Exclusive Denon DVD-5900 Review!

[gene]

<font color='#000000'>Here is my long awaited review. &nbsp;Sorry for the delay

Denon DVD-5900 Review!</font>

 

[pam]

<font color='#000000'>Wow

Very good job Gene.

I especially find very interesting that you have included all the set-up and part of the tought process you went through went configuring the 5900/5803 duo.

When a review is just presenting the results it is a little bit less usefull than this kind of review. Anyone who would need to configure 5900 and/or 5803 could refer to this review.

The good thing about this approach is that you probably did not &nbsp;work a lot more (but just have put the details of your exploration as you were going on) for this article. Then once the process was all documented (and not forgotten) you could go back and produce that very good article.

One last thing. Anyone who has to configure another receiver/DVD player can probably use this as a source of inspiration.</font>

 

[gene]

<font color='#000000'>Pam;

Thanks for your thoughtful feedback on my review. &nbsp;I always try to integrate set-up tips in my reviews cause I know how painful it can be to set-up new products. &nbsp;It is even more so for me since I rarely read user manuals (low attention span)

and have to wing it.</font>

 

[Sounds Simple]

<font color='#000000'>Gene-

Thanks for the great review. I hope Denon gets approval for SACD over D.link soon, as well as getting the 1394 interface sorted out (seems like they could sell a bunch of players if they do).

I was curious if you noticed any difference in Redbook CD performance given the lower output of the 5900 compared to the 2900. Also, were you able to confirm the (low) &quot;jitterless&quot; for D.link?

Bob</font>

 

[Jessjosh]

<font color='#000000'>I would appreciate it Gene if you as an experienced expert in this HT field, would let me know if I were to buy the Denon 5900 should hire an installer. &nbsp;I have poor vision and not the greatest installer. &nbsp;The 5900 to me at least sounds about as complicated as you can get. &nbsp;I plan to buy HT components in the near future including the universal player. &nbsp;I love classical music with movies as a secondary interest and the 5900 sounds from your review, great. &nbsp;But, it sure has complications. &nbsp;Thank you for any advice.

JJ</font>

 

[gene]

<font color='#000000'><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I was curious if you noticed any difference in Redbook CD performance given the lower output of the 5900 compared to the 2900. Also, were you able to confirm the (low) &quot;jitterless&quot; for D.link?</td></tr></table>

Bob;

Sorry I did not compare redbook audio performance between the two players.  I believe the only difference in output was specified current drive of the laser which is likely not to cause audible differences.  The both have similar output voltages.

DLink was simply awesome, especially for DVD-A.  I really did feel Dlink offered a performance edge, but since I don't have a fast enough Oscope at home to measure jitter, I did not want to conclude it as fact as I may be falling victim to placebo.

<table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I would appreciate it Gene if you as an experienced expert in this HT field, would let me know if I were to buy the Denon 5900 should hire an installer. I have poor vision and not the greatest installer. </td></tr></table>

JJ;
I would recommend trying to configure the player yourself using my set-up tips and help from other owners here before you pay someone else.  Most of my set-up issues are workable with the eye and avia, for audio, they were mostly related with software format issues or connection with AVR-5803.  Feel free to ask questions here if you get the player and I will try to help so long as Denon lets me hang onto it  

</font>

 

[Guest]

<font color='#000000'>What about aspect ratio control via component video. Would I be able to have the same control that Panasonic s35 and s25 allow or is it more like the older RP91 just one setting for control on 4:3 with no control of how much the top and bottom of the image are cropped and non anamorphic dvds presented properly on my display which locks into full when fed a progressive signal? Also you stated in your review that the 5900 does not remember where you leave off on a dvd should you stop and power down but I have read differently else where.</font>

 

[gene]

<font color='#000000'>Ben;

You are correct the DVD-5900 does remember disc place when powered on/off, just not when the disc is removed and then reinserted. &nbsp;Thanks for noticing and I have updated accordingly.

You still have aspect ratio control via display/dvd player when using component video out. &nbsp;The only time I don't recommend using 720p/1080i via DVI output is when you are viewing 4:3 aspect ratio discs as the player locks out display settings and engages in wide mode.</font>

 

[Guest]

<font color='#000000'>A few questions here.

I just bought a AVR5803A. Box it came in was a 5803 with an A sticker added. Unit is silk screened as a 5803. Denon link connector is labled as Denon Link S.E. (2nd edition).

I also just bought a 5900. (mfg date Sept 2003). Also Denon Link labeled as Denon Link S.E.

Denon gives me different answers as to if I got old stuff that was upgraded, or they were all like this (both 5803A and 5900).

My questions are:

1. Is the Denon Link 3rd edition out?
2. Did I get an old 5803A? Should I return it and get an upgraded model, or are all 5803A's upgraded 5803's with no new silk screening etc..
3. Does the Denon Link cable carry video (as stated in their 5900 manual, or just audio.)
4. Did I get an old 5900, and should I return it and get a newer build?

thanks in advance for any assitance...

Newbie to this high end stuff and want to make sure my money was well spent.</font>

 

[Guest]

<font color='#000000'>Gene,

how were your units silk screened (5803 and 5900 that you tested?)


thanks,
Brian
BTW... Excellent review...</font>

 

[Guest]

<font color='#000000'>Gene

Enjoyed your reviewof the 5900 , cant get enough info, even after taking the home theater plunge, thanks

I've owned the 5803 and 5900 for a couple months now and
really like both. Went all out and also got paradigm reference speakers,servo-15 sub and the sony kv-34xbr910

The setup and learning curve was not at all as tough as expected.
Its all pretty straight forward
However the infinte adjustments is an ongoing exploration.

I've got 4 different interconnects going between the 5900 and the 5803 receiver and have been experimenting switching back and forth.
Coaxial, Optical, direct channel cables,and denon-link(SE).
For me, the coaxial input sounds best and allows to switch back and forth between thx. dolby and dts settings
It has a wider sound, optical seems clean but sterile
And hopefully the anticipated sony sacd update will help the denon link.
The denon link was an influence in purchasing both the 5900 and 5803 together, however I dont use it much.
It doen't sound quite as good as coaxial dsd signal, and it tends to default to analog most of the time.

Picked up a variety of sacd ,dvd-a's and dvd's
They all sound and look incredible in 1080i.
Not sure which format I prefer, but dts sure sounds good in surround.
Only gripe is the loss of options when playing most sacd or dvda's as they come in multichannel direct

I would highly recommend 5900 owners to check out a movie in the Columbia-Tristars superbit format ,  it's hi-def plus with DTS or Dolby sound, Ive got Fifth Element and Lawrence of Arabia in this format, wow

Had only one problem with the 5900.
The open close button on the unit stopped working.
Took it in for warranty repair and had it back in a couple of days,fixed inhouse
Apparently it may have overheated in the smaller cabinet I had it in and melted a connection to the circuit board.
I since moved it to a more ventilated space

All in all Im very pleased with the 5900 and 5803 and would buy them again.

Brian:
It sounds like you have the same 5803 SE version as me
I got mine in late December, built in sept 2003.
The 5803A was said to have a couple small improvements in the user interface and the 3rd edition denon link, I think its built after september 03.
But I wouldn't worry much about it, you got great equipment and I rarely use the link anyway.

bobd</font>

 

[gene]

<font color='#000000'>Folks;

I apologize for not addressing your questions in a timely manner. &nbsp;I have been slammed lately. &nbsp;I will be enduring HAA training for the remaining of the week as well preparing show coverage of EXPO.

To answer a few quesiton here, my AVR-5803 is not the &quot;A&quot; version. &nbsp;I am using Dlink &quot;2nd Generation&quot;.

Some of your other questions I will have to check with Denon on, and should have resolution sometime next week.

Thanks for your patience.</font>

 

[stiletto pat]

<font color='#000000'>Bobd,

Thread Hijack. &nbsp;Which Paradigm Reference speakers did you purchase? &nbsp;I just did same, and was curious. &nbsp;Also, how do you like your 5900, and did you compare it to the 2900?

Pat</font>

 

[Guest]

<font color='#000000'>Pat,

I've got the cc-570 center,adp-470 dipole surrounds, and the studio 20&quot;s as my mains, audioquest slate cables. Couldn&quot;t afford the 100's right away and the studio 20's soundstaging really impressed me. Now that I lived with them in my 15X20 ft room for awhile, I need an addition just for the speakers I have.

I also have and older set of speakers with cheap 12ga wires as rear speakers. They never sounded this good before they got 170watts from the 5803.
The surrounds don't get utilized as much as I'd like. But when they are it's an eye opener. Depends how well the movie or sacd is engineered I guess.
The servo-15 sub sure adds alot to the experience

As for the 5900, I have little frame of reference to compare My last player was a 100$ sony.
It performs so well, with so many formats, that I started buying more movies to plug into it rather than watching them on cable.

The 2900 may be a better bang for the buck considering that its less expensive, I'll be living with the 5900 for a few years at least

Now I'm contemplating the monster 7000 power line
conditioner and/or the avs 2000 voltage stablizer.
Not sure if it will improve what is already very good, tho Ive read it helps both audio and vidio

Also looking into voom hd satellite, one concern is my tv has only one dvi port.
How can I keep the hi def from the 5900 thru dvi when hd satellite receivers require it also? Is there a dvi splitter?

Bottom line, I love this 5900 machine,
got it for movies but I'm quickly becoming an audiophile too.
Recommend Allison Kraus and Union Station live sacd,and any full orchestra in multichannel. enjoy

bobd</font>

 

[stiletto pat]

<font color='#000000'>Bob,

I'm glad you're pleased with the Paradigms. &nbsp;I just ordered the Version 3 Studio 100s, CC-470 Center Channel and ADP-470 Surrounds, mated with a HSU TN-1220 Sub. &nbsp;I'm hoping the speakers get here soon - running them with a B&amp;K AVR-507 Receiver. &nbsp;My Denon 2900 is also on order, so I'm stuck listening to FM or vinyl through my old preamp. &nbsp;Getting antsy to get started with setup and calibration....

Pat &nbsp;

</font>

 

[Jake]

<font color='#000000'>

Hi Pat. &nbsp;I love my PARADIGM STUDIO V.3's. &nbsp;I have the 100's, CC570, and 40's for surrounds. &nbsp;I also have the SVS 25-31PC+
SUBWOOFER. A 5.1THX setup. This system Rocks!! I just took the plunge and ordered the DENON DVD5900. &nbsp;Next on my agenda is the AVR5803A. &nbsp;This will be audio and video nervana....
Jake</font>

 

[Guest]

<font color='#000000'>Does anyone know whether the Denon DVD-5900 can be converted to a multi-region player, and if (when modified) it will pass native PAL signal (to a PAL-compatible monitor)?

I have DVDs from various regions and would like to be able to view them in native format, rather than seeing things streched out or squashed.

Many thanks.</font>

 

[Unregistered]

<font color='#000000'>Does anyone know whether the Denon DVD-5900 can be converted to a multi-region player, and if (when modified) it will pass native PAL signal (to a PAL-compatible monitor)?

I have DVDs from various regions and would like to be able to view them in native format, rather than seeing things streched out or squashed.

Many thanks.</font>

In Europe, the 5900 is called A11 by denon and it us a multi-region player capable of NTSC and PAL. There is a button on the remote PAL/NTSC. Has your remote the same button at the right top corner, at the left of the OPEN CLOSE?