Review: Denon DVD-2200
Reviewed by Carsten Rampacher, October 29th, 2003
First of all we would like to thank our
cooperation partner HIFI-REGLER
for providing us with its testing rooms
Overview
DVD- universal players which are able to read both competitive high quality music formats such as DVD Audio and SACD, as well as DVD video media, are becoming more and more popular, which leads to increased product choice. With the strongly recommended DVD-2900, Denon has recently launched such a product into the market. Now the Japanese sound & vision experts offer three universal players at the same time, such as DVD-1400, DVD-2200 and DVD-A11, which are intended for three different target groups. In this case we decided for the golden mean and tested the DVD-2200 for EUR 799,--. This player already provides highly rated equipment features, which means that it is also equipped with a bass management for DVD Audio- and SACD-operation as well as a Dolby Digital and DTS-decoder. Internal design features supply accurate signal
processing.
Features/technical equipment
Finish  
As previously reported, Denon introduced the colour silver, as a run up to IFA, which means that presently many interesting products from the home cinema line-up are offered in this colour, of which DVD-2200 is one. The result is an elegant design and the metallic brilliance of the 2200 fits perfectly. With regard to the design in other respects no further modification can be observed. The DVD-player with aluminium front panel looks classically
conservative.
Its finish provides a very high-quality impression. In addition to the already mentioned metal front with the solid operating elements its perfectly finished rear-side will be observed. Less satisfactory is the tray of the disk drive, which appears to be unstable. This demonstrates that Denon have found it necessary to save money with some features in order to be in a position to offer a completely equipped universal player at a really fair
price.
The internal design of the DVD-2200 makes an excellent impression, as the specified features portray a precise finish. Due to its price difference the DVD-2200 of course is unable to compete with the lavish internal design of the DVD-2900. However, for EUR 800,-- an excellent performance is offered. Whilst with many competitors internal design can appear to be disappointing, the customer who purchases a Denon product, will notice how much care has been applied to the design and construction of this appliance.
As with numerous appliances from different manufacturers we have to be critical of the remote control. The supplied remote control makes a reasonable overall impression, but it is of average quality only. Its finish is not very
impressive.
Audio-/video-features and specified
construction groups
Taking its purchasing price into consideration this appliance is equipped with very highly rated design features, e.g. the player is Progressive Scan-capable and for the Progressive Scan-signal processing a high-quality chip is available from the manufacturer Silicon Images (SIL-504). This chip also works in the DVD-2900. A video D/A-converter with 12 bits/108 MHz is responsible for the video-digital-/analogue-conversion. In addition Denon chose a highly rated up-to-date component, to ensure that the digital-/analogue-conversion of the video data maintains perfect picture quality. A video-EQ, including a very well finished gamma-correction, also belongs to the package of the DVD-2200. Denon equipped the DVD-2200 with many features, not only with regard to video, but to
audio-equipment, too.
Above all the digital bass management for DVD Audio- and SACD-operating has to be mentioned. Those who, for example, use high-quality satellite loudspeakers will learn to quickly appreciate the advantages of a complete bass signal conversion to the active bass during DVD Audio- and SACD-operation. Concerning the DVD Audio-operation the DVD-2200 even supplies a time alignment-function, which means that you can input the distance of the individual loudspeakers to the listener`s place and ensure that the sound arrives at every loudspeaker at the same time during DVD
Audio-reproduction.
Connectors 
With regard to the number of connectors, the DVD-2200 provides a good range. A RGB-capable Scart-jack, a YUV-output for the progressive/interlaced-signal output, a S-video-Hosiden terminal, a six-channel-output for the SACD/DVD-A-sound signals and the internal DD/DTS-decoder, an optical digital output, a coaxial digital output and a two-channel-Cinch-out can be found on the clearly presented rear-side of the
appliance.
Multimedia
The multimedia-features of DVD-2200 are very good. During our testing procedure it was able to read DVD-RW's without any problem (not only in the video-mode but also in the VR-mode with additional editing possibilities). Due to high sharpness values and an amazingly good detail resolution, the quality of the picture was excellent. We have also been impressed by its natural overall impression. DVD-R's can also be read and replayed without any interruption. In addition Denon promises a replay-possibility for DVD+RW's. Friends of the reproduction of jpeg-data will also get their money's worth, as the player also accepts CD's with pictures in jpeg-format. In our opinion the reading times are fully acceptable and the picture quality of the jpeg-viewer is outstanding. The DVD-2200 replayed our SVCD-disc's without any difficulty. Picture and sound ran totally synchronous to each other and the picture quality was without a blemish in relation to the possibilities of the SVCD standard. We can only criticise the integration of the MP3-replay
function.
 The integrated on-screen-menu is clear, however the range of functions is insufficient. A random-play-function and a programming possibility is available, however Denon renounces of a ID3-day-presentation. Besides this the number of displays for the track name presentation was too limited. This results in a time consuming search for the corresponding track. With regard to its sound the DVD-2200 presents a clear and pleasant reproduction and a full and powerful bass during MP3-operation. The playing reliability is good, but not above the average. From time to time interruptions appeared with the Denon or slightly disturbing digital noises were produced with some difficult tracks.
Disk drive
Overall the disk drive has a good rating. With our testing equipment almost no irregularity could be noticed. On one occasion only it happened that an apparently perfect, i.e. non-scratched DVD Audio, could only be read at the second attempt. The silent operation of the disk drive is impressive. Concerning its speed the disk drive can offer good performance. The Denon manages perfectly the layer change and the DVD-2200 achieves good results with error correction. Even slightly scratched DVD's and CD's could be read without
difficulty.
The DVD-2200 produces highly respectable results in the first rating due to its extensive equipment, its perfect finish, its flexible multi-media possibilities of use and its high-quality disk
drive.
Features and technical equipment- total rating
Operating
With regard to operating convenience the DVD-2200 achieves good results. The on screen menus may appear to be too simple for some users, however its structure appears logical. By means of the useful menu and the sub-menus all important adjustments can already be carried out after a brief look into the detailed operating instructions. We were very pleased with the complete set-up for the internal decoder The customers are pleased with the remote control with its centrally positioned navigation cross and the phosphorescent buttons for important functions. With the contrast-rich and precise resolution display you can always maintain an overview and it can still be read very well under strong external
illumination.
Rating
Picture
Testing equipment:
At the moment perfect picture quality in the Progressive Scan-operation is not possible yet - nevertheless progress can be observed. The DVD-2200 is a very good example, as it already provides a progressive picture quality, sufficient for very demanding users, too, relative to its reasonable price. During interlaced-operation it did not display any kind of weakness and exceeded even renowned (more inexpensive) competitors such as Harman/Kardon's DVD-30 or Philips DVD-963SA. Even the differences relative to the more expensive Denon DVD-2900 are so small that they can almost be ignored. For the user, who is interested above all in the visual performance of the appliance, it is only worth deciding for the more advanced DVD-2900 in case its exclusive optics play an important role. With regard to the pure picture quality, the much more inexpensive DVD-2200 achieves practically the same high rated values, which means that the DVD-2200 is very suitable for use with a high-quality picture reproduction appliance. The possibilities of use for the DVD-2200 are enormous when connected to a projector, plasma display or high-end television
set.
Digression: The Chroma Bug
In the past a lot of demanding movie fans criticised the so-called "Chroma Bug" (chroma upsampling error) with different Progressive Scan-capable DVD-players. This "Chroma Bug" appeared in the NTSC-progressive and in PAL-PS and can be realised above all when rich colours (red in particular) appear against a dark background. Example: A small, red area against black background and horizontal dark stripes, visible in the red area, can be noticed. With regard to the "Chroma Bug" we would like to add the following: To notice the "Chroma Bug" a high-quality picture reproduction appliance becomes necessary . This was confirmed by the Chroma-Bug-experts on the US-website hometheaterhifi.com as follows: "As mentioned above, this problem has been around for a long time. It's only just now being noticed largely because one needs a good high-resolution display, such as a front projector and a six foot projection screen, to really see the problem clearly. In addition, the increasingly common use of large progressive displays has really allowed people to get up close to the screen and see every artefact magnified in great detail". In addition a high-quality cabling is the prerequisite in order to be able to notice this Chroma Bug, as inexpensive cables can cause more inferior visual losses than the Chroma Bug.
Chroma up-sampling/De-interlacing
With regard to the Chroma up-sampling the DVD-2200 supplies good results - not only in the NTSC, but also in the PAL-operation. Red or violet areas against dark-grey or black background seemed to be far better than could be observed in the past. Only in some cases and then only slightly the unwelcome horizontal dark stripes could be noticed, which refer to inadequate up-sampling. Concerning the De-interlacing the DVD-2200 performed well. Without any difficulty PAL- and NTSC-movie material could also be processed, movement has been reproduced fluently and without any interruptions. To optimise the progressive-signal processing the DVD-2200 supplies two different progressive-modes - these operating modes can be changed and adjusted to the corresponding DVD, depending on the software.
Total picture sharpness
Regarding the total picture sharpness the DVD-2200 achieved peak-values in this price range. Let us start out from the position that only the new Pioneer DV-668AV with 216 MHz/12-bits video-DAC to the amount of EUR 899,-- can achieve similar results in this price range. Shortly we will provide you with a test review of the Pioneer, as soon as the first testing appliances are available. These tests will demonstrate the total picture sharpness of the DV-668AV. Now let us go back to our Denon DVD-2200. Its outstanding picture sharpness is impressive in the interlaced- and progressive-operation, whereas the picture in the progressive-mode appeared more natural and more
detailed.
Quality of detail reproduction
Even with regard to the quality of detail reproduction (normally visible differences between players of approx. EUR 800,-- and considerably more expensive appliances appear) the DVD-2200 achieved practically identical values relative to the more expensive DVD-2900. In our movie examples this can be observed during interlaced-operation. Above all precise pattern and small objects look more precise and realistically determined by the system in the progressive use (in the interlaced-operation there exists a visible lines structure, so that the quality of the detail reproduction cannot supply perfect
results).
Contrast/ picture brilliance
Also in this discipline the DVD-2200 achieves peak-values. No object disappears in bright or dark picture segments. The Denon presents all contrasts with outstanding brilliance. The DVD-player never exaggerated very bright picture elements. Strongly contrasting pictures have been managed by the DVD-2200 with great accuracy with all our used movie-DVD's and enabled, even in unfavourable cases, high visual harmony
overall.
Colour reproduction
According to the outstanding performance in the preceding disciplines the DVD-2200 did not cause any kind of error with colour reproduction. With excellent clearness the player produced pure colours and achieved intense and rich reproduction. The high quality of the Denon can also be demonstrated as no disturbing colour noise will appear at all.
Internal video equalizer
The internal video-EQ offers five memory locations for individual adjustments. By means of this luxury equipment e.g. own adjustments for particular movies, cinema-classics and blockbuster with a top picture can be presented without any problem. The quality of the video equalisers is impressive. The picture sharpness and the detail contrast can be optimised with good results. The number of the available parameters could still be more extensive. The very good gamma-correction is an outstanding
feature.
Result/picture
The DVD-2200 provides impressive visual performance. The best example is its "big brother" called DVD-2900, which is in every way competitive to the DVD-2200. Overall the DVD-2200 supplies a picture quality at the top level for its money. Only more desirable would be a video-EQ with a more extensive range of
functions.
Rating
Sound
After the results in the picture rating we have been interested to find out if the DVD-2200 can also achieve a special recommendation with regard to its sound features. Relative to its visual quality there is an audible difference between the DVD-2200 and the DVD-2900. Finally there have to be differences besides the especially highly rated optics of the DVD-2900, which justify a considerably higher price. These can be found in the audio rating, where the DVD-2900 provides more sound freshness and better detail reproduction during DVD-A- and SACD-operation. These differences can only be heard provided that you have sufficient time, highly rated software and good loudspeakers. Audio-fans should (our recommendation) check out both Denon-players and finally decide which appliance will now become the personal favourite. The fans of classical music or Jazz-music, with a lot of listening experience, may also decide for the expensive Denon-2900. Relative to the purchasing price of EUR 799,-- the performance of the DVD-2200 was extraordinarily successful - evident from our ratings, relative to the purchasing
price.
DVD Audio
With all testing examples the Denon provides excellent dynamics. It can be realised (above all at classical concerts for example) that the engineers of Denon put a lot of development work into the DVD-2200. The overall reproduction is characterised by a highly pleasant freshness and liveliness, which means that the presentation of the Denon never seems to be sluggish or unemotional, but always lively. Besides this great differences in dynamics don't throw the player and together with its quick response and the clear and very well accentuated high frequency range the DVD-2200 demonstrates top overall performance in this price sector. Its bass management and time alignment work very well, too. Through these important equipment features, operation of the DVD-2200 is also possible without any difficulty when there is a different distance of the loudspeakers from the listener's place and when using satellite
loudspeakers.
SACD
The DVD-2200 excells during SACD-operation due to its natural voice reproduction and the pleasant instrumental incorporation. Also the high frequency range is presented very well at the SACD-reproduction. The Denon is able to keep its vocal interpretation at higher volumes and never provides the high frequency range with an aggressive or unsuitable sound emphasis. The Denon is able to handle any kind of bass very precisely and fully. Together with the outstandingly structured midrange the DVD-2200 proves that it is also able to fulfil requirements as SACD-player of the upper class without any
problem.
CD reproduction
The performance as an Audio-CD-player is also impressive. Especially conspicuous is the offered dynamics, which lends a lot of authentic flair above all to live-recordings. However its sensitive voice presentation lends a lot of charisma and deepness to the voices. Its perfect bass range strengthens completely our overall impression which means that the DVD-2200 can function as a CD-player of the upper middle-class without any
problem.
Internal Dolby Digital- and DTS-decoder
Now let's talk about the internal decoder and the digital sound. To the first point we can tell you a lot positive aspects. A saturated and exactly constructed bass is combined with very good dynamics in the high frequency range and a pleasant, never unpleasant and exaggerated centering reproduction. The voices can be heard clearly and freshly and the incorporation of precise details are perfectly achieved by the internal
decoder.
Digital sound
The digital sound does not want to be behind this scenario with regard to our other ratings – a precise resolution with so much feeling for details and a clear bass range offers pure sound for your
money.
Results/sound
Some time ago considerably more money would have to be paid for such an acoustically convincing DVD-player such as the DVD-2200. For approximately EUR 800,-- the player can face the market with its balanced and convincing features in each individual discipline. It is a matter of course that the more expensive DVD-2900 can still offer more than the DVD-2200, as the DVD-2900 plays in a completely different
league.
Rating
Total result
With the DVD-2200 Denon has produced an excellent universal player at a relatively low price. In all ratings this appliance was classified with an extraordinarily good performance and the remaining high level is really noticeable. In every respect the Denon offers more than usual. Starting with the solid finish of the housing (to which only the apparently unstable disk tray does not fit perfectly) to the highly rated internal design features to the first-class picture up to the differentiated, dynamically and sensitive acoustical presentation - the DVD-2200 is already complete and is able to carry out the demanded requirements so well that many demanding homecineasts, will ask each other, if still more features on a DVD-player are
necessary.
Excellent
Upper middle class
Test October 29th, 2003
Value
Pro:
-
Extremely sharp and exactly detailled picture
-
Outstanding contrast values
-
Brilliant colour reproduction
-
Dynamic and sovereign DVD Audio- and SACD-sound
-
Outstanding internal decoder
-
Perfect acoustical features as CD-player-substitute
-
Disk drive with extensive buffer memory and a quick read-out speed
-
Praiseworthy multimedia-features
-
Outstandingly good price-/performance relation
Contra:
Specifications
DVD-universal player with integrated Dolby Digital-
and DTS-decoder
AUDIO-/VIDEO-formats
DVD-Audio, DVD-Video, DVD-R/RW (DVD Video) , DVD+R/RW (DVD Video),
Super Audio CD (Single Layer, Dual Layer, Hybrid),
Video-CD, SVCD, Musik CD, CD-R/RW (MP3, JPEG)
Kodak Picture CD, Fujicolor CD
HIGHLIGHTS
24 bits / 192 kHz Audio-D/A-converter
Integrated Dolby Digital- and DTS-Decoder
Bass management for DVD-Audio and SACD
Time-alignment for DVD-Audio
Silicon Image SIL504 De-Interlacer for Progressive Scan (PAL and NTSC)
12 bits / 108 MHz Video-D/A-converter ADV7300
8 MB buffer memory for a layer change without interruptions
Pure Direct Mode
CONNECTIONS
Video
Outputs 1 x components, 1 x SCART (RGB), 1 x S-Video, 1 x Composite
Audio
Analogue-outputs 1 x Stereo, 1 x 5.1-Multichannel
Digital-outputs 1 x optical, 1 x coaxial
IN GENERAL
Dimensions: 434 x 101 x 318 mm (W x H x D)
Weight: 4,5 kg
Reviewed by: Carsten Rampacher
Assistant: Matthias Walther-Richters
October 29th, 2003
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