HDCD, Processing Power, Sound

Stops the DVD mid-way into a movie. This only happens ocasionally so I can live with it. No CD-R support Even though I can play CD-RW's on it.

After a year and a half, this player still amazes me. I try to find something wrong with it so I can get the latest and greatest, but I can't. There will have to be a player that is really amazing for me to get rid of this thing. Like one that plays SACD, AudioDVD, CD-R(W) and is Progressive Scan.

Similar Products Used:

Sony 7000

Excellent picture quality. Superb audio on cd's. 96/24 pass-through capability.5-disc changer.

None so far........

I recently switched A/V receivers from a Yamaha 995 to a Denon Avr3300, and decided a DVD upgrade was in order also. I bought the Denon DVM3700 to replace a Toshiba SD3109 Dvd player. My initial reaction to the player was nothing short of pure audio bliss. I've owned a Sony CDPC801ES 5-disc changer for several years now and had yet to find a player to beat it in pure musical fidelity until now.....The Denon DVM3700 absolutely sounds better than my (then and still is) higher end cd-only player. As for picture quality, all i can say is "suberb." Colors are very vibrant yet not over-saturated. DD and DTS soundtracks both performed flawlesly and i didn't notice any lip-sync issues so far. The player has a selectable 96khz-24bit pass through option using the digital outputs. However i beleive this is only compatible with receivers or decoders capable of reading a 96/24 bitstream, such as the AVR3300. This player does run about $1000.00, but i think its well worth it for anyone looking for a future ready DVD, DVD-Audio, and high-end cd player in one handsome box.

Similar Products Used:

Sony Dvps3000, Toshiba SD3109.

5 disc convenience, Sound from all sources

Remote

I bought this unit after seeing the glowing review from Sound and Vision magazine.

This machine played cds that I have listened to dozens of times before with such clarity that felt that it was a totally different experience. The only shortfall of the unit is that the buttons on the remote are too small to use without sometimes making mistakes. I solved this problem by getting a universal remote.

Highly recommended...

none when compared to sony,pioneer or even toshiba

inacurate colors on dvd,edgy digital harsh sound on cd's

Ilook for quality picture and sound,as well as cd sound when buying a dvd player.Based on that i would have to say this player met none of my expectations.

Similar Products Used:

SONY 7000,PIONEER DV-37

Vrey good picture, very good sound, well built.

Remote, tend's to run hot to the touch, but that may be my armoire which does not have good ventilation.

Overall I am very happy with this unit.
I have watched many movies and am constantly impressed
with picture and sound quality.
Music CD's sound great, better than my previos Denon DCD 820
Very good detail on movies like "A Bug's Life, Toy Story 1&2, Saving Private Ryan DTS, MI2, Contact" and many more.
A good sub help's with all movies, bring's alot of life into the experience, not to mention floor shaking base.
Remote is not great, very scattered control button's,
but easy enough to live with.

Outstanding Video Quality. Attractive and simple faceplate.

Poorly laid out remote. Missing second set of audio outputs.

This is an initial impression review where I have not yet given the unit a full burn in. I purchased this unit to replace my DVP-S330 which is currently in for warranty service for the lip-synch problem so common with that machine.

Video Impression:
I initially threw in "The Thomas Crown Affair" primarily because it has a tremendous audio track and I wanted to hear what the Denon Alpha converters were able to do for me. I was not expecting anything different in picture quality because every Sony I've had looked pretty much the same. I was, however, astounded by the difference in video quality between this Denon and the Sonys. There was a much increased contrast which added a picture depth and realism that was most impressive. It is possible (and probable) that Denon has done some Digital Image processing in order to accomplish this drastic of a difference. In fact the owners manual claims that you can select you TV type (ie: CRT, rear-projection, lcd projector) and that the video output will be optimized for that display type. I haven't been able to figure out how exactly to do this yet but have only skimmed the manual.

Audio Impression:
Listening to "Annie Lennox - Diva" on the video system was not by any means earth shattering. The Denon is running into a Nakamichi (STASIS) receiver through Vampire Wire interconnects with a pair of Mirage OM-12's and a (COUGH) Optimus (COUGH) passive subwoofer. If I had just paid $1000 for a CD Player I'd have been very upset but given the video quality I guess I can't complain. To give it a real test I moved it off to my primary audio system and ran the digital output through the Wadia D/A, Tara Labs tube pre-amp, QuickSilver Tube Mono's on the highs, 250 watt Bedini Class A monsters on the lows, and Infinity RS4.5 speakers. The low frequencies off the Denon are tighter and slightly beefier than the Nakamichi CD Player I've been using for years. The midrange was more strained though, which lost some of the depth and warmth that I'm accustomed to hearing. The highs were admitably more "Japanese" sounding - this gives the impression of greater detail but gets "gnashy" frequently (not hard to do with Infinity tweeters). I was more impressed with the Denon as a transport using the Wadia converters instead of Denons but it still didn't "blow my skirt up". The sound did far outperform the Sony in the same situation - at least the Denon is "listenable" - the Sony, well let's not talk about that.

The Remote:
It's already been said, all the buttons are pixie sized, and while "cute" it's not very useful. They also used thirty different pastel colors on the thing so you'll want to keep it hidden between the sofa cushions or under the coffee table so your friends don't think you've gone "funny" on them.

Cosmetic Impression:
That useless blue light has got to go. I'm tempted to return the unit just because of that. Someone here said it was attractive but I find it annoying. I'd hate to put a piece of electrical tape on a thousand dollar piece of electronics. I think it's supposed to show you whether you're using the AL24 decoders or HDCD decoders (like anyone cares). However it looks like both lights are blue and right next to each other so what's the point? Also all the numbers run together on the video display so it takes some careful studying to figure out what chapter/track/index you're looking at. Other than that a very attractive piece of gear.

Outputs:
There are two S-Video outputs but only one decoded audio output. This rather surprised me as I usually run one set of audio output to the stereo and the other to the TV. Now I had to give up on the TV output. It's not like Denon used nice RCA connectors, how much money could they possibly have saved by leaving off the extra output?

Summary:
This is a tremendous piece of equipment that has really driven home the fact that not all DVD players are created equal. I find it hard to believe that anyone could be dissatisfied with this machine on a video level. In a market flooded with mediocre DVD products this Denon really stands out.

Similar Products Used:

Sony DVP-S300, Sony DVP-S330, Sony DVP-S7000, Nakamichi CD Player 2

Excellent, "realistic" image. Excellent CD player.

Dot crawl on DVD playback.

Video performance on DVD's:
More realistic-looking picture than the Panasonic.
However, there is a noticable dot crawl problem experienced in my set-up (your mileage may vary).

Audio performance on DVD's:
Also an overall improvement over the Panasonic. A bit more "present", sort of like the noise-floor had dropped.

Audio performance on CD's:
Here's where it gets interesting.
I own the CAL Audio CL-10. I had always been very, very pleased with the way this player mated with my ATI 1505 amp and my PSB Stratus Goldi's.
However, in order to prevent a lynching by my neighbors, it was necessary for me to become a headphone listener for my 2-channel music. I invested in some Sennheiser 600s and a Headroom amp. The CAL was plugged directly into the Headroom via some Audio Magic Spellcaster cables (WAY RECOMENDED BTW). Now the CAL is a well-built machine that puts out a higher-than-average output signal level. It runs "hot" as they say. It seemed to overwhelm the Headroom a bit, making it sound somewhat muddy and forward. I found it fatiguing to listen to any harder-edged rock material. Since headphones was the only way I would be able to listen to music, the CAL had to go. Enter the Denon DVM-3700.
If you plan on using this as your primary CD player, know these things:
1. You will need an excellent, articulate amplifier to mate with the Denon. (I bet Proceed would mate very well.)
2. As a CD player, the Denon is DARK, DARK, DARK (this is not a criticism, just description). If this sound appeals to you, you will find this player to be heaven. It does it's thing to the nth degree, guaranteed fatigue-free listening.
3. The sound is smooth as silk and imaging is rock-solid.
4. Well-defined, not "in your face", bass.
5. All musical information is in there, very revealing but never sharp.
6. You are seated at a distance from the musicians; they are not "in your lap".
7. If you are a headphone listener, you should audition this machine. It is ideally suited to this purpose.

This machine has solved my headphone dilemma very nicely. Not to everyone's taste, but clearly engineered and "voiced" to sound exactly the way it does.
Turns out I really like this kind of sound, and the Denon as well.

Similar Products Used:

Panasonic DVD A120U and CAL Audio CL-10.

Great remote. Great picture and sound quality. Great everything!

None so far.

Great picture and sound quality. Superb features that are easily adjustable. It has the same AL24 processor that there top of the line DVD and CD player has. I use it for both CD and DVD and could not be happier with the performance. It even has a great remote. Imagine that, a great reamote from Denon. Combine it with my awesome AVR3300 and hold on. Best AV setup for the money.

Outstanding audio and video output

Remote

I was in search of a DVD/CD combo with multiple disc capability for party music, etc. I first tried out a DVM-1800 and was very inpressed for the money ($500.00). My dealer had a DVM-3700 available open box for $575 ($1000.00 retail) and I could give it a try-no obligation. I compared both in my own listening room with my own gear. I saw little if any improvement in the video output of the 3700 but a tremendous improvement in the audio. The DVM 3700 has much better imaging and soundstaging as well as high end and bass extension. A call to Denon confirmed my observations-the video guts (except for th power supply) of the 1800 and the 3700 are the same. The extra $500 for the 3700 is all in the audio. If you are a critical listener the 3700 is worth the money.

Important note...unless you have a really high end reveiver with great DAC's, the only way to realize the beneffit of the 3700 over the 1800 is to use use the analog outs. If you use the coaxial digital you are completly bypassing the $500 worth of audio processing you paid for by getting the 3700. If you hook it up both ways and switch back-n-forth between the digital and analog the difference is very obivious.

I have listend to both the 1800 and 3700 using both Denon AVR-3300 and AVR-4800 receivers. In all instances using the analog outs of the the 1800 or the 3700 players was superior to the digital out. The difference with the 1800 player is subtle but noticable. The difference with the 3700 player is night and day.

System equipment:

Denon AVR 4800
Denon DVM-3700
Boston VR 975's Fronts
Boston VR 950's Rears
Boston VR 920 Center

Similar Products Used:

Denon DVM-1800

Build Quality, Sound Quality, convience of one unit that performs two tasks

No CD-R support, No ALL CD Random play, Toddler size remote buttons

I have had the pleasure of using this product for a grand total of three days. IT HAS PERFORMED FLAWLESSLY!!! I am very pleased with both audio & video performance.

For all that are researching this piece you may come across the fact that the main board is a Panasonic. This is true but, Denon uses its own DACs(Which are superb!) as well as tweeking some other areas.

There are cheeper 5 Disc players on the market but, they will not do double duty as well as the Denon. It truely is a wonderful CD/DVD performer.

However, if you are like me and have a number of CD-Rs and don't want to give them up you may want to look else where. As mentioned below, I am also trying out numerous brands of CD-Rs in hopes that one will work. Maxelle(spelling?) did not work for me. If anyone has a brand that does please let me know. The other major flaw is the inability to play all CDs in Random mode. It will only play 1 CD at a time unless you take the time to program the order.

If you don't have the room for seperates(like me). I think you will be very impressed with this unit.

As far as price: www.unclesstereo.com has it for $750.00 but they are not an authorized mail order dealer so Denon will not honor the warantee. I paid $850.00 for mine. I used some good old fashion haggling. You may be able to do better but, my local shop is good to me so I gave them the business.

4 stars for Value(should play full random to make it a complete replace of old CD player)

5 Overall because it is the best bango for the buck as far as quality and changers go.