Best inexpensive Universal player until blueray comes out???

[Paul F]

I think I'd have to agree with you - for the money both the 563 and the 578 seem to offer a ton!

Perhaps though, I've been missing the forest for the trees. My original thought was that if I spent less than the 3910 cost in order to get by for a year or two until the new technology in players comes out - that would be a possible smart move. On the other hand, maybe I should be considering the fact that just like DVD-A and SACD, just having the BlueRay etc. player is only half the battle. Without the disks with the improved pits/lands, the player is still just a general universal player. I would guess that just like SACD and DVD-A today, the new technology disks would start to trickle out over time. Just like even having a new 5.1/7.1 system is not going to get me to go out and swap every cd in my library for a DVD-A or SACD - even if there were that many of those disks available - which there aren't, I wouldn't be changing over my whole library to Blueray capable disks immediately either. I'm not traditionally an 'early adopter' of new technology as is evident by the fact that I am just now getting a system capable of playing DVD-A and SACD. If I had been - then I would have had to wait as disks came out. I prefer to be just slightly ahead of the curve (of the general buying public) rather than at the bleeding-edge.

The whole point of these musings has now lead me to the thought that it would be more like 5 or more years from now that I really would be looking to upgrade my player rather than 2. This in turn seems to warrant spending more now for a good/near-great player that will serve me well for a longer period! Maybe I should just find the best deal I can on a 3910 and appreciate the quality video and audio for the next 5 years or so until the new stuff just starts to become mainstream - you'd be surprised how many everyday people I talk to have little or no idea about 5.1/7.1 or SACD/DVD-A even today!

Your thoughts???

 

[Rob Babcock]

I can't argue with that logic, either. My Denon cost 4X as much as my '563A, but it's worth every penny. You'll likely be using whichever you guy for 2-3 years minimum, so you may as well have something nice. Even if BluRay/HD-DVD does launch on time, you'll have at least a year where they'll be battling for supremacy, and it'll be some time til there's enough material to justify buying one.

 

[Dessayfan]

Toshiba or Samsung?

In the same boat - and I've decided that maybe the Samsung 941 - when it FINALLY comes out in November - might be the best answer. It has killer specs - is much cheaper than the Denons - and might be your "bridge" player. The 941 was due NOW - but Samsung engineers had some HDMI problems, and held back until November.
The Toshiba 5970 is getting good nods - but I need a player for SACD as well as DVD - so that's out for me.
I have a friend with a Pioneer - and he says it has a nice build, but often skips all over the place. He's buying a Denon 2910.

 

[Duffinator]

Samsung

I'm also interested in the Samsung 941. I would love to hear from someone who has used either the 841 or 931 players. Three years ago I would have never considered buying anything from Samsung, thinking that they made cheap products. Now I own a Samsung SIR-TS160 HD receiver and two Samsung LCD computer monitors. Their quality seems to be at least on par with everyone else and good values. And their DLP TV sets have terrific pictures on them.

 

[BuddTX]

I too, am waiting for the Samsung 941.

HDMI is the reason.

Maybe it is a good thing that the 941 is delayed, maybe it means that they are working out all the bugs.

 

[Dessayfan]

941 Waiting list!

Went on Amazon to check out 941 - and in the "customer reviews" section one person contacted Samsung, and got the "November" word on product release.
Clerk at Best Buy said that a "lot" of the 841 players have come back, with all sorts of problems. He tried to steer me to Toshiba 4960, and said he didn't know anything about the 941 yet. The 4960, like the 3960, has a ton of vocal supporters - but after seeing both units, well, they just look cheap to me. Maybe they have some "secret" innards that are better than their cases, and I surely hope so!
If I had the ready cash, I'd probably go with a Denon 2910 - great specs - but from what I read the 941 had almost the same specs, and thus I might go with Samsung for the price break alone. Right - in past years Samsung hasn't been great - but my reading, again, indicates that the company is making a push to get several notches higher in the audio/video product list.
So - in about a month - the 941 MAY be on the shelves. Hoping. . .

 

[rgriffin25]

I wouldn't put too much weight into what the salesman at bestbuy tells you. I was recently informed that by a bestbuy salesman that the samsung dvd players were the only HD DVD players on the market right now. I just shook my head in dismay and walked off.

 

[Dessayfan]

Correct on BB "advice"

Yes, sir, you are most correct in taking ANY Best Buy salesperson's comments with very large grains of salt. However, if you go on Google and check around on various forums and Online sales houses, you will see a lot of dissatisfaction with the 841s.
I am still waiting to hear more about the 941, as it "seems" to be a great player with good value. "Seems" is the operative word here - and the Samsung web site would tell you that it's the greatest thing since, well, fill in your own blank here! (grin)
I played around with one of the 841s (yes, at Best Buy) and very much liked its display and overall look. But the proof, of course, is in the hearing/seeing - and that I could not do there.
Comparing it to the Denon 2910 is like comparing a VW to a Hummer - and at a local HiFi store I did put the Denon through its paces. Wow! A wonderful unit - for nearly $700 it should be. Heavy, where the Samsung is quite light. Solid, where the Samsung hints at thin, if not a bit flimsy here and there.
Still, as we all know, the Toshiba 3960 and 3950 players put out wonderful sound - all from cases that look and feel truly "el-cheapo."
I think that the Blu-Ray technology will replace SACD and DVD-A within five years - so I'll make no high-end player purchases right now. Give me something under $400 that sounds/looks clean and clear, and that's the one for me. Just my humble opinion, of course!

 

[JJNab]

How about the Yamaha DVD-S2500, due out in January? It sounds like it's about as loaded as you can get, and supposedly will retail for $749. The CEDIA coverage previews it at http://www.audioholics.com/cedia/cedia2004/yamahadvds2500.php.