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Onkyo DV-SP1000 or Pioneer DV-59AVi?

Hi Guys,
I am putting together a relatively budget system for my Den, and I am looking at purchasing a great sounding universal player.
I have narrowed down my choices to either the Pioneer DV-59AVi or the Onkyo DV-SP1000.
I have briefly listened to the Onkyo, but not the Pioneer.
I like the idea of the Pioneer because of its solid reputation for reliability, Burr-Brown DAC's, and its reputation for good sonics and supposedly great video.
Being able to purchase it online in the $750.00 to $850.00 range delivered also helps!
I like the Onkyo because of its SOLID construction, great video, and according to the European press...great sonics.
On the other hand, I have read that some of the Onkyo's have a lip-sync issue, maybe some slight video noise, and the price is slightly high compared to the Pioneer.
I also don't know how good the Wolfson DAC's are in the Onkyo?
Has anyone out there owned both of these units, or compared them?
If so, could you tell me how they compare both sonically, and on video?
Please don't bring up the Denons or the Marantz DV-9500, as I have already ruled them out.
Thanks for your help guys!
audio_girl
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Audiogirl, have you read the review of the Denon 3910 on the Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity website? They do a very comprehensive review of all their players including technical measurements and comparisons. I have not provided the link to the tech comparisons here, but I'm sure you can easily find it.

Bottom line, they call the Denon 3910 "the current king of the hill at anywhere near this price range."
audio_girl OP
91 posts
 
Tvad,
Even if it is "the current king of the hill at anywhere near this price range", I would not want to deal with the possible issues, I have read about, that I named above.
I have two local friends who also had numerous QC problems with the Denons. One wound up buying a used Esoteric DV-50 and the other wound up buying a used Arcam FMJ DV-27A.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Okey-dokey.
larry_s
128 posts
 
Video via HDMI/DVI the SP-1000, 3910, and 59avi are very close and any one would do just fine - except the 3910 which uses the Faroudja 2310 that has "macroblocking" issues with some digital displays. Secrets of Home Theater explains this in their review. The SP-1000 also has had some lip synch issues reported. For audio, most people prefer the SP-1000 (from reading comments at AVS from those who listened to all three). Best bang for $$$ of the three is the 59avi. For audio you can get more for more $$$. For video, in most cases, more $$$ will get you the same or worse.
daltonlanny
297 posts
 
I also read on the AVS Forum that Kris Deering of Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity bought an Onkyo DV-SP1000 to mainly test its video, and found CUE [Chroma Upsampling Error] issues with the component video output on the 1000.
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