Topic: dvd-a with 24/96 digital out?

[scb]

i know stuff has been discussed in the past, but i don't know enough about dvd-a players to know if kiler new stuff has since come out

i'm looking for a dvd-a player and i've seen that most if not all say that the digital outs are limited to 24/48 for dvd-a discs for copy protection.  is this in all players?  can any actually output the full 24/96 (or higher) digital signal?  i'd like to pair a dvd-a player with my dac, so digital out over 24/48 is preferred

what do you guys recommend for dvd-a that will output 24/96 digital?  don't need anything ridiculous, since i won't really even be using the onboard dac...

(feel free to point me towards sacd/dvd-a combo players too)

[dmonterisi]

i have the onkyo dv-sp800 universal player...i just checked the book and it says that it will output 24/96 off dvd-a.  however, it also notes that on dvd's with copy protection, only the analog output will be active (same for any sacd).  it then notes that on some discs (doesn't say what kind), they will be downsampled to 24/48.  

it will downsample 24/192 to 24/96 for digital output as well.

[THE NIZ BIAAAAACH!]

My budy recently went through a couple of players.  He is making 24-48 but, is hoping to be able to go for 24-96.  He settled on th new onkyo.  It is also one of the only players that will play any disk that written with just about any program.  From what I understand, the format has not been universalized and this player will play all formats.

[sygdwm]

if you cant afford the above mentioned dvd players, go with the top of the line pioneer. it costs <$200. it will play everything and has digital outs for transport use only.

[scervin]

The standard connection for a digital transfer of 24/96 is firewire and I believe HDMI can do it as well.  HDMI is the new connection that will allow digital connection of HD video material as the audio track.  This is just DVI with audio attached.  Not positive on whether or not it will carry 24/96.  Kepp looking for firewire for this.  Pioneer can do it with the latest Elite receiver.
SC

[plucks]

if you're looking for a dvd-a player, do keep in mind what types of DVDs you are planning to use.  
If they are store bought official releases, you shouldnt have to worry.  It's when using DVD-As that are burned from a program like Discwelder that you could encouter incompatible products.  Decide If you are going to be using DVD-R or DVD+R most of the time.  Not all DVD-A players can support both formats unless you spend more, unfortunately.
Most players should have optical &/or SPDIF digi outs.  

[jpschust]

is there a transport thats a bit higher quality than the panasonic that outputs 24/96?

[wboswell]

denon-2900

[jpschust]

thats exactly what i ended up with :-)  gonna go nicely with the bel canto dac 1.1

[Lil Kim Jong-Il]

how do you like the 2900?  
did you compare it's analog output to the dac 1.1 and how was that?  big difference or subtle?

Edit: Seriously, I'm really wondering how you like it.  There is a couple of 2900s and a 540D on audiogon.  I need to return this pioneer and I'm wondering if I should spring the extra for the 2900 or just get the 540D.

[jpschust]

hang on for a few more days and i can give you a better review.  im waiting for my second amp to get here- my belles 150a is in the shop, so running a dac into my tv isnt the best of worlds.  as far as the picture quality of the 2900, honestly i've never seen better qaulity.  fwiw im using the 2900 with component cables from www.bettercables.com into my 42" rear projection lcd sony wega.  So if you have a tv with a 16:9 aspect ratio you really are taking advantage of the possabilities of the picture quality.  As per the sound, as i said- give me a few more days and i can review that as well

[taylorc]

I'm still using the Denon DVD-2200 I have had since the end of 2003.  I haven't been pleased with it for anything self-made (both DVD-A and DVD-V)...yet to pinpoint the exact problem, as others on this board have spoken highly of the 2200.  I've been looking into other options for the future.  I have listed two high-end Universal DVD-A players at the top of the market right now (other models &/or input???):




Onykyo DV-SP1000


Denon DVD-3910





The Onkyo is not compatible with DVD+R & DVD+RW and performs a knotch below the Denon in terms of frequency response, THD, S/N Ratio, dynamic range, etc.  However, the SP-1000 has two outputs for each of the 3910's optical, coax, composite, s-vid, & component.  Denon has 5.1 outputs to Onkyo's 7.1 (where the additional two are "duplicates" of the surround 1 outputs).

I can't find anything that indicates a major difference in DAC's -- both possess 192kHz/24-bit DAC, with the DV-SP1000 described as, "when a DVD Audio disc using a sampling rate of 192kHz or 176.4kHz is played, the sampling rate will be down-converted to 96kHz, 88.2kHz, 48kHz, or 44.1kHz for playback through the digital outputs" to the DVD-3910's, "When playing copyright-protected linear PCM or packed PCM DVDs, no digital signals are output for sources exceeding 48kHz/16-bits. When making digital connections to a receiver that is not compatible with 96kHz/88kHz signals, you can set the unit to output the signal as 44.1kHz or 48kHz LPCM".

In the end, from what I can tell, the major difference is the price, Onkyo DV-SP1000's $2000 vs. Denon DVD-3901's $1300.

[taylorc]

...To follow-up the Onkyo DV-SP1000 & Denon DVD-3910 and the DAC issue, the question comes in...Rely on an IEEE1394 (if capable) for six channels of on-board DAC of up to 192kHz/24-bit or...go external DAC?

[Lil Kim Jong-Il]

Well enough was enough.  I finally bought a 2900 today.  There were two really good deals on agon.  So next week I'll be able to play all these 24/96 discs people have been giving me.


Jonny, how does the 2900's internal DAC compare to the bel canto? 

[jpschust]

it's good, but not as silky smooth.  i have to use that internal dac for sacds, and its not too bad.  soon im going to stop using the 2900 for cds and get an arcam transport for cds.  i think it will sound better and sync better with the apogee.