Right now the industry is embroiled in a high-definition format war between HD-DVD and Blu-ray discs, so while home cinema buffs are eager to sample the revolutionary technologies that make films look better on large flatscreen TVs and projectors, some consumers may get their fingers burned if their new player ends up becoming the AV equivalent of the dodo.
In the meantime you can splash out on a good 'upscaling' DVD player that takes normal discs but outputs at high definition quality resolutions. There's also a heated debate over which HD standards are best and whether upscaling players can be a real substitute for proper HD systems like Blu-ray. Denon has put a massive amount of R&D time into its latest flagship player that should go some way to quashing those arguments for now. The DVD-A1XVA carries a huge array of technology to take normal DVDs and 'reimagine' them for today's big home-cinema screens.
It also has every kind of audio and video output you're likely to need, including both HDMI and DVI (so you can keep one connected to a projector for blockbuster spectaculars and another to a flatscreen TV, for example). There are high quality analogue audio outputs for stereo and 5.1 surround sound, while the digital options are numerous - from 5.1 via HDMI, optical or coaxial to Firewire ports for compatible AV amps and Denon's proprietary Ethernet-style Link cable that handles Super Audio CD signals without downconversion.
You can get upscaling DVD players for around £250, such as the Marantz DV6600 and Denon's own DVD-1920. Costing more than ten times as much, the DVD-A1XVA is a different proposition altogether. For a start it's huge, taking up as much space as a midrange amplifier, so make sure you have adequate shelf space (this is no 'plonk under telly' type of item). Set-up is simple however, especially if you go via the single-cable HDMI route, which can handle digital video and audio together (though it is best partnered with a high-end Denon amp to take advantage of the Denon Link audio option).
The HDMI connection automatically adjusts to match the resolution of your TV or projector, though you can switch manually between 720p and 1080i in case you prefer interlaced over progressive (and even 1080p if your screen shows it). The on-board circuitry performing this scaling comes from DVDO which is used in some of the best standalone deinterlacing products available. Meanwhile the video data is decoded by a Silicon Optix Realta chip using Teranex HQV (Hollywood Quality Video) processing. This is the kind of gear normally found in professional broadcasting equipment costing tens of thousands of pounds. When media companies want to make their output look better, they use stuff like this.
Performance
Despite the complexity of what the player can do with your discs, it works perfectly well out of the box and gives stunning results in day-to-day use. It's simply reassuring to know that if a film needs an extra bit of image enhancement (for example if it looks too dark or rosy for your taste) then you can adjust the picture directly at source.
The DVD-A1XVA uncovers extraordinary depths of colour and clarity from even problematic discs that may look too grainy or fuzzy in other players. The analogue component option is excellent but connect HDMI or DVI leads and the performance is propelled into another league. There is barely a trace of a jagged outline or an artificially sharpened edge - just pure, natural looking pictures. Motion is particularly strong too, even the swooping, CGI-heavy action scenes of Peter Jackson's King Kong, with a moving image that stays clear and cinematic without ever seeming 'processed'. A more naturalistic-looking movie such as The Last Samurai, reveals luminous pools of colour and contrast amid its deep shadows. It's as close to genuine high definition as you're likely to get using normal DVDs.
Sound is equally spectacular. This player does its very best to make the most of movie soundtracks and SACD or DVD-Audio discs, whether through its own decoder or as a source machine for an existing system. For instance, the dinosaur stampede in King Kong has surround effects zipping from front to back with amazing clarity. The bassy roar of Kong will send shivers down your spine, but you'll never need to tilt your head to hear the vocals, which are totally unspoiled.
In a few years most disc players could be this good, and we hope most of these features trickle down into more affordable products over time. HD-DVD and Blu-ray might both succeed but until there's a reference-quality unified player for all formats, you're not likely to find a machine as impressive as this.
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A true heavyweight contender for the ultimate DVD player accolade. It may seem pricey but if you have a high-end system then it's a perfect match and it delivers a sound and picture so compelling that you'll want to go through your entire disc library all over again.
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