Sony or Denon

[201jamesg]

Despite the nice review of the Yamaha 750, I decided against it since the video quality doesn't seem equal to the audio quality (and both are important to me).

All things being equal (which they almost never are), I'd like a changer, but don't want to sacrifice audio/video quality to get it. The choice now is between the Sony DVP-NC555ES and either the Denon 2910 or 3910. Can anyone tell me whether, purely on audio/video quality, its worth the extra $$$ to get one of the Denons instead of the Sony? If yes, is it worth the extra $$$ to get the 3910 over the 2910? Thanks.

 

[Thwarter]

If you're considering the 2910, you may want to also look at the Yamaha DVD-S2500. It will have Faroudja processing so the video should look much better than the 750.

The unit is supposed to start shipping this month.

 

[flyv65]

Unless you're using the HDMI or DVI-D hookups or have a Denon Link equipped receiver there is little reason to get the 3910 over the 2910; the processors are virtually identical, as are the DACS. As for the Sony deck, I can only say that if you've had a good experience with the brand then by all means purchase as you see fit-but Sony doesn't make my short list of manufacturers I'll buy form (by the way, Yamaha and Denon do).

Bryan...don't write off Yamaha; they make good stuff, too...

 

[shokhead]

I belive the Denons only do DVD-A and the Sony only does SACD which if i had to choose which i did,it would be SACD because you can get hybrids and use them on reg players. Secrets of home theater does some benchmark thing on DVD players and it didnt ace everything,they liked the sony. You can find what they said about the Denons also but as any type of test,its still in the eyes of the beholder. What they said about the sony i saw none of. Cant go wrong with the Denons but because i wanted to stay with SACD,i went with the Sony.

 

[Jason Coleman]

The Denons will do SACD and DVD-A. The Sony's will obviously only do SACD.

Jason

 

[flyv65]

I belive the Denons only do DVD-A and the Sony only does SACD

Actually, both the 2910 and the 3910 do DVD-A and SACD: the 3910 has apparently, *finally* been OK'ed for SACD over the Denon Link, which is only offered on the 3910 (provided you have a similarly equipped receiver [heh heh, I said "equipped"]). Conversely, both will play SACD over the analog 5.1 connections.

Bryan...HTH...

 

[shokhead]

Cool,they do both,thats better. Which one is a changer and around 400 bucks like the Sony?

 

[201jamesg]

Alas, the only Denon changer is the 2815, and that is only DVD-A. The 2910 is single disc "universal" and is in the same price range as the Sony 555. It doesn't seem to have quite the build quality as the 3910, but for $400 less . . .

Do you really use the changer? I've always had singles, and I'm not sure if I really need the changer (DW wants it though, so I may have to go that route to keep the peace).

 

[shokhead]

Best thing about a changer is i dont like every song on every disc so i can listen to the ones i like and then change after one or a few songs instead of getting up to change discs.

 

[RLA]

All things being considered I would opt for the DVD-A player over the SACD player
JMOHO

 

[Jason Coleman]

All things being equal, I'd go for a player that plays both competing formats...mega-changer or single-disc, I'm more interested in performance and flexibility than convenience.

Jason

 

[shokhead]

All things being considered I would opt for the DVD-A player over the SACD player
JMOHO

Because why?

 

[rgriffin25]

All things being equal, I'd go for a player that plays both competing formats...mega-changer or single-disc, I'm more interested in performance and flexibility than convenience.

Jason

I second this comment. For that kind of money there is no reason to have to choose one over the other. I think both formats are great.

 

[shokhead]

Me to but SACD's upside is having a hybrid and playing it anywhere as to DVD-A only plays on a DVD-A player. I here no difference in sound in either one.

 

[flyv65]

Me to but SACD's upside is having a hybrid and playing it anywhere as to DVD-A only plays on a DVD-A player. I here no difference in sound in either one.

There are more than a few SACDs that *only* have a SACD layer (Janis Joplin comes to mind); additionally, many of the recordings of old music (like the Rolling Stones) are only as good as the person who mastered them: and that guy who those should be shot.

Bryan...but there are crappy DVD-A also...

 

[Jason Coleman]

Me to but SACD's upside is having a hybrid and playing it anywhere as to DVD-A only plays on a DVD-A player. I here no difference in sound in either one.

A DVD-A will also play in a regular DVD player, you just won't get the Hi-Rez performance that a DVD-A capable player will render. Also, most DVD-A discs have video content and menus to navigate (lyrics, videos, extras, etc).

Jason

 

[shokhead]

Wont play in my car cd player. I couldnt find a player that plays both and was a changer. Very few to choose from,like a couple. So i had to open my choices up abit and get a changer that did one or the other and figured since i can get hybrid SACD's,that would be the way to go. Of the few DVD-A disc's i have, the video part is of little value and interest. I would rather just buy a reg DVD of a concert,there's plenty out there.

 

[Jason Coleman]

Again, I'm more interested in quality of the recording and flexibility of the equipment. Sure, you can get a DVD concert recording that you could play in any DVD player, but you're not getting anything near the Hi-Rez reproduction that you'll get with DVD-Audio, nor the attention to mixing and levels that result from a good multi-channel recording. And though they're not a dealbreaker for me by any means, the video content is often pretty entertaining (Flaming Lips' "Yoshimi" and REM's "Document" come to mind). No, you can't take the DVD-A in your car (unless you have one of the newer vehicles that's outfitted for DVD-A), but when you're in the car the sound quality rarely matters (at least for me). Don't get me wrong, I love SACD and DVD-A, and I hope that more and more titles become available, and for that reason I opted for a single-disc machine that will play both formats instead of going for the convenience of a multi-disc changer that will only play one or the other. I used to be strictly a 5-disc changer guy, but as soon as the hi-rez multi-channel formats emerged, I went for a higher quality universal single-disc.

Jason