Anyone had any experience with Denon DVD3800 vs. Denon new DVD2900? picture & sound quality diference between the two?? compared to diferent brands?

Scoop

I haven't compared the 2, but the 2900 is excellent. The addition of SACD outweighs the advantages of the 3800, which are few. Check out [Link: hometheaterhifi.com] for the best progressive scan technical reviews on the planet.

Yep, even I've decided to take the plunge with the 2900.

A seemingly unimportant feature that is currently unique on the 2900 and is just plain awesome, four words:

No Layer Change Pause!

But before you put down $995 for the DVD2900 you might want to check out the new DVD2200 for $599. I haven't demoed it yet but everything I have read says that it has almost everything the 2900 has but at a lower price.

It's DVD-A & SACD and uses the the same chip as the 2900. Only dif. is maybe a smaller power supply.

I have the 2800 mkII, and am very satisfied.

Smaller power supply, different DACs, different video chips, also.

Not necessarily worse on the video, but the audio can't keep up. Probably a very good buy.

You are right. The power supply, DACs but I thought that the video chip was the same. I haven't read anything about the actual sound quality being different. Only the potential because os the first two items. And then there is that price (almost twice as much).

PS I have a new Denon DVD-1600 and I am going to move up to the 2200 or 2900 but realize that both will be obsolute when the higher resolution players (ie blue light) are released. I realize that it will be a couple of years.

I thought I saw that it had similar video to the 1600. Which isn't worse or better overall than the 2900, just different, they are both excellent. I could be wrong.

In the audio world, you end up paying a very high premium for each increase in DAC performance. Everybody has to decide for themselves at what point it is no longer worth it.

What to do?

My 2900 duly arrived, connected it, started the setup, then disaster strikes. The RGB output from the SCART is all screwed up. Did numerous checks between it and my 2800II and there's no doubt, it's kaput.

Sent it back to the supplier, who confirmed the fault. They have, in turn, sent it back to Hayden (Denon UK), where it languishes awaiting tests.

Do I, bearing in mind new 2900's are as rare as hens teeth,

i). Wait for a new one?
ii). Accept it as a repaired unit?
iii). Go for an alternative (bearing in mind that if I wanted an alternative I wouldn't have bought the 2900)?
iv). Get a refund (which doesn't help me play the SACD's and DVD-A's I've recently purchased).

Not exactly a nightmare scenario as I, fortunately, retained the 2800II. It’s pretty close though.

I'd say this machine is worth some effort. Can you find one elsewhere in the EU?

I wish I was in the UK, I'd get region-free firmware more easily. I haven't dared try it on my USA model, yet. Too many reports of problems using European firmware.

Actually, its nothing like the 1600 (I have one) but just like the 2900. Both 2200 & 2900 use the Silicon Image/DVDO PureProgressive (SiI504) Decoding Engine while the 1600 uses the Faroudja (still very good). The 1600 is DVD-A wuhile the other two are SACD & DVD-A. The 2200 & 2900 have a 12 bit/108 MHz, Video D/A Conversion system while the 1600 has a 10/54MHz bit system.

My dilemma is do I change from a new 1600 to the 2200 or just wait 2 years for the new HD DVD.

JSap,

As you seem to be the font of all wisdom re. the video heart of all dvd players, can you tell me what they used in the 2800II? The chaps at AV-land were wondering if the multi region software they used on my 2900 could have screwed up the RGB output.

Personally, having bought the 2800II from them (and not had a peep out of it) I think it's a little far fetched. You never know though.

Oh, and does anyone know anything about the Pioneer 868AVi?

The 2800II uses Silicon Image/DVDO SiI504 Engine w/ 108 MHz 12 bit Video D/A Conversion. There is a complete site dedicated to the 2800II but can't remember the URL now.

Don't know anything about region free upgrades but this site is dedicated to that:
http://www.dvdupgrades.ch/
Thought about a region free /copy free XBox.

Thanks for the clarification. I was thinking of the new 5900, which has the upgrade of the Faroudja chip.

There are differences in the video between the 2200, 2900, 2800, 3800, even though they all use the SiI chip. And apparently they've now altered the 2200 to correct for the bass deficiency for SACD and DVD-A playback.

2200 should be a very good machine.