Marantz DV6500 Universal DVD Player Review with JLti Mod

[gene]

<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN class=style321><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><A href="http://www.audioholics.com/news/uploads/dv6500.jpg"></A><A href="http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/avhardware/JLTiSACDPlayer1.php"><IMG style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 27px" alt=[dv65001] hspace=10 src="http://www.audioholics.com/news/thumbs/dv65001_th.jpg" align=left border=0></A>Ever wished you could own a truly high end esoteric digital player but your budget is limited to mass market players? Custom Analogue Audio may be your ticket with their cheap mass market universal player (the Marantz DV6500, and upgraded technology from Vacuum State Electronics to create a “state of the art” two-channel universal player called the “JLTi SACD Player”.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 /><st1ersonName><st1ersonName><st1ersonName><SPAN class=style321><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Chris</SPAN></SPAN></st1ersonName><SPAN class=style321><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </SPAN></SPAN></st1ersonName><SPAN class=style321><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Tham</SPAN></SPAN></st1ersonName><SPAN class=style321><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> found the player to have exemplary audio performance, particularly for 2 channel SACD. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;</SPAN>However video was a weak point of this player as evident by our HQV test score of 20/130 (our lowest in the history of the Audioholics DVD Benchmark Tests). <?xml:namespace prefix = o /></SPAN></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN class=style321><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">[Read the Review]</SPAN></SPAN></P>

 

[Takeereasy]

That was a nice and thorough review and I must say I'm very dissapointed in Marantz. Just for my own clarification the video section of this DVD player were the stock Marantz parts right? If that's the case there is no excuse for a $600 + DVD player to perform so poorly. Panasonic s77 or 97 is still the way to go IMO. Yeah you miss out on SACD performance but for the $1000 + difference just buy a dedicated SACD player and you'd still come out ahead. Again I enjoyed the review, and it's nice to see how a modded DVD player will perform, but I am truly turned off of Marantz DVD players after reading this. Thanks for the details because I was considering going Marantz just to keep the components the same name, now I'm reconsidering.

 

[gene]

No the video section wasn't modded. It is stock! However it is possible the audio and power supply mods could have affected video performance in the form of softening the image.

We were also quite disappointed in the video side of this player.

Incidentally we are posting our Panasonic S97 review tomorrow

 

[Takeereasy]

Can't wait to read that Panasonic review, I've got money that says the video performance kicks the crap out of that 6500, and it's at least $200 cheaper. And hey Gene, now the next time someone gets uppity about how everything gets good reviews just because they are expensive or a big brand name you can have a good link handy on how that's not always the case. That reviewer did a good job, seemed very unbiased and it was well written.

 

[claudermilk]

Wow. I guess you can't expect every product from a manufacturer to be a home run. I was looking a Marantz players at first as well since I am so happy with the receiver. Once I took a long look at the features & performance, I went Denon for the universal player. At this point I think every component in my system has a different nameplate on it, so much for brand loyalty.

 

[avliner]

What a Flop!!

It's really disappointed to read such an excellent review from a higly regarded brand such as Marantz and to know that the product in question can be considered by many as a real piece of crap!
I use to have Marantz receivers in the past and they were wonderful (think they still are).

If I recall well, Buckeyefan1 has a theory about receivers based on weight; i.e., the heavier the better,which I totally agree. Mine is MADE IN ....

I really would like to know if the 6500 player tested is Made in Japan or anywhere else.

Hails to my good'n ol' Pioneer 563, which is still perfoming amazingly well!

Cheers / Avliner