DVD face-off: Marantz DV-7600 vs Denon 2910

[steveinaz]

I can get both for $699 NIB. I realize the Denon has better potential in video department, but I also know the Marantz will nudge it out for sound quality (which is my focus). The Player will be run thru my DAC for DVD movies/CD's. I don't give a rats ass about SACD/DVD-Audio performance/features.

Please comment if you have one these players...

[audiobliss]

Wouldn't the Marantz' better sound quality relative to the Denon be null if you run them both through your DAC? Or is the Marantz that much better on a transport level?

[steveinaz]

The DAC most likely makes audio a wash. I'd like to see the internal build of the Marantz, but can't find a "guts" shot anywhere. Denon has an internal shot of the 2910, I actually expected to see better build quality, but it's probably a non-issue.

[audiobliss]

Those are supposedly of the Marantz.

And then the Denon:


There's a bunch of pics of the Denon here.

[heiney9]

Wow, I'm actually quite impressed with the internals of both units. I have had a few DVDp open and they were nowhere close to having so much internals. I especially like the 3 or more discrete circuits in each. The little transformer in each is still puzzling. My Pioneer DVDp has the same exact trans. Perhaps that's all they need.

Steve, they both look like similarly solid units. I don't think you could go wrong with either. Head to head I bet they'd be so similar you couldn't tell the diff. Go with the one that has the best pic rating since you'll be running either thru your Benchmark.

H9

[steveinaz]

Yep, that's what I'm thinking...

[HiPerf360]

I would think they would be very similar as they are both owned by D&M Holdings and both use outsourced technology.

I had a Marantz DVD player that I used for music before I got my Sony DVD-9000ES and it was a very good sounding unit. (Didn’t have progressive scan video).

In fact I gave it to my father and he is using it in his system now.

[steveinaz]

Denon 2910 on the way via Crutchfield.

[I-SIG]

Sweet!

Wes

[steveinaz]

Wes, see your email. :D

[peteran]

I can't say about the marantz but the 2910 has improved considerably the audio of my cd's(2 chanel). Previously I owned Onkyo, pioneer and JVC. The Dymamic and clarity range this player produces haven't been able to hear before.

[*Seby*-Polk-]

IMHO. Denon is superior. Better picture and similar sound quality.

[steveinaz]

The audio from the Denon will been run digitally thru my Benchmark DAC, so I'm not worried about that aspect. I chose the Denon because it's video quality is rated higher.