Best DVD player to buy? Denon 2900/2910? Anything better? (1 Viewer)

I've tried two upconverting players, the Zenith 318 and the Panny S97, and neither produced any real improvment over 480p out from my RP82. I haven't tried the denon 2910 though, but I believe it has the Faroudja 2300 chip in it and thus will have macroblocking. After being disappointed with upconverting players, I've gone back to my RP91 and use it's 480i output to an Iscan HD unit. My RP91 is region free and was made so by use of an upgrade CD.

I'm only using a 53" screen, and I'm not sure what you're using Ron, but for me, the upconverting players just aren't a real improvment, and sometimes add more issues such as the macroblocking. I'd like to see a Denon 5910, which uses the same upscaling chip as the Iscan HD.

The 2900 does not have HDMI and does not upconvert. It's 480p via the Silicon Image 504 deinterlacer and has been replaced by the Denon 3910.

Unless you're interested in the audio portions of those players (SACD/DVD-A) I'd look at the Oppo for an upconverting player that received pretty good reviews on Secrets. That said, I have the 2900 (which is 480p only) and am more than happy with its performance on my PDP. It's discontinued so should you find one it should be priced closer to $500 (or less).

Mort

Most upconverting players with hdmi/dvi will only upconvert over hdmi/dvi nowadays. They will only allow 480p (or 480i) over component.

If money was no object I would love to get the Denon 5910. But the $3500 price tag is a little too high for me at least.

If you're only using component upconversion, then you're limited to not too many dvd players.

Faroudja processing players with upconversion over component would be the zenith 318 and the samsung 941. You will need to use the old firmware to get upconversion over component on the zenith, and you have to disable hdcp with a hack to get component upconversion with the samsung 941.

Non-Faroudja upconverting players would include the Samsung 850 (with a hack), the Momitsu V880 players, and avel linkplayer2 to name a few.

Ron - Given your display I wholeheartedly recommend the Denon 2900. It can't be beat in its price range for 480p video output (better than the 3910 in my system, which exhibited Faroudja FLI23xx macroblocking issues, as did the Zenith DVB318) and you get a top-notch CD/SACD/DVD-A player in the bargain. It's built like a tank. In fact, an HTF member has a very lightly used 2900 up for sale now at a great pice:

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...hreadid=239596

I greatly prefer the Silicon Image deinterlacer in the 2900 to Faroudja for film material. Until the HighDef DVD formats get ironed out and on the market I don't think you can find a better value. In my opinion there's no sense in dumping a lot of money into a 480i/p DVD player that's "future proof" (HDMI/DVI) at this point in the game, since they're all gonna be obsolete pretty soon.

The Denon is a good machine,and I haven't heard anyone complaining about it once it was hooked up. The link for the region free seems about in line cost-wise with other sites selling it modded.

Dare I suggest the Oppo if you've got DVI or HDMI?

Ronbo,
I have the 2900 which replaced the RP-91 as my main dvd player and I'm very happy with it's 480P video presentation as well as it's audio performance.





Crawdaddy

Well I am in a similar situation, needing a new player, so I hope you don't mind me "hijacking" your thread a bit. figure better than starting a new one so similar.

I had a Malata and I was surprised by all it's features. I got it simply because it was region free and did PAL to NTSC. Turned out to be a gem.

I can zoom in progressively to well over 100% but even better in can zoom out to compensate for overscan.

It can pan left, right, up or down. again to help compensate overscan or in conjunction with zoom really lock in on a part of a scene.

the forwards and reverses were my favorite. FWD X2, X4 or X20 but the best was the slow mo. can go 1/2 speed, 1/4 or as slow as 1/20!!! I love it to really get the detail from a scene. sometimes you are not sure you saw what you saw. well let me tell you, now you can be sure.

another must is that it creates black bars automatically for 4:3 content which is great because I really don;don't like those grey bars but REFUSE to alter the AR.

Well it has been crapping out on me on and off for the last 4-5 months. it's near the end I tell you.

Well I was considering the 2910 for a while but it seems rather pricey. I don't mind paying for quality PQ but I know I will never listen to any DVD-A or other audio formats. not even one.

SO what do you guys recommend? If it upscales it is a plus but all I really want is great PQ and those features I will surely miss if not there.

Of course with PQ being the FIRST PRIORITY I am willing to sacrifice one or more of those if it is justified.

would love suggestions. thanks.

Oh yes, almost forgot, seamless layer switch would be nice

Ronald, "significant" is more like get a D-VHS deck, IMO. I just got an Oppo DVI player and I don't see any huge improvement over my 2900 via component. I do see significant improvement with D-Theater tapes on my JVC tape decks. DVD ain't ever gonna look like that, no how, no way! Get the 2900 if ya wanna do M/C music, otherwise, maybe you ought to opt for one of the other Denons and save a buck...?

The only current Denon players he'd be able to find cheaper than a used/old stock 2900 are the 1720 and 1920, neither of which should really be under consideration.

Ron,

For what it's worth, there's a region-free software hack floating around the net for the 2900. I've applied it and retired my upconverting region-free Momitsu in favor of the Denon's superior build qualities (and coupled with an iScan HD for upconversion).

I'd also like to echo the earlier comments that the 2900 is the best route for your video-wise. If I'm not mistaken, it uses the same video chip as your RP-91.

Ron you might also consider the universal Sherwood-Newcastle SD-871 They are built like tanks and look stunning in the titanium finish that goes well with black or silver gear. I'm likely getting one shortly.



Features

* SACD, DVD-Audio/DVD-Video playback
* DVD +/- R/RW, CD-R/RW compatible
* MP-3, JPEG, Kodak Picture CD Playback
* WMA Playback
* DivX Playback
* Progressive Scan playback
* 192 kHz/24-Bit Audio DAC's
* Faroudja DCDI processing
* HDMI Digital output (HDCP: 720p/1080i Video ouput, 192 kHz audio ouput)
* 216 MHz/12 bit video DAC's
* 2 Pair component video outputs (RCA and BNC)
* RS-232C control input
* 480p Component Video Output
* Two each S-Video and composite Video outputs
* 5.1/7.1 channel Audio Outputs plus 2-channel audio downmix output
* One each coaxial and optical digital audio outputs
* Pure Audio Mode turns off all video processing
* Pure Black Mode allows black level adjustment (7.5 IRE or 0 IRE)
* Sherwood Digi Link III communication protocol
* Aluminum front panel

You wouldn't be upconverting to 1080 given the component input choice on your TV without going with one of the Oppo type players. The sherwood adds SACD that you don't have now and should last longer then the lasers in the panasonics. They have an 860 model that's cheaper without the HDMI and upconversion in the same case.