I have used a Samsung, HD-814 or something like that, for the last three or four years. While it's fine as a player it has a glaring ergonomic flaw: the remote eye is very insensitive. Even with the triple-blast Harmony setup I basically have to be aiming straight at it.

Anyone have a rec for a cheap replacement?

Things I care about are that it can play SACDs and DVD-A's (I listen to more of those than I watch DVD's), that it's progressive scan, that it outputs over HDMI, the remote sensor works well. I'd also like to spend as little as possible, and I'd like it to look reasonably elegant. A digital source is a commodity part, so please spare me any talk about one "sounding better" than another.

I don't care about upconversion, as I expect my Sony 46V3000 is probably better for that.

Also, if it can run uncompressed audio to my Denon 4306 via HDMI, so much the better. If not, well, I already have the 5.1 channel RCA's run anyway, and I'm not even sure the AVR-4306 can accept multichannel uncompressed audio over HDMI anyway.

My obvious recommendation would be one of the OPPO players. They will do everything you require.

As for the Denon AVR-4306, it does indeed handle multichannel PCM signals at up to 96kHz/24-bit in 7.1 channels over HDMI. If your particular 4306 was bought before last year, then you'll likely need to update your firmware (which can be done yourself in the home) for the full HDMI audio capabilities.

Oppo 980H at $169 is probably your best bet.

You could also look at an used Denon 2910.

The Samsung one, which is adequate for my needs except for the remote sensor's extreme directionality, cost about $70 or $80. Three years ago. So I'm not willing to pay $170 or anything near that for essentially the same thing now!

Thanks for the bit about the firmware update on my 4306. I'll search the forum and find it. Can the firmware be updated with a Mac or do I have to borrow a crappy computer from a friend?

The Samsung one, which is adequate for my needs except for the remote sensor's extreme directionality, cost about $70 or $80. Three years ago. So I'm not willing to pay $170 or anything near that for essentially the same thing now!


Is $99 cheap enough? Pioneer, free shipping too.

http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/details/486974189/pioneer-dv-48av

The Samsung one, which is adequate for my needs except for the remote sensor's extreme directionality, cost about $70 or $80. Three years ago. So I'm not willing to pay $170 or anything near that for essentially the same thing now!


Daggum inflation. :mad:

Thanks for the bit about the firmware update on my 4306. I'll search the forum and find it. Can the firmware be updated with a Mac or do I have to borrow a crappy computer from a friend?

I believe a Windows-based machine is required for the update. There is indeed a 4306 owner's thread in the AVR section of AVS that has the firmware file and installation information. Look for a poster named "Dutchman01."

I will second the Pioneer DV-48 AV at $99. It's the best I have used so far, and I have tried Marantz, Yamaha, Oppo, and Denon this year. It was also $200 to $300 less than all of them, and has double the warranty. Hard to beat.

the pioneer is difficult to beat for the price but I'd go with a used denon 2910 or 3910 or 5900 on audiogon esp with a denon receiver (denonlink). just my HO.

the pioneer is difficult to beat for the price but I'd go with a used denon 2910 or 3910 or 5900 on audiogon esp with a denon receiver (denonlink). just my HO.

If he runs DSD over HDMI, what advantage would the Denon units have? And I'm not sure about those models, but the Denon 1930 and 1940 that I tried both had issues with DVD-+R's. And of course, no SACD over HDMI.

If he runs DSD over HDMI, what advantage would the Denon units have? And I'm not sure about those models, but the Denon 1930 and 1940 that I tried both had issues with DVD-+R's. And of course, no SACD over HDMI.

The Denon 4306 only accepts DSD over Denon Link (but does accept PCM over HDMI from players that can do a DSD to PCM conversion), but I hardly find that to be reason enough to go with a more expensive player when there are significant budget considerations. The OP will probably apply DSP functions on the AVR that would require a conversion to PCM anyway. If he were using analog and not HDMI, then the higher-end Denon players would be somewhat decent recommendations.

I have a Denon DVD-2930CI, but after seeing the optical drive problems that many people have had with multiple generations of Denon universal players, I cannot recommend buying one without a warranty or good return policy.