plays CD-Rs and CD-RWs

occasional pauses of picture and poor lip synchronization and too small of remote

The Denon DVD-1000 cost me twice as much as my RCA RC5231Z DivX/DVD player and does not perform as well. The RCA does not freeze when changing layers or have lip sycnchronization issues. The worst lip synch. problem with the DVD-1000 I've witnessed is while watching just about any excerpt from the new Cranberries DVD release "The Cranberries, Beneath the Skin, Live in Paris". Since noticing this lip synch. issue on the Cranberries DVD, I've now noticed this same problem on several other discs that I own, too numerous to list.

The RCA player has no problems with "picture freeze" or "unauthorized pausing" but the Denon DVD-1000 seems to incontrollably pause anywhere from 1-3 times per disc, not always in the same place(s).

The DVD-1000 remote is too small and poorly organized for instinctive use and could use backlit buttons. Fortunately, I have a Denon AVR-3300 Receiver that has a remote that operates most of the DVD-1000 functions, one of the few bright spots for owning the Denon DVD-1000 player.

Although the audio performance of the Denon DVD-1000 is excellent (except for the lip-synch. issue previously mentioned), so is the audio performance of the RCA player.

As for the video output of the Denon DVD-1000, it seems a bit harsh and surreal whereas the RCA player has a very life-like picture. I use the S-Video connection from both players.

In case you weren't keeping score, the $199 RCA player I own is as good or better in every significant way than the Denon DVD-1000 I own except for the fact that the RCA is not recommended to play CD-Rs. The Denon can play CD-Rs. I do not need to play CD-Rs on my home player badly enough to pay $179 more for the player, so if you're wondering why I bought the Denon DVD-1000, so am I! I bought the DVD-1000 to match my Denon AVR-3300 receiver which is an outstanding product in its own right but based on my experience, I do not recommend the DVD-1000. I'm extremely disappointed in its overall performance. I will be returning it shortly.

I hope Denon corrects this apparent shortcoming in their product line as it does not benefit their otherwise impeccable reputation for quality performance. At this juncture, I would like to point out that I do not normally buy my audio gear from SEARS but the audio dealer where I buy my equipment was out-of-stock on the DVD-1000 when I went to buy mine. This experience has me starting to wonder whether Denon sells a lesser quality product to SEARS than it does to its audio dealers. I don't think so, but it makes me wonder?

Similar Products Used:

RCA RC5231Z DivX/DVD player

Audio Quality

Remote Control

I just want to report an update on the lip sync problem. I definitely noticed the problem, although not to the extreme degree that some of the reviewers here had indicated. I bought my unit at a reputable stereo store because I had heard that both Denon and Yamaha (among others?) sell a lesser grade unit to the mega stores, such as Sears. I find this hard to believe, but I did look at a DVD-1000 at Sears, and it appeared to be significantly more cheesy than the one I bought. It seems the Sears unit was made of more plastic. I would have to do a side-by-side comparison to tell for sure. Of course, the unit is not auditionable at Sears--it was under a thick coating of dust, and miles from the closest TV!

Anyway, I digress. I took my unit in for what I hoped would be "regular" service. They told me that it was going to take the better part of two weeks to repair. They were nice enough to provide me with a loaner in the interim. Well, THREE MONTHS later I got it back. The unit had to be shipped to the main office in California to be repaired! Reading the repair ticket said the whole thing cost $20 in labor charges (which was free to me) and all they did was "upgrade software."

Well, it worked! I don't know if it was worth waiting three months to get it back--my first loaner was just a CD player because none of their loaner DVD players would play burned CDs, and I don't own a separate CD player. Then I got tired of not having the DVD around, and exchanged the CD player for a DVD, which just meant I couldn't listen to any of my burned CDs for a while. Whew! Now that's all over. I gave a it few tough tests, and it came through with flying colors! Anyone out there still grumbling about the lip sync on their DVD-1000? Help is available, but it may take a while. The unit is now playing both video and audio equally well!

Picture, Sound, Plays CD-Rs and DVD-Rs... Silent Laser, no hiss sent to speakers, as was the case with my Sony, PRICE

Slow Processing time

I think that this is generally a great product and if anyone is interested in it they should go to Sears before they are all gone!!!
The silent laser is great, the Sony was so loud during a quiet scene in a movie you always the player over the voices.
I love the sound it is absolutely incredible!!!

Similar Products Used:

Sony 360

Sound, picture

Not made in Japan (most of Denon's products are made in Japan)

I purchased the Denon DVD player with some reservation because of the lip synch problems mentioned on this site. The deal was if the problem was there and annoyed me I could return the player and change to something else. I am happy to say I still have the player and it is great with no problems found playing any DVDs. The onboard buffer also seems to help on multi layer disks - reduces the 'pause' on layer change.

Overall I am happy with the player. The review it gets on Home Cinema is good - with some very good specs interms of jitter etc.

Quality built, Great picture and sound, plays CD-R discs

Few options. Plain blue main screen.

Took back the DVD-CV35 changer because it will not play CD-R discs (I should have read the details). I bought the DENON at Sears brand-new (sealed box) for $199.00 (was $399.00) I have only had it for about 2 weeks. I have rented many movies and am trying real hard to look for lip-synching mentioned in previous reviews. I cannot detect any problems. The picture and sound are fantastic. The quality is very good. I bet it physically weighed twice that of the Panasonic unit. So far so good.

Similar Products Used:

Panasonic DVD-CV35 changer

None

I too have had no problems with this very impressive DVD player. I have had it for 4 months and have had no problems with any of my DVD's or any of those I've rented.

Similar Products Used:

First DVD I have purchased

Big on features.

TOO tiny of button

This machine is excellent. It's as good as the sourse is.
I've had it for 4 months now and have been very impressed by all aspects of its operation. All lips are in sync hear!

Similar Products Used:

Sony DVP-s570d

Excellent video and sound

Small remote

Had the store allow me to try both of these units at home with my Ht system. Two thumbs up on the DVD-1000 but the Sony had such an annoying lip sync problem ! The sound lagged the picture by at least a quarter second or so.
Really liked the Denon as it tracked the audio and video without the perceptable lip sync the Sony had. Took the Sony back the following weekend but wont be parting with the Denon. It's a keeper. The Denon doesn't have a built in DTS or Dolby 5.1 decoder but my Rotel has it all built in anyway. Hookup is with component video and coax audio. The best!

Similar Products Used:

Sony DVP-S570D

Great picture and sound with my Sony HT system.
No lip sync problems with this machine.
Sure can see it on a big screen with other players namely Sony but this unit is precise.

Denon

Remote

Lip sync, lip sync, lip sync, no lip sync. Only great DTS sound and a vivid picture. Source material has a lot to do with the audio/video quality but the guts of this Denon have no problem with accurate synchronisation. Really poor remote layout but once you use it a bit, you can operate it with your eyes closed or in your darken A/V room without a problem