DVD player advice needed
Posted by: alainbil on 01 August 2011
We have a couple of DVD video of opera; we watch using an Apple computer, connecting the headphone output of the computer to the NAIM preamp. The sound is, guess what, not good.
We borrowed a Rega DAC that was connected to the USB port of the Mac, and the sound was not much better.
This was not what we expected and we are now contemplating the idea of buying a DVD player (yet another box) and would be grateful for any advices.
We are not interested in surround sound, are only interested in stereo, and intend to connect the DVD player to the 122X. In a first stage we would connect the DVD analogue output, and use a DAC in a later stage, if we ever buy one. We would also connect the DVD player video output to a stand-alone computer screen (we have no TV).
Another question concern blue rays, does they sound better than DVDs?
Budget?
I would prefer something less than 1000 Euros.
If sound quality is of primary importance then it's pretty much impossible to beat a Naim DVD5, and a secondhand example should be within reach for your budget. A bonus is that it makes for a seriously good CD player as well, somewhere between a CD5i and a CD5x. Otherwise the Arcam players are pretty good sound-wise and should be available for less.
ime Blu Ray is immeasurably better than DVD for both picture and sound, and there are many great operas available on BluRay - or you can rent them from somewhere like lovefilm. Sony do modestly priced Blu Ray players such as the S380 (about 100UKP) which will give great results on BluRay, does a good job of upscaling DVDs, and streams internet video on demand and music as a bonus. It has optical and coax outputs for an external dac. You'd have most of your 1000euro budget left to put towards a really good DAC, and you'd have BluRay quality images.
Whilst I agree that picture quality and HD multichannel sound on BluRays can be significantly better than DVD, for two-channel stereo, depending on the internal decoding of the player if you're not going to use an external DAC, will not be any better.
Richard's recommendation of a Naim DVD5 or an Arcam DVD player is a good one IMO.
There's a comparison of the BluRay and DVD audio formats here:
http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/1064
Seems to me even for stereo BluRay may have advantages, depending on the BluRay and your equipment.
Hi,
I have had a DVD5, and although it was a controversial experience (it needed updated firmware and software, was a bit hydiosincratic and liked frequent resets - at least, that was mine), it was a great player. I usually find myself agreeing with Richard Dane, but in this case I'll go against the grain and state that although the sound of soundtracks was usually gorgeous, I remember the DVD5's video quality as exceptional, while I didn't especially like its CD replay performance.
If you love the idea of having another Naim box and you can find a second hand one for your budget, I'd think about it. On the other hand, i now have an Oppo DV980H that costed 1/20th of a DVD5, and is perfectly satisfying, even has native DSD conversion.
I don't know the BlueRay. Everytime it's discussed, only Terminators, Transformers, True Lies and Lara Crofts come up, so I wonder if anyone is using Blue Ray to watch normal pictures, and whether it's worth it.
Cheers,
Max
Hi Max,
I guess it depends on the system, both audio and video, you use. Certainly with a good-sized HD display the picture quality of BluRay is streets ahead of DVD, and if you have a good HD sound decoder, either built-in to the player (I use an Oppo BD83SE for the purpose) or external processor plus suitably high-quality surround speakers, the sound is likewise a considerable improvement on DVD.
A caveat - as with DVD and all audio sources, much depends on the quality of mastering.
PS, I don't think True Lies is available in the UK on BluRay yet. Shame, I think it's Arnie's best film, and has Jamie Lee Curtis in it...
Tony,
I have a Sanyo PLV-Z1 LCD projector (2002), and have painted a GooSystems screen on a wall, more or less 1x1.50 meters (it's a living room after all, not a movie theatre..), so I think I'm getting what the Oppo can give, considering that DVD's resolution is lesser than my Sanyo.
I'm waiting for the Sanyo (or the Oppo) to die, then I'll decide whether to move to BluRay. On the other hand, a number of friends of mine, former audiophiles now happy streamers, have tons of films they share on Hard disks, so I am not sure that the BlueRay is going to smash the market...
And, ah, yes - Jamie lee Curtis...
M.
If sound quality is of primary importance then it's pretty much impossible to beat a Naim DVD5, and a secondhand example should be within reach for your budget. A bonus is that it makes for a seriously good CD player as well, somewhere between a CD5i and a CD5x. Otherwise the Arcam players are pretty good sound-wise and should be available for less.
Thank you Richard. I have another question: are there any good sounding DVD player (again in stereo) that can read VIDEO_TS files on an external hard disk (something I can do with my Macintosh)?
If I understand correctly neither the NAIM nor the ARCAM allow this.
No, the Naim won't allow this. Not sure about Arcam. However, best is to use something like a WD TV box to do this. Surprisingly good picture quality and nice simple interface that even offers thumbnails etc.. There's a digital audio output for input into a DAC as well as HDMI. If you don't want the "live" functionality then you can pick one up for around £70. A very impressive bit of kit that really works and also handles just about every file type around (most don't).
If you want one box to do it all then you could investigate something like an Oppo. I think there are a few that will allow replay of video files from an attachged hard disc. Of the ones I've used, SQ is pretty good, but sadly not a patch on a DVD5, which really is in a class of one.
In France, where I live, the s/h NAIM market is quite small.
For example on a well known Web auction site, there is currently only three NAIM items on sale
(one NAC 282 an old model XPS and a CDX2) and zero bargain IMHO.