Denon DVD-5900. The best out-there.

levesque · « **on:** 4 Oct 2003, 05:32 pm »

Forget the 2900 and the 3800...

I've played with my new 5900 for 2 days, and it's in a completely different league!

The picture quality is the biggest surprise! I still have my 3800 in-house to compare and the difference is astounishing. Forget the softness of the 2900, the 5900 is sharp and clear. The most 3D-like image I have seen in a DVD-player.

DVD-A and SACD is the best I've herad until now. The 5900 is really sounding like a flag-ship unit.

Probably the best combo-player on the planet right now!

John B · « **Reply #1 on:** 4 Oct 2003, 05:50 pm »

Levesque,

Do you find any AQ difference with the 5900 in it's DD/DTS digital out to your processor? In other words is the transport of the 5900 seemingly better than the 3800. I don't find the 3800 picture to be soft, it's very 3D, just how much better is the 5900 in that regards. I already have a dedicated SACD player so that's not of interest for me, though the DVD-A, if it's markedly improved, would be a selling point for me.

levesque · « **Reply #2 on:** 4 Oct 2003, 06:04 pm »

I don't want to rub it in, but my wife did notice the better picture quality of the 5900 over the 3800.

And she usually fall asleep after 10 minutes in any film... So if she notice it, it's because the difference is HUGE!

Just kidding.

But I still don't believe how Denon was able to actually improve the Picture over the 3800. Razor sharp, crystal clear, better blacks. There is so much tweaking possible with that unit, that I feel like having an ISF calibration for free!

I'm not exagerating here. The picture is really better then the 3800. I have both at home to compare.

John B · « **Reply #3 on:** 4 Oct 2003, 07:28 pm »

Levesque,

PQ is always nice to have, but to be honest I'm not a big video guy, the 3800 is more than good enough picture-wise for my tastes. Until HD-DVD comes out I doubt any DVD player would justify $2K from me on a video recommendation alone. Where I would jump on the 5900 is if it's audio was VASTLY improved over the 3800. The 3800 is below average in regards to it's analog audio, it's digital out (DD/DTS) was not as good as my previous Sony 9000ES DVD player and it's DVD-A was only decent. So, if you can provide some feedback in those areas I'd be interested.

Sa-dono · « **Reply #4 on:** 4 Oct 2003, 11:53 pm »

levesque,

Can you please list what other SACD and DVD-A players you have heard previously? Also, have you experimented with the DVI output as compared to the component outputs? Lastly, does the upconversion work on either set of outputs?

levesque · « **Reply #5 on:** 5 Oct 2003, 02:58 pm »

I don't have any experience with any dedicated SACD only player. But I'm comparing the 5900 to some well know universal player.

I have the 3800 in-house to compare the DVD-A, and my friend brought the 2900 for a couple of hours to compare.

I've listened to the Pio Elite and Marantz universal player 2 weeks ago, but was not able to compare them with the 5900 in-house. So it was by "memory".

I would really like to compare the 5900 to the Teac DV-50 if I could!

The DVI output will be activated with a CD from Denon in 1 week or 2. So for now I'm using only the analog part. But if the quality of the digital interface is in the same range of performance has the analog one, then we can say bye bye to the Bravo D1 to match with our projectors!

Sa-dono · « **Reply #6 on:** 6 Oct 2003, 02:31 am »

Thanks for the reply levesque! I'll await your thoughts on the DVI output here or at AVS. There definitely needs to be a higher quality DVI player out there. Saving money is important, but so is good video quality. If the 5900 succeeds, then hopefully the cheaper players will follow suit. I'm still also hoping the player can upscale from the component outputs as well (somehow

), for versatility.

Doug_B · « **Reply #7 on:** 6 Oct 2003, 04:33 pm »

Levesque,

I see you've made the rounds to most of the AV forums already re your new 5900. Methinks you are slightly excited about having it

. That's what it's all about.

I am also most interested in its audio performance, as I wonder if Denon went beyond the DACs and put quality parts into its entire analog output stage, power supply, etc. I have listened to the 2900 and made the assumption that because the sound was detailed but lacked proper "presentation" and "smoothness", at least in my system, it fell short beyond the DACs.

Since my initial quest for a new unit was to obtain better DVD-A performance, I figure the best bang for my buck is probably a modded universal that will serve as my #1 player for DVD-A, SACD, and redbook. To me, it makes sense to purchase a more reasonably priced player as the basis for such a mod, as long as its audio and transport building blocks are sound (no pun intended). But I'm not ruling out a 5900 just yet

.

Thanks.

Doug

levesque · « **Reply #8 on:** 6 Oct 2003, 11:53 pm »

Doug.

That's why some people prefer buying a Honda Civic and tweak it to death, or some others prefer buying directly a Porshe...

The 0-100 MPH will probably take the same time at the end, but the way to reach this chrono will be completely different for both owners! And they will probably spend the same amount of money at the end!

Have fun!

Give the 5900 a try.

Jay S · « **Reply #9 on:** 7 Oct 2003, 01:21 am »

The 5900 seems to clearly have better circuitry than the 2900. But, an important question is whether the 5900 is implemented with better quality capacitors & resistors and other passive parts, which are what a tweaker would upgrade.

In order of increasing price, I'm considering the Philips 963SA, Denon 2900 and 5900 as my next player. I'd almost certainly look into mods to the first two. Also in consideration is the Consonance tubed SACD player, though unfortunately it does not play DVD video.

jonwb · « **Reply #10 on:** 7 Oct 2003, 04:38 am »

Quote from: levesque

That's why some people prefer buying a Honda Civic and tweak it to death, or some others prefer buying directly a Porshe...

I'm not tired enough to go to bed yet so I was reading this thread on a (gulp) $2,000 DVD/CD player and I see the above analogy referencing a "Porshe". I'm reading all about how the 5900 is better than the 2900 yada yada yada... all the while still basking in the fact that my new-to-me (used) DVD-1600 looks & sounds SO much better than my 4 year old Sony. I would LOVE to have a 2900, let alone a 5900...

Funny part is I have a Porsche ('00 Boxster S). I guess sometimes you can't have it all huh?

bubba966 · « **Reply #11 on:** 7 Oct 2003, 04:48 am »

Quote from: Jay S

Also in consideration is the Consonance tubed SACD player, though unfortunately it does not play DVD video.

I heard that player Sunday. Unfortunately I can't really comment on it as the room & speakers seemed lacking. Redbook is easily better on my setup than it was on the one I heard the Consonance in. And my setup is not meant to run Redbook at all...

I saw a 2900 Sunday as well. I can only really comment that it seems to definitely be built better than the 2200 is.

Doug_B · « **Reply #12 on:** 8 Oct 2003, 01:51 pm »

Quote from: levesque

The 0-100 MPH will probably take the same time at the end, but the way to reach this chrono will be completely different for both owners! And they will probably spend the same amount of money at the end!

I only partially agree with this. If Denon (or any other major manufacturer) adds $X worth of audio-related parts upgrades to a given unit and releases it as a higher end unit (a simplistic example), I expect the markup of such a unit to be non-negligibly greater than the cost incremental of the same unit modded (assumed by someone with a good reputation), given the same upgrades. In actuality, I think the more prevalent scenario results in the mods costing comparably to the manufacturer's delta for the upscale unit, with the mod unit having much better upgrades (for audio), thus resulting in a better sound. For a DVD-based upscale model, one must also take into account that the manufacturer's deltas will usually include upgrades supporting video improvements, which an audio enthusiast may not need. On the minus side of the mods, one would typically lose whatever warranty remains, and repair work may be more difficult.

Bottom line, I perceive more value by going the mod route, given my desire for better audio, though I have never had this done before. If I do go this route, time will tell if I made the right decision for myself.

Doug

Brad V · « **Reply #13 on:** 9 Oct 2003, 01:53 pm »

Quote from: levesque

Forget the 2900 and the 3800...

I've played with my new 5900 for 2 days, and it's in a completely different league!

The picture quality is the biggest surprise! I still have my 3800 in-house to compare and the difference is astounishing. Forget the softness of the 2900, the 5900 is sharp and clear. The most 3D-like image I have seen in a DVD-player.

DVD-A and SACD is the best I've herad until now. The 5900 is really sounding like a flag-ship unit.

Probably the best combo-player on the planet right now!

Hi,

Can you tell me if the 5900 has a digital input, so that one can attach a jukebox to it and use the DAC inside of the 5900. I've seen conflicting documentation and the Denon site a while back said it had digital inputs, however the picture of the back of the unit, didn't show any.

TIA,

Brad

John B · « **Reply #14 on:** 10 Oct 2003, 04:44 am »

I made my purchase this evening of a 5900. Should make for an interesting head to head session between it and my Consonance SACD player. I do not expect the Denon to be in the same league, but you never know till you do the direct comparison.

Jay S · « **Reply #15 on:** 10 Oct 2003, 05:46 am »

John,

I'm really looking forward to your comparison. The Consonance tubed SACD player as well as the Denon 5900 are on my list to replace my (now departed) Cary cd player. Other candidates are highly modified Philips 963sa and 2900.

Regards,

- Jay

levesque · « **Reply #16 on:** 10 Oct 2003, 01:18 pm »

Congrats John B!!!

Keep us inform of your results and of your comparison.

Have fun.

ABlakeG · « **Reply #17 on:** 11 Oct 2003, 05:16 pm »

Hey there JohnB, could you PM the details of your pricing on this unit? I am close to you (San Francisco) and am looking for a way to consolidate my Denon9000/Sony555es combo and this is looking like a nice alternative to my other choice -- an Esoteric dv-50.

Thanks,

Blake[/quote]

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #18 on:** 12 Oct 2003, 03:33 am »

Would you mind letting us in on where you got such a great price? Unless it's a military secret, of course!

That would be the Mother of All Players, IMOHO.

John B · « **Reply #19 on:** 12 Oct 2003, 04:15 am »

I watched one DVD (2 Fast 2 Furious), and listened to several SACDs on the 5900 today. All's I can say is this is one very special player. I really did not expect the audio quality to be at the level this Denon player is putting out. I had alot of respect for Denon in the video area, but absolutely none in audio; based on my experience with the 3800. Boy have they ever got their act together with the audio aspect of this player. It is so good that I am now considering whether or not I want to keep my Consonance player. Don't get me wrong, the Consonance SACD player is the superior audio player, but not in the price to performance area. In that the Denon 5900 is a gold medal winner. I could live very happily with this player being my only source unit. I'm not ready to sell the Consonance at this point, but I have decided to play the Denon exclusively for the next month and then go back to the Consonance to see if the "extra" it provides in audio quality is worth the continued price of admission.