DVD Player recommendations: Discuss DVD player recommendations here

[tomdkat]

Originally posted by kpbarc
So does this mean the Denon 1600 is a better choice than the 2900?

Well, that really depends on what your needs are. Keep in mind the DVD-2900 plays DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, and SACD where the DVD-1600 doesn't play SACD.

I guess for you the "big" question is do you want or need SACD playback?

You could always wait until more DVD-Audio/SACD players hit the market and see how they perform.

This whole chroma thing is confusing.

Yeah, it can be and it might not even be noticable to you.

It's something to definitely be aware of but not necessarily a "deal breaker" unless it's really a problem for you.

Peace...

[MRSMITH]

Originally posted by tomdkat
Thanks!

EDIT: Actually, that link didn't work. I guess yo've got me level of motivation today too...

Here's a link to a site in Korean, which at least has pics and some readable specs:

http://vhd.co.kr/ct/read.htm?sm_id=db&sb_id=-699

I see MPEG4 (DivX) is also listed as a supported format. I wonder if this player could play the HD T2 video on the T2:EE DVD. Hmmm....

EDIT #2: Here's an ever BETTER link:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...hreadid=262063

Peace...

Based upon a review which can be accessed via
the hivizone.com website(they're sales agents
it appears), I've been put in the purchase que
for the Momitsu V880. The stats say that user-
choice 720p or 1080i upconverts current generation
DVDs to virtual Hi-Def at those resolutions. The seller
states that all units undergo a technical check before
shipping, and that purchaser credit cards are not
debited until the unit is actually shipped. Unit has
a Macrovision turn-off option(which enables this
upconversion to begin with), and does the upcon
via either DVI or Component(unlike Samsung HD931
or Bravo D-1).

My question is, has anyone from the first sold-out
batch of these machines provided a detailed review,
especially using the component option?

I'm anxiously awaiting notice of shipment and could
learn from others' experience. My set is a year 2001
RCA Scenium HD65W20 widescreen hi-def set with
1440 x 1080 native resolution according to the
user manual, and component inputs(no DVI of
course),

Thanks for your usual assistance.

Milt R. Smith
mrsmith2002@yahoo.com



EDIT: Tomdkat Fixed the quoting problem...

[tomdkat]

Here is the request:

5 disc changer recommendations

Please post any recommendations in this thread.

Peace...

[tomdkat]

Originally posted by MRSMITH
My question is, has anyone from the first sold-out
batch of these machines provided a detailed review,
especially using the component option?

I don't think anyone here owns one of these machines, outside of yourself, or knows much about them. I would check out the thread on AVS Forum I posted the link to for feedback from owners of this machine.

Good luck!

Peace...

[tomdkat]

If you're looking for a DVD player with DVI output, here is a comparison of the Samsung 931 and Bravo D1:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...hreadid=259532

Enjoy!

Peace...

[snipsnapsappy]

Here are some links to some really good Denon players. It is a used website and they are used players, but they are under warranty directly from Denon. And Denon does not give out their warranty to very many stores. So if they did not work for some reason, Denon will take care of you.

The Denon DVM-1805:
http://www.ecost.com/ecost/shop/detail.asp?dpno=163303

At only $129 this is a really good deal. It retails for $429.

The Denon DVM-4800:
http://www.ecost.com/ecost/ecce/shop...sp?dpno=972186

This player retails for $1200. It is Denon's 3rd best dvd player. And It has DVD Audio. It is a steal for $329.

I would like to get the 4800, but I really want SACD capability, and that is not yet available in a Changer. If DVD Audio is not important to you, then the 1805 has great video and audio for DVD Video and CDS.

[tomdkat]

Originally posted by tomdkat
5 disc changer recommendations

Here are some 5-disc changers to check out:

Toshiba SD-3815
Panasonic DVD-CP72

I'm not sure if these units have ALL of the features mentioned in the thread quoted above, but they are a good starting point, along with the Denon mentioned by snipsnapsappy.

Peace...

[Pirate]

HEY TOMDKAT!

thanks for the info. I got the panasonic a few days ago to see if it was better than my sony. I was really dissapointd with the panaonic (and i really like panansonic) . The program feature was awful. It took soooo long to read from disc to disc that you felt like you were sitting there forever.

I bought this sony: http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTE...GtEFH&Dept=hav

If you would check the specs and tell me if i'm missing anything that you think I might need.

I'm running the DVD player off a sony dts es amp and a WS HDTV.

thanks
-PH

[tomdkat]

Originally posted by piratehunter
If you would check the specs and tell me if i'm missing anything that you think I might need.

This Sony looks fine to me. I don't know what the video quality is like but as long as you're happy with it, that's all that matters!

Enjoy!

Peace...

[Pirate]

The sony looks great. I really cuts down on flicker and noise. The only draw back is, that if a dvd is poorly mastered, it looks even worse on the p-scan than it did on my old player and if you set up the 5-disc to run from a dvd to a dvd, some discs play the FBI warnings before the film, even if you tell it to start on track 1 (really annoying)

Oh well.

thanks again for advice and info
-PH

[kpbarc]

I was also looking at the 3800 for 599, but it was a display model kinda beat up and it does have the Chrtoma bug. For that much money I thought I would get the 1600 w/o the bug. Also not carring about SACD helped make my descision as well.

I have not even hooked it up yet, I just bought it for 399 and hope there will be a big difference from my Sony. My sony is progressive scan w/ 12 bit video cost about 200 new, but I think the Denon should be better quality, I will compare them and get back to you guys.

I am curiouse how much difference the audio only button will make and if the layer change is a little quicker?

Keith

[kpbarc]

Well to make long story short. This player makes the whole system better in every way. The 55" mits looks better and the Boson Speakers w/ the Denon 3803 sound better as well.

I was very surprised of the both sound and picture difference compared to my Sony w/ progressive scan. It is as if I upgraded every component. I now know what the weakest link in my system was.


Keith

[Pirate]

Has anyone ever owned both? What would you say is the better brand? I've always been a Sony/Panasonic guy, but I've been hearing good things about Denon.

thanks
-PH

[kpbarc]

I havd a sony progressive scan w/ 12bit video. Nice for a $200 unit. The Denon blows it away, but I never had a Sony that is in the same class. I bought the Denon because it had no Chroma bug and was rated #1 w/a nice price tag.

I must say it looks nice under my Denon 3803 receiver too!!!

Keith

[tomdkat]

Originally posted by kpbarc
I was also looking at the 3800 for 599, but it was a display model kinda beat up and it does have the Chrtoma bug.

I believe there was a firmware update to fix the CUE in the Denon DVD-3800 and if you got a unit with a "good" laser pickup assembly, it might already have it. In addition to the CUE, the DVD-3800 has a "Y/C delay" problem, from what I understand...

Glad you like your DVD-1600!

Peace...

[tomdkat]

Originally posted by kpbarc
I havd a sony progressive scan w/ 12bit video. Nice for a $200 unit. The Denon blows it away, but I never had a Sony that is in the same class

The Denon uses better de-interlacing chips than the Sony, which is why it produces a "better" picture. By the way, who rated the Denon DVD-1600 "#1"?

Peac...

[Pirate]

does anyone own the DENON DVM-4800?

-PH

[kpbarc]

I ment to say it is ranked #1 on the prgressive scan bench mark results? At least I think that is what it means



Keith

[Pirate]

HELP HELP HELP!!!!

I have to make this decision by noon tomorrow. I'm going to buy one of these two players:

DENON: http://www.usa.denon.com/catalog/pdfs/dvm18053.pdf (pdf file)

PIONEER: http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/Pi...22,111,00.html


Please check them out and give me your opinion.

I've heard the PIONEER is best for video and the DENON is best for sound. I just dont know. They are both sooooo pretty

any help would be great

-PH

[kpbarc]

I love my Denon 1600 so I am biased and Pioneer is something I have not really seen?

I like the sound of the Denon too great sound!!!!

I am sure that unit have the same sound technology too.

I would go with the Denon.

Keith

[tomdkat]

Well, from what little research I've done, it looks like the Denon DVM-1805 has Faroudja de-interlacing with DCDi for video sourced material, which means it _should_ produce a GREAT progressive scan picture. I've read ONE comment where a DVM-1805 owner preferred the video performance of his XBox to the DVM-1805.

Based on the fact that the Denon has the Faroudja de-interlacer, I would say try out the Denon and see how you like it.

I just don't know enough about the video performance of the Pioneer DV-C36 to make a more informed recommendation. Does the place where you are buying this player have a good return policy? I mean you could always exchange one for the other if they are priced close enough in the event you don't like one of them.

Good luck!

Peace...

[Pirate]

Yes, they both have a 30 day- money back policy. The weird thing is, The store thats selling the DENON is a specialty store and a DENON dealer. I told him about the PIONEER ELITE and he told me to go with that because (he says) The DENON beats it on picture quality!

-PH


P.s. I couldnt fin what kind of chip the PIONEER has. ANy ideas?

[snipsnapsappy]

Pioneer uses theor own Progressive chip. It is good, but not as good as the Faroudja DCDi according to most experts. The Pioneer will likely have the Chroma Error, which the Denon will not. I do not think there is much of a debate between these players. The Denon should beat the Pioneer in almost all categories (Picture, Sound, Features). Not that the Pioneer is any slouch, it is just the Denon is better, so if the prices are similar, I say go Denon.

Although, I am partial to the look of Pioneer Elite equipment, I would love to have a DV47Ai and a VSX 49Txi and one of their beautiful Plasmas or Rear Projection TVs. Man is that Glossy Piano Black finish beautiful.

[tomdkat]

Originally posted by piratehunter
P.s. I couldnt fin what kind of chip the PIONEER has. ANy ideas?

I don't know what the DV-C36 uses for de-interlacing and Pioneer has a track record of using proprietary de-interlacing chipsets. At least with the Denon, you know you're getting great de-interlacing.

Try out the Denon and if you're curious about the Pioneer return the Denon and get the Pioneer and then return it if you prefer the Denon.

This UN-informed recommendation is based on the assertion that the Denon will have better video quality based on the Faroudja de-interlacing. If we're talking "overall" performance, I would definitely recommend the Pioneer since Pioneer has a GREAT track record of being reliable DVD players. I believe the Denon is a NEWER player than the Pioneer DV-C36 and it supports MP3 playback where the Pioneer doesn't.

Faroudja de-interlacing, newer machine, MP3 playback all give the Denon an edge over the Pioneer and I would say check out the Denon.

Good luck!

Peace...

[snipsnapsappy]

Here is a link for a refurbished DVD-1805. Like I said before, these products are under warranty from Denon and so are perfectly safe.

http://www.pcmall.com/pcmall/shop/de...sp?dpno=163303

The price is only $129.99.

I do not know what you were planning on spending, but the MSRp of the Pioneer seems to be $700!? I am sure you can find it for cheaper, but that still seems to be a big price difference between the 2 players. If you have that much, waybe you might want to look into the Denon 4800 at the sight linked above.

[Pirate]

My only concern is picture quality. I'll only be using DVDs and SVCDs on these machines. Thats another thing, the users manual says that the DENON does not play VCD's which sucks, cause I make alot of short films and things that I put on svcd.

I think I will buy the DENON tomorrow and see how it goes. I'll let you guys know. And yes that piano finish is gorgeous!

thanks
-PH

[tomdkat]

Originally posted by piratehunter
I think I will buy the DENON tomorrow and see how it goes. I'll let you guys know.

The Pioneer would probably play the VCDs just fine. Try the Denon anyway and if it doesn't play the VCDs, exchange it for the Pioneer. Even if the Denon has better picture quality than the Pioneer, the Pioneer might not be that far behind it.

You just never know until you try...

Peace...

[Pirate]

cool. Thanks for the advice. I'll post tomorrow and let ya know the verdict on the DENON.

-later
PH

[Pirate]

CRAP! They were out of the DENON. Wont get more in till MONDAY!!!! Guess we're going with the PIONEER first

I'll let ya know later tonight how the PIONEER holds up

later
-PH

[Pirate]

This has been a day! Lemme tell ya. First I find that the store I was gonna buy the DENON from, Sold out. Then I go to buy the PIONEER and they try and sell me a floor model with the wrong remote (what?). I found a store about 20min from here that says they have the DENON. Wish me luck

tired and frustrated

-PH

[tomdkat]

Originally posted by piratehunter
Wish me luck

Good luck...

Peace...

[Pirate]

Ladies and Gents...THE RESULTS ARE IN!!!


I got the DENON DVD-1805 5 disc pscan player about 3 hours ago.

It is by far the most beautiful piece of crap I've ever owned! Yes, you heard me...crap. The picture kills the SONY, that I'll give it. It's nice and clear, but there's this softness to it. So the "flicker" is gone, but now the picture is too soft. You would think I could go into the players inner setup and adjust this. Nope. Theres like 3 options in the menu. Also, when the film starts the "black enhancement" is always on. You have to manually turn it off...everytime! Really annoying! It also won't play SVCD, which is something i need in a player.

The biggest flop about this player is that it's a 5 disc DVD player, but the "program" feature only works for audio CDs. What?!

So overall it's a nice player that has the Faroudja ( which seems to make a difference) but it won't let you control ANYTHING!. I need a little bit of control in my relationships!

I guess Ill wait for the PIONEER to come in.

Sad sad sad
-PH

[tomdkat]

Slow down... the Denon DVD players tend to have a good amount of video settings so you will need to "play around" with them. As for the "softness", have you performed a video calibration using Video Essentials or Avia? If not, do that first. That WILL NOT eliminate the softness but might adjust it some make the picture not as soft as it is now.

Also, keep in mind the various video modes can have different effects on the video so you will need to get an understanding of how those modes work, etc.

As for the SVCD support, can't help you there. When you get the Pioneer, take a SVCD WITH YOU to the store and try it out there BEFORE you buy it That way, you will know for sure.

I've seen Chromy's Denon DVD-2900 and the picture was not as "soft" as his HTPC's picture (at least not to me) and I thought it was vibrant and beautiful.

Peace...

[Pirate]

It seems the darker films are the ones that suffer from the softness. And I'm telling you, there are no inner menu settings I've read the manual front to back. I can adjust my TV and I know my TV settings very well, but it changes very little. Like I said the picture is better, but it suffers when it comes to darker films and control options. That black level thing is really annoying. There should be a memory feature for that or something.

The programming feature not being available for DVDs is really the deal breaker for me. I just dont see the point in a 5disc DVD changer that you can't program.

As for the PIONEER. I have played with it at the store and it does support svcd. They have it set on a plasma screen at the store and it's hard to tell how it will look.
If that doesnt work I'm going back to VHS...kidding

-PH

[tomdkat]

Originally posted by piratehunter
The programming feature not being available for DVDs is really the deal breaker for me. I just dont see the point in a 5disc DVD changer that you can't program.

That DOES seem like an obvious kind of feature and it doesn't make sense that they would leave it out. Maybe they left it out to keep the cost of the player down or something.

As for the PIONEER. I have played with it at the store and it does support svcd.

Cool! Did you play the SVCD the Denon would not on the Pioneer, just to be sure? It might be advertised to play SVCD but it might have problems with your particular one. I'm confident it will play your SVCDs just fine since it IS a Pioneer and I'm a Pioneer guy...



Good luck!

Peace...

[Pirate]

Yeah, I only make one kind of SVCD (in terms of formatted) and the PIONEER played it fine. I just watched a few minutes of spider-man on the DENON and as long as the picture stays bright, it looks fine. Once it goes dark though, it starts to get soft.
I dont know what the deal with that is.

BTW I check the manuel and in the back it says "The programming feature is only for use with audio CDs" That make no sense. Oh well.

I should get the PIONEER next week. I'll update the post and let you know how it holds up against the DENON

later
-PH

[chipmac]

Ok I just gotta ask. Why do you need to program 5 DVDs? Are you going to play one chapter from each disc like you would play one song from each disc? I always thought that the idea behind DVD changers was to avoid the down time of getting up to switch discs yourself.

Keep in mind every player is going to be different. Each one needs to be connected and recalibrated to get the best picture. The settings on your TV from one player will not work for another. I don't know if your old player could pass below black but this one can so your brightness will need to be adjusted. Try turning off the black enhancement mode when no disc is playing. Perhaps doing it this way will keep the setting for all discs rather than just the one currently playing.

[Pirate]

I understand about calibration. I've had alot of DVD players.

Why I need to program the five discs is this: I make my own trailer DVDs that I play before the film begins (just like in the theatre, sans the TV comercials) THe trailers are very high quality and take me time to make. When you have to switch inputs to go from the trailers to the film, it screws up the flow. Thats why the 5disc is good, cause it can all stay on the same input. I also have DVD's with the sound trailers (DD, DTS, THX). When put together it's a super cool experience, that in some of my frequent guests opinions, rivals the theatre. And that make me giddy like a schoolgirl.

From what I've read about the PIONEER, it should pull this off the way I want.

Later
-PH

P.S. I've also been known from time to time to put a cartoon before the film. Kickin it old school!

[Pirate]

Originally posted by chipmac
Try turning off the black enhancement mode when no disc is playing. Perhaps doing it this way will keep the setting for all discs rather than just the one currently playing.

Tryed it. I'm telling you, this player gives you no control.

good thought though

-PH

[lilsam51]

Its been a while since I did my homework on progressive scan DVD Players but I am a firm believer of "you get what you pay for". When Pioneer came out with their Progressive Scan DVD Player, I believe it was the DV-37, its in their elite line, I didnt think their would be that much difference between a $500 player and a $1000 player. But I am so happy that I went the route of the Pioneer player. Best DVD Player that I have owned. I have an HDTV and its amazing how crystal clear the picture looks, even at 480P only. I hear the Denon is an excellent choice as well. You figure you cant go wrong with Denon or Pioneer's Elite line.

I dont know if you want to focus on DVD-Audio just yet as it hasnt seemed to pick up in the consumer market. I think Sony's SuperCD is more popular.

Another factor you need to consider is the quality of your HDTV. Mitsubshi has three differnt grades of their HDTV. Not sure about the other manufacturers.

When it comes to home theater equipment never cut corners on cost. You might think you are getting a better deal with a cheaper piece of equipment, and sometimes you do. Take your time and do alot of research.