Which DVD Player to buy??

[marantzsr8500]

Hi,

I'm a new member to HT Forums. I've been looking for a quality HDMI/DVI/SACD/DVD-Audio Universal Player for around $2000. I am leaning towards the Marantz DV 9500, but I also know that Pioneer Elite , Denon, and others have also very good sets. I know Samsung came out with one (Samsung HD941) for under $200. What do I lose if I go with the Samsung rather than the Marantz which is virtually 10 times the cost. I have a Marantz VP-12S3 DLP projector, and Marantz SR8500 receiver (both have DVI connections) and Mordaunt Short Series 500 speakers. I would appreciate any advice for a DVD Player for around $2000 and is very good. Thanks!

[Patt]

Welcome Ashraf,
When I went from a 100 dollar Sony to a closeout sale price 600 dollar Denon DVD player there was a huge difference in sound and especially picture quality.
You are in for a real treat with your budget.

[gd]

Don't look to Samsung for good music reproduction... period.

I've not heard it yet, but that Marantz is said to be outstanding for music, and would obviously complement your other Marantz components... other solid music performers around that price or somewhat less include Denon DVD 3910 (a consensus favorite on this forum) and Pioneer DV59-AVi (I've always had good luck with Pio).

It is rare to find a uni-player that is 'perfect' at everything, even for $2000... if video quality is critical, you may want to study video testing results for the above players here: http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/cgi-bin/shootout.cgi ... in short, the above 3 passed well enough, but some perform better than others... again, video testing only, but with high standards employed.

Your good budget gives you good options, but you should be able to get an excellent performer for under $2k.

[marantzsr8500]

Okay, I just checked out the Denon 5910 :E . Money being no object, between the Marantz DV 9500 and the Denon 5910, which one would you recommend? The Denon weighs more than twice as much, but I have heard nothing but good things about the Marantz.

Also, the Denon has THX Ultra capability, whereas the Marantz does not. Does THX really mean anything, because I have heard it is only a gimmick, and besides my Speakers are configured in a non-THX format, even though they are THX capable (not sure if Select or Ultra). The Denon is THX Ultra, but my receiver is THX Select II (Marantz SR8500). So, now that you know my environment, what would be the verdict, Marantz or Denon?

[jimmyp58]

I sent you a PM....

[Nick M]

If you're still using a receiver, I would spend $1300 on a Denon DVD-3910 and then pick up a dedicated amp for around $1000 (5ch).

[marantzsr8500]

That's a good point, however what I would really appreciate is if you would tell me about the Denon 5910 vs. the Marantz DV 9500.

[Nick M]

I use a Denon DVD-2900, the predecessor to the Denon DVD-3910. From what I've read, the upgrade to the 5910 gets you some real serious video processing stuff.

I think buying a $3500 universal player is a little out of place if you're still using a receiver though.

Here's a review of the 5910 if you haven't seen this one.

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_12_2/denon-dvd-5910-dvd-player-4-2005-part-1.html

[Charl]

You should also check out the new Onkyo DV-SP1000 which has been getting some really good press... I'm sure I've seen the retail price around $2,000.

[Snap]

I would go with what Nick said. "Go with the 3910 and get an amp" I personaly would stay with Denon. I have the 2910 and love it. It was also said above to stay away from the Samsung. I agreee 100%

If you are really wanting to spend that much money on a player than the 5910 is the better bet in MHO. :T

[gianni]

I second the second -- Denon DVD-3910. Use the extra cash for something else as within a year or two you may want an HD-DVD or Blu Ray player. If you are looking towards the future, the Denon DVD-2910 will give you 95% of what the 3910 will give you a little closer to stop-gap prices. If you don't feel the need to be one of the first HD-DVD adpoters, then the 3910.

[Chris D]

Just be careful with the 3910. It's currently not passing blacker-than-black. (pluge) It should be fixed this month with future production models.

[Shane Martin]

I would probably go with the 3910 although Yamaha has a new Faroudja based uni player with I-Link and HDMI for around $700 coming soon that also has a video off feature.

WIth HD-DVD/Blu Ray looming, I wouldn't spend too much.

[martino]

I just got the Marantz DV9500

And it is wonderful!!..as of now I only use it for music...the sound is warm and detailed..I am very pleased!!
Recommended highly!

martin :T

[martino]

how long to wait??

I would probably go with the 3910 although Yamaha has a new Faroudja based uni player with I-Link and HDMI for around $700 coming soon that also has a video off feature.

WIth HD-DVD/Blu Ray looming, I wouldn't spend too much.

But how long til there is any decent new media in HD- Blu-Ray..enjoy the here and now...why wait!!!

Martin

[Shane Martin]

But how long til there is any decent new media in HD- Blu-Ray..enjoy the here and now...why wait!!!

Late this year, early next. HD is a quantum leap over DVD. Lots of people are not buying anything right now as much as they used to. They are only buying "must own" stuff because they know most of their library will get replaced in another year.

[David Meek]

Lots of people are not buying anything right now as much as they used to. They are only buying "must own" stuff because they know most of their library will get replaced in another year.

That's me. :agree:

[Gordon Moore]

Oppo Digital - OPDV971H

Scored just behind the Denon 5910.

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/cgi-bin/shootout.cgi?function=search&articles=122

$3500 versus $200 is worth finding out for yourself. cheers!

http://www.oppodigital.com/opdv971h.html

much cheaper transition to blu-ray for the here and now. Don't forget that media will initially be through -the - roof. I betcha blu-ray will be easy $40 or more /title versus $20 on initial release for regular DVD. (In CDN dollars). Good Luck finding blu-ray titles on the used market for a good 5 years or so I bet.

[Shane Martin]

much cheaper transition to blu-ray for the here and now. Don't forget that media will initially be through -the - roof. I betcha blu-ray will be easy $40 or more /title versus $20 on initial release for regular DVD. (In CDN dollars). Good Luck finding blu-ray titles on the used market for a good 5 years or so I bet.

Actually HD DVD has already said that their first run titles will be $5 more at $25 US compared to $20.

Also, The reason I wouldn't go that low on the totem pole is because if you want Hi Rez audio such as SACD or DVD-A. The Oppo doesn't support SACD but it does do DVD-A. Then again I'm betting pretty good money it stinks as a DVD-A player.

[Gordon Moore]

The Oppo doesn't support SACD

Well, true, but would you agree that SACD isn't exactly a fore-runner format anymore either....is it? I thought SACD was/is dying a rather good death?....mind you DVD-A isn't exactly toppling redbook CD sales either.


Ashraf,

PM Jon Marsh....he actually has the Oppo and can directly comment on the plus and minuses of the oppo rather than speculate.



regards,

Gord

[JonMarsh]

I bought one of the very first Oppo 971's to hit the country- (back around Christmas time); have done both of the firmware upgrades. They've been very responsive to constructive inputs and make Zenith look downright slothful. The Oppo replaced a Zenith DVB318 used with a Key Digital transcoder into my NEC 9PG+ CRT projector.

With the Oppo, I use a Dtronics DVI-D to RGBHV converter; this works quite well; the unit does pass below "black" properly, has no black crush or white crush that I can see on test patterns, and like the Zenith before it, does a very good job decoding video or mixed source material, something I've had problems with on HTPC (which I still have) and previous STB DVD players (all $1K plus units, Sony and Toshiba).

On a couple of DVD's in very low light scenes I've seen slight evidence of macroblocking, but these are scenes which other players don't resolve any detail at all (Liteon LVD2001, for example).

Now, besides movies, I watch a lot of TV sourced DVD- I don't have cable, don't watch OTA, so some of my favorite shows are just from DVD, like Alias, Smallville, Millenium, The 4400, Stargate, etc. That's biased my preference to a player that does well with video or mixed source material.

I use this player, and the Zenith before it, in 1080i mode on my FPTV. Very slight scan line overlap, very film like picture even at the close viewing distance I use (about 8 ft).

Best $200 I've ever spent on a video source component.

Next expenditure will probably be an HD DVD player.

The direct audio out is markedly better than the Zenith, and it does decode DD and DVD-A- sounds pretty decent, though I prefer (for a budget unit) the Marantz CD5400 CD player on CD's. But I use a dedicated transport and Benchmark DAC1 for CD music normally.

It doesn't do SACD. I have a $3500 SACD player for that. Forget universals, IMO. But then, I have seperate music and HT systems.

The build quality is the best I've seen in a sub $300 player, but obviously that is something of a qualification. Since I'm not normally using any of the analog outputs from it (just DVI-D and SPDIF), it's really the transport responsiveness, MPEG decoding accuracy, and deinterlacing and DVI output that are the performance issues, and in these regards it works quite well (see the SOHTHF review), given the Mediatek controller and DCDi de-interlacer/scaler. Layer transitions are virtually seamless.

Note that analog output is ONLY 480i; there's no progressive analog output. IMO, this is fine. You can feed this into an inexpensive monitor to see control settings or setup, if your main monitor has any setup or lock on issues (many digital DVI units are a bit funny that way- my all analog rig and DVI decoding is seemless in that regard, it seems.

I'm not saying this is the best DVD player in the world (I'd not mind having an Ayre DX7, for example), but I think it's the best one under $500, and gives the ones up to $1K a good run for their money, depending on the features you want.

Notable films that looked quite good on this were ATOC, and LOTR:ROTK. The most recent DVD that impressed me is the release of "Firefly", that underated Joss Whedon space opera with remarkably good production values (for TV) and good writing and characters (only 11 episodes were aired; the DVD has all 14 which were produced). The pilot is damn amazing for a TV show, especially as regards overall cinematography, and is demanding and rewarding of a good projector.

~Jon

[Shane Martin]

Well, true, but would you agree that SACD isn't exactly a fore-runner format anymore either....is it?

No and it never was but it matters to alot of folks.

I thought SACD was/is dying a rather good death?....

Not really. Its just stagnant. Nothing is really pushing it away either. The mass market wants compressed garbage. If you are going to spend good money on a dvd player nowadays, the primary reason you want to is for better SACD/DVD-A playback. As you go up in scale, you get I-Link as well as better bass management which is VERY IMPORTANT for those formats and their supporters.

For pure DVD-Video playback, I would agree. As far as the original posters concern, he wanted an HDMI/SACD/DVD-A machine. The oppo wouldn't suffice.

[JonMarsh]

For up to 1K, I'd buy the Oppo, and a dedicated SACD/CD player for the same overall total. Plus, if one goes south for repairs, you still have the other.

Just my 0.02.

~Jon

[Kevin P]

How about the Pioneer Elite DV-59AVi? It does DVD, DVD-A, SACD, has HDMI which can do 480i, 480p, 720p and 1080i, and an i-link output as well. It also has excellent DACs and sounds great with redbook CDs as well as the higher resolution media.

With a MSRP of $1600 that's well within your budget, and this player gets great reviews for both audio and video performance.

I grabbed one and will be using it in my HT after my house is rebuilt.

[gd]

Pioneer Elite DV-59AVi... MSRP of $1600 that's well within your budget

You should be able to get it for 900, with a little searching.

I think it's more reasonable to get a separate DVD player for video... cheaper and more suited to fast-changing technology... easier to upgrade.

And a separate player for your music needs, if that's critical to you.

A universal that does everything perfectly?... doesn't exist.

[Gordon Moore]

For up to 1K, I'd buy the Oppo, and a dedicated SACD/CD player for the same overall total. Plus, if one goes south for repairs, you still have the other.

Just my 0.02.

That makes a lot of sense (unless space is a concern) :yesnod:

[JonMarsh]

But the Oppo is so THIN it essenitally doesn't take up any space compared to a "normal" DVD player! You could almost stack up three of them in the space the Marantz CD5400 takes....

[Gordon Moore]

:lol: Fair enough :T

I found the same thing with my Apex DIVX/DVD player and my Panny digital receiver. The 2 stacked together didn't equal the height of my old VCR

[Shane Martin]

That makes a lot of sense (unless space is a concern)

What about Firewire(jitterless AFAIK) and digital bass management? That would be a GOOD REASON to stick with the above mentioned Yamaha and also the Pioneer or even the Denon 3910. The fact you don't need to use a bunch of analog cables which can get expensive is also very nice.

How about the Pioneer Elite DV-59AVi? It does DVD, DVD-A, SACD, has HDMI which can do 480i, 480p, 720p and 1080i, and an i-link output as well. It also has excellent DACs and sounds great with redbook CDs as well as the higher resolution media.

Don't forget I-Link(firewire).

[Gordon Moore]

What about Firewire(jitterless AFAIK) and digital bass management? That would be a GOOD REASON to stick with the above mentioned Yamaha and also the Pioneer or even the Denon 3910. The fact you don't need to use a bunch of analog cables which can get expensive is also very nice.

:yesnod: most definitely, all signs point to yes.

Money no object How about a Linn? :lol:

http://www.stereophile.com/digitalsourcereviews/1203linn/

only a paltry 10K

[JonMarsh]

I haven't seen ILINK (Firewire) capability spec'd in his Marantz receiver, so unless he upgrades there, it might be a moot point- barring plans to move to an amplifier which does have it. Then, it still comes down to the question of whether it might be better to hear SACD, for example, out of the DSD capable converters in the player, rather than converting to PCM and pumping it to a receiver...

Unfortunately, there are many trade-offs and issues to consider, and probably no once simple answer.