Hi-Rez Highway: REVIEW: Pioneer Elite DV-47A DVD Players by TokyoTubeDude

Model:	Elite DV-47A
Category:	DVD Players
Suggested Retail Price:	$800
Description:	DVD/SACD/DVD-A Player and Transport
Manufacturer URL:	Pioneer
Model Picture:	View

Review by TokyoTubeDude ( A ) on January 18, 2002 at 19:23:21
IP Address: 211.19.120.11

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I just bought the Pioneer multi format DV-S747A (Elite DV-47A outside Japan) here in Tokyo. The machine has gold finishing, which I personally prefer over Dark-Vader black equipment looks. I paid around 75,000 yen retail for it (that?fs around US$600)
As I saw quite a few messages on this player in this forum, I thought it would be useful to share my experience and also address some of the questions raised on the implementation of the SACD playback (which turns out to be first rate!).
TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGY
It seems the transport itself is from Sony, though I can?ft positively confirm it. The DV-747 plays almost any format: CD, CD-RW, CD-R, CD-V, DVD-V, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-A, MPEG-3 and SACD. The only format not supported is HDCD (it will play HDCD as ordinary CD and output the full digital signal so you can decode it on a HDCD capable DAC). The player has all DSP capability built in for multi-channel DVD-A and SACD and supports TruSurround, DTS and Dolby Digital modes.
The player has full digital out for DTS/Dolby, CD and DVD-A (one RCA and one Toslink). While playing a SACD there?fs no digital signal, as the player doesn?ft convert DSD into PCM. For DVD-A playback, the player outputs 96k PCM, but there?fs an option to down sample in case the outboard DAC or AV Amp has no support for it. The setup allows full control over how the digital output will behave for various digital signals and you can select the original digital out signal, or convert to PCM. For pure CD play back, a ?eCD-direct?f option is available that by passes any DSP processing. Pioneer features its own Legato Link processing for 16 bit materials and has 4 different effects that can be set (I have had no time to evaluate the sonic benefit of this, but it should extent frequency response). The Legato Link processing can be switched off, a feature that was not available on older models. For digital signals, the player has an option to output 24 bit data on lower resolution material (?ehi-bit option?f).
When playing discs, the transport is very silent and you can?ft hear the disc spin even when you put your ears close to the tray. This is definitely a big plus over some other players, and even my ?eold?f CD transport. With all these options, it makes the DV-747 an ideal, versatile universal transport for both Video and Audio!
VIDEO/AUDIO PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY
Before plugging in the player, I took some time to open the player and peek inside. (I can send pictures on request) The player has 3 PCB?fs: one power supply, one main PCB with the DSP, control logic, and video and audio DACs, and one separate board for SACD.
The SACD chipset is original from Sony. The main SACD decoder chip is a Sony CXD2753R which is the same used in some of Sony own players like the Sony DVP-NS900 which is DVD/SACD player (no DVD-A of course). The player has 3 Crystal CS4392K DAC chips supporting D/A conversion for its 6 channel outputs. The Crystal DAC?fs are hybrid, delta-sigma DAC?fs that both can process PCM up to 192/24 and process DSD in native mode. So, we have to assume that the DV-747 is a ?etrue?f SACD player that doesn?ft convert the DSD signal to PCM. For the DAC chip that supports the 2 channel stereo outputs, Pioneer used slightly better capacitors than for the remaining channels (Pioneer claims their capacitors have special low impedance characteristics for lower noise levels). The DAC output is buffered through a JRC5532 op-amp, which is a pretty cheap, low-end chip used by many Japanese manufactures. As it seems the op-amp is only used as unity buffer/mute control, not the usual I/V gain stage, the negative influence it will have on the quality of the signal will be limited though.
The video capabilities of the player are awesome. The video DAC is the latest Analog Devices ADV7300K, which processes 12bit at 108Mhz. The player supports progressive mode on its component out (not on S-Video or composite video outputs) The player has 2 S-Video, 2 composite, one component and one D1/D2 output.
BUILD QUALITY
The player weighs only a mere 4.5kg. The overall build quality of the chassis is ?estandard?f, not the hi-end build of the DV-S10A or other high-end equipment. The power supply has no transformer, and seems to be a switching supply. This in itself is not bad, depending on how well it is done. However, this is clearly the area where Pioneer has economized.
All output jacks are gold plated and there are output jacks for 2 channel and 6 channel audio. The power cord is detachable so you can use your favorite power cord. The display can be dimmed and also entirely switched off. The remote control is functional and easy to use with backlit for most common use buttons. Further, almost all components (digital and analog) are surface mount, leaving very little room for us tweakers :-(.
SOUND/VIDEO QUALITY
Though I just got the player and am still breaking it in, I had some opportunity doing A/B comparisons between CD and SACD playback of the same material (Tony Bennet Unplugged on CD and SACD and Dave Brubeck?fs Time Out on CD and SACD) My wife (!) immediately heard the significant difference of Tony Bennet?fs voice on the SACD version, and said it sounded much clearer, like a ?esmoke?f curtain was lifted and his voice much more life like. This was true when either using the players direct analog out or when playing the CD signal through the Assemblage 2.7 platinum DAC. The same applied to the Time Out disk, which sounded in SACD much more balanced and with a much more wider and deeper sound stage. I can?ft comment on how the SACD compares to Sony players but it is definitely awesome when compared to CD playback. Also, as the DV-747 has an entire different SACD implementation (basically it has the same chips as Sony) from the DV-AX10 that is reviewed in this month?fs Stereophile, it is not unlikely that the performance of the DV-747 for SACD playback will be on par with Sony players. DVD-A sounded great as well, and has impressive dynamic range and detail. When comparing 96/24 performance between the DV-747 onboard DAC and the Assemblage 2.7 Platinum DAC, I must say that the Assemblage DAC won, but this is absolutely a very subtle difference only.
As for multi channel SACD or DVD-A playback, you will need an AV-amp with multi channel pre-amp input (which I don?ft have -- yet!) So I can?ft comment on the SACD multi-channel capabilities. I hope to have this ?efixed?f soon though!
For DVD playback, the DV-747 is absolutely awesome and one of the best you can get. Colors are rich and dynamic, and when freezing image frames, images are extremely detailed and stable (not blurred/fuzzy).
In a nutshell, the DV-747 is an absolutely impressive player and versatile transport for all known formats, and seen its price, unbeatable!
Cheers, Pieter
ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT
Amplifier: COPLAND CTA401 (EL34 30W amp)
DAC: Assemblage DAC 2.7 Platinum
Speakers: Ensemble Animata
Sub: NHT Sub-one
Cables: Nordost, Ensemble, Van den Hul, MIT, homebrew
Power Filtering: Power Industries PowerWedge 114
Power Conditioning for DV-747: CSE E100 (100 watt regenerator like PS Audio)

Product Weakness: No SACD titles during playback and not easy to tweak (not really a weakness for most)
Product Strengths: Excellent multi format transport and player for SACD, DVD-A and DVD. Detailed and refined sound and awesome video output.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Copland CTA401 - EL34 30W
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	None
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	DV-747
Speakers:	Ensemble Animata 90db; NHT sub-one
Cables/Interconnects:	Nordost, Ensemble, Van den Hul, MIT, homebrew
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Jazz, Fusion, Classic, World
Time Period/Length of Audition:	1 Week
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	PowerWedge 114; CSE E100
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	No SACD titles during playback and not easy to tweak (not really a weakness for most)
Product Strengths:	Excellent multi format transport and player for SACD, DVD-A and DVD. Detailed and refined sound and awesome video output.