Perhaps some burn in is needed? From what I read the big reason to buy one of these is the video performance. (as in one of the best out there.) It wouldn't surprise me that a decent stand-alone cd/sacd player might out perform the Denon. I own an Arcam which the mags raved about (audio and video/wise)but I never played more than a couple of cds on it.---At that time I had the Theta Gen 5,A,+ the 24/96 mod.
There is a reason some pay 10k for a transport/only.
There is a reason some pay 10k for a transport/only.