Need your thoughts on Denon 3910 vs McCormack UDP1

I'm completing audition of UDP-1 still frustrated that I can't listen to an Exemplar or other modded Denon. Background: I found the stock 3910 (compared to my Classe CDP .5 on redbook) detailed but uninvolving and lifeless.

Enter the UDP-1 5 days ago. Compared to the Classe, the McCormack has blacker background, better separation and resolution, and sl. clearer top-end. They have a similar lovely ease and lack of harshness or "digitis". While I would have to say that by any objective measure the UDP is certainly a "better" player, I was surprised that it didn't seem to get me any more emotionally involved or connected with the music than the Classe.

I would attribute this to the fact that my own system and brain synergies were already well matched with the Classe. It has left me, surprisingly, unlikely to keep the UDP. I was hoping that it would give me more tears-welling, toe-tapping emotion, but since it doesn't, I think I will keep using the Classe for redbook for now, and keep the stock 3910 for MC/HT, and continue to explore the possibility of modding the Denon.

On the video side, I compared the 3910 both HDMI and component out to the UDP-1's component only, with double copies of Two Towers to allow rapid side-by-side, and could see no benefit to the 3910 despite its superior spec sheet.

But I still somehow have to find a modded Denon to hear (Denver area) before I can see plunking down that kind of dough on the unknown.

Bbeezley: would you say the McCormack has a more 'robust' presentation than maybe the Rega Planet or Sony Xa777ES in redbook? How's the bass response, esp. mid-bass bloom? (How does it handle Cellos, French horns, Trombones, etc.)
And where did the other McCormack thread go???)

Re: Denver area Exemplar-modded Denon 2900

Check out the forum of the "Denver Audio Mafia" on www.audiocircle.com/circles. One of the guys there has an Exemplar-modded Denon 2900. Good luck - hope you're able to finally hear this player.

jdaniel - Yes I would say the McCormack is more robust, more "meat-on-the-bones" than the Xa777ES. I haven't heard the Planet in my system (but I might soon - good friend has one). I'm very sensitive to wanting bass that maintains articulation, and the bass of the UDP-1 is a perfect balance of being rich enough to satisfy with no bloat. so why am I returning it - because the same is true of my Classe CDP. My comparisons wre done mainly with female vocals, acoustic blues, and small jazz ensemble. Sorry no horns to comment on : )

Jsala - thanks for the Denver area tip! I had not been aware of that group/site.

My late thoughts: The McCormack has served me well for SACD and I think it still is a winner today. Funny thing, I have an old Sony ES, not a top of line one, but just a bit over the “Best Buy” quality; nevertheless, this output optical to my ARC DAC 3, the little player, as transport blows away the McCormack when ran direct to my ACR pre-amp! Now the McCormack ran with a good coax does hedge out the old Sony, but not by much.
Again the quality is subjective, while the ARC DAC 3 is very dynamic, the McCormack with two channel SACD has a more laid back sound and many might prefer it for soft jazz.

I have two Denon AV, the 3801 and 4802, which is one of the best Denon made in a receiver, amplifier wise, other than their top 5800 models