New Universal players - Denon 2900 (&3900) vs Marantz 8400 -best? (1 Viewer)

I see lots of positive speculation/anticipation about the new Denon 2900...and even some talk about the forthcoming Denon 3900 as well. But also due around late April, or May, is the new Marantz 8400 Universal player(See info/specs below. The Marantz 8400 has generated seemlingly very little buzz compared to the Denon 2900. But I would expect the Marantz might be "better" for
DVD-A/CD/SACD audio; but I'm not sure which unit will have the edge in video performance.

Although the D&M corporation owns both Denon & Marantz, I believe these two products (2900 vs 8400) were developed completely idependently of one another. But I wonder if the new Denon 3900 (ETA Fall 2003) will be based on previous Denon product(s), or possibly on the Marantz 8400...or a completely new independent design effort. Anyone know - DenonJeff?

Anyone have any definitive info on the relative merits of these 3 units?

Marantz 8400 specs:
On the heels of the extremely successful and rave reviewed DV-8300 comes the DV-8400. The DV-8400, our second generation universal disc player, has some considerable advantages over the
DV-8300. First and foremost, the DV-8400 comes with improved sound quality. The all copper chassis provides improved shielding and reduced noise, while a new shorter signal path and higher quality
parts deliver improved SACD, DVD-A, and CD playback. Second, the DV-8400 comes with RS-232C for system control. As if those added features weren’t enough, we have also added a DVI output to
the DV-8400. This exciting new product will begin shipping in late April.





DV-8400 Single disc player highlights:

· RS-232C ( for system control-not upgradeability)

· Redesigned Audio section (Shorter signal path and strategic parts upgrades)

· Pure Digital Video output (DVI w/HCDP)

· Plays: DVD, two-channel and multi-channel SACD, DVD Audio, CD, CD-RW, MP-3, DVD-R and DVD-RW

· Progressive scan with 3:2 pull down

· Identical, discrete multi-channel audio circuit paths

· Marantz proprietary HDAM for all six channels

· 24-bit 192 kHz audio DACs by Cirrus Logic

· Separate power transformer for audio signal path

· Built in Bass Management for SACD

· Full copper chassis with double layer bottom plate

· Zero impedance copper ground plate for analog multi-channel output

· Fine tunable “video adjust” capability

· Video Off and Display Off functions for the purist audio playback

· User friendly on screen menu

· Width: 17 5/16 (440 mm) Height: 3 1/2 (89 mm) Depth: 12 1/8 (307 mm)

· Famous Marantz Three-Year Warranty



MSRP: $1699.99

The audio performance for the Maranatz 8300 was never ever questioned. But yeah, will the 8400 have the chroma bug?

And these are a red flags IMO:

· Built in Bass Management for SACD
· 24-bit 192 kHz audio DACs by Cirrus Logic

How about BM for DVD-A? And, I don't know nothin' , but I know that the original 47a, what the 8300 is based on, got poor reviews for audio in general and had Crystal/Cirrus DACs, but when they switched to Burr Brown DACs for the 47ai, the complaints disappeared.

I *hope* both players don't have these problems; competition is always a good thing.

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Click to expand...

Thanks for that Alex.

Most of the audio problems with the 47a stemmed from the analog stages (post DAC). This is where the 8300 improved things.

Why does this player not have a firwire (digital) connection for DVD Audio and SACD, specially now that the industry has agreed upon a standard?

Sanjay