DVD Upconvert Player

[RandyBox]

Thinking seriously about leaving BluRay alone for the time being. What's a fair priced upconverting HDMI player which plays SACD?

Any opinions?

Thanks,
Randy

[comfortablycurt]

Cambridge Audio DVD89.

That's what I'm using, and couldn't be happier with it. It has 1080p upconversion over HDMI. It also has 5.1 channel analog output for multi-channel SACD, including bass management and time delays for all the channels built in.

It's got a pretty high quality DAC in it, and has great sound quality. It also offers DVD-A playback, as well as mpeg and Div-X if that matters to you.

http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/summar...DMI+DVD+Player

The retail on it is $599, but they can be had used for around 150-200. I got mine for 110.


A budget might help. "Fair priced" can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people.;)

[BlueFox]

Sony 9100ES. Using mine for almost 2 years now, and am not in any rush to go to Blu-Ray. Great picture, and great sound. Also, it connects to my Sony 7100ES AVR via iLink for audio to eliminate jitter, and to the TV via HDMI. New was $1100, but used should be lower.

[Keiko]

Thinking seriously about leaving BluRay alone for the time being. What's a fair priced upconverting HDMI player which plays SACD?

Any opinions?

Thanks,
Randy

I like my Yamaha S1800 Universal, but I kinda regret not snagging a Denon 3910 when I had my chance. If you can find a 3910 @ around 400.00 my suggestion would be to grab it. You could save some coin and look into the Oppo 980H. Some polkies seem pleased with these universals and they have a good consumer feedback rating.

[RandyBox]

Thanks guys... Any thought on an H/K DVD48?

[MrGlobe]

Wow, I was going to input Im happy with my samsung... But you guys are on a whole different level with dvd players. I assume the big advantages come in better picture/sound, but is there really enough difference to justify a $1000 dvd player?

[jimmydep]

Wow, I was going to input Im happy with my samsung... But you guys are on a whole different level with dvd players. I assume the big advantages come in better picture/sound, but is there really enough difference to justify a $1000 dvd player?

I was thinking the same thing. What would the difference be between a $200.00 DVD player and a $1000.00 ++ player......and would the sound and picture quality be that much better??? I am learning that Price does not always = better sound.

Jimmy

[comfortablycurt]

Wow, I was going to input Im happy with my samsung... But you guys are on a whole different level with dvd players. I assume the big advantages come in better picture/sound, but is there really enough difference to justify a $1000 dvd player?

I was thinking the same thing. What would the difference be between a $200.00 DVD player and a $1000.00 ++ player......and would the sound and picture quality be that much better??? I am learning that Price does not always = better sound.

Jimmy

Well, for one, there's a world of difference in upconversion. You can go and buy a 50 dollar Sony that will do 1080p upconversion, but it's not going to look anywhere near as good as a higher quality player that has Faroudja DCDi Edge upscaling, or a similar process.

The more expensive units also tend to have far higher quality DAC's, which is very important for people that listen to a lot of 2 channel or multi-channel SACD.

Better units also tend to have a lot less jitter, and are much better at compensating for various lipsync and lagging issues.

That being said, you don't have to spend 1000+ to get a quality Universal player. There are tons of them in the 500 dollar range, especially if you don't mind buying used.

[Kex]

The oppo units are popular too: they were probably the hottest thing for a while, although some of the buzz seems to have faded at present. It's what I use, but I have no idea how good it is in comparison to others. Pricing is internet direct, or indirectly from amazon.com.

The DV-980H seems to be the choice of preference for audio performance, but is not as good for video upscaling as some of the others with more advanced chips. It is 1080p capable, however. Price is $170 (free shipping on amazon.com).

The DV-981HD is better for video upconversion than the 980H, but has no component video connections (important if you are using equipment that does not have HDMI). There is a comparison chart of the three current models further down the page in the link below.

http://oppodigital.com/dv980h/dv980h_comp.asp

There have been other great deals on various models from more prestigious names from time to time recently (Pioneer Ellite, Marantz, NAD, Cambridge Audio), usually for models limited to 720p/1080i upscaling abilities. These may be a better choice if audio abilities are a higher priority than video abilities.

Note on the Cambridge DVD89: I am almost positive that this unit upconverts to 720p/1080i, not 1080p ... see P.10 of the user's manual. As to whether that's important or not ...

Did anyone welcome you to Club Polk yet, RandyBox?

[comfortablycurt]

Note on the Cambridge DVD89: I am almost positive that this unit upconverts to 720p/1080i, not 1080p ... see P.10 of the user's manual. As to whether that's important or not ...

My mistake, Kex is right. The DVD89 only does 720p/1080i upscaling. My TV is an ancient CRT from roughly the mid-80's, so needless to say, I'm yet to use the upscaling in the Cambridge.

Regardless, the Cambridge is still a fabulous universal player.

[nguyendot]

I'd find a used Toshiba HD-A35 or HD-XA2 with the Reon chip... should be cheap now since hd-dvd died. Their scalers are wonderful.

For the prices you all are quoting, he can get a decent Blu-Ray with 1080p upconversion.

[Kex]

... Regardless, the Cambridge is still a fabulous universal player.

If I had seen the deal you got on yours, I would have snatched that girlie up without a moment's hesitation for 1080p vs. 1080i and the oppo DV-980H! Then again, since I've never seen 1080i on my 46" LCD, I can only speak from what I've read, not personal experience, to compare the two. Audio performance is a priority for me, within reason.

[Kex]

I'd find a used Toshiba HD-A35 or HD-XA2 with the Reon chip... should be cheap now since hd-dvd died. Their scalers are wonderful.

For the prices you all are quoting, he can get a decent Blu-Ray with 1080p upconversion.

Good idea, but I don't remember if either of these models are SACD capable.

[nguyendot]

Good point. Toshiba + SACD wouldnt work out too well since SACD is a Sony format :)

[WilliamM2]

I picked up a Denon 1940ci this week, couldn't pass it up at $89, after you enter the code 3A825 for another $20 off. Very happy with the picture quality, and it seems to play anything. No comment on SACD, I use a different player for that.

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_033DV19...CI.html?tp=170

[Kex]

I picked up a Denon 1940ci this week, couldn't pass it up at $89, after you enter the code 3A825 for another $20 off. ...

You should probably post that in the "deals of the day" thread! Congratulations!

[WilliamM2]

You should probably post that in the "deals of the day" thread! Congratulations!

I think it's already in there. several places have been blowing them out for this price since Feb. or March.

[RandyBox]

The oppo units are popular too: they were probably the hottest thing for a while, although some of the buzz seems to have faded at present. It's what I use, but I have no idea how good it is in comparison to others. Pricing is internet direct, or indirectly from amazon.com.

The DV-980H seems to be the choice of preference for audio performance, but is not as good for video upscaling as some of the others with more advanced chips. It is 1080p capable, however. Price is $170 (free shipping on amazon.com).

The DV-981HD is better for video upconversion than the 980H, but has no component video connections (important if you are using equipment that does not have HDMI). There is a comparison chart of the three current models further down the page in the link below.

http://oppodigital.com/dv980h/dv980h_comp.asp

There have been other great deals on various models from more prestigious names from time to time recently (Pioneer Ellite, Marantz, NAD, Cambridge Audio), usually for models limited to 720p/1080i upscaling abilities. These may be a better choice if audio abilities are a higher priority than video abilities.

Note on the Cambridge DVD89: I am almost positive that this unit upconverts to 720p/1080i, not 1080p ... see P.10 of the user's manual. As to whether that's important or not ...

Did anyone welcome you to Club Polk yet, RandyBox?

Yep, lots of folks made me feel welcome. I like it here!;)

Regards,
Randy

[jimmydep]

This is what I like about this forum, You ask a question and get a clear, concise, detailed answer with plenty of good suggestions.

Thanks
Jimmy

[millerman 3732]

Just my opinion, but there is no way I spend my money on a DVD player, not with prices of BD players where they are now. The BD player I'm using now retailed at $499 when I bought it but I saw the exact same player at Walmart for less than $200. It doesn't matter how much you spend on an up converting DVD player you not going to get where close the resolution and clarity of Blu-ray. Not to mention the upgrade in audio. You could probably buy a new BD player and a used SACD player for what you would give for one of the used higher end DVD player

[WilliamM2]

You could probably buy a new BD player and a used SACD player for what you would give for one of the used higher end DVD player

Both for $89? There are reasons not to go Blu-Ray. I just sold my Pioneer BD player after three months. I like to watch movies, but only once, so I rent, I don't buy. The rental places around here don't have nearly as many Blu-Ray titles as DVD's. In the three months I had the player, only twice was a Blu-Ray available that I wanted to watch. No point in having a slow loading BD player just to watch DVD's. Maybe if Blu-Ray actually catches on, I'll try another player.

Although I do agree that I would not spend $500 on a DVD player at this point.

[nguyendot]

Every new release I've wanted to see has been on blu-ray... Blockbuster has an entire wall of blu-ray, and the rental fee is the same as normal dvds.

[millerman 3732]

Both for $89?

Okay as you and other have pointed out you got a great deal on your player.

There are reasons not to go Blu-Ray. I just sold my Pioneer BD player after three months. I like to watch movies, but only once, so I rent, I don't buy. The rental places around here don't have nearly as many Blu-Ray titles as DVD's. In the three months I had the player, only twice was a Blu-Ray available that I wanted to watch.

Dude my local rental shop doesn't even carry BD even the closest Block buster doesn't carry them, but I have the 5 at a time netflix plan and I get just about every new release on release day, plus with local shops charging around $4 a pop for DVD rental, at least here where I live, for the cost of 7 DVD rentals a month I get at least 20 probably closer to 25 rentals a month, most all on BD.

No point in having a slow loading BD player just to watch DVD's.

Now that's just nitpicking.

Maybe if Blu-Ray actually catches on, I'll try another player.

I guess its a matter of opinion but myself and many others feel like BD has already caught on.

Although I do agree that I would not spend $500 on a DVD player at this point.

Thats all I was really trying to say. :)

[RandyBox]

I've heard of various players being really finicky about playing all BD's, then some won't even play a DVD-R, some do and some don't, some take upwards of 30-45 seconds for audio switching to finally happen... Am I the only one that's heard these things? I mean I agree, Wally world has a Magnavox BD for $128 right now, so its not actually a price thing totally...

Regards,
Randy

[WilliamM2]

Dude my local rental shop doesn't even carry BD even the closest Block buster doesn't carry them...

I guess its a matter of opinion but myself and many others feel like BD has already caught on.

These two statements seem at odds with each other. :D

[shack]

My 4 year old Denon DVD-1910 finally bit the dust. Like WM2 I have no desire for a Blu-Ray player. I have several hundred DVDs and don't plan on replacing any of them. I considered several players including the CA DVD89, NAD T535, NAD T515, (and yes I even thought about the OppO DV980H just to see what it was like). After reading this thread I ended up getting the Denon DVD-1940 from Crutchfield for $89 delivered. It is a great bargain for the price. I've only had it for a few days and have no complaints. Excellent PQ via component and while I will never use it for a CDP...the SACD SQ is actually very good for a sub $100 player (or a sub $500 player for that matter). If your are in the market for a good DVD only, player I can highly recommmend the DVD-1940.