Introduction The DV9500 is Marantz’s latest universal disc player, situated at the top of their line. The player boasts an impressive set of features in both performance and convenience. At $2,099, the DV9500 is not cheap, but there is much to set it apart from the $300 universal disc players found at your local retailer. Upon lifting the box, I immediately noticed that the DV9500 was a lot more substantial than most other single-disc transports at 18-and-three-quarters pounds. Once I opened the box and removed the player, which measured a fairly standard 17-and-one-sixteenth inches wide by four-and-a-half inches tall by 15-and-one-eighth inches, it was apparent that a lot of effort went into making sure that the chassis was solid and free of resonant chatter. Some of the DV9500’s numerous convenience features include the ability to read the following formats, DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, SACD-stereo and SACD multi-channel, DVD-R/RW, CD, CD-R/RW, SVCD, VCD, MP3 and JPEG discs. I think this ...

Introduction Some look at music and movies as a way to pass time and fill their otherwise silent world with time-consuming chatter. Others look upon them as two of the world’s more precious forms of art. If you have found this review, we know which camp you’re in. For nearly 30 years, Meridian has been dedicated to creating products that excite the senses of those who crave the aural perfection of a live musical performance or a home theater experience that rivals the look of film. The G Series is the newest and most affordable line of products from Meridian that leverages state-of-the-art technology from Meridian’s flagship line, the reference-level 800 series, into smaller and more affordable gear that is more within the reach of many music and home theater enthusiasts. The G98 is an ultra-high-performance CD/DVD transport, complete with a powerful video processor and scaler capable of displaying broadcast quality video at a retail ...

Introduction The RDV-1060 is Rotel’s latest and greatest contribution to the world of DVD-Audio/Video disc players. As Rotel has a 40-year history of producing solid, good bang-for-the-buck gear, I was quite curious to see the DVD player they felt was worth $899, a price tag solidly above the run-of-the-mill players yet significantly lower than most other high-end players. With Rotel, it is always possible that they can make an $899 DVD-Audio/Video player that smokes $3,000 units from other companies. It was with these high expectations that I broke open the Rotel RDV-1060’s carton and started plugging in cables. Upon first look, I immediately noticed the revised and much improved industrial styling of the RDV-1060 over past Rotel components. The faceplate is thick, silver brushed aluminum, framed with nicely finished black aluminum fins on the edges. This is a drastic departure from the more utilitarian black face plates on prior Rotel products. The player itself is standard ...

Introduction While DVD has been around for over five years, only recently, with the proliferation of digital displays (plasma, LCD, etc.), have home theater enthusiasts been able to appreciate the power of digital video. With the popular acceptance of a new industry digital video standard, Digital Visual Interface (DVI), it is now possible to watch DVDs while keeping the signal in the digital domain without ever having to convert the signal to analog. The conversion of digital video to analog video is undesirable for a digital display because the resulting picture usually contains annoying artifacts. V, Inc. is a relatively new entrant into the consumer electronics marketplace. They are most famous for making products like low-cost plasmas for other name brands, yet they also sell a growing line of high-value, performance-oriented video products like plasmas, LCDs, DVD players and HD tuners under their own brand V, Inc. Their products are sold direct at vinc.com, as ...

Introduction Marantz has long been a revered manufacturer of quality high-fidelity audio (and now video) equipment. Saul Marantz founded the company in 1953 and was responsible for the production of the Model 18 receiver. The Model 18 was the world’s first example of a receiver that combined a preamplifier, power amplifier and tuner all in one chassis. Marantz was owned by Philips (one of the pioneers of the compact disc) for some time and made the world's first CD player in 1982. Recently, Marantz merged with Denon and established a joint holding company, D & M Holdings, Inc. Needless to say, Marantz is a familiar name in the home theater industry and has a solid track record for its CD players, receivers, projectors, plasmas and more. The latest DVD player from Marantz, the DV8400, is no disappointment to their legacy of making quality CD players. The $1,699 DV8400 is a THX Select certified “universal” ...