steveinaz
03-20-2006, 10:28 AM
Review: Denon DVD-2910 (Audio performance) Edited: 3/21/06 (see post #5)
Set up: (In order of connection)
- Denon DVD 2910; digital output, PCM
- DH Labs D-75 Coaxial digital cable, RCA to BNC, 1mtr
- Benchmark DAC1; BNC digital input
- Kimber PBJ, .5mtr
- Musical Fidelity A3CR preamp
- Kimber PBJ .5mtr
- Parasound HCA-1500A power amp
- Kimber 8TC, 8ft single wired
- Energy Connoisseur C-9 speakers
Note: All listening was done with Redbook CD with the video circuits turned off, via digital coax output. (transport mode)
Build/Features/Aesthetics:
Build quality is very good, the chassis appears to be “double-wrapped” in metal, the front panel is aluminum. The finish is similar to what’s found on Cambridge Audio’s D500SE, a durable wrinkle type finish, but not quite as textured as the Cambridge. Nice. The disc loading drawer hesitates momentarily after pressing the “open/close” button, and is quiet and very smooth in operation. The drawer is thick and feels more heavy-duty than typical CDP drawers. Buttons have a positive feel to them, and are recessed slightly into the front panel. Rear connections are gold plated and mounted securely. AC input is an IEC socket that will accept aftermarket power cables. Feet have shock-absorbing rubber inserts. There are video connections for HDMI, DVI, S-Video, component video, and composite video. Audio connections include 2-channel analog, 5.1 channel analog, toslink digital, coaxial digital. Unit weighs just shy of 11lbs.
Listening:
The DVD-2910 was auditioned in transport mode only, thru my Benchmark DAC1 external DAC. Since the unit was purchased as a possible replacement for my dedicated CD player and inexpensive DVD player as a universal solution, I’ll attempt to do a comparison between the 2 transports, my C.E.C. CD-3300 dedicated CDP and the Denon DVD-2910.
I had difficulty initially, hearing any difference between the CD-3300 and the DVD-2910 when used a transport. I did eventually (day 3) begin to notice a touch warmer midrange to the Denon, most noticable with acoustic material, where the CEC is brutally neutral. This turned out to be a good thing as my Energy C-9’s midrange can sound a little cold/analytical with strings. This took awhile to materialize, I suspect the Denon needed some break-in time, or even possibly the DAC’s coaxial input circuitry as it had never been used before. At any rate, the sound improved with time, and by day 3 I felt that the player had settled in.
Upon extended listening, I couldn't help but notice that something didn't seem quite right; but had difficulty putting my finger on it, and even thought my ears may be having a bad day. I wrote it off for a day and went back to listen---there it was again, only with certain music, but there. I tried different cables; Toslink, then back to Coax, then Toslink, etc. I decided to put the CEC CD-3300 back into the system and A/B the two in an effort to see if I was simply "hearing things" or if there were some concrete differences. I shouldn't have questioned myself, as good a player as the Denon is, it just wasn't as focused and articulate as the CD-3300. Talk about eating crow, in a big way. If nothing else, this exercise in humility did teach me something; there ARE differences in transports, regardless how closely they are matched, price wise. This is something I was a little skeptical about for a long time; I'm not skeptical about it anymore.
Make no mistake, the 2910 is fine player. I'm just an extremely fussy listener. The differences pointed out above were very subtle in nature, and only manifested themselves with certain music. DVD Movie sound through the Denon's analog outputs proved to be very good, far exceeding anything I've heard through a DVDP.
What's behind the differences? I'm not sure, but I suspect a couple of things:
1. Possibly higher jitter? (sometimes compounded by adding an external DAC)
2. Quality of the digital output circuitry?
3. Smaller, less regulated power supply?
It could also be a simple matter of preference. I've had the CD-3300 in my system for almost 2 years, and have gotten very accustomed to its sound.
Summary:
If you like the idea of one machine to do it all, take a serious look at the Denon DVD-2910. It will give you the solid build, aesthetics, quality feel, and connection options of most high-end CD Players. The transport/loading mechanism is solid, isolated, and well built matching or exceeding anything I’ve seen at/under a grand in a dedicated CDP. Though it didn't quite surpass my CD-3300 as a CD transport, it had a very respectable showing.
Video was not reviewed because I don’t have a television that can exploit progressive scan or upscaling. I will say that via S-Video to my 36” Panasonic CRT, the picture was brilliant. Deep, rich colors that never bled, excellent contrast, fine detail. The player reacts quickly to remote commands and menu/layer changes. I saw no macro-blocking or any other sort of problems. I’m very pleased with the video performance.
Set up: (In order of connection)
- Denon DVD 2910; digital output, PCM
- DH Labs D-75 Coaxial digital cable, RCA to BNC, 1mtr
- Benchmark DAC1; BNC digital input
- Kimber PBJ, .5mtr
- Musical Fidelity A3CR preamp
- Kimber PBJ .5mtr
- Parasound HCA-1500A power amp
- Kimber 8TC, 8ft single wired
- Energy Connoisseur C-9 speakers
Note: All listening was done with Redbook CD with the video circuits turned off, via digital coax output. (transport mode)
Build/Features/Aesthetics:
Build quality is very good, the chassis appears to be “double-wrapped” in metal, the front panel is aluminum. The finish is similar to what’s found on Cambridge Audio’s D500SE, a durable wrinkle type finish, but not quite as textured as the Cambridge. Nice. The disc loading drawer hesitates momentarily after pressing the “open/close” button, and is quiet and very smooth in operation. The drawer is thick and feels more heavy-duty than typical CDP drawers. Buttons have a positive feel to them, and are recessed slightly into the front panel. Rear connections are gold plated and mounted securely. AC input is an IEC socket that will accept aftermarket power cables. Feet have shock-absorbing rubber inserts. There are video connections for HDMI, DVI, S-Video, component video, and composite video. Audio connections include 2-channel analog, 5.1 channel analog, toslink digital, coaxial digital. Unit weighs just shy of 11lbs.
Listening:
The DVD-2910 was auditioned in transport mode only, thru my Benchmark DAC1 external DAC. Since the unit was purchased as a possible replacement for my dedicated CD player and inexpensive DVD player as a universal solution, I’ll attempt to do a comparison between the 2 transports, my C.E.C. CD-3300 dedicated CDP and the Denon DVD-2910.
I had difficulty initially, hearing any difference between the CD-3300 and the DVD-2910 when used a transport. I did eventually (day 3) begin to notice a touch warmer midrange to the Denon, most noticable with acoustic material, where the CEC is brutally neutral. This turned out to be a good thing as my Energy C-9’s midrange can sound a little cold/analytical with strings. This took awhile to materialize, I suspect the Denon needed some break-in time, or even possibly the DAC’s coaxial input circuitry as it had never been used before. At any rate, the sound improved with time, and by day 3 I felt that the player had settled in.
Upon extended listening, I couldn't help but notice that something didn't seem quite right; but had difficulty putting my finger on it, and even thought my ears may be having a bad day. I wrote it off for a day and went back to listen---there it was again, only with certain music, but there. I tried different cables; Toslink, then back to Coax, then Toslink, etc. I decided to put the CEC CD-3300 back into the system and A/B the two in an effort to see if I was simply "hearing things" or if there were some concrete differences. I shouldn't have questioned myself, as good a player as the Denon is, it just wasn't as focused and articulate as the CD-3300. Talk about eating crow, in a big way. If nothing else, this exercise in humility did teach me something; there ARE differences in transports, regardless how closely they are matched, price wise. This is something I was a little skeptical about for a long time; I'm not skeptical about it anymore.
Make no mistake, the 2910 is fine player. I'm just an extremely fussy listener. The differences pointed out above were very subtle in nature, and only manifested themselves with certain music. DVD Movie sound through the Denon's analog outputs proved to be very good, far exceeding anything I've heard through a DVDP.
What's behind the differences? I'm not sure, but I suspect a couple of things:
1. Possibly higher jitter? (sometimes compounded by adding an external DAC)
2. Quality of the digital output circuitry?
3. Smaller, less regulated power supply?
It could also be a simple matter of preference. I've had the CD-3300 in my system for almost 2 years, and have gotten very accustomed to its sound.
Summary:
If you like the idea of one machine to do it all, take a serious look at the Denon DVD-2910. It will give you the solid build, aesthetics, quality feel, and connection options of most high-end CD Players. The transport/loading mechanism is solid, isolated, and well built matching or exceeding anything I’ve seen at/under a grand in a dedicated CDP. Though it didn't quite surpass my CD-3300 as a CD transport, it had a very respectable showing.
Video was not reviewed because I don’t have a television that can exploit progressive scan or upscaling. I will say that via S-Video to my 36” Panasonic CRT, the picture was brilliant. Deep, rich colors that never bled, excellent contrast, fine detail. The player reacts quickly to remote commands and menu/layer changes. I saw no macro-blocking or any other sort of problems. I’m very pleased with the video performance.