Denon Blu-ray Players Now Available

[BMXTRIX]

It's all about the walk vs. the talk. Sure, Denon said they were coming out with players for Blu-ray... just as LG promised to be the first company releasing Blu-ray players to the market at basement pricing levels...

But talk is cheap, and until we get it a bit more official, it can be hard to come by the goods instead of it being pure vaporware.

It isn't vaporware anymore:
http://www.usa.denon.com/ProductDetails/DVDPlayersAndChangers.asp

Not cheap, but Denon rarely is - at $1200 and $2000 these are obviously more high end pieces set to go with the finer home theaters. Obviously some serious reviews are in order to see how these stack up to the PS3 and other Blu-ray products, but it represents one more company who has made the ground up investment to design and build their own Blu-ray product.

2008 should prove to be a very interesting year indeed.

 

[Duffinator]

They look nice and Denon has a reputation of making excellent DVD players. Has anybody seen one in person yet?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

The 3800 BD looks mighty good to me with that Internal DTS-MA decoding & 7.1 Analog output!

 

[Mettius]

Yes, but what is a Blu-Ray Transport?
The DVD-2500BTCI is called a transport. The Product Sheet from Denon didn't clear this up fr me either. Does that mean it can't be used with legacy receivers (like my Denon AVR-3805)?

-Mettius

 

[Nomo]

1200 bucks for a player with nothing but one HDMI output?
No component or 2 channel analog?

I don't think so Tim.

 

[allargon]

There's no Ethernet port for profile 2.0/BD-Live? That thing is already out of date.

 

[BMXTRIX]

1200 bucks for a player with nothing but one HDMI output?
No component or 2 channel analog?

I don't think so Tim.

What do you need those for in a modern theater? The last 3 installs I've worked on have had HDMI running to their projector, and HDMI feeds from 75% of their gear. One cable, one solution, and it worked without issue.

Seems like this is the solution for many.

What is component or analog going to give end users?

 

[Nomo]

What do you need those for in a modern theater? The last 3 installs I've worked on have had HDMI running to their projector, and HDMI feeds from 75% of their gear. One cable, one solution, and it worked without issue.

Seems like this is the solution for many.

What is component or analog going to give end users?

Speaking for me personally;
I currently don't have a HDMI receiver. I plan, reluctantly so, to remedy this in the spring. But even at that point I like the option of running a signal straight to the TV, bypassing the receiver, allowing me to watch a movie while every one else is sleeping.

Just my opinion, but it seems a bit pompous and short sighted for Denon to think that every one is content with the "one cable does it all" scenario.

 

[solomr2]

What do you need those for in a modern theater? The last 3 installs I've worked on have had HDMI running to their projector, and HDMI feeds from 75% of their gear. One cable, one solution, and it worked without issue.

Seems like this is the solution for many.

What is component or analog going to give end users?

Well, this is great if all receivers were capable of outputting HDMI digital to multiple zones, but I know my Denon 3808 does not. To get sounds from my digital sources to any zone other than the main zone, I have to use analog outputs, and even then it is not always possible. For example; last night I was trying to listen to a multi-channel DSD SACD and discovered my Oppo won't output this signal over analog.

Frankly I can't understand why Denon has this limitation, but it really makes it mandatory to have analog outs from any source you want to listen to in a zone other than main. Denon should know this better than anyone since their receivers have this limitation.

 

[aberkowitz]

There's no Ethernet port for profile 2.0/BD-Live? That thing is already out of date.

This is the advantage that the PS3 will continue to have until other companies figure out the need to include an ethernet port and/or wifi. Hell, the "low-end" A2 was being sold with an ethernet port- for $1200 or $2000 Denon should be including the same.

 

[95prelude]

Well, this is great if all receivers were capable of outputting HDMI digital to multiple zones, but I know my Denon 3808 does not. To get sounds from my digital sources to any zone other than the main zone, I have to use analog outputs, and even then it is not always possible. For example; last night I was trying to listen to a multi-channel DSD SACD and discovered my Oppo won't output this signal over analog.

Frankly I can't understand why Denon has this limitation, but it really makes it mandatory to have analog outs from any source you want to listen to in a zone other than main. Denon should know this better than anyone since their receivers have this limitation.

Then get the Denon 3800 BD. I'm glad Denon gave me the option and not just force me into a 2 grand player.

 

[PatrickBateman]

It's all about the walk vs. the talk. Sure, Denon said they were coming out with players for Blu-ray... just as LG promised to be the first company releasing Blu-ray players to the market at basement pricing levels...

But talk is cheap, and until we get it a bit more official, it can be hard to come by the goods instead of it being pure vaporware.

It isn't vaporware anymore:
http://www.usa.denon.com/ProductDetails/DVDPlayersAndChangers.asp

Not cheap, but Denon rarely is - at $1200 and $2000 these are obviously more high end pieces set to go with the finer home theaters. Obviously some serious reviews are in order to see how these stack up to the PS3 and other Blu-ray products, but it represents one more company who has made the ground up investment to design and build their own Blu-ray product.

2008 should prove to be a very interesting year indeed.

I am all for finer home theater equipment, I just dont know what these Blu-ray players offer to justify the huge price difference.

 

[Soundman]

I am all for finer home theater equipment, I just dont know what these Blu-ray players offer to justify the huge price difference.

We'll probably have to wait for the reviews to see, but I don't think they are marketing these players for "Average Joe". If price is an issue, just get a PS3...just my opinion.

 

[flipper699]

I think they are just hitting 2 different target groups. The $1200 BR-Transport is for the people with new HDMI 1.3 Receivers, and the $2000 BR-Player is for those (like me) that upgraded their Home theatre RIGHT before all the new cool stuff came out. The $2000 Player comes with a full back panel of connectors. Lots of analog and digital connections. I am fairly certain that they are very similar except for the lack of analog section of the $1200 Transport.

 

[BMXTRIX]

I am all for finer home theater equipment, I just dont know what these Blu-ray players offer to justify the huge price difference.

I would tend to agree with this question. My answer would be: Most likely nothing at all.

The Denon's may prove to be very responsive and as fast as PS3, with top notch scaling and quality across the board. Yet, what they offer is a price point for custom installers to make a fair bit of money and for retailers to get some good cash. Most places don't offer Denon online under MSRP with a warranty, so it helps protect their supply chain.

Tell you what, if I were to get a job with enough money behind it, I would lean towards the Denon product because not only would I get more profit from their product, but I would be fairly certain that the product would be a class leader for quality.

 

[Hi Ho]

This is the advantage that the PS3 will continue to have until other companies figure out the need to include an ethernet port and/or wifi. Hell, the "low-end" A2 was being sold with an ethernet port- for $1200 or $2000 Denon should be including the same.

The HD-DVD spec has always required an ethernet port on all players regardless of price.

We just got some of the Denon Blu-Ray players at work. I haven't had a chance to play around with it yet.

 

[MUDSHARK]

Tell you what, if I were to get a job with enough money behind it, I would lean towards the Denon product because not only would I get more profit from their product, but I would be fairly certain that the product would be a class leader for quality.

You might say that now but when your career advances along with compensation you tend to become a compulsive saver. One tends to keep oneself cash poor rather than disrupt the investment plan. I remember thinking at 20 that I would love a Corvette but later I could not bring myself to spend that much money. I have no idea who will buy these other than suggested anymore than I know who buys Cary 15K CD players.

 

[AVRat]

Mud, he meant using them for a rich client’s install. I’m with you though on the frugality issue. I haven’t delved into it too much, but it doesn’t look like the players will handle hi-res audio (SACD/DVD-A).

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

The Denon DVD 3800BD sounded great, until I heard about the Panasonic DMP-BD50 (probably $700): Internal decoders for DTS-MA & TrueHD, 7.1 Analog output, Profile 2.0 and Ethernet. It seems to have more than the Denon.

 

[bandphan]

The Denon DVD 3800BD sounded great, until I heard about the Panasonic DMP-BD50 (probably $700): Internal decoders for DTS-MA & TrueHD, 7.1 Analog output, Profile 2.0 and Ethernet. It seems to have more than the Denon.

suggest researching the panny a bit before buying it, not gonna bash but.... the first round had more than its share of issues