Time for another update, my 4400 arrived and is fully working - you guys were definitely right about the build quality of industrial players, it's built like a tank! The picture quality is superb and hats off to you all who replied for helping me make the right choice. Some scenes suffer from slight ghosting, but from what I've read on the video forums it's a problem (or trait) with all Pioneer models to a greater or lesser extent and I can live with it.

I've also picked up a D925, from which I can rip the digital audio output straight into my computer and of course it also means the option is there to get the AC-3 too. The only downside is to the LD collecting is that out of the 15 titles I've bought so far, virtually every disc seems to have some presence of laser rot. Even the more recent discs made as recently as the late 1990s and 2000. This is where the PR-8210 SilverWook recommended would've come in handy, but I couldn't find any sellers who'd ship to the UK!

All in all though, I'm happy that I managed to get what I wanted and look forward to sharing my projects with you once they're ready.

Jay