SACD and DVD-A Questions

[Fife]

I'm thinking of buying a Denon 3803 receiver. It has analog inputs but no direct SACD or DVD-A inputs. I know the 3805 has a propriety input. The question I have is: Will I lose audio quality if I use a DVD player's decoding and plug it into an analog input on the receiver as opposed to having a dedicated input built into the receiver?

 

[av_phile]

If your receiver has multi-channel input, it should accomodate the player's decoded DVD-A or SACD signals using your player's internal processing features. Using a proprietary route such as the D-link between player and receiver is said to yield better sonics because this is a digital link that presumably will send the player's DVD-A or SACD digital information to the receiver's digital processing chips that are often superior to that in the player. The difference can be slight or non-existent if the player's digital processing is excellent to begin with.

 

[Rob Babcock]

Bear in mind that in the case of a really highend player like the Denon, it's D/A converters may be of better quality than the receivers. In that case the lack of digital input isn't a problem. It depends on the player you're looking at.

If you've not yet made your receiver purchase, I think going with the '3805 is a "no brainer." Everything I've read about it's been very positive, and it's a great technological leap over the '3803. The price is about the same (unless you're buying from a non-authorized E-tailer/reseller, which I wouldn't recommend). You may as well have the most advanced model you can get.

I'm drooling at the thought of the digital EQ & ALPHA24 on all channels!