Denon DVD-2200 DVD Player

After buying an HDTV, it didn't take long to be lured into upgrading our (non-progressive) Onkyo DVD player. After reading reviews, I had decided on a lower-priced Denon model, but the ability to play SACD (Super Audio CD) disks made me go for this model instead. Although many other DVD players play DVD Audio, and some play SACD, not many play both - this is one of the least expensive units to do so.

I have spent the past week playing many DVD movies, DVD audio disks, and SACD disks. This player has astonished me in every regard with its performance.

My initial impression when opening the box and setting up the unit weren't all that great - it seemed awfully light weight and the box itself seemed to be a bit on the cheap side. Setting the various options for playback also seemed a bit overwhelming - any device that does so many things will take awhile to master. If you're the type that has yet to program a VCR, you may want to think twice before taking these new technologies on. All I can say is that persistence pays off - the options that make your head spin will start to make sense after awhile. After firing it up and playing a few disks, my lukewarm impression quickly changed to a purely positive one.

I must say that I am certainly no expert when it comes to the various players available, and have had limited exposure to progressive machines and/or high definition music. So these opinions are coming from a relative novice:

The picture is stunning. My wife and I were quite happy with our old Onkyo, and I wondered how much difference a progressive picture would really make. Believe me, it makes a very noticeable difference! The detail, color and sharpness of the picture are superb - while watching movies that were fresh in my memory (Finding Nemo, Lord of the Rings, Diana Krall, Norah Jones), I constantly noticed details I hadn't seen before. The picture is completely engrossing, the colors are rich and subtle, and the movement is smooth. Definitely a worthwhile upgrade in this regard. The device allows you to adjust the picture in hardware, before it reaches your set, but I haven't seen the need for this at all.

The sound of DVD audio, DTS, and Dolby Digital EX are all beautifully rendered. Again, there's a distinct learning curve in regard to the many audio formats - it took some time for me to figure out exactly how to set up and implement the proper formats. It also took some time to adjust my speakers and subwoofer in order to get a reasonable balance. The unit provides a great deal of control in this regard - you set the size of the speakers you are using (to set the crossover point), and then you can also adjust the volume of each speaker separately. There is a pink noise generator built in that can help you in this task.

After getting everything tweaked (I'm still in the process, actually, but I'm just about there), the sound is incredible. Movies and audio are both wonderfully atmospheric, and even stereo recordings can be converted to surround sound in a delightful way that doesn't detract from the music - it just adds atmosphere. If you want to sidestep all the processing and adjustments and just get back to a "clean" signal (either stereo or surround), a simple button does the trick.

But I've saved the best for last...SACD. Almost overnight, I have become an SACD believer. Knowing that I had this unit on order, I purchased a variety of music in SACD format that my wife and I enjoy. Piano concertos, orchestral movements, choirs (both adult and children), jazz, Brazilian music, and classics like Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon and Steely Dan Gaucho. All in all, I've played through over a dozen disks in a variety of music styles (fortunately, the disks are reasonably priced from $15 to $25). ALL of them are completely transformed by SACD, and I mean COMPLETELY! The sound is mesmerizing - you simply won't want to turn the music off. The details, clarity, presence and musicality will take your breath away. And this is through an ordinary ragtag set of speakers that were re-purposed to this role (new speakers are my next goal).

A couple of final notes on the SACD format: First, the SACD specification does not allow digital output (for copyright purposes, perhaps?). The signal coming from the player is an analog signal, so your receiver or preamp will need to have discrete analog 5.1 inputs - AES/EBU or optical won't work. This also means that the controls over the speakers that are there for DVD audio will be bypassed - the signal is unfiltered, except for a 10dB bump in the subwoofer level. You can buy a $250 unit to control speaker volume independently (Outlaw Audio ICBM), but again, I haven't seen the need yet.

Second, after shopping for both SACD and DVD Audio disks, it seems as though the vast majority of offerings are in SACD format. This may be because the format is being pushed by Sony, because it's a superior format in the opinion of many audiophiles (DVD Audio is compressed), or because it can be offered as a dual-layer "hybrid" CD that can still be read by a normal CD player (this is the most likely reason, IMHO). In any event, the availability of the music you like is something to consider when purchasing a DVD player that you intend to use for music. Check www.acousticsounds.com for a fairly comprehensive catalog of currently available titles (and fair prices).

SACD has been a most pleasant surprise for me...I bought the Denon 2200 primarily for movies, but its music abilities have already swept me off my feet.