The '8000 doesn't have S/PDIF output, though. And, the older the player, the higher the risk that rubber belts and things have turned to goo.

For what it's worth, some Hitachi laserdisc players are rebadged Pioneers. Some of those use the CXD2500 digital audio chip which has an S/PDIF output option, and the boards even have unpopulated locations for a Toslink transmitter. Add a couple of jumpers, cut a hole in the back panel, and wire up a Toslink transmitter salvaged from a junked DVD player. My Hitachi now has optical and RCA outputs.

The LD-V8000 uses a Sony chip which does not have an S/PDIF output pin; it may be possible to swap it for a similar chip that does. Or, add a board which translates the available digital audio signals into S/PDIF. There's discussion of this at Diyaudio.com (If someone reading this happens to have a scrap LD-V8000, I'd be interested in getting the audio board out of it to experiment with. PM or email me.)