Denon DVD-2200 DVD Player

I purchased the dvd-2200 and dvd-2900 this past Saturday (11/15/03) to see how they compared.

Here's what you don't get with the dvd-2200: RS-232C, 16X9 Squeeze(for making 16x9 fit on standard tv), a specially coated drive for vibration resistance, heavy duty case with perhaps a better power supply, and the custom Burr-Brown DSD-1790.
Otherwise every thing the 2900 has the 2200 has.
Here's what you get with both but are just a little more inconvenient to use on 2200; the programmable Pure Direct Mode, which is for turning off the front LED display, the digital output, and the monitor display. You program what combination of outputs you want to turn off and you can save it in 2 memory locations or what Denon calls PD mode1 and PD mode2.
On the 2200 you have to push the PD buttons on the machine – no memory. One also has to press a button on the machine to change interlace/progressive modes.
On the 2200 you get the Burr-Brown DSD-1791.

I calibrated both machines to work with my audio and visual system.
I tested for YC-delay on both machines:
2900 green=between -.07 and -.14 red= -.07 and blue = -.07
2900 had slightly noticible delay in the test pattern.
2200 green=-.07 blue=0 red=0
2200 near perfect yc pattern

Picture was excellent on both despite the alternating progressive flag problem that both machines have. Watching Monsters Inc. chapter 5 the front grille of the car looked better on the 2200. However, if you look just below where the windshield meets the hood (bottom of the windshield frame right side) you will see that it flickers noticeably.
Fast layer change on both players, I didn't even notice it. Both had super fast DVD navigation.

Didn't test SACD, but the speaker delays don't work for SACD on both players (it does work for DD, DTS, & DVD-Audio). The DVD-audio was excellent on both, and perhaps very slightly warmer and expansive on the 2900, but I couldn't notice the difference during casual listening. Both where easily set to a flat response via my Bijou THX certified equalizer and Audio Control analyzer (old Sony was a nightmare to set).

The remotes look the same and worked on both machines.
Oops, the 2900 did have one extra button for programming the Pure Direct modes.

Build quality of both is excellent, though the 2900 is built more like a tank. The 2900 is heavier to reduce vibration and because they use a 2 box internal design to separate the drive from the rest of circuits, Denon calls this their "Thorough Vibration-resistant Design". The DVD tray worked more smoothly and was quieter than the 2200.

To me the 2200 is the way to go. You get all the important features and the features you don't get I can personally get by without. Some of the other features are just conveniences and can be set manually on the machine itself, which is again no big deal to me. The differences in audio and video quality are too small to justify the $370 differential.