Test 2 has the same settings than test 1, apart saturation, so you are right... when saturation is applied on test 2, it is like test 1 - pinkish...

So, I stacked test 2 and test 2 with saturation, and applied the VDub gradation curves filter, and here you are the results:

This is the only setting I touched on the filter:

Must be tested further, but maybe this is the way to go...

About CLD-600: its image is definitely too soft... is it its own fault, or is it the Pioneer DVD recorder's comb filter - which, by the way, has the detail setting at max?