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I realize that DVD-Audio is a dead format, but I have a number of disks already, and there are some interesting DVD-Video format surround sound music titles being released. I have a Denon DV-5900 universal player, but it is a massive steaming pile of $hit. Denon Canada replaced the laser transport about 8 months ago (cost me $250). A few months ago (out of the 3-month repair warranty) the thing is buggered again, and they tell me that it needs another new laser transport ... but it isn't available any more. They want to steer me into one of their universal Blu-ray players, but I will never buy another piece of Denon gear again. I have not heard good things about Cambridge Audio player reliability, but I am wondering about Arcam. I have an ancient Pioneer DV-47Ai that is playing perfectly, but the Denon does sound better. I am wondering if there are any higher end players that use the Pioneer transport. I don't want an Oppo, and I would rather not get into a debate as to why or why not. Any advice? Anyone need a DV-5900 to hold a door open ... it is a weighty piece of crap ... it has that going for it.
Prehistoric 4-Channel Lizard
Follow Ups:
What about the Denon 5910? I don't have one, but I mention it because it was in the Denon catalog for the longest time and was reputed to be made of better stuff (and about twice as heavy). The 5900 was barely in the catalog for a year, and that was 7 years ago, and used the same infamous transport as the 2900 which was one of DM's first in-house universal transport efforts. I myself have two working 5900's that I picked up off eBay. One is still like mint, and the other whines a bit too much when playing high speed discs. I also have one minty 2900 (!), so what I do is use that for high speed discs (like DVD-Audio and SACD) and then use the 5900 for HDCD which the 2900 doesn't do. 2900 and 5900 actually have very similar audio performance, and better than 3900 series. Those are in the bedroom. The living room had the good 5900 which plays everything quietly, but this year I've been using Oppo BDP-95 instead. I'd move good 5900 into bedroom to replace the unwieldy 2900/5900 combo, except I've been so enamored of BDP-95 I haven't actually gotten around to doing side-by-side comparison with 5900. One thing I don't like about BDP-95 is audible fan noise when playing high speed discs. It's just barely audible, but I have good hearing and sit 4 feet away. But BDP-95 has a very quiet transport, so I'm not sure which would be actually quieter until I do side-by-side comparison with 5900. I had been thinking about getting my noisy 5900 repaired, but am now thinking I just won't bother.
Here's another one that just came to my attention. I went to the Capital Audiofest (capitalaudiofest.com) last weekend. I spend a bit of time in the Integra room. They were using an Integra DPS 6.9 (DVD) universal into their pre/pro for SACD. I asked the Integra rep and he advised it was a closed-out model now since Blu-Ray is out. He said they had less than a hundred in the warehouse. I read the manual and apparently you can pass 176.4kHz PCM from converted SACD. I use an HDMI audio de-embedder into a DAC in both the main and a secondary basement system. I ordered one (a couple of dollars over $300 with tax). It should be here next week. I figured with 4 systems I can alway find a use for it.
That does sound interesting. My dealer was kind enough to offer me a mint condition Denon DVD-3930 they took in on trade, in exchange for my crapped out 5900. I didn't really want another Denon, but it cost me nothing and it is in very nice shape. I am still not very comfortable with the Denon product, but this one will keep me going for a bit.
Prehistoric 4-Channel Lizard
As luck would have it, Denon Canada DID have a DVD-5900 transport and they replaced it at no charge. The dealer was kind enough to test it out before they returned it to me, and the damn thing still won't play SACD or DVD-Audio disks. Denon must have tested it with a CD ... even though the actual problem was WELL documented. This is just comical now ... especially since it would play EVERTHING the first time it went in for service over a year ago.
The initial complaint was that there was no audio from the right rear output ... otherwise, it played fine. As far as I am concerned; Denon products are total crap, and Denon Canada are totally incompetent. I am done. Just had to rant. Thanks for listening everyone. I have decided to get rid of my DVD-Audio disks and stick with SACD exclusively. No more throwing good money after bad.
Prehistoric 4-Channel Lizard
I had a Denon 2900 that was also a big POS (I'm sure my post are still on the forumn somewhere about this). Right now my brother has it and it still plays RBCD Ok but started skipping and freezing on DVD-A and SACD about a minute after the warranty period expired. The real pisser is that I hardly used it at all, most using a separate Transport-D/A to play my RBCD. If the Denon had more than 40 hours on it before it started failing I'd be surprised. Needless to say, no more Denon for me. I purchased an new Oppo DV-980H for $169.00 a few years ago and it and still plays every DVD-A and SACD just fine to this day. I wasn't going to spend big bucks on another player that might crap out after a year. I will admit that the Denon, when it worked, did sound a little better than the Oppo but for 7 times the price I would expect that. Well, wanting a little more quality than the Oppo I went online and scored a really nice condition Pioneer DV-59i player that sounds great and hasn't failed to play any of my DVD-A or SACD's since I bought it 6 months ago. The Pioneer set me back $145.00 ($125.00 plus $20.00 UPS) and I still see them in this range on e-bay. I would recommend you take a look at one and just make sure the e-bay seller offers a 7 day money back guarantee (I see that many do). I think most of these players are coming up for sale as their owners update to BluRay.
than just getting the highly regarded Oppo BDP93/95 that can play DVD-As and SACDs in addition to CDs and Blu-ray discs?
I assume you have your reasons that you don't want to discuss but you did bring the issue to the Asylum and it seems somewhat crazy, like cutting off your nose to spite your face.
... but it seems like a good time to sell my DVD-Audio disks and get some good money for them. I have a few SACD players, and I will have plenty to listen to ... since they are still being released. I am glad that some of you have settled on Oppo machines. Enjoy them.
Prehistoric 4-Channel Lizard
Just go get an Oppo BD-95 already! :-)I've recently obtained one, and the sound from the DVD Audio via the analog out is outstanding. You can spend more, but I seriously doubt you will beat the Oppo's performance.
"What this country needs is a good 5 watt amplifier!" (Paul Klipsch)
Edits: 06/17/11
> > I am wondering if there are any higher end players that use the Pioneer transport < <
Yes. Forum rule prohibit me from saying more. I can't PM you as that function is blocked.
Am I correct in assuming that the Pioneer transport is the most reliable?
Prehistoric 4-Channel Lizard
A transport mechanism is always going to have reliability problems compared to other electronic parts (except tubes, which have a definite controlled lifespan -- largely determined by the price of the tube -- a transmitting tube can last 100,000 hours but also cost nearly that much money).
You have a double whammy of lasers (which also have a limited lifespan, just like any other light source, plus motors, gears, belts, pulley, grease that thickens, lenses that get dirty...
In our experience with the second generation Pioneer transports, the lasers can last between two and ten years. There are a few other random failures that a usually easily repaired. The fourth generation transport used in their universal drives was much more reliable, with very few units failing at all, even after five years.
But one nice thing about Pioneer -- we can still get replacement parts for units that were discontinued ten years ago! I don't know how much longer they will be able to keep that up, but I don't think there is any other company in the world that offers that level of service.
Thank you for the explanation. I think I am on the right track now. I will certainly never buy another Denon.
Prehistoric 4-Channel Lizard
You're welcome. Good luck in your search!
The Samsung BD=C6500 bluray player will play DVD-audio over HDMI, if you have a receiver that can handle HDMI 1.3 or 1.4. It's plenty cheap, well built. If your receiver has decent DACs, you will be very happy with the sound quality. I use it with a Denon 4310 AVR.
I am using an Arcam AV9 pre/pro, but I am not sure of the HDMI capabilities.
Prehistoric 4-Channel Lizard
The Arcam should be HDMI version 1.1. See the link for HDMI info
Thank you HighEndWire. Does that mean that my Pioneer Blu-ray player will send DVD-Audio to the Arcam via HDMI? If so, then I will just play them that way. I currently use the 7.1-channel analog outputs on the Pioneer because of the latest decoding formats, but I could likley use the HDMI as well.
Prehistoric 4-Channel Lizard
I was not aware that the Pioneer can do DVD-A (vs. the DVD-V content of a DVD-A disc). I have not followed Pioneer's Blu-Ray models. I have a modded Oppo BDP-83 in the main system, an Oppo BDP-93 in the bedroom system (and I may swap them as I use an HDMI audio de-embedder into my DAC for hi-rez 2-channel) and an old Oppo DV980H in the basement system (which I also use with a de-embedder into a DAC for hi-rez 2-channel).
If the Pioneer is a DVD-A player, you should be able to do the decoding in your Arcam. I am not sure how the set-up works in the Pioneer. Many moons ago I had a Pioneer DV47A in the bedroom system but I had a non-HDMI rec'r at the time
I have a couple of Pioneer Dv79is. I use the firewire output. I have found that Pioneer seems to be a very reliable brand, I have a friend with a way old 563 or whatever it was for a hundred bucks and he modded it up and it is still playing strong. I bought a second 79i just to have a back up as I knew that firewire was going the way of the dinosaur.
You might like the sound of the 79i better than the 47. My friend uses the analogue outputs and likes it a lot.
And, you can pick them up way cheap, around 200 bucks.
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