Denon DCD A100


I'm looking to upgrade my two channel SACD player. Currently my two channel system has a Marantz SA 803 for SACD. I had started a thread on this recently, but that was just before the Denon player has been slashed in price from $2500
10 $1500 by Music Direct and other sellers.
There are virtually reviews of this player anywhere. Nor is the Denon Web site very forthcoming with information.
My concern is that since Denon and Marantz have the same parent company, these may be very similar players. My issue with the Marantz (I think) is with the Cirrus Logic chip used in the D-A processing. It is kind of "soft". I don't want a bright, in your face sound with to much detail, but the Marantz is just to laid back, and the music tends to lose some vitality.
Has anyone heard the Denon? Do we know where they get their D-A Chips
( Denonweb site not helpful here at all). Can anyone compare the two players?
richardfinegold
Richard, Mofi admittedly had the model confused as to which I had recently purchased. I recently bought the DBP-A100 Universal Player. I hope that the following comments may help you in your decision. First off I had just sold a Denon DVD5910ci universal DVD player and wanted to have a Universal BluRay player and looked a number of makes and models. But I settled on the Denon 100 Anniversary for the following reasons and also my post purchase perspective. The 100 Anniversary is better built than the standard production sibling model within the Denon product line. They are hand assembled, the compenents are hand selected and the unit gets a 5year warranty vs. the 1-3yr. They add cast iron feed for stability plus looking inside of mine, it was very well laid out and each harness is very well secured and the care of assembly is very evident. As far as performance once I got it home I can sum it up with "extremely surprised". I had conceded to, that loss of the DVD5910ci a unit that I paid 3800.00 years ago, I would lose performance on audio quality. WRONG! This player does my DVD-A and SACD performance as well if not maybe better than the 5910ci. The information coming thru the speakers is more balanced in placement as well as providing detail with musical warmth, al 5.1 surround of course. I have another player for 2 channel. As far as video, the unit you are looking at doesn't do video so that isn't important, but I will add it is fantastic.
I hope this helps you in your decision.
As a side note I did get a 50% discount and I beleive they are using the Burr Brown 1795 or 1796 chipsets in the DBP-A100, but it has AL24 processing and the DCD has AL32 bit, so I would say they are using better chips. Call Denon they will tell you. I found them to be very helpful when I was researching my purchase.
Thanks Theo. I had bought a Denon Blu Ray from an AGoner because I wanted a Blue Ray that would have quality analog outs for a legacy non HDMI receiver. I am happy with the sound but find the picture to be diss appointing. I am glad that you find your picture on your Blu Ray to be of high quality and your information about the chipset is helpful.
Just picked one of these up from Music Direct and have it burning in now. Very nice looking player, solidly built. I thought the 100th Anniversary paint scheme would look bad with the sparkles in it but you have to look close to see them so it adds a nice touch. Decided to take the plunge on this player after reading several other post people have made, plus the fact that I like the way my Denon DVD-3800 sounded with Blu-Ray music. Will let you know how it sounds as it breaks in over the weekend.
I picked one up as well. Am playing my 3rd disc on it. I'll be happy to share impressions with you in a week or so.