DVD player suggestions?

[curtis]

So, now that I have a new TV, I am looking to upgrading my DVD-Video capablities.

I currently have the Pioneer 563a universal player. I have been happy with it. For CDs, I use the DACs in my pre/pro, DVD-Audio and SACD's sound fine as well.

But the video side of the 563a is pretty lacking. So I would like to approve upon that.

I can get a new, more expensive universal such as the Denon 2900 or 2910, those are in the price range I would like to stick to. Or I can get an inexpensive unit for DVD-Video only, such as the Bravo or Oppo units.

Any suggestions?

[jeh]

personally, i'm leaning towards the denon dvd-2200, as it's almost as good as the 2900 but a bit cheaper. i've seen refurbs on ecost for under $300

[BradJudy]

Curtis,

Have you looked at the DVD player benchmarks? http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/cgi-bin/shootout.cgi

The Denons, Panasonic S97 and Pioneer Elite 59 get good marks for video.

I have the same player as you and I'm thinking of getting a Denon 2910 when I get an HDTV.

[bikeman]

The Toshiba SD-V592 DVD-VHS combo kicked video butt in the Secrets review. I haven't heard of a comparable DVD stand alone unit from Toshiba.

David

[picasso]

Wait until the end of the year and HD DVD. Even the Playstation 3 will be capable of HD DVD with Blue-Ray. Of course, that means Xbox will be upgraded as well.

Within a year, they'll be everywhere................

[BradJudy]

I have to disagree with picasso. It will be a while before HD DVD or BluRay players are commonplace and inexpensive although the PS3 will drive mass market penetration. The PS3 is at least one year away (early to mid 2006 by most reports) and it is very unclear which format will be dominant. Personally, I expect it to be 2-3 years before there is a clear format winner and I would rather spend money now on a good DVD player than spend money in 18 months on what could be the next BetaMAX. (Probably an unfair statement as I'm sure there will eventually be universal players.)

I'll spare everyone my long thoughts on the topic, but there is little market driver for the HD optical formats outside of the HT enthusiast realm, so expect it to play out a lot like SACD/DVD-A - going nowhere fast because 95% of consumers could care less (a bit unfair as HD definitely has more consumer interest than multichannel ausio).

[Eddie Horton]

I agree with BradJudy. It'll take a while for the format war to shake out, and even longer for the bugs in the new players to be ironed out. DVD is around 10 years old and we're just now seeing players that have the major glitches (macroblocking, etc.) ironed out. Right now, I have a Zenith DVB-318 for DVD playback and an el cheapo Pioneer DV-578A for DVD-A and SACD. I was going to wait and then jump on HD, but have since changed my mind and decided to sell my current units and put a little extra cash with them and buy a Pio Elite DV-59AVi. That gets my vote, Curtis.