Denon DVD-2910 as CD player?

joecoulson
joecoulson Posts: 4,943
edited July 2018 in Electronics
I would like some feedback please. Is this a decent CD transport? When I purchased it used (10 years ago +) it was communicated as such and I enjoy the fact it is built well and has nice controls. But it is a DVD player? Considering most midfi CD players would run me $1k+, would I see any benefit to replace this with something used for around $500 or less?
Thank You all

Comments

  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 24,420
    I've used the 2900 and 3910 and been very happy.
  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    Have you played cd's in it, how do they sound to you? If they sound fine to you, then you have your answer, trust your own ears.

    I have both a Oppo and a Rotel 1072 CD player. Is there a difference in the playback? yes, but it is so marginal, that if my Rotel broke, I wouldn't go rushing out to replace it.

    A well made piece of gear is a well made piece of gear.
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
  • joecoulson
    joecoulson Posts: 4,943
    I guess that was my question, was it well-made like it was presented to me. Yes cd’s sound great but It’s the DAC that makes the most difference correct? I switch between the on board Burr Brown’s and the one’s on my Marantz receiver, Cirrus logic I believe, but can’t tell a diff. I wonder if they are similar.
  • MrBuhl
    MrBuhl Posts: 2,419
    I think that generally speaking - that 2910 is considered a punches above it's price point CD player and a very good one. There is always something better, but given the system, room, and individual hearing, I'm not sure you can always hear the difference.
    VA HT HK AVR20II, Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD, Polk Audio RC80i / Polk Audio CSi3, 60" Panasonic Plasma, Nordost / Signal Cable A2 / Wireworld / Pangea / Magic Power
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,007
    I had the 3910 and it was fantastic at all disc jobs.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,010
    I had a 2910, great unit. I like the HDCD feature.
  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    joecoulson wrote: »
    Yes cd’s sound great... but can’t tell a diff.

    You have once again answered your own question. STOP obsessing about the gear, and start enjoy the music/movies!


    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
  • joecoulson
    joecoulson Posts: 4,943
    cfrizz wrote: »
    joecoulson wrote: »
    Yes cd’s sound great... but can’t tell a diff.

    You have once again answered your own question. STOP obsessing about the gear, and start enjoy the music/movies!

    Sometimes the chase is as good as the catch though right?

  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,484
    edited July 2018
    I own a 5910 and it is good as a transport (I tapped the DSD pre-output and hooked the taps onto an RJ-45 jack to send the DSD signal to a self-built DAC). Also, the DACs in the 5910 are excellent. I am sure the 2910 will be good, but there are always better options out there. It depends on how much "scratch" you wanna spend.
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....


    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

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  • Viking64
    Viking64 Posts: 6,628
    joecoulson wrote: »
    Sometimes the chase is as good as the catch though right?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3RzlpmkNxo
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 32,874
    edited July 2018
    I use some Denon DVD player (dump find) as my CD transport :p
    It works very well -- by which I mean it sounds better, to me, than my ol' Marantz, when comparing the two feeding the same DAC (which I really cannot rationalize, by the way, but that's another subject entirely!).

    I forget which model it is -- but it's not "high end". The price was right, though.

    cj9yn3btd0j0.jpg

    Looks like it sez "DVD-1730"

    I actually ended up buying a proper original Denon remote for it on eBAY. For some reason, when CD or DVD players pass through the space-time continuum from their purchasers to the swap pile at the town 'transfer station', quantum intereference effects cause the dematerialization of the remote controls. I suspect that they join the socks that are similarly transmuted when put into the dryer, perhaps reappearing on a steppe somewhere in Kazakhstan.

    :)

  • Emlyn
    Emlyn Posts: 4,341
    The Denon DVD players were often chosen to be modified by upgraders like Modwright. So, yes they are excellent transports and very well built solid platforms. Remember that 3910 model was around $1K when it was new on the market. Personally, I found when used as CD players for two channel analog output into a dedicated two channel system they sounded a bit harsh and tinny. If using one with a modern receiver by Marantz, I'd just rely on the receiver to handle everything digitally and enjoy the tunes. Spending $1K on a new dedicated CD player while still running it through a receiver, even via analog, isn't going to make much of a difference.
  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 9,960
    I've had both the 2910 and the 3910 and they both sounded excellent. The only issue was the CD tray would stick if not used enough but then worked well after put back into use for awhile. The sound was amazingly good for the price. I think I paid $125 for the 3910 and less for the 2910 but my memory is fuzzy on the prices. They punched WAY beyond their price point for sure.
  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,330
    I have the 2910 and really like it. I had an Oppo 980h universal player that I had in the system with hopes to mod the 2910 but then the power supply failed in the Oppo and I put the 2910 back in the system. I did have to replace the laser pickup in the 2910, which seems to be a weak point of the Denons in that generation. I also have a Denon DBP-1611UD and Marantz UD5005, which are identical internally and also universal players. For 2ch, they just don't stand up to the 2910.
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
  • joecoulson
    joecoulson Posts: 4,943
    The 2910 plays hdcd?
  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    joecoulson wrote: »
    The 2910 plays hdcd?
    I don't think that's what he wrote.
    zuul wrote: »
    the oppo gets the slight edge for me b/c it plays hdcd's... but the denon is a good bet w/out a doubt.

  • joecoulson
    joecoulson Posts: 4,943
    Let me rephrase, the 2910 DOES play HDCD so I’m not sure why one player gets the edge over the other for that reason. That’s all I’m saying.
  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    Ah, punctuation! :p
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,901
    If you want to up your CDP game, look for a tubed cdp. Jolida comes to mind.
    HT SYSTEM-
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    Cables-
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    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
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    lsi 9's
  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,330
    Yep, the 2910 plays HDCD. That Oppo 980h is known for failing power supplies, otherwise, it is a nice unit.
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601