LaserDisc Player AC-3 RF Output to Pioneer VSX 919 digital Input?

[cosmic109]

I want to hook my old Pioneer CLD-D505 laserdisc player to my new Pioneer VSX 919 receiver via the AC3 RF ouput on the back of the laser disc player. Am I able to go directly into a digital audio input on the receiver via a digital coax cable, or would I need a demodulater in between the two units. Also, is the AC-3 RF output a 5.1Dolby Digital encoded signal, and possible of being decoded by one of the codecs in the receiver?

Should I just use the regular analog stereo outputs and forget the AC-3 RF output altogether?

Thanks.

cosmic109

[MrBoylan]

I want to hook my old Pioneer CLD-D505 laserdisc player to my new Pioneer VSX 919 receiver via the AC3 RF ouput on the back of the laser disc player. Am I able to go directly into a digital audio input on the receiver via a digital coax cable, or would I need a demodulater in between the two units. Also, is the AC-3 RF output a 5.1Dolby Digital encoded signal, and possible of being decoded by one of the codecs in the receiver?

Should I just use the regular analog stereo outputs and forget the AC-3 RF output altogether?

Thanks.

cosmic109

Wow, blast from the past! The AC-3/RF output on the Pioneer laserdisc players is incompatible with any current receivers. There were a select few receivers and preamp/processors "back in the day" that had direct AC3/RF inputs, but most of the early Dolby Digital receivers required an AC-3/RF demodulator box between player and receiver - this basically extracts the standard AC3 (aka "Dolby Digital") signal and converts it to a standard Dolby Digital output. If you can find one of these boxes on eBay, then go for it. There were several available, from Yamaha, Pioneer, Sony, H/K and perhaps some others. Any will work fine. The output from these boxes is standard Dolby Digital (coax or fiberoptic) and should work with current Dolby Digital receivers.

When you look on eBay, be sure to use the hyphen ("AC-3" not "AC3") - I'm sure you'll find a few. Don't pay more than $100 for one. You should be able to get one for less than that if you're patient.

Here's a link that should work:

AC-3 RF Demodulators on eBay

Good luck!

-Chris

[cosmic109]

Chris, thanks for the quick response! Believe ir or not, I also have a Pioneer CLD 702 that needs a small repair to the "standy power up" relay to ge it going. And how about a collection of over a hundred Laserdiscs! I was truly hooked on this format "back in the day", and really hate to just toss the hardware and software to the side of the road......oh well.

Can I still use the unit via the composite and analog RCA outputs?

Thanks.
Cosmic109

[MrBoylan]

Chris, thanks for the quick response! Believe ir or not, I also have a Pioneer CLD 702 that needs a small repair to the "standy power up" relay to ge it going. And how about a collection of over a hundred Laserdiscs! I was truly hooked on this format "back in the day", and really hate to just toss the hardware and software to the side of the road......oh well.

Can I still use the unit via the composite and analog RCA outputs?

Thanks.
Cosmic109

You can use composite video and analog RCA video but the best sound you will get that way is matrixed Dolby ProLogic. You know you want the best so just get that AC-3/RF demodulator on eBay and call it a day.

I still have a Pioneer CLD-D604 (sold my 704 on eBay a while back) and about 10-15 LDs but I admit they don't see much use these days.

-CB