Denon 3910

[Wirehed]

So I think I've decided on this player.

Originally I was going to buy the 2910 since the video quality is (essentually) the same, but I've since decided to go for the 3910 for it's superior audio DACs.

The goal being that I should be able to use the 3910 as a CD player.

So I'm going to get a long ass DVI cable to go from my component rack to my projector. (12 meter DVI cable $250..ouch)

I'm going to go analog audio to use the high quality audio of the 3910. So that means 6 decent quality interconnects for DVD 5.1 and SACD and DVD-A.

Then I'll use a pair of middle of the road Transparent audio interconnect cables for "stereo out" for CD play back.

So for ~$2500 I should be able to get a top of the line DVD player AND a good CD player. Not too shabby a deal, I think.

[I 8 Piglet]

[snipsnapsappy]

um, the DVD player MSRP's for $1300. Why would it cost $2500?

If you are going to spend that much, get the brand new 5910. It uses DVDO processing which is supposed to be even better than the Faroudja. It will set you back $3500.

http://www.usa.denon.com/catalog/products.asp?l=1&c=4

[Titleist]

you can get the 3910 for about 900 if you look around, you'll be very happy with the player, as that's what we use at work as our reference dvd player for previewing our work. Honestly don't waste your money on the 5910, considering how nice the 2900, 2910, 3910, 5900, are it'd really just be silly to spend that money considering what's on the horizon with new technologies.

But yes, it's a good player, but what do I know...i'm biased, lol.

[storm117]

FWIW, the 5910 and 3910 share the same DAC's...Burr-Brown DSD-1796. If you're using the player primarily for CD, SACD, and DVD-A multi-channel/high-resolution audio stick with the 3910. For video processing, there's no doubt the Teranex will outperform the 3910's Farouja based decoding engine, but with HD DVD and/or Blu-ray in our midst it would seem rather imprudent to go with the 5910 at this point.

You're going to love the 3910. Mine has performed flawlessly in both audio and video...3910->AVR-3805->XBR960. I haven't even messed with Pure Direct mode yet, I've just been using the optical out and AL24 processing for 2-channel CD audio for now. SACD's sound absolutely incredible on this unit and so far I'm quite pleased.

Enjoy!

[Wirehed]

Originally Posted by snipsnapsappy

um, the DVD player MSRP's for $1300. Why would it cost $2500?

Lots and lots of expensive, analog cables for the audio side of things.

Regardless of what player I buy I have to buy cables for it, that price stays fixed.

I don't want to spend MORE than $1300 on the DVD player as I know I'll be replacing it with a HD player in the coming year or so.

In fact I would just buy a less expensive model (like the 2910) but I'm also in the need for a good CD player. By buying the 3910 I will not need an additional CD player (saving me $1000). --or so my thinking goes.

[Titleist]

I'm sorta inclined to agree as to using it as a dvd player, if you use it as a transport it's superb, I used to use a Rotel LE series cd player that I considered to be reference quality, but this denon in Pure Direct mode, with my 3805 receiver in that mode as well are just mindblowingly cool. Although you may not find a difference in quality, audible at least, betwee, the 2910 and 3910. I couldn't hear a bit of difference between my 2900 and the loaner 5900 I was borrowing for 2 months.

[Iguana Man]

Originally Posted by Seamonkey

So I think I've decided on this player.

Good choice...I haven't gone thru the plethora of adjustments this player offers yet, but from what I've seen it's really nice. I still have to set it up for analog sound (ie: buy more cables) but when I finally get there, I should be awestruck from what I've read.

So I'm going to get a long ass DVI cable to go from my component rack to my projector. (12 meter DVI cable $250..ouch)

I don't know if these DVI cables are as good as others, but I'm using their component cables from the 3910 to my Sanyo Z2 (15ft) and it looks damn good to me. I am using their DVI cable as well from my HD Sat unit to the Z2 and HD looks awesome.

Anyway...you could save some moolah by trying them out.

PC Cables - DVI

[Wirehed]

Thanks Iguana, I'll look into that.

I'm of the opinion that a digital cable either works or doesn't, spending more isn't going to get a better image. I currently have a 15ft DVI cable I bought online for around $50..but the build quality isn't particularly nice. --it seems to work fine, but it's not "showy"


Analog cables are a different story entirely...better cables make a HUGE difference, at least in my system, to my ears.

[Taxi]

How long are your interconnect runs going to be?

To hook up my 5.1 audio on my Denon DVD-5900, I went with the Outlaw Audio PDA cables, and have been very happy with the results. (.5 meter 7 pack=$105 plus shipping) I was going to go with Bettercables silver serpent, but I just couldn't justify the extra cost.

(Seamonkey, what happened to your Arcam CD player? )

[Wirehed]

The interconnects need to be about 1 meter...probably less...but generally that's how they come anyway.

I wouldn't buy analog cables without hearing them in my system first. I've been most impressed with the Transparent cables I have now...but they are a bit on the pricey side. I'm thinking of looking into BetterCables as well, but I don't think you can 'review' them since they are an online purchase only.


Taxi:
The Arcam Alpha 9 was a fantastic CD Player. I got a great deal on it from a client that was selling it for a friend that moved out of the country (I think he was military). When the friend came back he missed his CD player and so the client that sold it to me asked about getting it back...at the time I needed the money more than a high end CD player anyway...and the Arcam, while fantastic sounding, didn't have certain 'features' I rather wanted to play with (like HD decoding). So I just gave it back to him thinking it would be easy to pick something else up later for similar money. ---suprise, you can't buy a CD player anymore. so that's the story.

[Taxi]

Bettercables has an excellent return policy, so you can test drive them (For 30 days), and if you don't like them, send them back. Outlaw, unfortunately, does this for all of their products, except their cables.

(If you want to drive to Portland, you can listen to mine. )

[Wirehed]

Originally Posted by Taxi

Bettercables has an excellent return policy, so you can test drive them (For 30 days), and if you don't like them, send them back.

Oh, I didn't look that far into it. I guess I'll probably check that out, thanks.

Driving to Portland would cost about the same as just buying the cables in the first place.


...but Portland has good beer.

[Iguana Man]

Originally Posted by Seamonkey

...but Portland has good beer.

I'M IN!!

Wait a minute....8-10 mpg, Jersey ---> Portland (is that Oregon?),

3000 miles = I'm frigging broke by the time I get there.

[Wirehed]

Ok. I just picked this bad boy up and plugged it in.


And it didn't work.


Add two beers and an hour later and I find out the damn thing isn't actually DVI.

Since my projector doesn't have HDMI it will not accept any DVI signal. Bah.


So to fix things I think I'm going to upgrade to a Z3 projector.


bah this is the first time in my life an "advanced" technology has actually hindered me.

[tomdkat]

The 3910 doesn't have DVI and HDMI outputs? Have you tried a HDMI --> DVI converter? I've read where some black "issues" exist with some HDMI --> DVI converters but I don't have any detailed info on this.

Here is a quote from the Denon website on the 3910:

(1) DVI-D (HDCP) and (1) HDMI Multi-Channel Audio Compatible, outputs with selectable 480p/720p/1080i output • (1) each - Component Video, Composite and "S" outputs • 2X DVD read speed; 4X CD/CD-R/CD-RW read speed; with 8MB drive buffer memory • Built-in Dolby Digital, dts, DVD-Audio and SACD decoders with 5.1 analog outputs • Burr-Brown 24-bit, 192-kHz DSD-1796 Audio DACs that decode PCM and DSD signals discretely with no cross-conversion of DSD • Full Digital Bass Management for DVD-Audio/SACD (optional), featuring dual Analog Devices Melody 100 'HammerHead' processors (DSD signals are converted to PCM) • 40/60/80/100/120Hz crossover points with 12dB high and 24dB low pass slopes; Adjustable delay time and Channel Levels • Bass Management avaialble for all formats on the HDMI output

What am I, or you rather, missing here?

EDIT: Here is a picture of the back panel which shows both DVI and HDMI outputs. Does your PJ want a DVI-A input vs DVI-D or something?

Peace...

[Wirehed]

No, it HAS DVI out. You just can't USE it unless the device you are plugging into ALSO has HDCP.

It's actually in the 3910 manual.

Bah.

[Titleist]

Are you thinking of HDCP, make sure your projector supports that, if it does not than your SOL, most newer displays have that support.

[Wirehed]

My projector does not support HDCP. That is, as they say, the problem.

Sigh.

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by Seamonkey

No, it HAS DVI out. You just can't USE it unless the device you are plugging into ALSO has HDCP.

It's actually in the 3910 manual.

Bah.

Ah, you said HDMI in your post above and not HDCP.

Yeah, the Denon requires an HDCP compliant display to utilize the digital video outputs. Didn't you know that? Hell, my mom even knows that.



(Just giving you a hard time... )

Peace...

[Wirehed]

Originally Posted by tomdkat

Yeah, the Denon requires an HDCP compliant display to utilize the digital video outputs. Didn't you know that? Hell, my mom even knows that.



(Just giving you a hard time... )

Peace...

They don't print this information on their ad copy. Really, a DVD-D should be able to output a signal to my DVI-D projector...just as it's doing now with my HTPC. argh.


Anyway, this gives me an excuse to buy a new projector I suppose.

[Titleist]

Generally all upscaling dvd players require an HDCP compliant display to allow for that.

Also Denon does make it clear you need an HDCP compliant display, but it's just buried in the manual, typically most monitors that have HDMI, also have HDCP, since it's the most modern display input.

[Wirehed]

Originally Posted by Titleist

Also Denon does make it clear you need an HDCP compliant display, but it's just buried in the manual.

Apperantly we have a difference in opinion about what the word "clear" means.

To me, DVI out means I can plug the device into my DVI in device.


But anyway, it's a small annoyance as I can use my component cables for now until I upgrade my projector.

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by Seamonkey

To me, DVI out means I can plug the device into my DVI in device.

Well, you can do this. The problem is you can't pass any video over this connection to your display device.

As for the definition of "clear", check out the specs I highlighted above. Did you not notice the "HDCP" when you checked out the specs before?

Peace...

[Iguana Man]

Originally Posted by Seamonkey

But anyway, it's a small annoyance as I can use my component cables for now until I upgrade my projector.

Well that sucks....just goes to show even researching a product can backfire on those of us "in the know". Well don't feel too bad...component thru the 3910 looks pretty damn good to me.

So your getting the Z3 huh? Why not the Z2? Just curious on what the improvements over the Z2 are since I imagine the Z2 can be had for around $1,500 by now. And what pj you currently got? Oh yeah, Reid got the new Panny PJ...may wanna look into that as well.

[PunkMunkey]

Originally Posted by Seamonkey

But anyway, it's a s