Denon DVD-5910 1080i

Price Paid: $1300.00 from eBay

Summary:
This is a review for Denon 5910.(New $3.5K, used ~ $1.5K) . Please note that it is NOT the latest version, 5910Ci. The Ci models have 1080p and the regular ones (non-Ci) have 1080i. Well, for a broader point of view, let’s compare it back to back with my Pioneer Elite 79AVi (new $1K, used ~$350) that I’ve been using.
First off, the 5910 don’t play burn DVDs as well as the Elite 79AVi. It skips and acts up to the point that it’ll freeze up completely. However, the 5910 plays original disks flawlessly. The Elite79, on the other hand, will play anything you through at it.
Put both players in 2-ch listening, the 5910 has more focused, less noise, and better bass. I won’t state that the 5910 has a warmer sound but surely the Elite79 was brighter. To get accurate results, I tested out many diff tracks, many diff types of music to pin point out differences between the two players, and they were minimal. However, the 5910 is more musical than the Elite79. I give the 5910 a conservative 10 to 20% better in 2-ch listening.
As for SACD, both players play nicely. I kind of favor a bit more to the Elite79. With only 1 SA disk avail. (Diana Krall) to test out, the gap of differences was closer. I now can say that the Denon 5910 has a warmer sound, not in a good way at some parts.
As for movies, I use digital Toslink connection for full sound effects of 5.1. If chip set and CPU hold an important in processing sounds then Denon did a much BETTER job in sound effects. I’m giving it 20 to 40% better sound than the Elite 79 in dynamic and well defined especially in action movies. A moving train, a flying plane, or a slammed door side effects are clearly better than the Elite79.
As for video quality, I was very disappointed with the 5910 at first. But after I played around and added more colors, blackness, chrome, hue, and sharpness, the 5910 changed its look dramatically; it’s now, somewhat, met my standard expectation, but not to exceeding the Elite79’s video quality. Remember to play around with your video pictures or you may find a white hazing, picture noise, and poor colorful display on your TV.
The Denon 5910 is a heavy monster, it is listed close to 42 pounds and at the same time, its engine noise is much quieter than the Elite79. As for universal player, the Denon 5910 was on my top list so there you go. I have reached my dream now let me be outter here and go back to my little paradise if you know what I mean.

. So, does the Elite 79AVi sound better in analog 2-ch and digital 5.1?
= No, impossible

. Does the 79AVi have better video quality?
= Yes, very possible

. Best bang for the bucks?
= Elite 79AVi

If you are in budget and don’t have a “golden ears”, I’d highly recommend the Elite 79AVi player over the Denon 5910….. But as lwe all know, wealthy people or serious audiophiles ca nafford much more to get that little differences.... just to be safe, right?


Similar Products Used:
Mostly class A products.