normancj

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 3.00 votes

Price Paid:  $1000.00 from Ebay

Summary:
WOW what a player, I use this for DVD's mostly. Great progressive scan, great sound, built to last. DVD audio is great as well. Make sure you have good interconnects.

Strengths:
DVD, DVD audio, sounds amazing.

Weaknesses:
none

Similar Products Used:
Sony 9000, Marantz SA12-S1

Price Paid:  $850.00 from Definition Audio-Vid

Summary:
I have a friend who owns a high end AV store. Marantz was discontinuing their Reference model, DV-12S1, a $2700 DVD/DVD-A player. Marantz offered it to their dealers at a close out price. I ordered one site unseen. Best move I ever made. I get a chance to audition and play with more equipment than most folks, and I must say that this is one of the best DVD players I have ever encountered. Not only is the progressive scan very clean and smooth, the audio is the best of any DVD player I have ever listened to. The video on the new Marantz 8300 DVD/DVD-A/SACD player may be a little sharper, but the 12S1 picture is excellent in both progressive and interlaced mode. This player replaces a Toshiba SD-9000 (Originally SGHT AA) which was heralded as a great sounding player when it came out a few years ago. Highly reviewed and probably the best interlaced player that Tosh made. I put the 12S1 in my system and was immediately blown away by the sound improvement. I use a Kimber Illuminations D-60 cable to a Denon AVP-8000(originally SGHT AAA rated). Because of the audio pedigree of the Tosh, I really didn't expect the overall sound improvements I heard. My Tosh/Denon setup was great and always got rave reviews from knowledgeable friends. With the Marantz there is more space, more detail, and an openness that caught me off guard. The surrounds are more active than before. I have a greater surround ambience with both movies and concert DVD's. After listening to a few test discs, both movies and concerts, my wife said, "I've never heard our system sound that good." You've heard this before, but I find myself going through all my old DVD's and it's like listening for the first time. If you can find one, and don't need SACD, then don't hesistate, buy it on site. I won't be replacing this for awhile, unless I just have to have an SACD machine. I don't find that likely. My buddy got one too, and he feels exactly the same as I do. When we set it up in his system, he just smiled and kept saying, I can't believe how good this sounds. As the previous reviewer said, on Redbook CDs, it is the best I've ever heard a DVD player sound. It rivals my PS Audio Lambda II transport, Aragon D2A2 DAC combo for CD playback. I have listened to it's DVD-A playback on my buddies system and it is great. Limited bass management, but that's not an issue for me. I have an Arcam FMJ AV8

Strengths:
Superb audio and video Built like a tank. All copper shielding, 29 pounds.

Weaknesses:
Slow menus Remote is ergonmically cool, but the toggle button is tricky, I get by this by using a Pronto

Similar Products Used:
Pioneer DV-05,09,37,38A,47A/47Ai Marantz 8300, Arcam DV88 and DV27 Toshiba 9000

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Absolutely superb in every way! Built like a hi-end power amp! Exceptional picture, sound and ergonomics. I bought it mainly for sound (24/192 DAC) and I'm not dissappointed. This machine creates a more convincing musical experience on redbood than most so-called "audiophile" CD/DVD/SACD players out there for under $3000. Furthermore, it blows them away using DVD-A. The list includes Arcam CD92 (dry, 2-dimensional, cheap built, not worth $1700), FMJ23 (not much better), Rotel RCD971 (bright, thin balance), Pioneer DV47A (poor dynamics, weak bass, great picture though), Toshiba SD9200 (muddy bass, poor ergonomics), Sony SCD-XA777 (excellent but not as velvety sounding). Well, you get the idea. Only one caveat - maybe it's a defect with the remote but the onscreen menu feels sluggish at times. A point of clarification concerning the previous review. The reviewer is mistaken regarding the one metal washer for the cover. There is nothing wrong with his unit - the one washer is there for grounding!!

Strengths:
Great sound, built second to none

Weaknesses:
Sluggish OSD

Similar Products Used:
Pioneer, Arcam, Rotel

Price Paid:  $2600.00 from BigBang

Summary:
The player is really very well built or better said engineered, and has expected very good picture and sound . What I found annoying is really noisy transport in the unit, and not so handy remote control due to too small buttons and sometimes remote just doesn't do the job. (I found that my unit has also in the cover under one screw copper ring instead of plastic (labour quality problem ?)).
In set-up modus it's really easy to do all the necessary settings, and it's really easy to understand and navigate.
Generally, it is a good player.

Strengths:
Very well built, great looks, picture quality very good but not as the best, sound good enough .

Weaknesses:
Very noisy/brummy transport, loud opening and closing ( need "lubricating"), CD sound not so good as from CD-17 (have both and can compare), remote control buttons too small, sometimes jog button capitulate, price paid.

Similar Products Used:
denon 2800