DENON 2900 (Universal Player): Got mine!

[JonUrban]

This is one hell of a machine! It cost me $849, so it is not a bargain machine by any means, but it excels in all aspects of its features. It does DVD, DVD-A, SACD, along with DVD-R/W, MP3s, and Kodak pictures. Internal DTS and DD decoders are also included. The SACD DSD signal is not down converted, as it uses the second generation SONY CXD-2753 DSD decoder.

It is very easy to use and even easier to set up. A quick run through the setup menu does not even require a flip through the manual to be up and running. Once you put in a disc, it automatically plays the correct way.

As a DVD player, this thing is top notch. I use a SONY 16x9 front LCD projector for video, and project to a 110" diagonal 16x9 screen. Projecting an image to this size requires a good projector and a very good video source. The Denon is definitely up to the task with it's Silicon Image de-interlacing system. This machine is free from the "chroma bug", whatever that is. This weekend I had friends over and we watched the Superbit DVD of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and the picture was perfect, with exceptional detail, no video noise, and the fastest layer change I have experienced with a DVD player. For movies, this thing is exceptional.

Next to try was SACD. I did not have SACD capability in my "theater" room before, so I was really looking forward to this capability. WOW! Now I know why so many people love SACD. It is so clean and so clear. I ran a bunch of SACDs through the machine and was completely floored by the soundfield. This machine has full bass management for both SACD and DVD-A, and I basically just threw the discs in and let them rip. The bass I heard was full, deep, and distortion free. There is a cool little switch on the front of the unit, called "Super Audio CD Setup" By using this switch, you can switch between the audio tracks on an SACD, so going from Stereo to M/C to Redbook is easy! A small blue light glows on the front when an SACD is loaded. Another feature that this SACD function has is "Time Alignment". At this point, I am not sure what this is/does.

Finally, as I was coming down off of my SACD high, I grabbed some DVD-A favorites, "Everything Must Go", "Nightfly", "Winelight". Once again, very easy to use, just popped in the disc, the DVD-A light lit, and away I went. Again, great sound. I could not tell much difference between this unit and my Kenwood 5900, although I did not do A/B tests. Suffice to say, the DVD-A playback was up to my expectations.

The remote is very easy to use, not too fancy, and the controls on the front are simple and effective. There is a direct mode switch which can be programmed to turn certain features of the player on or off. For example, if you do not want to do video, you can shut down the video circuits so they do not affect the audio circuits. I am not sure what this gets you, but it can be done.

At any rate, for those interested in a mid range player that does about everything, this is the ticket. It is well made, heavy, and very fast at loading and reading the discs. It is a dream to use (compared to my Kenwood 5900) and I cannot think of a reason (other than the cost) not to recommend it to anyone.

A definite winner in my book.

[JohnG]

great review...sounds like a winner....hope the next model includes DVI output and they have a sale!

[leefarber]

I agree with oblio98, though mine took a little longer to get going. I found that you have to exit the set-up mode by selecting EXIT SETUP, rather than just pushing the set-up button, otherwise you'll lose any settings changes you just made.

Hey oblio98, what kind of interconnects are you using? I've got low-end factory cables for now, but I'm excited to see what kind of difference the forthcoming Grover Interconnects make.

[Gary]

Oblio98, were you listening in 5.1?

Is there a "2 channel" default where everything automatically defaults to 2 channel instead of 5.1?

Is there a switch or option to turn off the video portion of the machine (so as to prevent any potential sort of interference?

Wow - sorry for all the questions! If you don't know, I'll try to find out myself!

[lab]

I agree too.
But just a note: Time Alignment is for DVD-Audio only.
It is used to compensate for differences in distance from speakers to sweet-spot. Sound travels with about 320 m/s - that’s actually very slow so you don’t need too much difference for it to matter. I must admit though, that it has never been a problem for me, even though I have no Time Alignment and my rear speakers are closer to the sweet-spot than my fronts.

Originally posted by Gary
Oblio98, were you listening in 5.1?

Is there a "2 channel" default where everything automatically defaults to 2 channel instead of 5.1?

Is there a switch or option to turn off the video portion of the machine (so as to prevent any potential sort of interference?

Wow - sorry for all the questions! If you don't know, I'll try to find out myself!

Yes, you can turn off both video circuits and front display.

I just recently had the 2900 in for a test and loved it. I think you’ll like what you read and there’s also some more info about chroma bugs there:

http://www.dvd-a.dk/start.php?Lang=1&page=tests/denon_dvd-2900_uk1.htm

If you think the progressive NTSC is perfect, you should see progressive PAL. I don’t even know if progressive PAL is enabled on non-european units…is it?

Regards
Lars B.

[krabapple]

Another feature that this SACD function has is "Time Alignment". At this point, I am not sure what this is/does.

Time alignment adjusts for non-equidistant speaker placement (which is typical in home theater setups). If the 2900 has it for SACD multi playback, that's a rare thing...possibly a first for a player in this price range. Usually it only works for DVD-A, DD, DTS, and DSD converted to PCM.

[JonUrban]

Originally posted by Gary
Oblio98, were you listening in 5.1?

Yes!!

Originally posted by Gary
Is there a "2 channel" default where everything automatically defaults to 2 channel instead of 5.1?

Yes, in the setup, you can set the output to stereo or Multichannel


Originally posted by Gary
Is there a switch or option to turn off the video portion of the machine (so as to prevent any potential sort of interference?

Yes. There is a two position switch that have memory setting assif=gned to each position. You can set them up any way you want. Video off, etc.

Originally posted by Gary
Wow - sorry for all the questions! If you don't know, I'll try to find out myself!

No problem. Glad to help whenever I can.

Originally posted by krabapple
Time alignment adjusts for non-equidistant speaker placement (which is typical in home theater setups). If the 2900 has it for SACD multi playback, that's a rare thing...possibly a first for a player in this price range. Usually it only works for DVD-A, DD, DTS, and DSD converted to PCM.

Yes, it is for SACD as well.

:-jon

[krabapple]

Originally posted by oblio98
[
:-jon [/B]Is there a "2 channel" default where everything automatically defaults to 2 channel instead of 5.1?


Yes, in the setup, you can set the output to stereo or Multichannel

I'm looking at the pdf of the manual
http://www.usa.denon.com/catalog/pdfs/dvd2900%20Eng%20DFU.pdf
-- it appears to me that the 'multi' vs. 2-channel' menu item acts the same way as it does in the Pioneer models, where it means: all multichannel player settings are bypassed (e.g. speaker level, delay, etc) and all output is routed to the front left/right (or dedicated l/r). It doesn't mean that the 2-channel tracks of a DVD-A or SACD will be played by default. I suspect that selecting '2 channel' in this menu would also cause some surround formats to be downmixed to 2-channel, where allowed.

This is supported by the fact that the SACD submenu has its own 'multi' vs. '2 channel' default selector -- as with the Pioneer models, I bet this *does* make the player automatically choose the 2-channel tracks of an SACD (if there are any). And as with the Pioneer;s there's no analogous option for DVD-A. This coudl be due to the way data is organized on SACDs vs DVD-As, but I'm guessing here.


quote:
Originally posted by krabapple
Time alignment adjusts for non-equidistant speaker placement (which is typical in home theater setups). If the 2900 has it for SACD multi playback, that's a rare thing...possibly a first for a player in this price range. Usually it only works for DVD-A, DD, DTS, and DSD converted to PCM.


Yes, it is for SACD as well.

Doesn't appear to be so, sorry. See the note on p 18 of the manual....'the delay time setting is not valid when playing Super Audio CDs."

My understanding, not at all definitive, is that delay mgmt for multichannel DSD would be very computationally intensive...

[JonUrban]

That's odd. There is a review in the new DVD Etc. (July/Aug 2003) magazine where the reviewer spends 2 paragraphs (page 48) talking about the time alignment on the SACD! He was playing "Frankie Goes to Hollywood". He ends the second paragraph with "Kudos to Denon for offering this is a middle-of-the-pack offering".

He starts the article off with "Further, Denon has included digital bass management and time alignment for both DVD-Audio and SACD, rather than just analog filters for bass management." (p46)

Very strange.................

[lab]

Originally posted by oblio98
He starts the article off with "Further, Denon has included digital bass management and time alignment for both DVD-Audio and SACD, rather than just analog filters for bass management."

It sounds like the reviewer doesn’t know what he’s talking about.

First, as far as I know there are no DVD players with analog bass management.
Second, digital bass management is generally considered worse than analog, because of the possible down sample before performing the bass management.

[krabapple]

Originally posted by lab


It sounds like the reviewer doesn’t know what he’s talking about.

First, as far as I know there are no DVD players with analog bass management.
Second, digital bass management is generally considered worse than analog, because of the possible down sample before performing the bass management.

Well, *IF* I'm reading my schematics for the Pioneer Elite DV-45a correctly, it appears that the low frequency crossing-over occurs *after* having passed through the DACS, without any further reconversion to digital...i.e.., in the analog domain. It's the last step before output.*

*Time alignment* appears to be a DSP though...and as such occurs before DAC. (The 45a doesn't do it for SACD either).

I wonder if I would get in too much trouble if posted some scans of the service manual...then perhaps others with more knowledge could verify what the signal path really is.


*NB if this is true, this only matters if you believe that digital downsampling for BM is actually audible.

[lab]

Originally posted by krabapple


Well, *IF* I'm reading my schematics for the Pioneer Elite DV-45a correctly, it appears that the low frequency crossing-over occurs *after* having passed through the DACS, without any further reconversion to digital...i.e.., in the analog domain. It's the last step before output.*



It could be, but I'm sure it is not the standard.

Originally posted by krabapple


*NB if this is true, this only matters if you believe that digital downsampling for BM is actually audible.


There was no sound degradation to my ears when I tried the bass management (BM) on the Denon, but there's always a risk that BM will degrade the sound...that goes for both analog and digital actually

[mwheelerk]

Originally posted by oblio98


Yes, it is for SACD as well.

:-jon


I believe this is incorrect. I am auditioning the unit right now (I'm looking through the forum to get others opinions). I downloaded a file from the Denon site called "2003/4 DVD Features Chart". It compares the features of all current models including the 2200, 2900, and 5900. Under the box for Digital Base Management and Delay Time Control there is an asterisk next to SACD. Under the 2200 and 2900 column the asterisk indicates no delay time for SACD. Apparently the 5900 does provide this SACD delay adjustment (the only one in the Denon line).