"Keep in mind that on a lot of players, there's this weird smearing effect with CLV. And none with CAV"
Along these lines, did your comparisons ever include the Battle of Yavin, because this segment of the Faces discs (Disc 2, side 1) is in CAV as well. You may find that they look identical (except for contrast). If so, then it is your player creating the blur, rather than the disc itself.
(Yes....we, the X0 Project, know wayyyyyyy too damn much about these discs.
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