jdpatri

I'm basically choosing between these two players and wondering if anyone had any direct comparisons to offer about their picture and sound quality.

Does anyone have these players currently? Can you recommend either of them to a guy who's about to purchase a new HDTV to replace his 36" FS Wega?

Toxygen

I have an rp-91, based on opinions given at avsforums.com, under the dvd hardware forum.. do a search, they have great advice.

JPicken

I don't have personal experience with either of these players, but both are pretty well reviewed. I've heard that the Denon 1600 is based on a Panasonic RP-56 platform.

Here's a recent Internet review of the Denon: Denon 1600

Good luck!!!

discostu1337

I just ordered the Denon DVD1600 from work, can't wait for it to show up. If it's anything like the DVD900 that we got in, it should be great. The DVD900 has the cleanest and most colorful picture I have ever seen...it even made the Matrix DVD look great on our bigscreen's, which is quite a feat (The Matrix, as great as the movie is, has a terrible transfer onto DVD). I don't think you can even compare it to something from Panasonic (which we also carry). The Denon has superior audio circuitry, as well as the top video chip. Panasonic is just cheap, nothing special (although better than my APEX). Hope this helps. P.S. Get the Denon!

jdpatri

I read on another forum that the Denon 1600 has the same guts as the Panasonic RP-56... just in spiffier packaging.

I've always been a bigger fan of Denon... but if this is accurate then the higher price tag doesn't seem justified. I also took a look at the Denon 3800 which everyone is going ga-ga over but there's no way I can afford a $1200 DVD player no matter how great it looks (and it does look fantastic). $500 is about my limit.

If you've seen the Denon 900, what are the major difference between the 900 and the 1600?

At least I've finally got this search narrowed down... now if I could figure out which new TV I want.... geesh. I am partial to that new Panasonic 45" LCD....

gotapex

The RP91 has a great mpeg decoder, but the inferior (according to most) Genesis chip for deinterlacing. The Denon DVD1600 has an inferior decoder from the RP56, but also the better Sage/Faroudja DCDi deinterlacing chip.

The RP82 has the better mpeg decoder from the RP91 and the better deinterlacer from the DVD1600.

The DVD1600 has better audio than both of the panasonics.

jdpatri

hmmm....

With all that in mind, how does the new Denon 900 differ from the 1600?

I'll probably pick up one of the Denons since I enjoy great sound a little bit more than an exquisite picture.

Does the 1600 also play DVD-Audio?

gotapex

Video DAC in DVD-900 is ADI model ADV-7196 - 12/54 progressive and 10/27 interlaced. Cross Color Suppression on the FLi2200 chip is turned off. No DVD-A. Both Coax and Optical outputs. It does not use the RP56's mpeg decoder.


The DVD-1600 has DVD-Audio with digital low-pass Bass Management on board. It is also better constructed than the 900. It also has a bigger power supply, bigger buffer memory, and plays VCD's. It uses a 10 bit 54Mhz progressive Analog Devices video DAC. Only Optical output.

jdpatri

Thanks for your help.

I'll be looking into purchasing that Denon 1600.

Josh Z

Can you clarify whether you mean the DVD-900 or the DVD-9000? Just want to be sure which unit you are referring to.

The DVD-1600 may have the same video processing as the RP56, but it has better audio DACs and offers DVD-Audio features, which the Panasonic does not. Hence the higher price tag.

gotapex, have you actually played with a DVD-900 for yourself? There have been some disparaging remarks about its picture quality on the AVSForum boards, but I don't know how reliable the people making those claims are. I'm trying to find a balanced perspective on the unit.

jdpatri

I'll admit... I've been sold on the 1600 after checking it out personally. The cheaper price tag on the Panny 82 looked nice but I had the 1600 hooked up to a pair of Mirage front speakers with similar Sony receiver (just like mine!) and noticed a definite difference b/t the Denon and Panasonics.

Now... my credit card bills suffering since I've been out of a job but I start new one on Monday that pays pretty well... and I'm considering just placing my order for the Denon right now... after all, what good is credit if you don't spend it... err or is that money. I'd regret not buying the better unit in six months anyway.

I've been getting by with my old Toshiba long enough... I just need another vote of confidence from the cinephiles/audiophiles out there to convince me...

...must call... high end stereo dealer....

TheKobra

I have to say go with the Panny rp91. I have it and love it. I also upgraged the firmware 2 times already.

gotapex

Unfortunately I have not had a chance to yet. I'd like to soon, but I've read quite a few bad things about it too. I'm considering getting an RP82 to replace my old Pioneer DVD525 (non-progressive). My projector already has DVDO processing though, so it probably won't make an enormous difference.

discostu1337

Josh Z: We only have the DVD900 in, not the 9000. It looks better than most, if not all other dvd players I have seen...ever!
I have no idea why anyone would knock how the picture loosk on it, I watch movies on it every day, all day at work. It blows away all the NAD/Marantz/Rotel/Panasonic/Other Denon Players we have

As long as the DVD1600 looks the same (which it should), it will be a great player with excellent audio...I'll post a review once it finally ships to me. 3-5 weeks is rough, I've already been waiting 2...but for $300 I cant complain, especially since I sold my old player for $335 on eBay

P.S. This comes as great praise from me, as I hate Denon VERY much, and refuse to buy any of their poorly built Receivers/CD Players, but I'm biting the bullet here.

Josh Z

Thanks for the comments. This is encouraging.

The negative remarks on the other forum have claimed that the unit has flat colors and a washed-out looking picture. I have no idea whether these people have properly calibrated televisions or what their standards are, however.

The 900 and 1600 have different video DACs, actually, so they may have different picture quality. The 1600 is based on the video circuitry of the Panasonic RP-56. The 900 is not based on a Panasonic.

nekobus

It depends on your needs. I have owned/seen all the units mentioned in action (display recalibrated for each one):

The Denon 900 has the worst picture of the group. The RP-82 beats it in terms of picture quality (PQ), features (DVD-A,etc) and has a lower price.

The Denon 1600 has is similar in PQ to the 82, but the 1600 has the better sound quality for DVD-A and CD. For CDs it also depends on the quality of the DACs in your receiver/separates. The 82 may sound just as good as the 1600 if you have nice DACs in your receiver, it depends on how much you plan on listening to DVD-A. For picture quality alone, the 82 gets the nod.

The RP-91 sounds similar to the 1600, but loses on PQ to the 1600 and 82. However, its claim to fame is its scaling ability.

For PQ alone the RP-82 is the winner of the batch. It depends on what other features you need. For the best combo of picture and sound quality, I would take the Denon 1600 over the 91.

Also, when shopping for a HDTV, buy one that doesn't lock in full mode with a progressive signal. This limits your DVD player selection.

Standard disclaimer: As always YMMV.

Hope this helps.

jdpatri,
If you are interested in the Pannie LCD, you might want to check out the group buy on the new Samsung sets over in the www.avsforum.com. Great prices.

jdpatri

Yeah, I've been checking that group buy out. It's killing me because I wouldn't be able to afford a new TV for at least a few more months (at the very very very earliest). Realistically I'll probably get one within six months as I just started the new job that would allow me to do so...

...and after reading about that television on the avsforum, I really want it.

I must show restraint... by spending money on a new DVD player first. That should tide me over...

mr. longshanks

I have the 3800 which is awesome.....if I were getting something else it would be the 1600 which has burr brown dacs, mpeg decorder of the rp91 and a sage chip. the cccs bug has a firmware fix.

I had the pan 91 and it doesnt compare to the other 2. great scaler for non anamorph though

jdpatri

Nagging car problems may be holding off my DVD player purchase (DAMN Jeep) for a few months. In case anyone's interested in which unit I finally decide to purchase, I'll post the results in this thread when it does happen... along with some of my own opinions.

Josh Z

How bad was bad?

discostu1337

Anyone who says the DVD900 has a bad picture is blind or on crack...or both

gotapex

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...hreadid=159830

discostu1337

That first guys review is quite different from what everyone at our store feels. 1st, We had no problems setting it up at all. 2nd, switching from Progressive to Interlaced made quite a difference. Perhaps this guy needs a better tv, we have it setup on a Panasonic 56inch. Bottom line, the DVD900 player looks/sounds amazing, has great features, loads discs super fast and is easy to use.

The problem is that this thread SHOULD be about the DVD1600, which I havent seen yet...called Denon and mine is shipping in about a week finally

Josh Z

Doesn't that defeat the whole purpose of buying a progressive scan DVD player?

discostu1337

"I switched the 900 between progressive and interlaced it it looked the same both ways. I would have expected an improvement especially considering that my Toshiba TN55X81 is 3 years old and has at best a poor built in doubler."

I was referring to this comment. There is in fact, a LARGE difference between the 2...progressive of course looks better on a projection TV.