Universal Players. Marantz 8400 vs.Denon 5900

Haven't heard the Denon, but there was a recent comparison done here by someone of the two players. Plug "Marantz DV8400" into Discussion Forums and it will come up. As to the Marantz itself, there is a very favorable short blurb on it under Recommended Components in the new Absolute Sound, and it exactly matches my listening: extremely clear and detailed in all formats, with a wide dynamic range, but a bit bright. Needs a warm cable like Cardas Golden Reference. Despite that, plays DVD-A beautifully, is very good on SACD and very respectable on CD. This weekend I heard the Teac Esoteric DV-50 universal player at a dealer, and it was superb, definitely better than the Marantz--which it should be, given that it lists at more than 3 times as much. I can't justify the difference because I already have a lot sunk into CD and SACD playbck, but for anyone who doesn't, the Esoteric is the way to go. Otherwise, the Marantz is a perfect choice.

I haven't heard the Marantz, but I can give the Denon a rave. I'm a new convert to SACD. I tried the Sony DVD 999ES and I own the Sony 775 carousel. I can't recommed either one. In both cases, the CD layer sounds better going through my DAC2 than the SACD layer through the unit's internal DAC. I was conviced SACD was totally worthless. However the Denon 5900 changes all that. SACD sounds wonderful, amazing, better than my Bel Canto DAC2. And picture is superb. What a unit!!!! I haven't tried DVD-A yet, becasue I don't have any discs, but I am confident that I will be pleased

Ozzy you might take a look at the (endless) 5900 thread over at avsforum. Lots of video talk of course, but there are some serious audiophiles contributing also. One says the Denon nearly matches his Consonance, close enough that he's put the latter up for sale here.

People are also considering having Underwoodwally mod the analog stage of a 5900 for them. He's just waiting for schematics from Denon.