Sound in general and especially CD playback is EXCELLENT.
Picture seems to reveal detail I was not aware of before, still remains natural.
Device feels very solid, I like the build quality and the design.
Remote controls also Marantz CD and preamp volume.

RGB picture shows rainbow artefacts.
It managed to freeze at 1:17:21 of "Strar Wars episode I", had to open/close, at least could go to 1:17:22 and continue, but will wach it closely.
If one would wish to use the remote control for more than basic functions, he/she would need rather bright ligt or some training.
Could run cooler -- indeed that is a price you pay for separate regulated PSUs, more a compliment really, but then they could use some heatsinks and / or louvered lid.

I was looking for smth with outstanding musical capabilities (stereo only) and decent picture, I guess I reached the goal. CD playback is excellent, DVD sound is more than adquate. Of course my Panasonic A160 DVD was not a benchmark, but CD playback IMHO is better than Marantz CD72Mk2 -- I would prefer Marantz with some material still but DV27 is way more detailed and precise AND musical. RGB/SCART shows some funny rainbow arifacts but then composite video is immaculate (sony 29in CRT), will be able to comment on progressive once I have my plasma (I consider non-HD 42in as I have loads of DVDs and no intention to watch any broadcasted material), need to upgrade the software still.
System:
Innovative-Audio Ultrapath poweramps (solid state),
custom made Lowther Fidelios (DX2),
Marantz AV500 preamp
Marantz CD72Mk2
Sony 29in CRT
Pioneer tape deck, Fisher FM tuner, Creek DAC (could sell), LG VCR, Dali Trio boxes (could sell).
Loc. Brussels, Belgium

Customer Service

5 years warranty was granted by Arcam even considering I did not purchase from an official dealer.

Similar Products Used:

Panasonic A160 - mediocre but reliable, still sometimes minor problems, fine build if compared to -
Thomson ... - feels crap but works well, had problems with some DVDs.
Fujitsu-Siemens laptop -- mediocre picture, noisy fan, better to be left for surfing the net.
CD playback:
Sony CDP213 - basic and unrefined, still music playback considerably better than many DVD players.
Marantz CD72Mk2 -- would still prefere it for some things but on most recordings DV27 is way better.
DAC from Creek (OBH14?) -- clear improvement over A160, but worse than CD72, have not bothered to try with DV27 (used Toslink)

All-round performance; frankly no point buying separate top-of-the-range CD and DVD players (which means that, even though it's wallet-wrenchingly expensive, it's still a better bet than 2 separate units)

Build quality is OK (NB alongside the Denon amp everything looks flimsy!) and the remote is difficult to read in poor light (or with defective eyesight!) The VF display looks like something in a lab (but I have switched it off).

I had the opportunity to test-drive a number of DVD players before I stopped looking once I'd experienced this one. It is quite simply brilliant both on DVD and CD. NB partnered with a Denon AVR3803 (an awesome combination) there is really little to choose when it comes to decoding discs in the player or the amp. Purists go on about DVD players being rubbish at playing 'proper' music. Not here. Playing 2-channel stereo through the Denon AVR3803 (on its PureDirect setting - which kills off all the video circuitry) is an 'ear-opener', where you get to hear nuances that you didn't hear before on lesser kit. Try Simon & Garfunkel, Tales from New York, 1999, and the hairs on the back of your neck will go up. In DVD mode, connected via component to a plasma it's fabulous. For a audio-visual treat, try the Eagles, Hell Freezes Over (select DTS). The sound is top notch and Don Henley's acne has never looked so good!

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Onkyo Arcam DV88 Pioneer Sony

Incredible Sound Quality Eye Popping Picture Quality DVD-A bass management

Small, poor ergonomically designed remote (I get around this with my Pronto) Picture is not scalable (My PRO510 locks into full with a progressive signal) OSD just says next when skipping chapters, doesn't display chapter numbers Doesn't do SACD

This review is for the DV27A. A good friend of mine owns an Audio-Video store, so I have access to play with, and audition more equipment than most people. I had a chance to buy a Marantz DV12-S1 DVD/DVD-A player at a great price when they were discontinued. I was really planning on getting a universal DVD-A/SACD model at that time, but couldn't pass up the 12-S1. (see my review). I promised a life long friend that I would sell him the DV12-S1 when his system was ready, then buy something like the Marantz DV-8400. The time came and I had to sell the 12-S1 to my friend as promised. I missed it immediately. My buddy talked me in to buying an Arcam DV27A, instead of the Marantz 8400 that I was thinking of getting. From the minute I put the DV27A into my system I knew it was special. The Marantz had the best DVD sound I had ever heard in a DVD player up to that time, and the picture was great. To my amazement, the Arcam just took it up a couple of notches. I'm still amazed everytime I put in a DVD by how good the picture and sound quality is. It just looks and sounds right. Every subtle sound nuance is right where it should be. The picture looks as close to film as any machine I have seen, and as I said, I play with a lot of equipment. It supposedly has the chroma bug, but I don't see it nor does it detract from anything I've watched. Animation like "The Lion King," is just breath taking on the Arcam. Panoramic shots in movies such as "Legends of the Fall" are incredible. There is awesome detail in every scene of the standard bit "Fifth Element". I have a large concert video collection, and the sound of the individual instruments and their presentations just knocks out everyone that listens to it. Diana Krall's "Live in Paris" is a you are there experience. Both the DD and dts versions are excellent. The different stick and brush stroke techniques used by Jeff Hamilton on the cymbals are subtle, but with the DV27A, you hear every different sound he is creating. CD playback is the best I have ever heard on a DVD player. The 24/192 Wolfson DACs are awesome. I have an EAD 8000PRO pre/pro, and in comparison between the Burr Brown PCM1732 24-bit, 96 kHz DACs in the EAD (using the DV27A as a transport) and the Arcam, there is a difference, but it's hard to say one is better than the other. The Arcam is a more forward in the midrange which gives it a more presence. The EAD is a little more laid back and smoother. At first my wife preferred the Arcam dacs, but after switching between the two, and a lot of critical listening, she decided they were both very good, but they are different. I still personally prefer my PS Audio Lambda II transport and EAD dac combo for CD, but the Arcam is right in there quality wise. If I could only have one player to do both DVD and CD, this would be the one. You'd be hard pressed to find a better all around player. The CD quality is as good as any single box stand alone player I've heard under $4,000. DVD Audio is outstanding. The bass management system is a big improvement over the Marantz DV12-S1 (which had none). While the 27A is a great DVD-A player, I personally haven't gotten into DVD-A at this time. The biggest negative drawback for me has to do with the limitations of my display. My first generation Pioneer Elite PRO510HD, locks into full mode when it sees a progressive signal. This is fine with anamorphic, 16x9 software, but can present a problem with 4x3 material, such as most concert DVDs. The positive side of this is if I use the S video out for these videos, the picture is as good as any I've seen using S video. An internal scalable feature would have been nice, but won't be an issue if you have a newer model HD display. The price is a little high, and there are some great players out there for a lot less money, but for someone looking for a machine that will really bring out the best in their other high end HT gear, and they don't "want or need" SACD. This is the one. For reference my supporting gear consists of: EAD 8000Pro pre/pro Air Tight ATM-1 tube amp - mains Aragon 8008BB SS amp - center channel Aragon 8002 SS amp - surrounds Meadowlark Audio Shearwater Hot Rod mains Meadowlark Petral Center channel NHT VS-2a surrounds Velodyne FR1800RII sub. Pioneer Elite PRO510HD RPTV PS Audio Lambda II CD transport

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Pioneer DV47A, DV47AI, DV09, DV05 Marantz DV12-S1, DV8300, DV8400 Arcam DV88 Toshiba 9000

Plays cds to an exceptional standard with great clarity, accuracy and openess. Not a great judge of DVDs but from my limited experience this is pretty impressive as a DVD player also.

The remote - fortunately the RC1090 remote is now taking on that role!

I cannot praise the DV27 enough. I wasin the process of upgrading my system for 2-channel but with an eye on playing dvds and eventually converting to surround sound and was persuaded to try the DV27. Initially sceptical about the potential for compromising 2 channel sound (the 'here and now' rather than the potential of DVD-A), I was quickly converted. Yes, there are better CD players out there but the price to pay for that gain is significant. I had to listen to a Mark Levinson before I felt there was a noticeable difference. Mine is now connected up to a ROTEL RC1090 and RB1090 with Kef Reference 203 speakers (essential power in a room measuring 40 x 30 feet). At the price this is an outstanding cd player that also plays DVDs. What more could one want?

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Arcam DV88, Pioneer

Dynamique, scène sonore, précision des attaques, transparence, encodage HDCD et Progressive Scan, image délivrée sur mon TT, le tout dans un boitier au design épuré, le TOP quoi ! En plus la platine est MODULAIRE.

Dommage qu'elle ne possède pas le DVD-A directement, bien que c'est prévu sous forme d'Upgrade.

Cette platine Arcam FMJ DV 27 est exceptionnelle !!! Tant d'un point de vue sonore que l'image délivrée. Je possède cette platine depuis plus d'un an et ne le regrette nullement. La scène sonore dégagée, cette dynamique et cette précision d'analyse m'étonnera toujours. Je possède également une platine Arcam ALPHA 8, et comment dire l' FMJ joue vraiment dans une autre cour, elle excelle même, fini les préjugés des lecteurs DVD qui ne savent pas lire un CD ! C'est vraiment comme si on enlevait un voile par rapport à l'ALPHA 8... une transparence et une façon de faire passer l'émotion qui fait vraiment plaisir, enfin une platine DVD audiophile. On peut donc à partir d'une seule platine se faire plaisir tant en Stéréo qu'en Home Cinéma. Et c'est le bonheur total, cette platine reste encore dans des sommes abordables, et permet enfin de réconcilier les 2 mondes.

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Simaudio MOON Stellar

A simply unbeatable package at the price. Excellent quality in both audio and video areas.

For the price - none.

Let me start by placing my recent acquisition of this player in context. For many years my audio system has comprised a Linn Sondek LP12 (Valhalla) coupled with a pair of old Meridian M2 active speakers and the Meridian pre-amp that came with them. I have had many hours of pleasure from this kit but some form of upgrade / capitulation to the digital age beckoned. I intend to do this in stages as I wish to emerge with a total AV solution which is nonetheless capable of reproducing CD's and audio generally to a high quality. Stage one involved getting a decent widescreen TV and a DVD player. I wanted a high end DVD player that could also do a great job of playing audio CD's. These requirements really do narrow things things down a lot. There are a number of high quality DVD players out there, but most of them are pretty pedestrian when it comes to playing CD's. Arcam really have done a great job with the DV27. On the video side I have been extremely impressed. Images are crystal clear, sharp with very impressive color balance and delivery. Until I take the plunge into stage two, which will involve acquiring surround sound processor, amplification and suitable speakers I cannot comment on the audio side of movie watching, at least at home. When I had a demo of the Arcam, it was with the new Arcam AV8 / P7 processor/amp combo - I can assure you that the audio side of things was awesome. I am seriously considering this processor / amplfication combination for my AV solution (stage two). In the interim, I have hooked up the Arcam to my Meridian system and played some CD's. I am happy to say that the Arcam really does play CD's extremely well. I have found it particularly interesting comparing the same albums played on the Linn with their CD equivalents. I can detect no loss of detail from the Arcam, if anything I would say that the Arcam delivers more, which can be unhelpful on poorer recordings. It lacks possibly some of the warmth and ambience I associate with the Linn but maybe I will adapt to this over time. I have no problem in wholeheartedly recommending this player. If you want a single box solution to high quality playback of both DVD-video and CD's then look no further. The Arcam is, or will be, upgradeable to DVD-Audio as well, so you're future-proofed to an extent as well. The build quality is to a high standard and the unit is very attractive (bit of a bonus that in the arena of domestic politics!).

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Tried : Meridian 596, Denon DVD A1.

everything

none

I rate this player simply outstanding,both interms of audio and video performance. Simply the best in it's catogory....outperforms units in twice the price range...if you are looking for a player look no further. 5 star rating

De-interlacing, color, chassis, CD playback, ready for DVD-A upgrade, ground up design from Arcam, not a rebadged Japanese unit.

A bit pricey

Upgraded from the DV88. The DV88 was the best non-progressive scan unit that I had in my home, so I had hi hopes for the DV27 and was not disappointed. The DV27 uses the Sil503 chip for deinterlacing, which as most of you know does a superb job. Rock solid picture with great color. Completely different power supplies and circuitry for the audio and video. Nice Wolfson DACS and music sounds great direct through the analog outs. In other words, great CD playback from a DVD deck, but this was the design goal. Very nice Sontech chassis, supposedly made of same damping type material that goes into Lexus cars??? Surprisingly good support, locally from the US distributor and even from Arcam themself in the UK, who overnighted me the new firmware upgrade from England at no charge. The 88 can be had in progressive scan now for a $1000 less, but it's not quite up to snuff in the audio dept., but still a heck of a player.

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Arcam DV88, Denon 3700 carousel, Toshiba 9200, Denon 2800, Sony 9000ES, Pioneer Elite progressive scan.