Pioneer Elite DV-37 and Oppo DV-970HD

With regard to audio playback, this player performed equally well with almost all of the different disc formats currently available. The DV-37 encountered no difficulties reading the soundtracks of either the Dolby Digital or DTS DVDs I tested. Music CDs, whether the standard two-channel stereo or the multi-channel, 96 kHz/24 bit variety, were also read with ease. Perhaps most impressively, though, was the player’s ability to read CD-R tracks. Having burned some music onto a CD-R disc through the use of my personal computer, nary a hiss, pop, or crackle was heard when I played the disc back in the DV-37. Overall, clean vocals, good channel separation, and an extended dynamic range characterized playback for each of these various disc formats. About the only things this player couldn’t do in terms of audio performance was to play DVD-Audio and SACD discs. (Note: For those audiophiles out there who require DVD-Audio playback, Pioneer does offer three models with this feature, the DV-38A ($2,000.00), DV-47A ($1,200.00) and the DV-AX10 ($5,999.00). Additionally, the DV-47A and DV-AX10 also support SACD playback).

Conclusion

As DVDs have indeed become mainstream, the appropriate question to ask is not whether you should purchase a DVD player (as the answer is obviously ‘yes’), but rather which particular player should you purchase. The Pioneer Elite DV-37 is a top-notch DVD player. It is well built, feature-laden, and contains all of the audio/video connections needed for today’s state-of-the-art home theater systems. Plus, if you have a monitor that is capable of displaying progressive scan technology, the DV-37 will unlock a picture quality that is unparalleled by every consumer video format short of HDTV. Backed by Pioneer’s two- year parts and labor warranty, the DV-37 is worth every penny of its $1,000.00 M.S.R.P.

- Calvin Harding, Jr.