Need new DVD Player - suggestions?

[Buckeyefan 1]

I'm looking to upgrade my dvd player. Does anyone have any comments on this one? I want dvd audio and sacd, but really like the upconversion feature. Thanks in advance.

www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?A=details&kw=PADVDS97S&is=REG&Q=&O=productlist&sku=319938

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

So no one knows anything about Panny dvd audio players? I was hoping someone would say, "it's as good as the Denon for half the price."

 

[Leprkon]

So no one knows anything about Panny dvd audio players? I was hoping someone would say, "it's as good as the Denon for half the price."

you might PM T2t. he mentions being impressed with them in this thread..

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9133

 

[Mort Corey]

The upconverting players, from reviews I've read, seem to show the most pronounced difference on fixed pixel displays so it might not be of much (if any) advantage on your CRT.

Mort

 

[Takeereasy]

My .02

My personal experience with Panasonic and DVD Audio is not a positive one. While the DVD player that I have is admittedly inferior to the one you are looking at, my problem seems to still exist on this unit you are asking about. That problem being no Bass management.

Also I had to turn the volume to a much higher setting when using the DVD Audio analog connections then when using my digital connections. My experience with DVD audio using my player has soured my opinion of this entire format. I personally prefer a good concert on a DTS encoded DVD. The picture and sound (via digital) are very nice though. The DVD player you are looking at is getting awesome reviews, and it doesn't look like you can do any better in its price range.

_other things to note_
-my reciever is not half as nice as yours and I'm sure yours can compensate for deficiencies that mine can not
-I really do like my Panasonic DVD player. It was supposed to be a temporary replacement for my broken Onkyo DVD player. The panny sounds just as good and the picture is better than the much more expensive DVD player it repaced. So far the "temporary" replacement has been in the cabinet for about a year, and getting a new DVD player went from the top of the to do list to the bottom. I think Panasonic puts out a good product that at a minimum matches others in it's price range.

 

[thrang]

My two cents on the Denon 3910 FWIW...

I'm looking to upgrade my dvd player. Does anyone have any comments on this one? I want dvd audio and sacd, but really like the upconversion feature. Thanks in advance.

www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?A=details&kw=PADVDS97S&is=REG&Q=&O=productlist&sku=319938

I recently upgraded to the Denon 3910 - upconverts, virtually all formats supported including DVD-Audio and SACD, bass management, and incredible picture quality (on my Panny 50" Onyx plasma anyway...) Incredibly vivid and detailed, and with IRE0, no floating black and virtually no contouring. The only artifact I sway was some weird crawling artifacts in some solid backgrounds in the poorly transferred DVD "Bean." But other than that, I've been extremely happy with the purchase

 

[MarieonCape]

Buckeyefan lists some not so inexpensive equipment, so I am curious, why are you looking to save money on the DVD player? If it is a matter of timing I'd wait until I could save a little more to get a component that matches the quality of the components you have. The recent Audioholics review of the Denon 2910 has photos that show the build quality difference between it and a "decent" regular priced brand.

You also mention wanting DVD-audio and SACD - the listing for the player you linked to didn't mention those features. I've bought both DVD-audio and SACD discs, and I have to say I am happy I got the capability to play both in my player!

Oh, and I couldn't help but note you waited a whole 8 hours before fretting over no reply

 

[rgriffin25]

I recently bought a Denon DVD player, and I must say it was well worth the price. There is a reason their players cost more, and it isn't only for the features. The build quality is very good, I doubt the panasonic is up to par with Denon on build quality. I agree with a previous post, you have nice equipment, don't sell yourself short now. Go with the Denon, you won't regret it.

 

[Takeereasy]

I'm pretty sure what he's worried about is buying a player that could become outdated by December. Myself, I'm waiting for the new formats to come out so that I can snap up a nice Denon 2910 on Ebay from someone who can afford to upgrade right away.

 

[RLA]

You may want to take a look at this
http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/avhardware/DenonDVD-2910Review1.php

The review contains a comparison of a mid priced DVD player to a lower priced DVD player with photo's of internal components
Please keep in mind that it is an apple to orange comparison and only provides the reader with some knowledge of the differences that exist at two different price points

 

[dillweed]

So no one knows anything about Panny dvd audio players? I was hoping someone would say, "it's as good as the Denon for half the price."

I do... I do..

Take a look at the Panasonic S97S $240 at authorized dealers.

Secrets of Home Theater gave it an 86 which happens to be the same score as Denon 2910 ($700 at authorized dealers). New firmware has come around for the S97 that has imporved the picture since the review. The S97S comes with DVD-Audio.

 

[rgriffin25]

I'm pretty sure what he's worried about is buying a player that could become outdated by December. Myself, I'm waiting for the new formats to come out so that I can snap up a nice Denon 2910 on Ebay from someone who can afford to upgrade right away.

I am so tired of this obsolete mentality. Do you all really think that these new HD players will come out chuck full of features? I bet the ones that are lower in price are stripped down just like any other new technology.

I can understand the concern that most people have. I also know that not everyone has a huge budget either. I just think if you are in the market and want a good machine now go for it.

Personally for me, I am going to wait a while before I get caught up in the hype of these new formats.

 

[MarieonCape]

Didn't I say this?

You may want to take a look at this
http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/avhardware/DenonDVD-2910Review1.php

The review contains a comparison of a mid priced DVD player to a lower priced DVD player with photo's of internal components
Please keep in mind that it is an apple to orange comparison and only provides the reader with some knowledge of the differences that exist at two different price points

Ok, I didn't inlcude the nifty link.

 

[Takeereasy]

Yes, actually, I do think the new machines will come out chuck full of features. I also think that they will be backwards compatible (at least in HDDVDs case), rendering the DVD player in the cabinet of the person making the purchase obsolete, or at the least banishing it to the secondary system. I also don't think that there will be an affordable entry level player for a minimum of a year or two, at least not a decent one. I'm waiting to see what will happen with these new formats myself before I commit to one. The smiley face at the end of the sentences you quoted denotes humor by the way. I'm not in a hurry to shell out hundreds of dollars for used electronics with no assurances from Ebay. I was merely trying to express that in a comical manner and express one possibility as to why Buckeye was comparing two very differently priced models. I am however interested in the Denon 2910, mainly based on how positive the word of mouth and reviews are for it. The Denon is a little down on the priority list for now though. First comes a receiver, then a better sub.

 

[WooHoo]

Hey, Buckeye fan. Did you make a decision or are you caught up in the never ending mound of research like I tend to do?

 

[rgriffin25]

Yes, actually, I do think the new machines will come out chuck full of features. I also think that they will be backwards compatible (at least in HDDVDs case), rendering the DVD player in the cabinet of the person making the purchase obsolete, or at the least banishing it to the secondary system. I also don't think that there will be an affordable entry level player for a minimum of a year or two, at least not a decent one. I'm waiting to see what will happen with these new formats myself before I commit to one. The smiley face at the end of the sentences you quoted denotes humor by the way. I'm not in a hurry to shell out hundreds of dollars for used electronics with no assurances from Ebay. I was merely trying to express that in a comical manner and express one possibility as to why Buckeye was comparing two very differently priced models. I am however interested in the Denon 2910, mainly based on how positive the word of mouth and reviews are for it. The Denon is a little down on the priority list for now though. First comes a receiver, then a better sub.

It wasn't just your post I was referring to. There have been countless threads asking this same question. If manufacturers felt the same way some of the people here feel about current DVD players, they would have pulled them off the shelves already.

I stand behind my first post, the first generation players will not have all the features we would want on them. Why you ask? Because if they did, they wouldn't make as much money down the road.

You know how many f-in DVD players and Receivers I have owned in the last 8 years because of this? I may have to go w/o for a while, but I will feel good knowing I wasn't duped again.

I know this is a bit long winded, and for that I am sorry. Perhaps I should have started a thread in the steam vent.

 

[Takeereasy]

I do understand what you mean, and I really can empathize. I've been upgrading my entire system as of late and not one decision has been easy. Every purchase must be scrutinized and researched and auditioned. I am so paranoid about buying the wrong thing, or buying something that is missing a feature that becomes important at a later date. That plus I'm cheap so I always wonder if I could have paid a little less. I also know what you mean about them holding back on features initially. I had a friend that spent $800 on a Sony DVD player because it was the cheapest one with MP3 playback. I do think that the new format players will be feature laden though, at least as feature laden as todays DVD players. That doesn't mean that I don't think there won't be some features to be added at a later date so that they can keep selling new and upgraded models. I expect this, and so does the pocketbook. I'm going to wait for a while before moving to HD video as well. I plan on having a front projector in a new TV room before I make that upgrade in fact, so it could be quite a while. Unless of course they start selling them at a nickle, then I'll take two.