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Denon DVD-2200
Universal DVD Player
Manufacturer: Denon Electronics

By Jacob Griesbach, Ph.D.
SPottie Editor

Model number: 

2004-01-24 - " If you’re looking for a great “best bang for my buck” universal DVD player, look no further. "

Review:

With excellent picture detail, dedicated DVD-Audio and SA-CD decoding sections, and features associated with DVD players 2-4 times its cost, the Denon DVD-2200 is highly recommended.



The Denon DVD-2200 universal DVD player makes up the lowest cost universal player in Denon’s current DVD series, but this player, priced at $600, shares many of the features associated with Denon’s more costly DVD-2900 and DVD-5900 models, priced at $1000 and $2000 respectively. In fact, the 2200 is nearly identical to the 2900, except for the 2900’s beefier power supply, more rigid chassis, and slightly higher grade audio DACs. Thus, the 2200 shares many of the features commonly found on much more expensive players.

The 2200 comes packed neatly with the standard items: a standard non-backlit remote control, including batteries, a set of stereo RCA interconnection cables, power cord, and owner’s manual, all of which are uninteresting for the most part. However, the 2200 is easy to setup requiring only a component video cable connection to your TV and either a coax or an optical fiber digital audio connection to your receiver for optimum performance. Users intending to make use of the player’s high-resolution audio functionality will also have to connect six multi-channel RCA interconnection cables to their receiver’s analog inputs. The player also supports S-Video and composite video for users without component video capabilities and provides duplicate front left/right stereo outputs for an additional stereo connection.

This DVD player is universal, meaning that it supports both DVD-Audio and SA-CD high-resolution, multi-channel audio playback via analog cabling. The player also supports DVD Video, DVD-R/RW (DVD Video), Video CD, Music CD, CD-R/RW (AUDIO/MP3/JPEG), and Picture CD formats, many of which are now standard with most DVD players. The unit does lack the capability to play DVD+R/RW filesystem (non DVD Video) discs. Upon insertion of a valid format, the 2200 player determines the correct format in about the same amount of time as compared with my Panasonic CP-72 player.

Video Performance:

One can’t really ask for more video quality from a player at this price point, and actually contains the exact same video MPEG decoder, deinterlacer, and video DAC circuitry as the 2900. The 2200 boasts a Silicon Image SiI504 Pure Progressive video deinterlacer for progressive scan video output. This deinterlacer supports fast automatic film/video frame detection that eliminates flickering that can be caused by detection delays. The unit also contains a 12-bit, 108 MHz video DAC for accurate, highly detailed progressive video, with a separate DAC for interlaced video to avoid cross-talk noise between the two video circuits. Finally, for users who really like to tweak, the unit provides five presets for contrast, brightness, hue, sharpness, and gamma corrections to optimize the video quality.

This player produces surprisingly detailed imagery. Throw Dark City or The Two Towers Extended Edition into the player and it will deliver excellent, deep blacks without losing image contrast. In fact, the player can pass below black (0 IRE PLUGE) that can be evidenced using a video calibration DVD. In many movies, the extra clarity produced by the oversampling video DACs and quality deinterlacing results in fine, minute details that many lower end DVD players usually smudge. However, the 2200 also inherits an effect of the chroma bug fix applied to the Mitsubishi MPEG decoder that can be similarly found with the 2900. The issue is improper detection of the alternating flag that can cause color banding or flickering to occur. The classic test for investigating this is to examine chapter 5 of Monsters, Inc. by Pixar. In the beginning of this scene, the red fire hydrant and hood of Mike’s car flicker demonstrating the presence of this bug. While this artifact is present, one really needs to be actively looking for flickering or banding to notice it. In short, the alternating flag bug is the only problem associated with the video quality, as otherwise the 2200 delivers breathtaking image quality that you might not believe was possible with your DVD player.

Audio Performance:

The audio section is hardly lacking either. The unit includes separate, discrete audio sections for DVD-Audio and SA-CD playback, meaning that SA-CD audio is decoded as-is, instead of being converted to PCM. For output DACs, the unit uses Burr-Brown 24 bit, 192 kHz DACs to achieve high audio precision. Furthermore, the DACs uniformly distribute quantization noise, maximizing the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), providing lower noise levels, and greater dynamic range. The unit also provides Pure Direct modes that allow the user to switch off the front panel display, the video output circuitry, and the digital audio output circuitry to reduce noise cross-talk to the analog audio stages. The player also contains SRS True Surround algorithms, which is intended to phase multi-channel audio over a single set of stereo speakers for listeners who desire multi-channel surround effects without surround speakers.

Another major feature of the 2200 audio section is that it brings affordable bass-management for high-resolution audio. The player provides a 24 dB per octave, 80 Hz cutoff low-pass filter for the subwoofer channel and 12 dB per octave, 80 Hz cutoff high-pass filters for the remaining channels. Indeed, the player is fully customizable via the setup menu to configure the speakers’ size, distance, and level. While the player provides bass management for all forms of audio, time-delay management, which is essential for high-resolution multi-channel audio, is only available for PCM formats and not SA-CD audio. Thus, it may be necessary for listeners to equally distance their speakers from their normal listening position to obtain the best multi-channel SA-CD quality.

To evaluate the player’s audio section, Laurence Juber’s Guitar Noir (AIX Records) DVD-Audio disc provides an excellent reference level recording. Upon insertion, the player produces excellent, clear, crisp, and natural sounding multi-channel audio. With excellent dynamic range, clean high frequencies, and deep bass, the Burr-Brown DACs handle audio nearly flawlessly. While the 2900 and 5900 units are known to have better multi-channel cross-talk isolation, the multi-channel definition of the 2200 is certainly not lacking. With good cross-channel phasing and correctly calibrated speaker time delays, instruments appear where speakers do not even exist. The unit performs similarly for SA-CD, albeit with a slightly higher amount of hiss in the upper octave frequencies, but this was only noticeable in rather extreme listening conditions. Standard DVD audio formats, such as Dolby Digital and DTS, are also decoded with high quality that exceeds the quality of most low-end receivers. However, the 5.1 surround nature of the player prevents decoding Dolby Digital EX and DTS ES formats, which require a rear surround channel for full effect. For this, the digital coax or optical fiber audio connection can aptly transfer the audio data directly from the disc to a receiver for 6.1 decoding.

The unit also provides decent MP3 playback. Upon insertion, the user can select from a list of folders on the disc using a graphical display for easy access. However, the player does not support ID3 tags or playlists. Thus, songs are played back alphabetically in each folder.

The Pure Direct modes seem to have only a very small audio effect on the analog audio outputs, especially disabling the front panel circuitry. Noise created by the video and digital audio circuitry has a barely noticeable effect, but it’s probably not distinguishable under normal listening conditions. In effect, one could ignore the Pure Direct modes completely and still have outstanding audio, but using them does give the listener some additional peace of mind that their audio is not being subtly corrupted. Denon seems to have realized the importance of these modes, by only placing the Pure Direct controlling buttons on the front panel, instead of the remote control, which would be more convenient. Similarly, the button that switches between the various hybrid SA-CD layers is also only available on the front panel.

Miscellaneous Features:

The player provides two deinterlacing settings: mode 1 and mode 2. Mode 1 is cadence detection, which automatically detects film/video 3:2 pulldown based on the actual video signal frames. Mode 2 is flag detection, which uses the bit flag provided by the source for detection, which is rarely reliable. In practice, mode 1 seemed to be highly effective and should be used without hesitation, as no detection problems were apparent.

Similarly, three still modes are provided to view paused video imagery: field, frame, and auto. Field mode displays only a single interlaced frame, while frame mode displays a deinterlaced frame. Finally, auto mode automatically switches between the field and frame as determined by analyzing the video signal. Usually, auto mode produces fine results, but the user may want to use field mode for paused video containing fast moving objects, or field mode to ensure full resolution of stationary items, such as text.

The player also supports a 2x and 4x zoom function one can use to zoom in on live video. This can be used to view widescreen (16:9 aspect) movies in full-frame (4:3 aspect), but, of course, this throws away sections of the widescreen footage.

Finally, markers are provided to bookmark scenes during playback for fast retrieval. However, these bookmarks do not seem to be retained when the unit is turned off, which seems somewhat pointless. Furthermore, even when the video is stopped (by pressing the stop button only once), shutting off the unit, turning it back on again, and pressing play does not resume playback where the disc left off, which is unfortunate. While these are minor inconveniences overall, it is annoying to have to sift through video chapters to determine where you left off.

Conclusions:

The Denon DVD-2200 universal DVD player is an excellent unit for its price point. Despite the alternating flag bug, with extra-clear video that is usually associated only with higher end players, separate DVD-Audio and SA-CD decoding circuitry, and bass-management for high-resolution audio with only a $600 price tag, it’s hard to reasonably ask for more. Thus, the 2200 makes an excellent “bang for your buck” player that plays almost all formats of interest. While the price point may be somewhat restrictive for startup home theaters, the player makes for an excellent upgrade unit. The only reason to look beyond the 2200 would be for high-resolution digital audio support via iLink or Denon link, extermination of the alternating flag bug, or DVI video capability.

Features:
  • Powered by the Silicon Image/DVDO PureProgressive (SiI504) Decoding Engine - highest quality progressive decoding engine available
  • PureProgressive decoding features high speed ultra-resolution DSP at 6 Billion Operations Per Second (6 GOPS)with 64Mb external SDRAM
  • 4 fields (2 frames) digital video processing for optimum motion detection and compensation
  • Accurate 2:3 pulldown detection and reconstruction, even with inaccurately flagged content
  • Optimum processing for film content, video content, graphics content and mixed-mode content
  • 12fps(Animation), Video overlay detection and processing
  • New 'Chroma Bug Free' Mitsubishi MPEG/DVD-Audio Decoder
  • Sony CXD-2753 Second Generation DSD Decoder
  • High resolution Analog Devices ADV-7300, 12 bit/108 MHz, 4:4:4, Video D/A Conversion system featuring Noise Shaped Video processing - interlaced and progressive output
  • 4x Oversampling Progressive and 8x Interlace output
  • 2X DVD read speed; 4X CD/CD-R/CD-RW read speed; with 8MB drive buffer memory
  • Built-in Dolby Digital, dts, DVD-Audio and discrete SACD decoders with 5.1 analog outputs
  • Burr-Brown 24-bit, 192-kHz DSD 1791 Audio DACs that decode PCM and DSD signals discretely with no down-conversion of DSD
  • Full Digital Bass Management for DVD-Audio/Video, featuring Analog Devices Melody 32-bit processor; 80Hz crossover with 12dB high and 24dB low pass slopes; Adjustable delay time(0-15ms)and Channel Levels
  • Full Digital Bass Management for SACD; 80Hz crossover with 6/12dB slopes on all channels; Adjustable channel levels
  • MP3 Playback
  • Plays Audio/Video CDs; DVD-Audio/Video; Super Audio CD; DVD+/-R/RW(conditional); Audio CD-R/RW; MP3 CD-R/RW (128 or higher kbps recommended)
  • JPEG photo file viewer, Kodak Picture CD and Fujicolor CD compatible
  • 24/96 digital output; optical and coaxial
  • Zoom Controls
  • Pure Direct Modes to defeat unneeded portions of player for the ultimate in audio performance
  • Wideband relay switched component video output
  • Variable Black Level (Setup): 0 and 7.5 IRE
  • Passes below-black (PLUGE) on progressive and interlace outputs
  • 5 Picture Memories, with adjustable tint, brightness, contrast, sharpness and Gamma
  • SuperSub Alias Filter on Progressive and Interlace for Luminance and Chrominance signals
  • (1)Composite and (1)"S" video outputs
  • SRS TruSurround
  • Remote in/out ports
  • Glo-Key remote control
  • Dimensions: 17.1"w x 4.0"h x 12.5"d
  • SRP $629
Rating:

Video Quality:
Audio Quality:

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