help choice betwn denon 2845 & 1845 DVD

[audioflyer]

Trying to decide between two DVD players and I need help, the Denon 2845 and the Denon 1845 - the price differece is about 50 percent less ($230) for the 1845 if I can do without the advantages of the 2845, which are as follows:

1) The video Digital to Analog Converter, thoough a moot point since I will be using a HDMI/digital connection and thus not utilizing this feature.

2) The SACD and DVD-Audio capability, pretty much a moot point since I don't own any discs in these formats and the rock music I listen to is not generally available in these formats (I think Pink Floyd's Darkside of the Moon is about all I would have to forgo, I think that is the only Pink Floyd available actually so what does that say about the need for these formats?). Also be forgoing the WMA9 Playback, but doubt I will miss this capability.

3) The Ex. 5.1 output, though a moot point since the internal decoders for the Dolby Digital and DTS (SACD, see above point) are all present in my Denon 2308 receiver.

4) Video upscaling to 1080p, though a moot point since my receiver has this capabiltiy.

5) RS-232C Port for Third Party Controllers, doubtful I would ever utilize this so I am not worried to have to forgo.

Otherwise I believe these two players are pretty much equal, if I run the HDMI from either DVD player to my Denon AVR 2308 and run HDMI to my digital HDTV I will get exactly the same picture quality and sound so for as I can tell from comparing the specs from the Denon website, and both dvd players are 2007 year model released products separated by just three months so everything else incidental not shown to differ in the specs should be pretty comparable I would think.

Would there be any reason one would do video better than the other, given HDMI through the same Denon 2308 receiver and HDMI capable HD TV?

Would there be any reason one would play standard audio CDs better than the other, given HDMI through the same Denon 2308 receiver?

I would like to buy the $230 cheaper 1845 vs the 2845 if they are otherwise equal for practical purposes of watching DVDs and listening to standard audio cds, save for the 5 acknowledged highlighted points which illistrate the difference above.

Please let me know if I am missing anything or not correct in saying these two players are otherwise the same in regards to ability and quality for video and audio playback, excluding those aforementioned highlighted differences of course. Also please note I must have a Denon DVD product to complement my receiver, as I won't be happy if they don't match as I acqknowledge I am a freak like that (so please don't reccommend a Oppo DVD player or any other, as fine a machine as those may be).

Thanks in advance.

 

[audioflyer]

The lack of response is deafening!

Two days and not a single reply, I cannot believe nobody has an opinion on this? I was waiting on some advice before I pull the trigger, I am getting a little anxious already... Somebody help me!

 

[j_garcia]

Since you don't need SACD or DVD-A there is absolutely no reason to buy a SD DVD player at this price point. Buy a Blu-ray player...Denon will have models soon to alleviate your hangup with matching gear and since SACD and DVD-A aren't an issue.

 

[audioflyer]

Thanks for your advice, I really appreciate it. I do agree, $500 is a high price point for SD to be sure, even $200, when there are HD disc players under $100, and progressive scans for $40, but to match up with my receiver would make me happy so that would be money well spent I think. And I do want a five disc universal player because I love loading it up and doing the shuffel/random play. I doubt Denon will have a five disc blu-ray player anytime soon, and the price point on the denon blu-rays are too high right now anyway, plus I would need one with the multichannel analog output since I don't have the HD audio decoders on my particular reciever (so I need the player to do the decoding for me), so probably need to hold out a while for prices to come down. I was thinking I would ultimately get a blu-ray but it would likely be a single disc since that is likely all that will be available, so I could get a five disc SD player for now, and then use it for solely for music later when I can get the blu-ray, because I'd still want the five disc capability. $200 is not so bad for a five disc I suppose, but five hundred is too much for SD, but I wanted to make sure I know what I might be missing out on if anything. Seems like the cheaper one will do me fine, and I can put the extra three hundred bucks towards a blu-ray player eventually. But I think I could be happy with SD for at least another year, if I can ultimately get everything I want and have it all...

 

[Antus]

i don't own either dvd player, however, i would assume that if you use HDMI out for both audio and video, both player will be pretty identical.

if you have a hi-def tv, why not buy a blue-ray player instead of dvd player? the picture quality is a lot better than dvd, no matter how good ur video DAC is. the difference is night and day between blue ray and dvd.

it really depends on which DAC is better. if you have better DAC on dvd player, use that and pass through it all the way to display. if the DAC within receiver, use digital out from dvd player and so. in some case, the best DAC is within the display. in that case, it's better to bypass the digital signal and let display do the work. i will think that a 2-3K LCD TV will have better DAC than 2308 receiver.

as for audio, 2308 use DSD-1608. if your dvd player's DAC is better than that, it is better to decord it within dvd player and analog audio out to receiver.

 

[j_garcia]

I think that is a good plan - get a less expensive SD player right now, a carousel, and put the rest towards Blu-ray. No, I don't think Denon will have a BD carousel anytime soon either; it has to catch on a little better first, and with the format war over, that should start to happen. I know you don't really want to hear it, but the Oppos are actually better players than even the $500 Denon, but they don't have a carousel option either.