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I just purchased a Samsung HD-841 DVD player with DVD-Audio/SACD playback that just hit the market and retails at $199 (US). I wanted the player for high-definition television upcoversion and DVI output, but was glad to get DVD-Audio/SACD as an extra bonus. I connected the player to my Yamaha RX-Z1 receiver using cheap interconnects (which I will try to improve need more money first). Here are some of my initial observations.(1) The player looks great, especially the pixilated LED display panel. The drive is whisper quiet (unlike the buzz-saw Toshiba 3960 that I tried after reading the General Digital page)
(2) the RCA connections are flimsy. This is obvious a mass market product, but at this price, I don't really mind. I think that the Panasonic 563 is a little more sturdy, but the extra di-def video features of the Samsung make it a better value.
(3) the audio from CD playback is okay at best. This plays like a mass market DVD player. The sound is a little thin, and the output lacks clarity and mushes together the different instruments.
(4) my SACD and DVD-audio discs play without any problems. The two channel analog output sounds like the CD output (thin). The digital output provides SACD in only 2 channels and does not support DVD-Audio, so you will need a five channel amplifier. In five channel output, SACDs just like CDs, likely because of the cheap processor. DVD-Audio playback is noticably richer and fuller. I was pretty impressed.
In conclusion, if you want to get into DVD-audio, most people would really like this player. You can get better universal players, but you will pay more, likely a lot more. Personally, I don't like spending money on digital sources since the technology advances so quickly. Audiophiles won't like it, but this is not an audiophile product. As this and other mass-market DVD-audio players become available, maybe we can get more DVD-audio releases and this format won't die out.
P.S. - the DVD playback and upconversion is awesome. You have not lived until you have seen a move in 720p.
- http://www.samsungusa.com/cgi-bin/nabc/product/b2c_product_detail.jsp?eUser=&prod_id=DVD-HD841/XAA (Open in New Window)
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my experience with the last generation, samsung dvd-931, was somewhat different.. it produced a very grainy and harsh upconverted picture.. the component output on my new Denon DVD-2200 is far superior. This could be due to me not having a "true" digital TV, ie LCD, Plasma or DLP. I've got a 32" 4:3 Sony tube that does the anamorphic thing for higher-res formats.The concensus on avsforum seems to be that upconversion only makes sense on larger digital screens.
You say "The digital output provides SACD in only 2 channels and does not support DVD-Audio, so you will need a five channel amplifier."If you were listening to a SACD through the digital output you were ONLY listening to it's hybrid cd audio layer, not the full SACD layer, which surely explains why it sounded poorly.
DVD-Audio and SACD will not output through the digital outs of a player. You were not listening to the hi-resolution tracks.
I saw this player last night at Best Buy. It "looks" pretty cool, with its simple front panel and display.However, what really was a disappointment to see was how they have the power cord enter the unit right next to the audio jacks. What were they thinking?!!! Maybe the power supply board is shared with the audio processing board? This is bad design practice IMO!
Okay, I never heard the thing so I can't comment on the sound, nor will I listen to one. But I think Pioneer is coming out with an improved 563A (578 maybe?) that will most likely be the better choice.
iamddn,Can you let me know where you bought this player?
I bought this player at my local Best Buy. It's still not on their website but I've seen it at three local (Wisconsin) stores.
Objective and to the point.
Just wondering how this player compares with the Pioneer DV-563a...
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