Need help on choosing a DVD changer

B

Buckeye

Audiophyte
I began my search looking for a 300-400 disc changer, where sony was about the only choice for about $400. Then I read a few not-so-good things about Sony DVD players in general so I switched gears to a 5 disc changer. I would like something of fair quality to compliment my Yamaha HTR-5760 receiver and matched Acoustech speakers (with 2-12" subs) - Sound is incredible for the price - I can turn up the Yamaha as loud as I can take it with NO noticeable distortion (about 90% capability) playing with my now broken 5year old Philips 972C.
Anyway, I have read great things about the Yamaha C750, but a few disappointments as well. I would consider a Denon or some other decent name. I don't know much about Onkyo - they seem decent, but I am not big on sony, pioneer, jvc, or other similar brands. I don't have any SACD or DVD-A yet, maybe in a few years when I get time to enjoy it and after I upgrade from my big screen to a projection system. So video and standard cd audio (enhanced would be great) are my main concerns. To feel "Elanor" rumble (in gone in 60 seconds) and the electric guitar on Floyds "Animals" album - oh is just bliss.

Thanks for the help,
Buckeye
 
Pyrrho

Pyrrho

Audioholic Ninja
I have a Yamaha DVD-C750, and I love it. It converts between PAL and NTSC, and is easy to hack to make region free:

http://www.videohelp.com/dvdhacks.php?dvdplayer=yamaha+dvd-c750&hits=50

So you can play DVDs from anywhere in the world without any problems.

It beautifully plays SACDs and DVD-As.

There are some less than ideal things about it, such as a slow to open door, and a confusing setup that gets many people to imagine their player doesn't function properly because they have failed to read the manual and have failed to fully explore the setup menu. But if you are not a moron, you should have no insurmountable problems setting it up. Just go through every part of the menu, and read every page of the manual. And once you have it properly set up, you can forget about it and just enjoy it (until, of course, you change something in your system that requires you to access the setup menu again).

I don't think you will find anything better at this price point, though if you buy a different player that cannot deal with SACDs or DVD-As, it is likely to be less confusing for people during setup. Having less capability tends to make setup easier, though some companies are better at making things confusing than others.
 
B

Buckeye

Audiophyte
I thought I read that the C750 reverts back to some default settings everytime the disc is changed.

Also, what is the deal with all the complaints about the crossover at 120hz for small speakers? Isn't there a way to just set it to large speakers (presumably where the crossover would be lower)?

Thanks,
Buckeye
 
Pyrrho

Pyrrho

Audioholic Ninja
Buckeye said:
I thought I read that the C750 reverts back to some default settings everytime the disc is changed.

Also, what is the deal with all the complaints about the crossover at 120hz for small speakers? Isn't there a way to just set it to large speakers (presumably where the crossover would be lower)?

Thanks,
Buckeye

Regarding the default settings, there are at least two issues that you may have in mind. For the first matter, it is good to remember that it has digital outputs, as well as a set of multichannel analog outputs, and a separate set of stereo analog outputs. It defaults to DPL II whenever a CD is played for its multichannel output (if you are not using the multichannel output, you get stereo [or mono, if that is what is on the disc]). I think the reasoning for this is that when playing a combination of multichannel SACDs and CDs, it will be less jarring to have everything be multichannel. Also, if you do not want multichannel sound, why are you using the multichannel output? The digital outputs and the stereo analog outputs output what is on the disc. Second, the CD upsampling defaults to off for each CD (which only affects the analog output; the digital output is not upsampled in any case). I have never encountered anyone who can hear a difference with the upsampling, so this feature is, in my opinion, unimportant.

With the crossover, it only affects the analog outputs. Consequently, it matters only for SACD and DVD-Audio, as everything else may be output digitally and you can let your receiver/processor handle the bass management. And you have a choice: 120 Hz or "large" (i.e., full range with no crossover). The front, center, and surround speakers can be set small or large independently of each other. I have used mine both with and without bass management, and frankly, the 120 Hz crossover is not as big a deal as many imagine. It isn't as if 80 Hz were totally unlocalizable and 81 Hz were obviously localizable. For my speakers, though, it would be better if the crossover were at 80 Hz (or lower), but it matters less than I would have expected. In direct answer to your question, you can just set it to large to send all frequencies to each channel. If your speakers can handle deep bass, that is the way to go. If not, and if your multichannel analog input on your receiver/processor lacks bass management (most lack this), then you would want to use the bass management in the DVD player, and then you are stuck with 120 Hz.
 
B

Buckeye

Audiophyte
Great, so it appears this would be a very good compliment to my Yamaha HTR-5760 receiver, which has tons of options to control acoustic setup, if I just use an optical connection. Thanks alot for you help, I am going to best buy or somewhere right now to check it out.

Thanks for the realistic info,
Buckeye
 
Pyrrho

Pyrrho

Audioholic Ninja
Buckeye said:
Great, so it appears this would be a very good compliment to my Yamaha HTR-5760 receiver, which has tons of options to control acoustic setup, if I just use an optical connection. Thanks alot for you help, I am going to best buy or somewhere right now to check it out.

Thanks for the realistic info,
Buckeye
I could be mistaken, but I don't think Best Buy sells this model.
 
B

Buckeye

Audiophyte
I just searched, and they don't - thought I read they did. No go on circuit city, cambridge soundworks or sears either.
 
B

Buckeye

Audiophyte
found it at ultimate electronics, about 2x the price I've seen online, but at least I can see it.
 
Geno

Geno

Senior Audioholic
I got a Pioneer Elite 301-disc megachanger when Good Guys was folding up. Absolutely love the thing. You can create playlists of favorite CDs and individual songs. Of course, it only does redbook CDs, but IMHO is a fine transport.
 
B

Buckeye

Audiophyte
I looked up this "Pioneer Elite 301-disc megachanger " to see how it stacks up to the Yamaha C750? The jukebox feature is sweet, but that seems to be it's ONLY advantage? I would imagine the Yamaha outperforms the pioneer overall, but If anyone knows firsthand..... Most likely tho, I wil go for the c750, since I have just over 300 discs now, I would then become OBLIGATED to buy 2 of em :) (if your gonna do it, you gotta do it right) and now is not the time to be splurging $$$. I mean how in the world would I choose what discs NOT to put in there if I only had ONE?? I guess I already talked myself out of the pioneer, but if there's a compelling reason to go with it by the time I get the Yamaha, I'll definately entertain it.

Thanks again,
Buckeye
 
Last edited:
L

love2listen

Enthusiast
C750

Buckeye,
I'm thinking of getting the C750 also.Plz let me know where you find it and the price and OF COURSE your opinion of it.:)
 
B

Buckeye

Audiophyte
love2listen said:
Buckeye,
I'm thinking of getting the C750 also.Plz let me know where you find it and the price and OF COURSE your opinion of it.:)
No Problem, I just ordered one off ebay for $163 after shipping. There was 2 major companies in this price range, but I decided to go with the samller guy - had 100% positive feedback over about 350 reviews as opposed to the giant at only 97% which equaled nearly 200 negatives in the last 6 months. Takin my chances on ebay, but for 1/2 price, why not, plus it's where I got my HTR receiver for 1/4 the retail price and it has amazed me in clarity. The C750 prolly won't show for a week or 2, then I'll let you know what the budget enthusiast thinks after I try it for a week. (I got about 4K in my home theater setup, retailing for about 7K, and Pink Floyd cranks as loud as I can take it - with NO distortion)

Buckeye
 

Latest posts

newsletter

  • RBHsound.com
  • BlueJeansCable.com
  • SVS Sound Subwoofers
  • Experience the Martin Logan Montis
Top