Marantz DV-18 DVD Players

Marantz DV-18 DVD Players 

DESCRIPTION

Reference Series THX Ultra DVD Player - Dolby Digital/DTS - Component Video outputs - 10-bit video DACs with 27MHz filtering - 96kHz/24-bit audio DACs - S-video and composite video outputs

USER REVIEWS

Showing 11-20 of 33  
[Jul 04, 2001]
Wilfred
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Excellent Picture quality and sound. Lots of features.

Weakness:

Skip once in awhile depending on the Disc, especially CD. Retarded remote.

This is a very good DVD player for the price. The picture quality is excellent, better than my Sony DVP-3000, but twice the MSRP of course. Lot of video functions.

Like many of us, I am more interested in the CD quality of this player. The sound, like the other said is very close to or as good as the CD-17MKII. I didn't get a chance to do a AB comparison test on the both. But I don't feel that it's better than CD-17MKII like many have mentioned. It's very dynamic, bass is good but I feel the CD-17MKII is more natural.

When AB comparing to my CD-63, it's clearly better in many ways, but not by much. For 3 times the MSRP, you are not gaining much in sound quality. But then again, it's a DVD player, you are paying for DVD too!

I don't believe you need to spend $2-3k in order to get better CD sound, that's just a bit exaggerated. The Adcom GCD-750 has a very natural sound that are going for less then $1K (MSRP $1300) on the web these days, but it has a useless display panel and lack digital out. And if you were one of the lucky Sony SCD-777ES owners who paid a mere $1500 - $2000 (MSRP $2500) for it, you are totally at a different level of sound. When AB comparing the two, well, lets not waste your time...

This player was supposed to be a MKII unit, but ubid sent me the orig DV-18. I have to admit that this machine looks great and has decent built, but the tray is flimsy though. I am returning this item to ubid because it's not the MKII model as advertised. Not to mention that the remote on this player is just absolutely ridiculous! FFWD and RWD are hard to do during a movie, the stupid jog shuttle is just plain retarded. The size and the weight distribution are just... sigh, forget about it. Don't get me wrong, I am a true Marantz fan, in fact, I think Marantz makes the best remote, for CD player at least. For those who owns a Marantz CDP, you will notice that when you press the "play" button, it will replay the same track. When you press "prev", it will go straight to the prev track, unlike other conventional remotes that replay the same song. Simple, yet ingenious idea that all CDP remotes should follow.

In conclusion, for $380 (refurbuished w/warranty), it is no doubt a bargain if you are shopping for DVD player or CD player in this price range. But for $1200 MSRP, you may want to go for the Sony 9000ES for its superb picture quality, both interlace and progressive. If you are looking for a CDP for around $1000+ street price, look elsewhere.

4 stars (Great Deal Rating) for value because of the cheap price.
2 stars (Not completely happy) for overall because of the MSRP and stupid remote.

Following the rating description exactly! :D Happy Listening everyone! IMHO

Similar Products Used:

Sony, Toshiba

OVERALL
RATING
2
VALUE
RATING
4
[Nov 20, 2000]
Ashar Khan
Casual Listener

Strength:

crystal clear dvd resolution,sound,sleek looks

Weakness:

auckward remote control, expensive

I have just traded in a DV7000 for a DV18 after only 2 days of use.Once I saw the awesome difference that existed between these machines,I did not think of the heavy price tag on the DV 18 for even a second.It is perhaps the most superior of the non-progressive scan dvd players in the market.Just try it with Wireworld Component Video Cables and you'll be in no doubts about the validity of your investment.I firmly believe that DVD players should be specifically used for dvds only and not for audio CDs.This machine satisfies your needs for both these utilities in an instance.Definitely recommended!!

Similar Products Used:

marantz dvd7000

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Mar 13, 2000]
T Leon
Audiophile

Strength:

Purity in video presentation. Referance level audio CD performance. Huge bang for the buck. Stealthy case design.

Weakness:

No progressive scan. A bit slow in processing requests.

As critical as I feel I am about audio, I am even more critical of video. Simply put, I was blown away by this piece for both audio & video. Quite honestly, I never even thought about using DVD for my primary CD source and still have a hard time trying to convince myself but the DV-18 sounds just as good if not better than most of the CD players I have heard in the $1k - $1.5k range. And with it, you get even better DVD performance.

As with all DVD players under $4k, there are definately some image artifacts that mysteriously pop up, especially in FF & RR modes, but compared to the other units in the same price range, it is noticeably less frequent.

On paper, it is really upsetting that this unit offers no Pscan output but on screen, you hardly miss it. The Marantz Interlaced mode blows the other units interlaced modes away and is 90% of their Pscan modes. When you A/B compare this unit beside another unit with Pscan output it is hard to notice any difference at all aside from some very very slight flicker that is only noticeable when you are too close to the screen.

Software is good but just a little slow.

Similar Products Used:

DV09, DVD930, Sony & Theat DaViD. Mitsubishi

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Apr 03, 2000]
Dave
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Very Good picture & sound

Weakness:

Skips playing some CDs

This machine is a mixed blessing. It sounds pretty good playing both videos and CDs (albeit a little bright and etched at times). But the frustrating thing is that it skips on certain CDs (about 5% of my collection). And it's not just my sample - 2 other demo units at the dealer also exhibit the same problem. It's as though the machine's pick-up mechanism is too sensitive or its error correction isn't doing its job. By asking the machine play all disk types (DVD, VCD, CD, CD-R) I think Marantz has bitten off more than it can chew. By contrast, the Rotel RDV985, though not CD-R compatible, tracks and sounds much better on most CDs and has a much better remote, and for less money. The DV18's remote is also a disgrace - no forward or reverse buttons (only by track). To go forward or reverse within a track you have to put it on Pause and use an awkward spring-loaded "wheel"- a real pain in the kazoo! In my opinion, the DV18 is not a finished product.

Similar Products Used:

Rotel RDV985; Pioneer DV525

OVERALL
RATING
3
VALUE
RATING
3
[Aug 19, 2000]
Ray
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Incredible Sound, good looking unit

Weakness:

Kinda lame remote.

Have not had any problems with this unit, no skipping. It sound awesome! Sounds great for CD's as well.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Feb 10, 2000]
Brian Helman
Audiophile

Strength:

Audio and Video quality. Good looks!

Weakness:

None

DVD Video - Excellent. Performs as well as units costing twice the price. Out performs my 50" rear projection. You would need a HDTV to fully realize the quality picture of this player.

CD - Excellent. The playback quality is exceptional for a CD player in this price range. In fact, my dealer informed me that this unit out performs the Marantz CD-17 Mk II reference series CD player. And as a result of this, Marantz has discontinued the CD-17 MkII. Not Bad! That was a very clean CD player.

This is an excellent performer for the price(MSRP $1200). It has great looks - Marantz's Reference Series styling. I definitely recommend this unit.

Enjoy,
Brian

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jan 06, 2002]
nabil souli
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

don't know not working

Weakness:

seems to be fragile considering the number of defective returns I'm hearing about here and there..DO NOT BUY AT UBID!!!

I ordered this baby from ubid.com and received a DVD player that only plays blak and white images when connected through component video interfaces!!! Can you beleive that???
Can you beleive that ubid didn't even plug the unit and try it before sending it ???/ Unbelievable.
DO NOT BUY AT UBID!!!

Anybody heard about similar problems on this product ? (component video failure). Anybody can help on how to best handle this with ubid?

Of course I wont even mention the scratches on the unit the dead pixels on the digital display (can't even read some letters anymore)...etc...


As for the product it self can't really assess it but all I can say is that the remote weighs a ton and is really totally archaic!!


Anybody can help please email me directly nabil_souli@hotmail.com

tx

Similar Products Used:

none

OVERALL
RATING
1
VALUE
RATING
1
[Jan 24, 2002]
Larry Checknita
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Excellent music presentation,Video playback good,good looks

Weakness:

Owned only 11 months and laser pick-up fails!!!! No parts available anymore!!!!

Don't get me wrong this player is an exceptional piece of equipment WHEN IT'S WORKING. The Audio was outstanding. I would now sit and listen to disc's that I haven't had for a long time. DVD's were a joy to watch. I would highly recommend this unit only if it doesn't fail. Can you believe it, 11 months old and no parts available! The warranty is 2 years but now the dealer isn't sure what to do. I tried to contact Marantz but no use. They offered to replace the unit but that wouldn't be smart to take a unit that will not have any parts if it fails again. Has not been resolved yet but hopefully soon.
I have given this unit a rating of 4 based on the excellent musicality it displays but the integrity leaves something to be desired.

Similar Products Used:

none, first DVD owned

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
3
[Dec 31, 2001]
Luke Grasic
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Very good DVD Player,Good construction.

Weakness:

Shocking Remote,Skips on some CD's,CD Playback for price

As I live in a rural location I purchased this player with out listening to it 1st,I researched it on the net as well as listening to recomendations from some owners, a lot of talk of this units great performance as a CD player .I have been a audio hobbiest for 30 Yrs owning Hi-End equipment & I feel people raving about the CD performance must have moved up from some cheap & nasty players,I stopped listening to CD,s altogether & eventually bought a Rotel 991AE CD player as the DV-18 had no sound stage, no depth, poor seperation between instruments & was thick 2 dimentional sounding, the rotel has all the qualities for enjoyable listening.I know it is a DVD & not a CD only player But I feel a lot people could be burnt believing all the trash about it's CD performance being as good as the CD17 MK2 Cd player.It performs very well as a DVD both visually & sonically but is not a one box answer to playing all laser discs

Similar Products Used:

toshiba,dennon.

OVERALL
RATING
3
VALUE
RATING
2
[Sep 22, 2001]
Hasnat Mosharraf
Audiophile

Strength:

EXELLENT VDO and AUdio

Weakness:

CUSTOMER SERVICE.... REMOTE... Slow Load,
SKIPS DISKS like anything



In general good.

but I WILL NOT BUY this product!!!!!!


After using the product just over 13months, the lens got screwed up or something. IT can read only the the silver disks and NOT the Gold disks...

I gave it Marantz. They told me bcos the warranty expired,
they will charge me USD300 for repairing it!!
I already paid $1000 usd for it and spending another 300?? I think that will be a bit too much.. i can but another decent player with with these days!!

Similar Products Used:

sony 7700

OVERALL
RATING
2
VALUE
RATING
3
Showing 11-20 of 33  

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