FUNimation's Dragon Boxes have indeed been discontinued

[Raithos]

What you guys are not getting is that he just admitted to actively look for cheap boxes to sell them for more money. Of course I would sell MY boxes, I wouldn't buy extra boxes JUST to sell them for more money, that would be a dick move on my part and I simply couldn't bring myself to do it, even if simply because I would not like to be done the same.

Selling your box for $200, $400 or even $900 is you own business, buying a cheaper box (thus not letting someone who actually needs the box buy it) only to sell it (possible to that person he didn't let buy) for more money is a major dick move in my view.

Didn't think this would spark a debate.
I drive around to the best buys in my region and buy them for 56$ off the shelf. I'm not "looking for cheap boxes" when I'm buying them at retail price off the shelf, nor am I "blocking" anyone from buying the box. Anyone can do what I'm doing. I'm sure I'm not the only one that needs some extra cash right now, and this just happens to be a time when Dragon Box 2 is in high demand and a lot of people are dropping hundreds for it. It'd be foolish on my part not to buy into that, if I have the means.

@ DNA: "admitted" ?, You make it sound like I've committed murder or something, lol. They are MY boxes, becuase I went and bought MY boxes from the damn store with the money I earned at MY job, lol.

[dbboxkaifan]

I just looked at my Dragon Box 2 again (where it's been on my shelf quietly) and seems so unreal that DBZ-BOX 2 has grown to be so expensive now.

[DNA]

I find it kinda funny that box 2 is the only one I've got at my home at the moment. Boxes 1 and 3 are at my former place in England. I better keep a tight grip at this puppy :P

[Son Geeko]

Heh, with all this fight going on about finding a good price for Dragon Box 2 makes me glad I got it around the time it came out.

[superrayman3]

Sure. "Noise" is probably a bad term, anyway.



The whole video looks like this or worse, sadly.

Seems like the dvd is using a copy protection scheme try DVD decrypter and see if that can extract everything correctly (it does for my Kai DVD's so it theoretically should work perfectly for the DBOX sets).

[Silkman3003]

Pretty much what he said^. I came across that issue in the past with the DragonBoxes.. When I would try to convert the entire Dvd to mp4 , using Handbreak. And my video came out looking like shit.

I was able to fix that by
1. Using Dvd Decrypter to convert the Dvd into an Iso

2. Bringing that ISO file into Handbreak

3. Making sure that the video codec is H.264 on Handbreak

And from that point, converting the Iso file to mp4.

[superrayman3]

Pretty much what he said^. I came across that issue in the past with the DragonBoxes.. When I would try to convert the entire Dvd to mp4 , using Handbreak. And my video came out looking like shit.

I was able to fix that by
1. Using Dvd Decrypter to convert the Dvd into an Iso

2. Bringing that ISO file into Handbreak

3. Making sure that the video codec is H.264 on Handbreak

And from that point, converting the Iso file to mp4.

I always extracted the video data itself and worked with that instead of making an iso to save some space but your method would work too if you have the HD space.

[dprez]

I just looked at my Dragon Box 2 again (where it's been on my shelf quietly) and seems so unreal that DBZ-BOX 2 has grown to be so expensive now.

I have the same feelings for 1, 2 and 4 every time I look at them now

[Ashura]

To the guy having trouble encoding stuff: I've had a lot of experience with this lately restoring the colors on the dragon boxes, so here you go.

-Upgrade VLC like they said and see if this helps.
-If not, use a decryption software such as DVD Decrypter to export the episodes into singular vobs.
-You can then dump the vobs right into handbrake. If you find it looks interlaced after test-encoding, make sure you set it to ivtc to progressive.
-You will want to see if it wipes away the grain or not. Usually I set it to tune:grain so it encodes with grain in mind. Since the source is grainy, the encodes may be slightly larger than normal stuff.

[kidglov3s]

The cancellation of level sets kinda foiled my plan of substituting Dragon Box 1 with Levels 1.1, 1.2 and 2.1. Considering that for the time being it seems there won't be an alternative and fearing prices might go up as a result I went ahead and ordered Dragon Box 1 from Amazon for $52. I'm not proud of it, but it does complete my Dragon Box collection. I'm sure the next one listed on eBay will end at $30.

[dbboxkaifan]

To the guy having trouble encoding stuff: I've had a lot of experience with this lately restoring the colors on the dragon boxes, so here you go.

-Upgrade VLC like they said and see if this helps.
-If not, use a decryption software such as DVD Decrypter to export the episodes into singular vobs.
-You can then dump the vobs right into handbrake. If you find it looks interlaced after test-encoding, make sure you set it to ivtc to progressive.
-You will want to see if it wipes away the grain or not. Usually I set it to tune:grain so it encodes with grain in mind. Since the source is grainy, the encodes may be slightly larger than normal stuff.

He could just use AnyDVD HD it works perfectly and hasn't failed with me at all.

DVD Decrypter is outdated.

[Ashura]

I've had problems with AnyDVD HD, but I said 'such as' for a reason. He can use whatever he wants. I use DVDD because it's always worked for me despite the age and I like its ability to split things via timecode and element. (Also, it's free.)

[samuraix123]

Wow I was just getting ready to type that ''I'm waiting on my Dragon-Box 6 to get in the mail'' and the mail truck just pulled in Also I might be coming up with some money soon, which Dragon-Box should I get. 3,5,or 7? I can't afford, Box 2,or 4, But I now have box 1,& 6,

[Krakabeast]

Wow I was just getting ready to type that ''I'm waiting on my Dragon-Box 6 to get in the mail'' and the mail truck just pulled in Also I might be coming up with some money soon, which Dragon-Box should I get. 3,5,or 7? I can't afford, Box 2,or 4, But I now have box 1,& 6,

Either box 3 or 7 since prices for both have been fluctuating, more so 7, so I'd grab that first. I definitely believe box 7 will be the next to go OOP. After that, save for 2 and 4 before they become rare enough, that they will be so hard to find online at all, if you want the complete collection.

[DBZ Mick]

Depends on what episodes you are after.

I would have loved to see the Saiyan-Freeza arcs in Dragon Box quality, but I'm happy with what I've got.

[Daimakku]

There's no other reason for Dbox 2 to be this scarce..

What about this?

Season Set:


Dragon Box:


Season Set:


Dragon Box:


Season Set:


Dragon Box:


I know the general public is ignorant and whatnot, but I still have a hard time believing that there wouldn't be a large number of casual buyers who look at the crushed white skin tones and think something is wrong.

Woah! Well.. I guess that could be a legit reason for so many people buying box 2. That high contrast in burning my retinas.

[dbboxkaifan]

I should be glad at least FUNimation didn't somehow screw the Dragon Boxes by cancelling them. Thank god!

[DBZ Mick]

I actually only found the early episodes where they fight the Ginyu Special Force (those episodes highlighted above) such as against ReaCoom were really bad with brightness, the worst being ep 66, and the second Space Orphans episode which has also been posted a lot. The rest of that brick wasn't too bad.

[Daimakku]

Wow I was just getting ready to type that ''I'm waiting on my Dragon-Box 6 to get in the mail'' and the mail truck just pulled in Also I might be coming up with some money soon, which Dragon-Box should I get. 3,5,or 7? I can't afford, Box 2,or 4, But I now have box 1,& 6,

Either box 3 or 7 since prices for both have been fluctuating, more so 7, so I'd grab that first. I definitely believe box 7 will be the next to go OOP. After that, save for 2 and 4 before they become rare enough, that they will be so hard to find online at all, if you want the complete collection.

Agreed.. I'd go for 7 before it goes to the ridiculous price ranges. After that, you could do what Krakabeast said and save for 2 and 4, but if you don't wanna do that then go for 3 since I'm sure it won't last that much longer; it's already going for $41.00 (as of now) on Amazon while 5, 6 and 7 are at $31.99. 5 seems to be a stable box, I wouldn't make that one my priority.

Edit: Dbox 3 for $41.00 is being sold by a third party, not Amazon themselves.. I just checked on Walmart.com and they only show boxes 5, 6 and 7. Nevermind what I said above, I'd go for 3 next just to be on the safe side. Then 7 soon after that whenever you get the money for it.

Whenever you can't find something at two of the biggest retailers online, that's a sign.

[Perfect]

They're all pretty terrible with saturation, compression, missing the picture, etc.