[tbuddha]

I've seen several threads pointing out that a TV is needed if you use a Pioneer DV-563a. If I got one of these units, I would want it strictly for playing audio discs; CDs, SACDs, and DVD-As, in my office. I don't have a TV there.

I've looked at the manual on Pioneer's site, but until I actually get my hands on a piece of gear, it is hard for me to figure out all of the ergonomics.

I can see you might need a TV for initial setup, but even there it seems that all the default settings are ones that would accommodate two-channel listening.

Aside from somewhat advanced functions like programming play lists (which I'm not interested in) could someone who has actually used one please tell me what makes a TV essential to use this player.

 

[davidmiya]

I have the DV-47Ai, which is very similar to the DV-563 in terms of menus and such. Most of the advanced functions require a menu to work, so you'd need a TV for those. However, I only use CD playback functions with the most advanced fuction being infinite replay. For this function, I have memorized the keystrokes to operate it. For most of the simple operations, you can merely memorize keystrokes. However, to initally get things set up, I hooked the RCA video out to my video capture card so that I could see the menus on my computer screen.

 

[rawhit]

Once you have done the initial setup you don't need a tv to play SACD, CD and MP3.
A disc loaded with MP3 can however be difficult to navigate through witout the tv.

You will still need a TV for DVD-A discs.
This is more a requirement of the DVD-A format than the player.

 

[dSquared]

The initial setup takes literally two seconds to do, since you're just selecting what kind of tv display you have. After that, just remember to check the SACD settings (If I remember correctly, the player I had defaulted to multichannel which sounds awful through cans), and make a cheat sheet for your basic functions like auto-repeat.

 

[Wodgy]

Beyond initial setup, the main functions that you might want a TV for are 1) random play and 2) repeat play. If you have a decent programmable remote, you can program in the sequence of keypresses it takes to invoke these features. Otherwise just memorize the sequence of keypresses, as Davidmiya has done.

 

[Zoomie]

I picked up a little LCD from ebay for something like $50. Takes all the memory work out of it.

 

[tbuddha]

Thanks everyone for the great input!

 

[acs236]

After set up, you can get by without a TV. For example, whenver I play a DVD-A, I know I have to it enter twice. That usually works! Not idea, but it'll do.