results of this connectivity option.

For convenience, Pioneer has added an advanced graphical user interface that simplifies control of a versatile range of operations, allowing all commands to be set up even as a disc plays. Basic mode keeps settings simple and displays function descriptions, expert mode allows audio/video enthusiasts to select among more detailed settings, and Guide Indication displays available operations and makes them easy to monitor.

Product Description

Consider the sleek DV-343 when you think about DVD-Video. It delivers superb high-quality images and purely perfect sound - thanks to separated audio and video signal processing. And this practical unit plays CD-R/CD-RW discs too. An improved dot-matrix-type display matches the displays of Pioneer A/V receivers.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

155 of 162 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great player - DVDs, CD-Rs, CD-RWs no problem, April 24, 2001

By	G. Kim (Maryland) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

After extensive research on Pioneer DV525, DV535, DV333 and DV343, and giving a thought to a multiregion models of the above mentioned, I decided to go with the region 1 DV343.

First, let me get the model sequence straight : 343 replaces 333, 333 replaces 525. 535 is the European equivalent of 333.

I went with the 343 because 1) I am not interested in a progressive scan model (DV434) - I still love my two-year-old Sony TV 2) I am not interested in a multi-disk model 3) all of 343's predecessors had great reviews and 4) 343 was the newest model of the bunch.

Now the player review. Setup was a breeze. It supports all kinds of hookup combinations available today. Unfortunately for me, my seven-year-old receiver only allows the basic hookup that can be done with the cable that comes with the 343. The picture and audio are great nonetheless. I tried another combination (optical, composite, etc.) with my friend's receiver. The picture and audio are even greater.

The player is not picky at all. I backup my DVDs on SVCDs just in case. 343 plays my backup VCDs and SVCDs burned on CD-Rs and CD-RW with no problem, not to mention DVDs. :)

The unit was manufactured in Malaysia. The light weight can be a shock, but then again my made-in-China Sony VCR weighs about the same. Has no built-in decoder, but supports Dolby Digital and DTS if the receiver has the capabilities. The only bummer is the remote - buttons are small, layout is not quite intuitive, but don't we all use on universal remote anyway these days.

Overall, a great versatile player for the price tag. I have no complaints.

66 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great DVD player, September 29, 2001

By	Kuiper (Zaandijk, NL) - See all my reviews

Having heard the horror stories about some entrylevel DVD players, I decided to go with a name I knew well and never had any problems with. Pioneer.

Recently bought their DV-343 and VSX-D510 combo, and no regrets whatsoever.

Setup is a breeze, with simple on screen menu's. The remote however is a bit on the small side. One of the things I was looking for in a DVD player was the ability to play CDR/RW also. This player hasnt rejected one CDR yet, regardless of reflection color(silver, blue etc etc).

Color's are bright and well projected, watching Rules of Engagement as I type this review and this machine keeps amazing me, sound is very nice(connected coaxially to the receiver).

The player handles DD and DTS

All in all I am very happy with this purchase, seen players that cost more perform less. Pioneer once again lives up to their names promise.

Kuiper

67 of 69 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great buy for the price, October 22, 2001

By	Hollow Man (Glastonbury, CT USA) - See all my reviews

I originally bought an Apex AD-3201 and returned it because the audio and video stuttered a few times per DVD. I decided to go with this Pioneer since the DVD-ROM I use on my computer is a Pioneer and works flawlessly.

This player is an excellent buy for the money. It may not have MP3 feedback (the AD-3201 does), but all my DVDs play flawlessly. Has no problems with music CDs or CD-Rs either.

It also has every jack known to audiophiles on the back. SVIDEO, Coax, Optical, Component Video: they're all there.

The buttons on the remote are little small, but I can live with that. The only thing I really dislike is the search feature. The Apex player (or PowerDVD on my computer) has a very smooth search feature, but this Pioneer player does not. It can be very hard to find a specific part of a DVD because it jumps around in fairly large increments. It's like watching a fast slideshow rather than watching the movie play back very fast.

I believe Panasonic's RV31 has "High Speed Smooth Motion", which undoubtedly solves this problem. Of course, that player costs more.

Bottom line: if you want a low priced, name brand DVD player that gives great sound and video, this is a fine buy. And don't forget that DVD of The Phantom Menace as well: the Pod Race scene in Digital 5.1 is killer.