Great review, Gene. I do want to point out that now Denon has introduced the DVD-2200, a new universal player that supposedly has almost the exact same inards in a smaller, lighter chassis, for $629. My local Denon deal is selling 'em for $600, and I've seen it online for $500.
Any chance of a review of that, too, or am I pushing my luck?
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You can tell whether a man is clever by his answers. You can tell whether a man is wise by his questions. - Naguib Mahfouz
Your pushing your luck
Don't forget I do have a day job
Seriously though the DVD-2200 looks like a great deal. My understanding is its a scaled down version of the 2900 particularly in the audio section.
Our plan going forward is to do a detailed review of the new DVD-5900 and an addendum to the AVR-5803 review to report on the direct digital link among other things. Stay tuned...
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Gene DellaSala
President, Audioholics Pursuing the truth in audio & video...
Let me push my luck too and request you to review Yamaha DVD-S2300 which has got rave reviews from the video press. I recently bought one but would hold out my assesment till I get a review from audioholics.
__________________ Yamaha NS-1000M, NS-1000x, Yamaha MX-1000 and MX-1 power amp, Yamaha CDX-1050 CDP, Accuphase DP70V CDP, Canton Ergo 120 speakers, Technics SL-1200 Mk-II TT. For HT, Yamaha Z9 with three Yamaha subs, two YST SW800 and one YST SW320 in rear, for mains, Yamaha NS-300 with 300C and for surrounds, NS-100 in rear, front effects handled by NS-90. For DVD duties, Yamaha DVD-S540 and for SACD Yamaha DVD-S2300 Mk-I. Also have Yamaha EQ-550 equalizer and Yamaha KX-932 deck.
Yamaha review aside... I think our reviews are meant to be a general sampling of each vendor's model ranges. So an excellent review of a lesser unit may shed some indicative light on more expensive offerings, and vice versa (though not necessarily).
For us to examine every model from every vender is next to impossble, so we do the best we can to get a decent mix...
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Clint DeBoer
Editor in Chief Audioholics
Since your review was favorable. Any sense of the new Denon 2200? Has the same chipset and comparable specs on paper. It weighs 7 pounds less so there are differences?
I am considering this unit to save $400 or should I spend the extra $$ and get the 2900. I do not have the opportunity to demo, but could buy from Crutchfield, so I could return if not pleased
Looking over the specs of the DVD-2200, it does share many of the virtues of the DVD-2900. If top notch DVD-A/SACD playback is not your primary concern, then by all means go for the cheaper DVD-2200. However, the audio performance of the DVD-2900 is stellar and IMO worth the extra cost for serious audiophile playback. If you plan mostly on using the machine for DVD and CD playback via the digital audio outputs, this becomes much less of an issue however.
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Gene DellaSala
President, Audioholics Pursuing the truth in audio & video...
Good review thnx. I was just wondering how the CD playback was, to be a truly universal player it has to be able to deliver the goods in straight cd playback.. I know I may be asking a lot but Id love to be able to just have one player for all my discs
The review was long in coming but I think it does provide a fair and accurate view of the product. *I have found Redbook playback to be superb -- I'm rediscovering the quality that has been heretofore buried in my old CD collection.
As for video output, the picture is certainly stunning. *I agree with your comments about the tendency of some to hunt for chroma bugs while ignoring the big (and superb) picture.
A few comments:
(1) Did you compare the Coax and analog outs for sound quality on traditional CD sources? *My impression, using an Rotel RSX-1055, is that the Analog outs have a much more extended and natural high end -- just the right amount of shimmer and sparkle. *Was the sound different when paired with your high-priced Denon receiver? (P.S. the Rotel receiver's probably merit a review here).
(2) Could the problem you had jumping out of the menu's unexpectedly been solved by use of the Return key on the remote?
(3) Are there any plans afoot to solve some of the minor technical problems (e.g. power off doesn't close drawer automatically) with a firmware upgrade?
Yamaha NS-1000M, NS-1000x, Yamaha MX-1000 and MX-1 power amp, Yamaha CDX-1050 CDP, Accuphase DP70V CDP, Canton Ergo 120 speakers, Technics SL-1200 Mk-II TT. For HT, Yamaha Z9 with three Yamaha subs, two YST SW800 and one YST SW320 in rear, for mains, Yamaha NS-300 with 300C and for surrounds, NS-100 in rear, front effects handled by NS-90. For DVD duties, Yamaha DVD-S540 and for SACD Yamaha DVD-S2300 Mk-I. Also have Yamaha EQ-550 equalizer and Yamaha KX-932 deck.
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