Topic: dvd-a player ecommendations

[cbd]

looking to get a new dvd player that is dvd-a compatible. any suggestions of brand/model no's that people are happy with? In general, I haven't been happy with the performance of my existing NAD T533 dvd player.

[nickgregory]

pioneer elite dv-45a

[scb]

budget?

[brianp]

sorry for the slight highjack, but I'm looking at getting a dvd-a player as well.

Should I get the Denon 2910? I've had my eye on it for a while and it looks promising. Can anyone comment on how it handles dvd-r's and/or dual layer dvd-r's? Any other models I should look at in the $600ish price range.

[taylorc]

I can tell you the Denon 2200 does not handle dvd-r's well.  I have one for DVD-Video and it will typically play 60% of a DVD-R Audio disc and suddenly stop.  I've never been able to listen to a complete show with that player.

[wboswell]

I can tell you the Denon 2200 does not handle dvd-r's well.  I have one for DVD-Video and it will typically play 60% of a DVD-R Audio disc and suddenly stop.  I've never been able to listen to a complete show with that player.

I'll comment similar experiences with dvd-a on recordable media.  It plays dvd-v 24/96 audio dvd-r media fine (that is, audio dvd generated discs).  Store bought dvd-a stuff sounds great and its a great video option, but its definitely picky with dvd-a (r/rw) stuff.  Never worked when I used Wavelab to burn discs...

[pfife]

I can tell you the Denon 2200 does not handle dvd-r's well.  I have one for DVD-Video and it will typically play 60% of a DVD-R Audio disc and suddenly stop.  I've never been able to listen to a complete show with that player.

I'll comment similar experiences with dvd-a on recordable media.  It plays dvd-v 24/96 audio dvd-r media fine (that is, audio dvd generated discs).  Store bought dvd-a stuff sounds great and its a great video option, but its definitely picky with dvd-a (r/rw) stuff.  Never worked when I used Wavelab to burn discs...

Wboswell, are you talking about the 2200 as well? 

[BobW]

If I had better than modest programming abilities, I'd cobble together a media center PC for my homegrown stuff amd D/Ls.
Add that InterVideo's WinDVD will play DVD-As on the PC.
Get a good DAC, like a Grace or Benchmark and you'd be golden.

Perhaps the best DVD-A player is none at all.   

[fozzy]

If I had better than modest programming abilities, I'd cobble together a media center PC for my homegrown stuff amd D/Ls.
Add that InterVideo's WinDVD will play DVD-As on the PC.
Get a good DAC, like a Grace or Benchmark and you'd be golden.

Perhaps the best DVD-A player is none at all.   

I could never get WinDVD to play DVD-A to my liking, gaps and sudden freezes, even when I was playing the VOBs(or whatever they are) from the harddrive.
If you got a PC in the mix it is easier to keep em as flacs, plus it takes ~half the space on a DVD.  I have a little autorun script I add to open up a playlist in winamp.

We have 2 toshibas in the house that are kinda sketcy on certain media, I think leehookem just got a LG that he says plays everything he has thrown at it.

[RDunn]

Craig,

I picked up the Denon DVD-1920 and it works great.  Supports DVD-Audio and SACD.

RD

[jimmyrow]

I have a Denon 5900 and it is solid as a rock......plays anything I throw at it.

[JasonSobel]

I can tell you the Denon 2200 does not handle dvd-r's well.  I have one for DVD-Video and it will typically play 60% of a DVD-R Audio disc and suddenly stop.  I've never been able to listen to a complete show with that player.

interesting.  my Denon 2200 plays every disc with no problems.  I don't have any store bought discs, these are all burned DVD-A discs using Discwelder or DVD-Audiofile.
The one quirk I have noticed is that it sometimes stops playing after 2 hours of continuous playback.  not always, but sometimes.  and it'll never stop playback at any other time.  all it takes to get it going again is to press stop and then play.  and then it continues to play fine, including the stuff after the 2 hour mark.  but I've never had a problem with any disc just not playing.

I know that's a weird quirk, and it'd probably bother some people more than it bothers me.  That's why I'm not giving it a glowing recommendation, and in a few years, I'll probably get a different deck.  Anyway, just thought I'd chime in about the Denon DVD players.

[taylorc]

I use an Onkyo DV-SP1000 for listening to DVD-R Audio, CD's, SACD, DVD-A and it plays beautifully.

However, a portion of my shows on DVD-R Audio will only play from one channel with the SP1000.  It's odd.  The same discs that would play from both channels with the Denon 2200.  All discs were authored the same way - with DiscWelder Steel.

[wboswell]

I can tell you the Denon 2200 does not handle dvd-r's well.  I have one for DVD-Video and it will typically play 60% of a DVD-R Audio disc and suddenly stop.  I've never been able to listen to a complete show with that player.

I'll comment similar experiences with dvd-a on recordable media.  It plays dvd-v 24/96 audio dvd-r media fine (that is, audio dvd generated discs).  Store bought dvd-a stuff sounds great and its a great video option, but its definitely picky with dvd-a (r/rw) stuff.  Never worked when I used Wavelab to burn discs...

Wboswell, are you talking about the 2200 as well? 

no.  I've got a 2900.  It plays shows burned with Discwelder Steel if you use the internal DAC, but if you send the signal s/pdif out, it only play out of one channel, similar to what's mentioned above. 

[pfife]

I can tell you the Denon 2200 does not handle dvd-r's well.  I have one for DVD-Video and it will typically play 60% of a DVD-R Audio disc and suddenly stop.  I've never been able to listen to a complete show with that player.

I'll comment similar experiences with dvd-a on recordable media.  It plays dvd-v 24/96 audio dvd-r media fine (that is, audio dvd generated discs).  Store bought dvd-a stuff sounds great and its a great video option, but its definitely picky with dvd-a (r/rw) stuff.  Never worked when I used Wavelab to burn discs...

Wboswell, are you talking about the 2200 as well? 

no.  I've got a 2900.  It plays shows burned with Discwelder Steel if you use the internal DAC, but if you send the signal s/pdif out, it only play out of one channel, similar to what's mentioned above. 

Wow, that surprises me.  I really want to purchase one of these, and I use wavelab for dvd-a's.  Thanks for the response - I'm glad I haven't purchased yet!  +T

[sygdwm]

the pioneer decks (563a & the elite one) play wavelab5 authored disks seamlessly, flawlessly.

[pfife]

the pioneer decks (563a & the elite one) play wavelab5 authored disks seamlessly, flawlessly.

I'm leaning toward this now, which is nice, because its cheaper!

[phanophish]

I'm having trouble tracking down a Pioneer 563A.  Seems like it is an older model.  Anyone have any feedback on the Pioneer DV-588A-S? 

[Mic D]

I'm having trouble tracking down a Pioneer 563A.  Seems like it is an older model.  Anyone have any feedback on the Pioneer DV-588A-S? 

The 563A is an older model that was replaced by the 578A. Then the 578A was replaced by the 588A-s. Supposedly, on the DV-588A-s, they compromised the picture quality in order to be able to play divx discs. If you wanted to go the pioneer route, I would have to suggest the DV-578A. I own one and it has never given me a problem. Plays everything and it's well worth the price, imo.

[phanophish]

Thanks for the info.  Just ordered one so I should have it in a week or so.  +T

[Kyle]

I'm having trouble tracking down a Pioneer 563A.  Seems like it is an older model.  Anyone have any feedback on the Pioneer DV-588A-S? 

The 563A is an older model that was replaced by the 578A. Then the 578A was replaced by the 588A-s. Supposedly, on the DV-588A-s, they compromised the picture quality in order to be able to play divx discs. If you wanted to go the pioneer route, I would have to suggest the DV-578A. I own one and it has never given me a problem. Plays everything and it's well worth the price, imo.

I have the DV-578A as well. Plays everything and never blinks. I feel that the video is only decent, and the dac stage poor. I just use the spdif out to my 3000es and all is well!
Great transport - I use it every day....

[plucks]

Pioneer DV-578A-S:
-Playback Disc: DVD-Video/Audio/DVD-R/RW (compatible w?CPRM) SACD/CD/CD-R/CD-RW/Video CD


is it true only DVD-R is playable?  what about +R?

[sygdwm]

fwiw, my 563a plays +r just fine.

[Mic D]

Pioneer DV-578A-S:
-Playback Disc: DVD-Video/Audio/DVD-R/RW (compatible w?CPRM) SACD/CD/CD-R/CD-RW/Video CD


is it true only DVD-R is playable?  what about +R?

+R's play fine in the 578A.

[bgalizio]

I bought a 588A just after Christmas. I can't exactly compare the picture quality, since I only have a 27" TV, the DVD-A/SACD stuff is great. It will play any burned discs no problem as well. One thing to note is that there isn't a "group" button to change groups on a DVD-A created with DVD Audiophile (at least, I haven't found one).

[HBK216]

I noticed a few DV-578A's on Ebay.  I'm tempted to pick one up. I would love to be able to hear my 24 bit recordings outside of a computer for the first time!