[Loftprojection]

Hello, I just found this forum and you guys seem to be much more oriented toward audio then the other forum I was using before.

I'm sure this has been discussed but it's quite long to seach for a broad subject like this.  If it has and you can point out a thread, I'd also be happy.

I'm shopping for a DVD player that will have great "soft musical" sound in 5.1 analog out for both redbook CD, movies and music concerts.  Would be nice to have DVDA/SACD but I'd prefer not having them if the overall sound quality is better for a given player.  It needs to decode DD and DTS because I don't have a decoder.  I have absolutely no need for the new connectivity HDMI, DVI and so on, just plain component video.  My budget would be not much more then $1000us.

I've done a bit of research and I have those on my plate now, Denon 2910, Marantz DV7600, Vincent SDV-2.  Am I missing some?  I currently own a Cambridge 540D which I like quite a bit for it's sound but it does not decode DTS and that is a must, I was just too idiot to realize it when I bought it.

I'm an old geek with audio so Denon and Marantz are not names that come to mind for quality hifi audio.  Arcam, YBA and so on are names that I recognize a little more but the Arcam DV79 player is way too expensive for my current budget, even though I love it's sound!

It's going to be a pain to try and audition those with similar audio components so I would like to read your opinion and maybe I will eliminate or add a few...  Should I consider a used/demo model of a preceeding year that did not focus on the latest bells (HDMI...) but had great analog output?

Thanks for your help.  I promise I will come more often here so I don't bother you with subjects that have been discussed before.

Cheers.

[Dan Driscoll]

Hello, I just found this forum and you guys seem to be much more oriented toward audio then the other forum I was using before.

I'm sure this has been discussed but it's quite long to seach for a broad subject like this.  If it has and you can point out a thread, I'd also be happy.

I'm shopping for a DVD player that will have great "soft musical" sound in 5.1 analog out for both redbook CD, movies and music concerts.  Would be nice to have DVDA/SACD but I'd prefer not having them if the overall sound  ...

The quality of Denon's upper tier DVD players has improved tremendously and I would have no hesitation in recommending the Denon DVD-2900 to you. In the sub-$1000 price range it may be the all-around best player available. It also has very goodt video quality, to go along with the excellent audio. The 2900 is out of production, but New In Box (NIB), demo and used units can be found. If your budget can stretch a little, the DVD-3910 (not the 2910) is the replacement for the 2900 and is supposed to be very good, also, but I haven't heard or seen one.

In the $300 range the Yamaha DV-C750 universal 5 disc changer has gotten a lot of good user mentions, especially for its Redbook (CD) playback. What few negative comments it has gotten are related to the remote (Yamaha remotes always seem to suck) and the 18 seconds it takes to cycle from 1 disk to the next.

The Yamaha DV-S2500 is supposed to be out any time now and looks like it is intended to compete directly with the Denon DV-3910, but for under $1000.

[Loftprojection]

Thanks Dan, your suggestion with the 2900 is appreciated.  I did not know the 3910 was replacing the 2900, I would have tought it was the 2910.  So if the 2900 has very similar sound quality has the 3910 then that's should be a winner for me.  There are so many good comments on the 3910 audio that it's difficult to argue that it's a good one.

Marantz does not have much publicity, well at least not like Denon and Pioneer.  I think I'll try to find a shop to check them out.  It's too bad Arcam does not make a lower end version of their DV79, I really like this smooth musical "UK" sound that comes out of Arcam, Cambridge and probably others.

I will audition a Vincent SDV-2 tonight.  I have no idea if its good and there is almost no info on the internet.  It's supposed to be a high-end audio company from Germany but that doesn't mean anything in the DVD world!

[Wayne1]

"... while the Vincent, though actually built in China under the brand name Sheng Ya, is designed in Switzerland ."

From Stereo Times

http://www.stereotimes.com/ampspeakcombo10_07_03.shtm

http://www.shengya-audio.com/en/product.htm

[rbrb]

I also own the Cambridge 540D.  I have had the analog output section upgraded/modded by Chris Johnson at The Parts Connexion.  It sounds as good or better than all the players mentioned.  Honestly as good as it now sounds DTS decoding is not missed.

You also might want to take a look at the Jolida JD700 with it's tube output stage.

I've yet to hear a Japanese mass market DVD player that has floated by boat sonically.