Rating: 
Summary: Great player - DVDs, CD-Rs, CD-RWs no problem
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: 2 lemons in a row
Review: Back around Christmas of 2001 we found this unit for sale on base (Military) ... so we bought 2 of them for the house. The first one started having all kinds of track search problems on the DVD side of things and is waiting for me to drive it to the nearest Pioneer service center. Now I just got back from a vacation and powered up the 2nd unit to watch some DVDs I bought ... NO DICE. It won't play anything. It recognizes DVDs as what they are, but fails on finding the menu. It sees VideoCDs as regular CDs, but won't play them. It sees music CDs for what they are, but won't play them either. 2 in a row. Needless to say, my family will not be buying anymore Pioneer home equipment. Must be under a different quality control division than their car stereo equipment I guess.
Rating:
Summary: 2 lemons in a row
Review: Back around Christmas of 2001 we found this unit for sale on base (Military) ... so we bought 2 of them for the house. The first one started having all kinds of track search problems on the DVD side of things and is waiting for me to drive it to the nearest Pioneer service center. Now I just got back from a vacation and powered up the 2nd unit to watch some DVDs I bought ... NO DICE. It won't play anything. It recognizes DVDs as what they are, but fails on finding the menu. It sees VideoCDs as regular CDs, but won't play them. It sees music CDs for what they are, but won't play them either. 2 in a row. Needless to say, my family will not be buying anymore Pioneer home equipment. Must be under a different quality control division than their car stereo equipment I guess.
Rating:
Summary: Buy it!
Review: Besides the great price, this DVD player has a great feature most others don't-it plays CD-RW's! If you burn CD's, this is for you. I use my RW discs over & over and play them on my
home stereo.
Rating:
Summary: BE AWARE
Review: BUYERS, BE AWARE.
I had 2 DVD players made by Pioneer. They are nice machines... for a little over a year. Then the warranty expires. The problem these players seem to have has to do with poorly designed dual laser pick up (one - for DVDs, the other one - for CDs and Video CDs). The first player I had stopped playing CDs and Video CDs, I got the other one - this one stopped playing DVDs.
On the positive side - the picture is very good, so if you are after a short-term buy go ahead, otherwise look for another brand.
Rating:
Summary: Great DVD player
Review: 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
Rating:
Summary: Don't Buy It!
Review: I am about to return this item for the second time. The first time, I returned it because the picture was "stuck" in widescreen mode -- no matter what setting I had it set on. This time I am returning it because sporadically (but often) while watching a DVD, the screen will turn completely blue. I bought this DVD after reading many glowing reviews. Maybe I got a lemon twice? I doubt it.
Rating: 
Summary: once i found one that worked
Review: i bought a dvd 343 player back in july of 2002 at a reputable retailer that ive been doing business for at least 20 years.my first two dvd players were defective,but my third one i got was a charm.so far it has brought me satisfaction ive watched alot of rentals on it.compared to an toshiba sdv 290 and a emerson i purchased at walmart they both were alot cheaper but they will not play mp3's or rewritable discs but i would like to find another dvd 343,but they discontinued them.
Rating:
Summary: Avoid this product!
Review: I bought a Pioneer 525 because it was one of the only players to play cdr's at the time. This model I was told replaced the 525. Anyway, my dv525 stopped working in less that 1 year. It would play sometimes, and then at other times just quit! Would refuse to play any type, dvd, audio cd, video CD, whatever. It would even stop in the middle of playback.I bought the panasonic RV31 and it's GREAT! Avoid pioneer!
Rating:
Summary: Great first DVD player
Review: I bought one of these for my Dad as his first DVD player, and he loves it. It was easy to set up and has great image quality on his relatively new 32" Sony TV. I've had great luck with Pioneer equipment and so felt it was a better choice than the equivalent Panasonic or Toshiba players, and wasn't disappointed by my choice...
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