Anyone tried the Denon DVD-2900?

JoshK · « **on:** 27 Jun 2003, 09:41 pm »

This looks like a very interesting product, anyone tried it out yet? If so how did it compare to other players?

jkarhan1 · « **Reply #1 on:** 1 Jul 2003, 07:18 pm »

Very well reviewed at hometheaterhifi.com
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/cgi-bin/shootout.cgi?function=search&articles=all&type=&manufacturer=15&maxprice=0&deInt=0&mpeg=0

and scroll down

JoshK · « **Reply #2 on:** 2 Jul 2003, 02:02 pm »

Thanks for the link. It answers the video questions, which is good that it is such a good performer and still a universal but it didn't answer anything in regards to how well it stacks up as a music player.

MaxCast · « **Reply #3 on:** 2 Jul 2003, 02:07 pm »

JoshK, there are a couple large threads at AVScience and HTF on this player that would be worth a read.

Ron D · « **Reply #4 on:** 2 Jul 2003, 09:04 pm »

There is a brief viewpoint on this unit at the following location

http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/viewpoint/0703/aachapter46.htm

subhuman · « **Reply #5 on:** 3 Jul 2003, 09:50 pm »

Anyone able to find this in the US/120V in the SILVER color? Where, and is it $899 still?

Ears · « **Reply #6 on:** 18 Jul 2003, 04:19 pm »

Check the avs forums for a comparison to the 400.00 delivered Phillips 963sa before spending 800.00 + on the Denon.

Sean Parque · « **Reply #7 on:** 18 Jul 2003, 10:31 pm »

We used this player for two of the systems at a recent audio showcase we put on. Unfortunately this was a speaker comparasion so there was no swapping of transports to evaluate but I can say tha I was very pleased with all aspects...video on the 42" plasma was excellent...DVD-A and SACD sounded as expected. Redbook can not be evaluated since we used outboard DAC's.

Hope this helps

Sean

hectic1 · « **Reply #8 on:** 19 Jul 2003, 02:50 am »

Quote from: Sean Parque

We used this player for two of the systems at a recent audio showcase we put on. Unfortunately this was a speaker comparasion so there was no swapping of transports to evaluate but I can say tha I was very pleased with all aspects...video on the 42" plasma was excellent...DVD-A and SACD sounded as expected. Redbook can not be evaluated since we used outboard DAC's.

Hope this helps

Sean

I happen to have a Denon 2900 and this is the best DVD player that I have used to date. I have used this DVD/SACD player for a couple weeks now and it has done an exceptional job as an audio player as well as a video player. I would definitely consider this player if you have the budget! Good luck with your decision!

bubba966 · « **Reply #9 on:** 19 Jul 2003, 03:07 am »

Quote from: hectic1

I happen to have a Denon 2900 and this is the best DVD player that I have used to date. I have used this DVD/SACD player for a couple weeks now and it has done an exceptional job as an audio player as well as a video player. I would definitely consider this player if you have the budget! Good luck with your decision!

What've you dealt with in the past?

hectic1 · « **Reply #10 on:** 19 Jul 2003, 03:32 am »

Quote from: bubba966

Quote from: hectic1
I happen to have a Denon 2900 and this is the best DVD player that I have used to date. I have used this DVD/SACD player for a couple weeks now and it has done an exceptional job as an audio player as well as a video player. I would definitely consider this player if you have the budget! Good luck with your decision!

What've you dealt with in the past?

I would say that all of the players that I have owned would be in the "budget" class of DVD players.

I have had used a Denon 2800, Panny A-110, RP-91, RP-62, and a Toshiba 9200. I ended up using the RP-91 for about the last 2 years as I felt that player offered the best video of the players listed above.

Jay S · « **Reply #11 on:** 22 Jul 2003, 02:59 am »

Quote from: Sean Parque

We used this player for two of the systems at a recent audio showcase we put on. Unfortunately this was a speaker comparasion so there was no swapping of transports to evaluate but I can say tha I was very pleased with all aspects...video on the 42" plasma was excellent...DVD-A and SACD sounded as expected. Redbook can not be evaluated since we used outboard DAC's.

Sean,

How do you think the 2900 performs as a transport? I have a Cary 303 cd player that I now use as a transport. List price was$3k. I'd like to replace it with a universal player, provided I won't compromise on performance as a transport (I use an external dac). I tried a Pioneer 47Ai and the Cary was still better as a transport.

Thank you.

Sean Parque · « **Reply #12 on:** 22 Jul 2003, 03:06 pm »

Quote from: Jay S

Sean,

How do you think the 2900 performs as a transport? I have a Cary 303 cd player that I now use as a transport. List price was$3k. I'd like to replace it with a universal player, provided I won't compromise on performance as a transport (I use an external dac). I tried a Pioneer 47Ai and the Cary was still better as a transport.

Thank you.

From my limited time with it, I have no complaints. Seems like a great machine and it looks cool too

JoshK · « **Reply #13 on:** 29 Jul 2003, 05:28 pm »

FYI!

UnderwoodWally on A'G (cool guy, btw, I did one transaction with him) is offering the Denon 2900 with mods to the analog stage.

Analog mod to Denon 2900

WerTicus · « **Reply #14 on:** 4 Aug 2003, 05:03 am »

I am currently looking into this player and so far it seems to be 'the one'
basically its the best i can afford

it seems to be better than any other brand in this price range...

i want to know more about the bug it apparently has though - with the bass management.... anyone out there think they understand what the deal is and can explain it to me it would be great

I would like to know how its bass management works in as much detail as possible actually so i can figure out in my head how i might set it up at home.

-N

MaxCast · « **Reply #15 on:** 4 Aug 2003, 12:05 pm »

Here is what I understand about BM in universal players:

DD decoders by rule add +10dB to the LFE signal. DTS also, I believe.

DVD-A and SACD do not.

Therefore, when playing all formats (DVD, DVD-A, SACD) through the 5.1 outs on the player you will get the bass level which you have it set up for. If you calibrate for DVD your bass level will be 10 dB to low for DVD-A and SACD. If you calibrate for SACD and DVD-A you will have +10dB too much for DVD's. I believe one way around this is to use a digital out for DVD. That way you can calibrate you player for DVD-A and SACD and calibrate your receiver/processor for DVD.

Then....through in to the mix different recordings, mixing techniques, speaker size, BM, etc. you never know what you will get even with the same format. Some people do not have problems, others do. This was too much BS for me to spend the $$ for the 2900, so I went the cheap route and bought the Pioneer 563A.

Not having a digital out for the hi-rez formats is f%&#ing this whole thing up, IMHO!!! We would still have recording issues but at least the engineers would know how a standardized decoder would handle BM in every decoder.

WerTicus · « **Reply #16 on:** 4 Aug 2003, 03:05 pm »

ahhhh well thank you for that explaination - very interesting to me... it makes sense too and also it means i happy to buy it now because the problem is limited to movies which isnt what this device is for its all about the music for me baby

also i have a remote controling the subwoofer so i can just change the volume really easily and i built my own amps so its only analog anyways

thanks!
-N

catapult · « **Reply #17 on:** 7 Aug 2003, 04:28 pm »

The LFE channel on DVD-A and SACD is a real mess because there is no standard for how it's used. A very common way - used by Telarc and others - seems to assume that you either have 5 large speakers and no sub or 5 small speakers and a sub but no bass management. So the info on the LFE channel is just a duplicate of what's on the other 5. Sometimes it's bass only and sometimes it's a full range signal. Whatever, you aren't supposed to play the bass from both at full volume - it will give you more bass than the producer intended. So, given that, it's hard to say Denon did it "wrong." The most vocal critics of the 2900 say the LFE should be played at full volume in addition to the bass on the other 5 but that's clearly not true in many cases.

http://www.telarc.com/surround/default.asp

"Your surround receiver or preamplifier may have "Bass Management." This circuit, when used with main speakers of limited bass response (as in satellite + sub-woofer systems), shifts the low frequencies from the main channels to the sub-woofer channel. In such a setup, do not use the signal from the ".1" or LFE track output — rather, set the Bass Management system to derive the subwoofer signal from the front left/right tracks."

WerTicus · « **Reply #18 on:** 9 Aug 2003, 07:38 pm »

that link to the anolgue mod seems 'semi' dead
anything else?

i would like to get hold of a kit type mod i can do myself... or just instructions on how to make it better (for the hell of it really)
-N

Hoots · « **Reply #19 on:** 11 Aug 2003, 06:15 am »

Quote

Check the avs forums for a comparison to the 400.00 delivered Phillips 963sa before spending 800.00 + on the Denon

If the video, CD, and SACD of the Philips is equal to the 2900 then I wouldn't pay the extra $500 just for DVD-A. I'll have to check out the reviews.

I did read the TAS comparision of the Phillips to CD players costing 5-6 times as much and it seemed pretty clear the Phillips isn't in the same league for audio.

Now maybe a modified 2900 in the future would be the ticket.

At the moment I'm tempted to slap $1k used stack of Sean's PT gear to my current player vs dumping $1k into the 2900....or just keep playing records.