0404wv21 Denon DVD-A11

2/16/04

2:50 PM

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ON TEST: DENON DVD-A11 Universal DVD player 1,700 77777

Raising the bar

Denons flagship DVD player offers both DVD-Audio and Super Audio CD playback but can it justify its hefty premium? Alan Sircom finds out
The DVD-A11 is Denons current, 1,700 flagship DVD player, covering all the bases, including Super Audio CD, CD and DVD-Audio. It is also intended to weather the main changes in sound and vision technology, by sporting digital audio and video connections. There is an outside chance that Denon is backing the wrong ticket, with the DVD-A11 sporting DVI instead of HDMI digital picture links. HDMI is appearing on new plasma screens and projectors; DVI is a connection from computing. But fortunately, getting one to speak to the others is easy. As befits a flagship player, the DVD-A11 is built like a battleship. It weighs an impressive 12.8kg and features a multi-layer base plate to keep the DVD-A11 just about as vibration-free as its possible to do inside a player.

OPERATION

As now seems standard with Denon decks, the players operating system is easily flashable memory. Slot in a Denon CD-ROM and the player will update any software that needs to be upgraded. As a bonus, this makes upgrading the region code easy too. Flash the player with a CD-ROM and your Region Two player speaks any tongue you wish. Technically, such upgrades are hard to find. In reality, youll find any decent Denon dealer will be able to squeeze the player into any region. The DVD-A11 is so feature-rich, we could spend the whole review listing its abilities and still not have enough space. Instead, its time to consider its performance and leave the detailing of its many talents to the Specifications box opposite.
Lacks the finesse of the actual deck

DESCRIPTION

Those not riding the bleeding edge of technology will also find the A11 attractive. It features every kind of digital and analogue audio output and all the latest video links. It also has a built-in Faroudja DCDi video processing board to produce five Progressive Scan modes, while the dual 12-bit 216MHz video processing circuit for analogue video produces excellent quality composite, S-video, component and RGB-component video (through Scart). On the sound side, the player sports Denons AL24 Processing, with full 192kHz, 24 bit decoders in every channel, as well as full bass management circuitry (for DVD-Audio and Super Audio CD) with five crossover points and two filter options. This is augmented in audio-first formats like CD or Super Audio CD by a pure direct option, which essentially powers down potentially noisy parts of the player (like the video processing, digital outputs or even panel display) for the ultimate in audiophile chic. It works, too play a CD with all the extraneous gubbins turned off and it sounds markedly better.
Disc transport is smoother than Roger Moore

PERFORMANCE

Now, here comes the rave bit. The DVD-A11 raises the bar, improving the picture and sound of DVD players, practically without horizon. Or almost if you have a serious pool of disposable folding, you might be able to find a better DVD player, a better Super Audio CD player or a better CD player, but the chances are the player wont cover all the bases as well as the DVD-A11. Theres a sense of balance to the Denon player. It does everything well, everything naturally and effortlessly. And thats what makes it so hard to fault. Compared to the usual standards, the DVD-A11 simply plays discs, and does the job beautifully. You stick on any DVD and the picture is more distinct,

more layered, more detailed and less blocky. This is most noticeable on ultrabright or ultra-dark scenes, like the white-out snow sequences at the end of the ever-cheery Stalingrad or the dark, brooding of Unbreakable, which show clear differentiations of white and dark, really delving into the detail of both extremes. If the picture is without parallel, then the sound is even more exciting. The thin bright sound of
WHATS GOOD Everything WHATS BAD Apart from the potential for back injury when hefting the thing around, nothing PICTURE. SOUND. FEATURES. EASE OF USE VALUE.77777.77777.77777.77777.77777
Lack of HDMI cushioned by provision of DVI
VERDICT Superb, tank-built Denon flagship
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SPECIFICATION

FEATURES Plays DVD, DVD-Audio, DVD-R, DVD-RW (Video mode), DVD+RW, DVD+R, SACD, CD, CD-R, CD-RW, VCD, SVCD, MP3, JPEG; built-in 5.1 channel decoder; built-in Faroudja FLI-2310 decoding engine for progressive scan pictures; HDCD decoding; GUI onscreen display; Firewire and DVI outputs for digital audio/video connections; switchable Pure Direct mode to disable unused aspects of player; full bass management for DVD-A, SACD; Denons AL24 audio processing in every channel; glow key remote SOCKETS Picture: 2 x component video (1 x phono connection, 1 x BNC connection); 2 x composite video; 2 x S-video; 1 x DVI; 2 x Scart Audio: 2 x IEEE1394/Firewire connections; 2 x stereo phono; 5.1 phono connections; Denon Link (for IEEE1394-type digital connection between Denon components); Digital coaxial and optical outputs; RS232 remote in/out DIMENSIONS 139(h) x 434(w) x 434(d) mm WEIGHT 12.8kg TEST DATA DVD PLAYBACK Video jitter: 3ns (very good) Signal-to-noise ratio: -69.9dB (good) Chrominance AM/PM: -74.1dB/-65.5dB (excellent/good) Chroma crosstalk: -57.5dB (good) Frequency response at 5MHz: (S-video): -0.48dB (excellent) (composite): -0.04dB (excellent) Audio jitter: 191.9ps (very good) CONTACT www.denon.co.uk
the digital link is gone, and it sounds as if the only limitations happen outside of the player itself. Meanwhile the onboard decoding is big, bold and hugely entertaining. Imagine your current DVD players sound with all the criticisms taken away and with even more snap to the dynamic scale of the presentation. Thats how good the DVD-A11 sounds. The DVD-A11 could be simply a good, solid DVD player but it would be almost difficult to recommend it faced with the universal player opposition that currently dominates the market. Fortunately, the DVD-A11 makes a fine DVD-Audio and Super Audio CD player, too. Especially the latter. Good DVD-Audio replay isnt that hard to find and the DVD-A11 is a fine example of the craft. Mixing the two together is another matter and the DVD-A11 is perhaps the first combi player that really makes Super Audio CD come alive. Forget the audiophile-approved discs, stick in a copy of Bob Dylan

singing I Want You and you get to hear just how much excitement can be had from the new format. Even good old CD isnt left out of the equation. The sound from the senior 12cm digital disc is extremely good, upbeat and alive. This is the closest the Denon gets to a weak spot, however. The sound of CD, though good, highlights the gulf between two channel CD and its multi-channel replacements. Although this might be expected, introducing a quality two-channel only source demonstrates that theres more to be uncovered from the CD disc, and the Denon sounds a bit dynamically blunted by comparison. However, this dynamic stumbling block only makes its presence felt when the player is compared to good quality dedicated CD players. Pitted against its DVD playing brethren, the Denon sweeps the board and sounds more like a CD player than practically any of its rivals this side of five grand.
Lets put this all into some perspective. Ultimately, the CD replay isnt as good as a dedicated CD player, the Super Audio CD replay isnt as good as a dedicated Super Audio CD player and the DVD replay doesnt turn existing discs into high-definition, high-resolution next generation DVDs. Its also likely that a handful of the latest, absolutely top-notch universal players will outperform the DVD-A11. However, these will all cost so much more that it makes the comparison pointless at best.

Also consider.

LINN UNIDISK 2.1 This new, does-everything-player is a snip at 4,500 but lacks the latest digital links in standard guise MARANTZ DV-12S2 The Marantz player has no Firewire link for audio, but does feature a DVI connection. A worthy adversary

CONCLUSION

Weve barely scratched the surface of this magnificent player. When it comes to reviewing the DVD-A11, it is so good that it makes the process almost impossible because theres practically nothing to criticise and little with which to compare it. It may cost nearly 35 times more than the cheapest players around, but that doesnt stop the DVD-A11 from being an outright bargain for those who want the very best
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