Good DVD player recommendations up to $500?
12-12-04, 11:05 AM
#1
Suspended
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 325
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Good DVD player recommendations up to $500?
Hello,
I'm looking for a good (but not outrageously good) dvd player to hold me over until the HD/Blue laser issue is resolved. I'm willing to pay up to $500. I have an older model that glitches even on straight out of the wrapper DVD's. My other DVD player doesn't have this issue.
First priority is good decoding.
Second priority - best player for DVD's with very good surround such as LOTR. Not sure if there are and DTS-NEO or DPLII DVD players. - your input would be helpful.
Third priority - single player. I don't like multiplayers.
I would leave the other priorities to people who know more about this stuff than I do - your advice on DAC and other items I should be looking for up to you. I don't really care about HDMI or anything else since my current unit doesn't support it and I would imagine it won't be an issue till I upgrade to a blue ray or HDDVD player.
Thank you for your advice!
I'm looking for a good (but not outrageously good) dvd player to hold me over until the HD/Blue laser issue is resolved. I'm willing to pay up to $500. I have an older model that glitches even on straight out of the wrapper DVD's. My other DVD player doesn't have this issue.
First priority is good decoding.
Second priority - best player for DVD's with very good surround such as LOTR. Not sure if there are and DTS-NEO or DPLII DVD players. - your input would be helpful.
Third priority - single player. I don't like multiplayers.
I would leave the other priorities to people who know more about this stuff than I do - your advice on DAC and other items I should be looking for up to you. I don't really care about HDMI or anything else since my current unit doesn't support it and I would imagine it won't be an issue till I upgrade to a blue ray or HDDVD player.
Thank you for your advice!
12-15-04, 03:28 PM
#4
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Join Date: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,575
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've seen the Denon 2200 at Good Guys for just under $500 now. Others have reported seeing 2900s at that price. It doesn't do upconverting, but it's an excellent 480p player. No visible layer change. It doesn't have the macroblocking problem that some are seeing with the Faroudja-based players such as the 2910.
12-15-04, 07:41 PM
#5
Toshiba SD-5970. Half the price, has HDMI already to go.
12-15-04, 10:12 PM
#7
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Join Date: May 2001
Location: In my Home Theater- Foley, AL
Posts: 3,503
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by boe
Thanks - I hadn't heard about the issue with the macrovision - can you post any links? I'd hate to spend a big wad of cash on something that has issues.
If you look at the blue floor you can see lots and lots of macroblocking. This is mostly caused when a frame doesn't have enough bits to encode an area so it has to do more rigorous averaging. This averaging can sometimes round differently from block to block, causing this effect.
Info gleaned from Here
Last edited by Sonicflood; 12-15-04 at 10:19 PM.
12-16-04, 12:00 AM
#8
Suspended
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 325
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the info - I just did a search on the topic. There is a rumor there is a firmware update to take care of it but I'm going to make sure from Denon before I make my decision - it was good to find this out from you.
01-17-05, 10:27 PM
#11
Suspended
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 325
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Kenny the sales weasel from Denon lies.
The rep I spoke to at CES lied through his teeth. He claimed Denon released a macroblocking fix for the 2910. The latest firmware release for the 2910 is still November's version 5. The 2910 is a great unit but still suffers the macroblocking issue.
Last edited by boe; 01-17-05 at 10:28 PM. Reason: More info
