Pioneer Elite DV-47Ai vs. Yamaha DVD-S2500 vs. Denon DVD-2910

team_canada

Hello, I am looking for some feedback on a DVD/SACD player I am intending on purchasing. I am looking at the Pioneer Elite DV-47Ai, the new Yamaha DVD-S2500 and the Denon DVD-2910. I currenlty use the Pioneer Elite VSX-56TXi receiver with a full Polk 7.1 set-up (RTi70 fronts, CS400i center and R15 surrounds).

Can anyone recommend one over the other based on experience. Are there any other units I should consider?? I have read all the reviews available and can't decide.

Thanks for the help!!!!

AsSiMiLaTeD

IMO the Denon wins hands down

gregure

I agree the Denon is the best choice. HDMI/DVI outputs, upscaling, excellent picture quality (thanks to the Faroudjia DCDi chip) and a universal player to boot. The only thing it lack is the Denon link for single wire SACD hook-up. You have to move up to the 3910 to get that. Still, the 2910 is a great unit, and not too expensive in terms of higher end players.

madmax

I recommend against the DV-47Ai. Works great, great video and audio. I can see getting more for the money though if you are buying new. Used, that may be a different story.
madmax

team_canada

Thanks guys,

I use my set-up for 90% home theater so I guess the i-Link isn't as necessary even though my receiver has this capability. I do like the DVD-2910. I want to match products if possible but the Pioneer seems to be more pricy with less features. The Dennon has a better video processor as well (Faroudja FLI-2310 Decoding Engine) and HDMI/DVI. Is the Dennon built well?? Will I find any compatibility problems??

team_canada

Any other reason why not to choose the DV-47Ai?? Does it have comparable video?? I know the audio is excellent.

AsSiMiLaTeD

Isn't that Pioneer the one that got a bad rep for poor bass management, or am I thinking of another unit?

Also, I think the Pioneer units still use some level of PCM conversion for SACD playback by default, but you should be able to disable this - and the particular unit you're looking at may not even have that...

reeltrouble1

I own the 47ai and the 2900, use each in different racks. Both are good machines and you wont go wrong with either.

Considering you have the Pioneer receiver I would go with it. As far a PQ they are very close, good white and black levels, I give the edge to the Pioneer.

For movie SQ no real difference I can notice, for SACD/DVD-A I would give the edge to the Denon just a bit though it is just a bit more musical to me.

I dont really like either one for Redbook, maybe the 2910 might be better, cant say have not lived with it, but it seems to me 2900 was a little better rated than the 2910.

Have fun.

RT1

team_canada

O.K. The one thing I have read about the Pioneer is the problem with the chroma upsampling bug. Is this still an issue or has it been fixed?? As far as bass management, i have read good reviews on the Pioneer. Is there benefit for home theater video between the Denon and the Pioneer???

reeltrouble1

Nope, I have not had "bug" problems with the 47ai. The bass management on it was top notch when it first came out but it does not apply to SACD with this unit. You can set individual SPL from it and select speaker size no individual cross over points for each speaker though.

The pioneer can upsample to 20 0r 24 bit if you want it to. It is a great universal machine and SACD sounds very good.

I would save as much as possible on a video machine right now, new software formats are coming. I would say the Denon is a bit more user friendly.

I have seen the 47ai for 450.00 on the Gon, thats a great machine for that price and I will just keep mine for a while more.

RT1

Edit.

I should add that I use my machines with component outputs so I cant talk about the HDMI/DVI issues.

team_canada

Is the 47Ai upgradeable with respect to software through Pioneer?? What I am looking for is the best video quality possible as I will be purchasing a projector in the near future. Because the picture will be so large, a quality DVD player will be required. I am also looking at a used Yamaha DVD-S2300 as well. The best new price I can get on the DV-47Ai new is $850.00 here in Canada. There is one on e-Bay used that is much lower. It will probably sell for less that half. I am just not sure about used electronics?? I have never purchased anything used before. AHHH!!!

AsSiMiLaTeD

The 2900 is definitely better than anything on your list for CD playback...

reeltrouble1

Polkmaniac wrote:

The 2900 is definitely better than anything on your list for CD playback...

PM--I have these machines and IMO really think they are no great shakes for Redbook, just average nothing extra-ordinary and really no big difference between the two. SACD is a totally different story.

Someone else is going to have to help T-C with the videophile stuff I am still living in the last generation here.

RT1

Edit--used electronics on e-bay are a crap shoot, Audiogon.com is better IMO. As Madmax said paying "new" money for the pioneer may not be your best move.

2+2

I have the Yamaha s2300...thing is built like a tank, and has excellent picture (got great reviews for video) even on my stupidly lame TV. Thing I like about Yammys is that they are very durable, at least the ones I have had and I tend to keep my stuff forever.....

mantis

I have installed both players a million times.
The Denon is a fine player. Good built quality and nice picture quality. cd playpack is not bad. Sacd and dvd audio well I don't really look at that anymore as It's so hard to buy software.
the Pioneer Elite Dv59avi is what I would look at. the dv47avi is an old player. A good one but old one. The dv59avi is much better compared to the Denon in video quality.
Pioneer Elite I haven't had any problems with. Denon dvd players are hit or miss. They always have tons of problems. I have returned more Denon dvd players then all the other brands we carry.
I don't think the 2910 had any problems from what I can remember. It's a fine player and both players ar good quality.

Good luck with your upgrade,

Dan

Toxis

Denon > all in it's price range. Period.

mantis

Toxis wrote:

Denon > all in it's price range. Period.

This is an opnion and you can't go on that alone. You need to make up your own mind on what Owns what in it's price range.....

Dan

Toxis

isn't he asking for opinions? This is my opinion from my experiences with all three companies. Period.

F1nut

mantis wrote:

Sacd and dvd audio well I don't really look at that anymore as It's so hard to buy software.

That may apply to DVD-A, but there are tons of SACD titles available. If your local stores don't stock them, complain. Of course, you can always shop the online stores where you'll find all that's available. Also, ePay has both new and used SACD's.

fireshoes

I've been really happy with my Yamaha DVDCX1. The Denon's are good performers, but do seem a bit buggy sometimes. Haven't got to play with the Pioneer goods yet.

BIZILL

don't want to delve too deep into this with ya'll, but for my low-budget azz, this was my choice.......... http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/cgi-bin/shootout.cgi?function=search&articles=122

AsSiMiLaTeD

Toxis wrote:

isn't he asking for opinions? This is my opinion from my experiences with all three companies. Period.

that was my initial reaction as well...

audiobliss

BIZILL wrote:

don't want to delve too deep into this with ya'll, but for my low-budget azz, this was my choice.......... http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/cgi-bin/shootout.cgi?function=search&articles=122

Wow. I see a lot of 'Failed.'

Keep in mind that he's into HT 90% of the time. Redbook performance does not seem to be that big of a priority.

audiobliss

Polkmaniac wrote:

that was my initial reaction as well...

I now can see that. However, from the point of view that I have as a relative noob with hardly any experience, I tend to take those kinds of statements as law. Though, I guess that's my fault.

Frank Z

But I must advise you that the scores only pertain to the DVI output. This player’s component outputs do not support progressive playback, only 480i, so we were not able to plot a video frequency response curve.

It always helps to read through whats in the report and not just look at the pretty colors.

DVD/CDP's must be judged both objectively and subjectivly. There is no one perfect player..if there were we'd have nothing to discuss.

BIZILL

well, good thing i have mine connected via dvi, aye? if you have hdmi, just get a dvi to hdmi cable.

HBombToo

the 2900 series is amazing IMHO.

Have fun.

Twin