REVIEW
CONCLUSION If you really wish to spend the best part of a grand on a standard definition film player you couldn’t do any better than to plump for this Denon. The only issue is that if you haven’t seen disc-based HD yet I urge you to tap up a Dixons Stores guy or a mate and take a peek at how the two HD games formats treat their respective film disc formats, then imagine what even a Samsung or LG HD universal (let alone a putative Marantz, Denon or Pioneer) could do with them. Trust me, you’ll be spending that grand on two games consoles and a few software titles if you have any wisdom – HD is that good, film buffs! Much lower on the priority list,
having fondly cherished a Denon DVD-A11 for a number of years as the ideal pre-1080p universal machine, it is with deep regret that I have to report that any Audio from CD via the 2channel self-respecting DVD (i.e. stereo) output undergoes AL24 Audio lover should processing, but from the 5.1ch definitely make sure surround sound output (Front L&R) they audition the DVDis unprocessed. Denon’s processing scheme reduces bandwidth quite 3930 prior to purchase. Coupled with both mine drastically, to just 8.5kHz (-1dB) our measurements show, and CD via and Noel’s problems with unexpected muting, the stereo outputs will sound less sharp than that via Surround Sound it is to be hoped that outputs as the latter reached 21.3kHz, our issues with this measurements revealed. However, player may be due to a with SACD and DVD-A the 2ch stereo duff sample, as middling outputs gave much the same results as DVD-A performance and the front L&R Surround Sound channels, random behaviour are albeit with a tad less distortion. Both SACD and DVD-A distortion not typical Denon traits. figures were very similar and around On the other hand, ten times better than CD at low levels, SACD lovers should as expected so the Denon works well rush to sample the here. As usual, SACD reaches 45kHz lush joys of the DSD against DVD-A’s 91kHz and it has more playback on the 3930. I supersonic noise, so it looks worse, but was genuinely amazed these differences are academic. to hear a Denon making Channel separation and noise levels what has previously were fine, as was CD dynamic range. seemed to be very much The DVD3930 does it all - and well measurement shows. The 2ch outputs a secondary format for give an unusual result from CD, due them sound so perfect. Even if your horizons to AL24 processing, but the Front Left and Right Surround outputs avoid this. are primarily limited to SACD and DVD-A worked well. NK DVD-V with a bit of CD on the side, you should Frequency response (-1dB) consider the DVD-3930. CD AL24 2Hz - 8.5kHz Both Dolby and DTS CD surround 2Hz - 21.3kHz are rendered extremely DVD-A 2Hz - 91kHz SACD 2Hz - 45kHz
Blinding SACD and fine Compact Disc sound, but DVD-A proved less impressive on the review sample. An excellent do-it-all product all the same.
DENON DCD-3930 £900 Denon UK +44 (0)1753 680568 www.denon.co.uk
FOR • great SACD • class leading DVD video • ‘handset hackable’
AGAINST • DVD-A sound • stodgy remote feel
MEASURED PERFORMANCE
Distortion (%) CD SACD -6dB 0.0006 0.0006 -60dB 0.21 0.03 -80dB 2.8 0.31 -100dB 2.4
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
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VERDICT
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to the same band’s ‘Everything Must Go’, it was apparent that the overall character of the 24/96 surround track was similar to the earlier album, and worse, the usually plainly discriminatory 24/192 stereo on the title track sounded no better at all. More bizarrely, (and indicative of the machine being tuned for simple DVD-Video performance), choosing lossy surround music formats gave much more satisfactory results – both Don Henley’s ‘End Of The Innocence’ DTS CD, and Ben Folds’ ‘Songs for Silverman Dolby Digital Dual Disc sounding smooth and musical. As Marvin Gaye once wondered, what's going on?
listenable, and ye olde CD and HDCD are a delight (particularly the latter). I would imagine Region 1 freaks are in the minority these days (all the ferocious early adopters have gone over to trying to work out which Blurays will actually play on their Zone B PS3....) but the fact that in common with most Denon universals since the DVD-A11, the 3930 is easily handset hackable to make it multi-region (tip – try it a few times...) is one more checkbox ticked... The real cheapskates who realise that their Xboxes and PS3s are rubbish for standard DVD playback tend to go for cheap universal players, but the savvy ones will go for the Denon DVD-3930. I agree with you, this really is the one to go for, with the sole globe-dropping caveat that if you’re at all interested in DVDAudio, look elsewhere. If you are with 99.999% of the normal population, forget that and call this a five star review.
Separation (1kHz) Noise (IEC A) Dynamic range Output
110dB -101dB 111dB 2.2V
DVD-A FREQUENCY RESPONSE
SACD FREQUENCY RESPONSE
CD DISTORTION
DVD-A 0.0002 0.028 0.31 2.7
JUNE 2007 HI-FI WORLD
57 18/4/07 11:39:41