Single drive DVD player recommendations?

[jeffvee]

After reading a glowing review in H/T magazine, I purchased the Yamaha DVD-C-750 in July of this year. I am pleased with the audio and video quality of this machine, but my patience with the s l o w load times of the carousel has me seriously considering buying something else. I would like a single drive dvd player with capabilities of playing in these formats: DVD-V,DVD-A,SACD. Preferrably in black. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Price Range under 500.00 unless has features that will astound me ,then I will go up to 750.00.

 

[Nomo]

Currently, Denon probably makes the best mid-priced players. While I don't own any Denon products their reputation is hard to dispute.
My first choice was the Yamaha 750. I shied away from it because of the reported slow loading and a desire to avoid a cumbersome menu system. Denon would have been my next choice but I just could not get what I thought was a good deal on one. Out of immediate need (my Toshiba died) I looked at Onkyo. My first choice there was the DV-SP502. I wanted a single disc player for probably the same reasons you have. In the end I picked up the DV-SP802 6 disc player. Got it on ubid.com for under $200. I was reluctant to get a multi disc player but I must admit it is actually pretty nice being able to load another disc without stopping the play of another.
All of the above are available in black, my choice as well.

 

[j_garcia]

I haven't tried the Onkyos so I can't comment on them, but I've owned a few Denons and I am completely sold on them when it comes to DVD players. What price range? $350 will net you the 1920 which will cover all of what you asked, but you'll need to step up to the $600+ range for the next model up, the 2910.

 

[greenhill]

After reading a glowing review in H/T magazine, I purchased the Yamaha DVD-C-750 in July of this year. I am pleased with the audio and video quality of this machine, but my patience with the s l o w load times of the carousel has me seriously considering buying something else. I would like a single drive dvd player with capabilities of playing in these formats: DVD-V,DVD-A,SACD,and CD. Preferrably in black. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Price Range under 500.00 unless has features that will astound me ,then I will go up to 750.00.

hey man, I was in the same boat (just wanting a good single disc, do everthing player) and about a month ago i added the Yamaha DVD-S657 to my 5.1 Home Theater.... I've heard many people say that it is a c750 only single disc.... I don't know if that is true, but i've heard many say this on other forums.... Comes in Black..... I bought mine from a local Audio shop for 199.... If you like the performance of the 750, you will probably be satisfied with the s657...
I am very pleased with mine....
...i'm only hooked up via optical at the moment, so i have'nt got to fool around with the SACD or DVD-A, but i am anxious too... I don't know what the 750 does, but if you set the speakers to "small" the CUT OFF Freq is 120hz.... some say that is high, but whatever.....
anyway, just a thought.
hope it helps.
good luck with your decision.
greenhill

 

[indcrimdefense]

i have a denon 2910 and have been very happy with it. great for movies, very good for redbook cd, & particularly for sacd. i have little in the way of dvda but sounded good there as well. my 2910 has seen little use as i purchased a cary audio cinema dvd 6 several months ago after an extended demo, primarily due to the supurb redbook cd playback. it's really an unfair comarison between the denon (msrp 730) & cary (msrp 2000). the cary lacks sacd playback capability, but redbook is so good i dont miss it. for its price point, it's hard to beat the 2910 for both music & movies. dont know what you can get one online for (be wary of unauthorized dealers as no warranty), but would be willing to sell mine if your interested.

 

[j_garcia]

...i'm only hooked up via optical at the moment, so i have'nt got to fool around with the SACD or DVD-A, but i am anxious too... I don't know what the 750 does, but if you set the speakers to "small" the CUT OFF Freq is 120hz.... some say that is high, but whatever.....
greenhill

120Hz IS high, but the speaker settings only apply if you use an analog connection (which you will need to do for SACD and DVD-A). When using a digital connection, the speaker settings in the player are not used.

 

[sts9fan]

i am in the same boat! the C750s drawer sucks!! Why is it so hard to open??As soon as I get my Squeezebox3 up and running its out the door. I am gonna get a single DVD to replace it.

 

[claudermilk]

I was looking hard at the C750 when it first came out. I ended up going wit hthe Denon 2200 and have not regretted it for a moment (even less now, hearing of your issues). It's played everything I've thrown at it. Oh, and it's black.

 

[jeffvee]

hey man, I was in the same boat (just wanting a good single disc, do everthing player) and about a month ago i added the Yamaha DVD-S657 to my 5.1 Home Theater.... I've heard many people say that it is a c750 only single disc.... I don't know if that is true, but i've heard many say this on other forums.... Comes in Black..... I bought mine from a local Audio shop for 199.... If you like the performance of the 750, you will probably be satisfied with the s657...
I am very pleased with mine....
...i'm only hooked up via optical at the moment, so i have'nt got to fool around with the SACD or DVD-A, but i am anxious too... I don't know what the 750 does, but if you set the speakers to "small" the CUT OFF Freq is 120hz.... some say that is high, but whatever.....
anyway, just a thought.
hope it helps.
good luck with your decision.
greenhill

I'll check it out. My speakers are set to small, so is what you are saying good or bad?
Also, does the 657 have faster load times?

 

[Blundaar]

This player has been highly touted by many in this forum. I think I'm going to tell Santa (the wife) to put this in my stocking this year.

 

[Redbone]

Sorry can't deal with the 480i in component video. DVI/HDMI is a bit to new for DVD players connections. Most TV's only come with one HDMI connect anyway and we use that for HDTV. Bravo2 did this upconversion thing a while back for the same money.

If it where me and I did not want to spend to much I would buy an Arcam DV78 less than a year old off of audiogon for around $550 or so. Your guaranteed a top notch machine thats video and audio cannot be touched for under a grand.

just my thoughts....

 

[jeffvee]

dvd

Looks nice Blundaar, but silver is not an option for me.

 

[gnagel]

This player has been highly touted by many in this forum. I think I'm going to tell Santa (the wife) to put this in my stocking this year.

I thinking about going with this as well. I wish it came in black, though.

 

[Dan Driscoll]

This player has been highly touted by many in this forum. I think I'm going to tell Santa (the wife) to put this in my stocking this year.

The Oppo has been lauded for its upscaled video quality over HDMI, but it doesn't even pass 480p over component video, making it useless for anyone who doesn't have an HDMI/DVI input on their display. Also, it doesn't play SACD, which was one of the OP's requirements.

 

[greenhill]

Yamaha DVD-s657

I'll check it out. My speakers are set to small, so is what you are saying good or bad?
Also, does the 657 have faster load times?

J Garcia is right, ...sorry, i don't think i was clear... the players "speaker settings" only applies when using the analog 6 channel connections for SACD and DVD-Audio.... If set to "small", the cut-off is 120hz.... and if set to "large", you will be sending full bandwidth to your speakers.... The Freq cut-off on the s657 is not adjustable.... I am connected to my Yammie RX-V757(a/v receiver) by an Optical Audio connection right now... where the Receiver makes the decision to where the Cut-OFF is (right now, all my speakers in my receiver are set to "small" and my Cut-Off is 80hz, this is a common set-up)...
...Let's say i had the 6 analogs connected.... The DVD Player will use it's "speaker settings", and "Cut-OFF", only when I play a DVD-Audio or SACD.... (this only happens when the player detects a DVD-A or SACD)...

now, all this being said.... there are people that will say 120hz is a high cut-off setting..... is it??? who knows..... music listening is different from movie listening..... like you said, the C750 got great reviews, especially for it's multi-channel playback ability.... C750 has the same fixed 120hz cut-off...
i'm sure you read this review... http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/avhardware/YamahaDVD-C750DVDChanger1.php

.... the review does mention that a "CON" is the fixed 120hz... but if you look at the SACD evaluation of the review... the reviewer sounded impressed.
like i said before, i've heard many say that the s657 is a single disc version of the c750.... I Don't know if it is true, but, ALL the specs for both players are identical..... the menu screens and remote are ALL identical....
...now, as far as load time??????? I have not observed the load time being long.... I'm not sure what you are used too..... but, in my opinion, It loads a disc in good time..... you may have to go to a store and check this out for yourself....

final note...... For sure there are better players out there..... but for 200 bucks.... it's pretty good, i think!
...plus, it comes in Black
hope it helps,
greenhill