Current built-in decoding vs. old Technics (1 Viewer)

[Tim Wilson]

Hi everyone.

My ancient (in DVD years) Panasonic A-310 player is finally about to give up the ghost, so I'm looking to buy a new one.

Currently I'm using an old Technics DD/DTS standalone decoder. Bought it back when DTS's future was still uncertain and had not been integrated into many receivers and players yet.

It has served me well, but I was wondering if the decoding had changed significantly enough in the past 4 years that I would hear a noticeable improvement using a current-generation DVD player's internal decoding rather than the old Technics.

If the improvement is there, I'm definitely going for a player with internal decoding and clearing up some space taken up by the Technics. If not, I might just save a little money and continue as I have been.

Thanks for any advice.

Tim

 

[Orin Dym]

I have found the issue of DVD player built in decoders to be anything but simple. I have an Audio Refinement Pre-5, an analog preamp with 5.1 channel input. I started with a Sony 900 DVD player. I did not like the speaker balance function and I felt its decoding ability was only marginal--sound field was not very enveloping and the timbre across the front was awful. I am now using a Philips Q50. The decoding is very good, and speaker level adjustment is more flexible, but I do not like the bass management. I am using an Outlaw ICBM to handle BM and this is working out very well. I feel the quality of sound from this set up is equal to the sound I get when I use my DD/DTS preamp (an Audio Refinement DSP-2)

 

[Philip Hamm]

Orin raises some interesting issues.

It depends on how picky you are and how good the decoder is in the DVD player you buy. Any new DVD-A or SACD player will have a built in DTS decoder. You could simplify your setup if you delete the external DTS decoder. IMO you won't hear a significant difference (if you notice any difference at all) between a modern built-in decoder and your Technics. I could be wrong.