Has anybody had a chance to demo the new arcam unit? I've been told that this unit has a better picture than the top of the line FMJ29 that has apparently one of the best pictures in the business. Some have said that the Zoran chip is not as good as the Realta used in the denon 5910. Others have said that regardless of the chip inside the unit, the arcam comes out on top. the dv137 uses the new zoran 888 that might be the answer. Either way, any input would be appreciated.

I ordered the DV137 last week and am waiting for it to arrive. I will be using it with a Panasonic AE900 projector, Arcam Diva separates, and Paradigm Studio Reference speakers. I'm mainly an audio guy and am counting on the 137 to deliver. I also hope that scaling to the projector's native resolution will be beneficial. I'll post imprssions when I get everything set up.

PS: What is your source for the information about the 137?

I ordered the DV137 last week and am waiting for it to arrive. I will be using it with a Panasonic AE900 projector, Arcam Diva separates, and Paradigm Studio Reference speakers. I'm mainly an audio guy and am counting on the 137 to deliver. I also hope that scaling to the projector's native resolution will be beneficial. I'll post imprssions when I get everything set up.

PS: What is your source for the information about the 137?

When did your dealer tell you it would arrive?

He said it was "shipping" but hasn't given me a date. I'll ping him tomorrow.

He said it was "shipping" but hasn't given me a date. I'll ping him tomorrow.

Let me know please, I am trying to get a feel for when I can expect one.

I just heard that the DV137 will be shipping "by the end of the month" in limited quantities.

Can't wait for this thing to arrive. I do feel it will tide me over until the HD format war gets sorted. I live in NYC and have access to a broad array of HD cable programming, and I'm more of an audio guy, so I'm not dying for a Blu-Ray or HD-DVD machine. I'm also very selective about what movies I bother to watch, it will be a while before the selection is decent in the new formats.

Has anybody had a chance to demo the new arcam unit? I've been told that this unit has a better picture than the top of the line FMJ29 that has apparently one of the best pictures in the business. Some have said that the Zoran chip is not as good as the Realta used in the denon 5910. Others have said that regardless of the chip inside the unit, the arcam comes out on top. the dv137 uses the new zoran 888 that might be the answer. Either way, any input would be appreciated.

Although it is using the Zoran V888 chipset for decoding and processing, it has a Anchor Bay Technology's ABT1010 upscaling chipset. Should be a killer when it is released.

Here is a link to the DV317 Product Brochure (http://www.hifiproline.com/Manuals/DiVA%20DV137%20flyer.pdf).

Hello,

What is the MSRP of this unit?

rmlowz

I read here that the MSRP would be $2200.00 but that has not been confirmed.

I've had my DVD 79 for two years and no regrets. I wish Arcam would release a Blu-Ray player.

I'm sure Arcam will wait to determine who will win the war before picking a format... They will make the next gen player but right now it is unclear what that will be.

At this point speculation if it is as good as the denon 5910 is just that... The only people who have seen it are likely pro-Arcam and so I'll reserve judgment until people like Kris Deering evaluate it.

Although it is using the Zoran V888 chipset for decoding and processing, it has a Anchor Bay Technology's ABT1010 upscaling chipset. Should be a killer when it is released.

Here is a link to the DV317 Product Brochure (http://www.hifiproline.com/Manuals/DiVA%20DV137%20flyer.pdf).

Is the ABT1010 a benefit for component or digital connection?

Is this Arcam's first "universal" player that includes both DVD-Audio and SACD?

Yes, it is.

Though I'm happy they are making the effort I'm surprised they bothered at this stage of the game with SACD (and DVD-A for that matter) seemingly, and sadly, fading.

But then again, the few people who would buck up for a player like this (me) are probably the same people who want SACD.

Is the ABT1010 a benefit for component or digital connection?

The ABT1010 can be used for both analog and digital signal, but it will likely be distributed to only the HDMI output in adherence to HDCP.

Although it is using the Zoran V888 chipset for decoding and processing, it has a Anchor Bay Technology's ABT1010 upscaling chipset. Should be a killer when it is released.

Here is a link to the DV317 Product Brochure (http://www.hifiproline.com/Manuals/DiVA%20DV137%20flyer.pdf).

Do we really know anything about the Zoran V888? What does it mean "although it is using the Zoran V888"?

Do we really know anything about the Zoran V888? What does it mean "although it is using the Zoran V888"?

Zoran has never made a good upscaling chipset. So, although it may be a good decoder, its de-interlacing and upscaling ability are far less than any other chipset in the market. So, the "although" is meant to emphasize the point that Arcam is using a much superior de-interlacer/scaler for the video reproduction.

Zoran has never made a good upscaling chipset. So, although it may be a good decoder, its de-interlacing and upscaling ability are far less than any other chipset in the market. So, the "although" is meant to emphasize the point that Arcam is using a much superior de-interlacer/scaler for the video reproduction.

And this knowledge is based on what? If you derive all your opinions from one source, the Secrets Benchmark, then I understand why you would feel that way. Assuming that I am correct and your opinion is solely based on what you read on the Secrets website, I think you will see that despite the fact that Zoran is not considered to be the "best", the Arcam DV79 along with other Zoran DVD players are capable of doing fairly well according to their standards. When you say "far less" this concerns me, how may different chips are you aware of other than Faroudja, Silicon and Zoran? Is it possible that the Zoran V888 has improved upon its' supposed shortcomings and has eclipsed the likes of faroudja and silicon chipsets? I don't think anyone knows the answer yet. One thing that we do know, however, is that Arcam DVD players hold up well video wise to all but the closest laboratory scrutiny and audio wise, they smoke most DVD players. From my experience with Arcam, they take pride in being one step ahead of the game and when they went from Silicon to Zoran, it was for a calculated reason other than cost cutting and unfortunately it didn't stack up well in the laboratory but was well received everywhere else. I doubt that for their last hurrah before HD takes over, they are not going to run out a $2,000 DVD player that isn't ahead of the game on all fronts. I wouldn't be surprised if the Zoran V888 is the latest and greatest in many respects and coupled with ABT processing, you will find yourself with a very competent DVD player.

Details are now on the US distributors web site:

http://www.aslgroup.com/arcam/index.htm

Does this one ouput 480i. It is not clearly stated in the product literature?

I wouldn't be surprised if the Zoran V888 is the latest and greatest in many respects and coupled with ABT processing, you will find yourself with a very competent DVD player.

I can't substantiation any claims in regard to the Zoran Vidas 888, but in previous experiences with the Zoran line, it is a good decoder (especially when you consider the large library of media support) but it is not a good de-interlacer when compared to other alternatives on the market due to bad 3:2 and 2:2 flagging and CUE errors (V787 reintroduced the CUE error, as it was reduced in the Zoran V series). Which is why Arcam decided to mate it with one the new ABT de-interlacer/scaling chipsets.

I am not saying this is a bad mistake, as Arcam is using the strength of each chip wisely. The Zoran will handle all raw data decoding (HD-JPEG, DivX, MP3, MPEG-2, and so forth) while leaving the fine detail work to the superior chipset (ABT1010).

I think the ABT1010 is only a scaler, so the Zoran Vaddis 888 will presumably be doing the deinterlacing. I think even DVDO mate the 1010 with a SiL504 in their VP30 to perform the deinterlacing duties.

I can't substantiation any claims in regard to the Zoran Vidas 888, but in previous experiences with the Zoran line, it is a good decoder (especially when you consider the large library of media support) but it is not a good de-interlacer when compared to other alternatives on the market due to bad 3:2 and 2:2 flagging and CUE errors (V787 reintroduced the CUE error, as it was reduced in the Zoran V series). Which is why Arcam decided to mate it with one the new ABT de-interlacer/scaling chipsets.

I am not saying this is a bad mistake, as Arcam is using the strength of each chip wisely. The Zoran will handle all raw data decoding (HD-JPEG, DivX, MP3, MPEG-2, and so forth) while leaving the fine detail work to the superior chipset (ABT1010).

Exactly. The knee jerk reaction is to assume that Zoran will fare similarly if you are interested in lab results but the reality is probably closer to what I said previously. This DVD player I believe is 17 pounds and judging from the data sheet, it looks like they covered all their bases, I wouldn't be surprised if this was one hell of a player for Arcams' last hurrah. Laboratory testing aside, all their DVD players have been pretty nice if your priorities are real world viewing and discriminating sound.

"Real world viewing" ... I will also personally wait until the Secrets results are out. I want a good player, but I will not purchase a player if its video results are judged to be worse by Secrets than what I have now.

"Real world viewing" ... I will also personally wait until the Secrets results are out. I want a good player, but I will not purchase a player if its video results are judged to be worse by Secrets than what I have now.

Don't wait too long, this may the last round of higher end DVD players from the likes of Denon and Arcam before HD gets into full swing. If you are serious about spending some coin on a DVD player at this point, it is now or never. Besides, if you are waiting for Secrets to declare the Arcam the "best" it is not going to happen. I have owned 4 Arcams and they all were musically superb, well built and boasted pleasing pictures. This player should be yet more refined.

If you are serious about spending some coin on a DVD player at this point, it is now or never.

I bet not. :) I am betting HD-DVD and Blu-ray will take *years* (if at all) before titles and hardware become as prevalent as DVD. And personally, I wll not buy into either HD-DVD or Blu-ray until there is a next generation universal player than can play both new formats as well as what current universal players play. Plus, we already know that more upscale universal players are coming from Parasound and NAD just to name 2 more.

The Arcam doesn't have to be the "best", btw. ;) It just has to have better (or at least very close) HDMI video quality to the Pio 59AVi.

I bet not. :) I am betting HD-DVD and Blu-ray will take *years* (if at all) before titles and hardware become as prevalent as DVD. And personally, I wll not buy into either HD-DVD or Blu-ray until there is a next generation universal player than can play both new formats as well as what current universal players play. Plus, we already know that more upscale universal players are coming from Parasound and NAD just to name 2 more.

The Arcam doesn't have to be the "best", btw. ;) It just has to have better (or at least very close) HDMI video quality to the Pio 59AVi.

I hope you are right because I will be investing in this Arcam. As far is it qualifying as the "best", it all depends on what you are looking for. If this Arcam improves upon Arcam's last round of players, it should be outstanding. I think the specs say it should be 18 pounds which is a nice step up from even the fmj line, hopefully those extra pounds represent substance.

I have my fingers crossed too. :)

Just curious as to current Arcam players: do they have a remaining time function?

For example, I tried out a Marantz 9600 but I couldn't live with it because it only had elapsed track time and elapsed total time. No way to tell the total time of the disc or how much time remains.

Pio has elapsed track time, remaining track time, and remaining total time.

??

I have my fingers crossed too. :)

Just curious as to current Arcam players: do they have a remaining time function?

For example, I tried out a Marantz 9600 but I couldn't live with it because it only had elapsed track time and elapsed total time. No way to tell the total time of the disc or how much time remains.

Pio has elapsed track time, remaining track time, and remaining total time.

??

Yes, as far as I know. I am hoping it has a disc memory feature after the disc is removed. I ordered a 137, should be here end of June.

I have my fingers crossed too. :)

Just curious as to current Arcam players: do they have a remaining time function?


??

My Arcam CD player does show remaining track time and disc time via the P.Mode button on the remote.

The same remote (CR-314) is used for their DVD players. In fact the P.Mode button is grouped with other DVD functions such as angle, subtitle etc.

Based on this I think it's safe to assume their DVD players will also show remaining and elapsed times.

The ABT1010 is a 10-bit scaler. The deinterlacing on the DV137 is being done by Zoran.

Remaining time: thanks!

The ABT1010 is a 10-bit scaler. The deinterlacing on the DV137 is being done by Zoran.

Josh,

Excuse the novice question but that means that the only benefit of the ABT scaler is through HDMI?

Josh,

Excuse the novice question but that means that the only benefit of the ABT scaler is through HDMI?

The Arcam DV137 uses the ABT1010 on its HDMI output only.

How does the audio on the Diva series compare to the FMJ series. Will the audio be better on the FMJ 29 than on the DV137? Will there be a replacement for the FMJ 29 that will now have SACD?

Is the MSRP $2000 in the US? What % discount can you expect to get through a dealer?

How does the audio on the Diva series compare to the FMJ series. Will the audio be better on the FMJ 29 than on the DV137? Will there be a replacement for the FMJ 29 that will now have SACD?

Is the MSRP $2000 in the US? What % discount can you expect to get through a dealer?

FMJ is better audio wise is better by a small margin. The FMJ29 will probably still be better for audio but the video on the 137 will give it a run for its' money. I don't know if there will be a replacement for the FMJ, discount is around 10%, perhaps a tad better for if you are a good customer. PM me if you'd like a good deal on one.

It seems like 10% off is the norm. Any where I can do better?

I have the FMJ CD33 CD player and DV79 DVD player. I can say that the audio on the latter is very good, with both CDs, DVDs, and DVD-A disks. From what I can tell, the audio benefit of the FMJ DVD players is better CD performance, so these are probably the best bet if you are going for a one-box (combined CD and DVD) solution.

I just found out that the DV137 has arrived in the USA and that mine should be at home on Thursday.

Just got mine today!

Just got mine today!

We expect a report ASAP (I say with jealousy ;) )

Was at the local dealer here in Vancouver today. They still claim to have no knowledge of this model. They seemed suprised I know more than they.

Told them to look at the Arcam and ASL Group websites then ask their rep for info.
I swear....will be easier for me to buy in the US :(

We expect a report ASAP (I say with jealousy ;) )

Was at the local dealer here in Vancouver today. They still claim to have no knowledge of this model. They seemed suprised I know more than they.

Told them to look at the Arcam and ASL Group websites then ask their rep for info.
I swear....will be easier for me to buy in the US :(

No, the dealer is in PA, I was shocked when they called me today, I expected it at the end of the month. Haven't done too much with it yet, the remote is a new design but still lacking, the build is same as the DV79, menu system is new and works pretty well. I really need to play with it before I give an opinion but it should be great, I like Arcam DVD players so I am excited. I will post something when I get a little further.

No, the dealer is in PA, I was shocked when they called me today, I expected it at the end of the month. Haven't done too much with it yet, the remote is a new design but still lacking, the build is same as the DV79, menu system is new and works pretty well. I really need to play with it before I give an opinion but it should be great, I like Arcam DVD players so I am excited. I will post something when I get a little further.


Enjoy.

Plus, if my Arcam gear is any indication, it will take a while before it sounds its' best.

Retail is $1999, right?

And can you confirm if it has HDCD. Spec sheet says so but I don't see the logo on the front panel

Thanks

no HDCD logo on front, retail is around $1,999. It has a built in color optimizer so I am playing aound with it. Thanks.

Not a bad player, navigation not the fastest but fast, no layer change, still evaluating video. Sound is great, seems really well thought out.

no layer change, still evaluating video.

I read somewhere that they used an extra large buffer to help with layer change.
Looks like it works :)

How does SACD sound? I have the DV79, and that unit does DVD-A extremely well. Curious about redbook playback as well, as this is supposed to be improved.

Mine should arrive today, but I'm leaving town in the morning and won't have time to set it up until next weekend.

Redbook sounds similar to the DV79, so far I can't make a huge difference out but it could be an audible memory thing.

Redbook sounds similar to the DV79, so far I can't make a huge difference out but it could be an audible memory thing.


Any comparisions against the Onkyo 1000 yet, video or audio, since I know you owned that before getting this?

Wow, you've been moving through players left and right it seems! What's going on? :eek:

Any comparisions against the Onkyo 1000 yet, video or audio, since I know you owned that before getting this?

Wow, you've been moving through players left and right it seems! What's going on? :eek:


I guess admitting it is the first step, I have a problem. The problem is that I love the hobby and keep some money aside to flip my equipment around, because amps and pre-amps are big hits and I love my M&K speakers, the DVD player is the easy target so I tend to go through a player a year in my main system. For the bedroom and finished basement, I will flip those babies every 6 months. All in all, I lose a few dollars but I tend to get pretty good deals on the buy and baby the equipment when I purchase it because I always have an eye on re-sale. Since I don't golf, hunt or fish, my money goes to this hobby which provides me with an ongoing drama.

As you know, my recent SP1000 was my second one and I was pretty much content with it for a while but my wife was giving me a hard time about it being too picky with discs that her dad would make for the kids, when you have a $50 Sony that plays everything, it was hard to satisfy her because the Onkyo gets alot of use in our main room. Meanwhile, the silver finish never really went well with the silver finish on my Arcam pre-amp so I figured what the hell. I always preferred Arcam gear but liked the Onkyo because of the tremendous build, features, audio and video quality for the money. The Arcam DVD players are comparable audio wise, build is solid but nothing will compare to the Onkyo, video-wise, I'd say the Onkyo is better although the picture is so sharp with the Onkyo that it brings out the best and worst of every disc so I feel that I have to calibrate it as per what I am watching. The Arcam is just straight forward solid picture, colors are a little more natural as compared to the Onkyo, depth of field is also better but it is not as detailed. The audio is a little better in sync with the Arcam. All in all, I'd recommend the Onkyo in a heartbeat, it is more player for the money than anything out there.

I guess admitting it is the first step, I have a problem. The problem is that I love the hobby and keep some money aside to flip my equipment around, because amps and pre-amps are big hits and I love my M&K speakers, the DVD player is the easy target so I tend to go through a player a year in my main system. For the bedroom and finished basement, I will flip those babies every 6 months. All in all, I lose a few dollars but I tend to get pretty good deals on the buy and baby the equipment when I purchase it because I always have an eye on re-sale. Since I don't golf, hunt or fish, my money goes to this hobby which provides me with an ongoing drama.

As you know, my recent SP1000 was my second one and I was pretty much content with it for a while but my wife was giving me a hard time about it being too picky with discs that her dad would make for the kids, when you have a $50 Sony that plays everything, it was hard to satisfy her because the Onkyo gets alot of use in our main room. Meanwhile, the silver finish never really went well with the silver finish on my Arcam pre-amp so I figured what the hell. I always preferred Arcam gear but liked the Onkyo because of the tremendous build, features, audio and video quality for the money. The Arcam DVD players are comparable audio wise, build is solid but nothing will compare to the Onkyo, video-wise, I'd say the Onkyo is better although the picture is so sharp with the Onkyo that it brings out the best and worst of every disc so I feel that I have to calibrate it as per what I am watching. The Arcam is just straight forward solid picture, colors are a little more natural as compared to the Onkyo, depth of field is also better but it is not as detailed. The audio is a little better in sync with the Arcam. All in all, I'd recommend the Onkyo in a heartbeat, it is more player for the money than anything out there.


That upgraditis is pretty bad, isn't it? ;)

:)

That upgraditis is pretty bad, isn't it? ;)

:)

It is terrible man. I have 3 high end stores within 2 miles from my house, pass one each direction I go in every day. Besides, I love the thrill of opening a new piece of equipment, in turn, I have alot of expectations for the stuff I buy. The Secrets info is just a small part of it for me, I like the satisfaction of owning a DVD player that is competent in a testing environment but my criteria is ultimately much tougher. I need a player to sound good, play everything you throw at it and have features that are useful to me. I have learned after owning a few dozen of these things, the video on the better ones is all pretty solid, you really have to look for the differences. Where the differences really are is in the areas of features, ability to play anything and sound quality. I have tried several Denons as you know, always solid video but they fell apart in the audio and reliability departments. I'd give a Denon another shot though because they are always on the cutting edge of the video front. Arcam to me is a neat product, with Arcam you get a little different pedigree. For me, to have a separate CD player and DVD player is not reasonable, with Arcam, you get a really competent all in one solution, for the money, perhaps as good of a value as anything.

I have tried several Denons as you know, always solid video but they fell apart in the audio and reliability departments. I'd give a Denon another shot though because they are always on the cutting edge of the video front.

Which Denon's did you try?

I have the impression that audio improves once you get to the 39--/59-- range.

Reliability is a concern, what type of problems did you encounter?

Which Denon's did you try?

I have the impression that audio improves once you get to the 39--/59-- range.

Reliability is a concern, what type of problems did you encounter?

I had a 1910 which would freeze, a 3800 which would also lock up among other problems, I had two 2900, one was perfect the other one would vibrate badly. Never tried, the 3900 or 5900, I would not be surprised if they were competitive for audio. I always thought, however, that the Arcam was comparable to a mid range CD player where as most of the mentioned DVD players sound like DVD players.

Another update for those interested/on the fence, the DV137 has a little trouble with discs that are a little marked up, picture is on the soft side but colors are superb. The DVD player locked up on a scene on the new Underworld DVD where as my Pioneer rolled through it. Audio is good but not any better going digital to my AVP700. Component looks better on my set than DVI/HDMI.

It is terrible man. I have 3 high end stores within 2 miles from my house, pass one each direction I go in every day. Besides, I love the thrill of opening a new piece of equipment, in turn, I have alot of expectations for the stuff I buy. The Secrets info is just a small part of it for me, I like the satisfaction of owning a DVD player that is competent in a testing environment but my criteria is ultimately much tougher. I need a player to sound good, play everything you throw at it and have features that are useful to me. I have learned after owning a few dozen of these things, the video on the better ones is all pretty solid, you really have to look for the differences. Where the differences really are is in the areas of features, ability to play anything and sound quality. I have tried several Denons as you know, always solid video but they fell apart in the audio and reliability departments. I'd give a Denon another shot though because they are always on the cutting edge of the video front. Arcam to me is a neat product, with Arcam you get a little different pedigree. For me, to have a separate CD player and DVD player is not reasonable, with Arcam, you get a really competent all in one solution, for the money, perhaps as good of a value as anything.


Upgraditis Anonymous would be good for a bunch of us around here, methinks. ;)

Upgraditis Anonymous would be good for a bunch of us around here, methinks. ;)

What are you eyeballing in the DVD department these days?

What are you eyeballing in the DVD department these days?


Me? Nothing. The Onkyo 1000 takes care of me forever. :)

As you can see in another thread, though, I'm kind of looking out for my sister...

Me? Nothing. The Onkyo 1000 takes care of me forever. :)

As you can see in another thread, though, I'm kind of looking out for my sister...

Good man. Tweeter I believe will sell a 3100 for $348.

Soldonandy,

Ive been checking for your review on the Arcam and read in another forum that the unit is already in for service? Sorry to hear it but what gives?

Soldonandy,

Ive been checking for your review on the Arcam and read in another forum that the unit is already in for service? Sorry to hear it but what gives?

My dealer said apparently the first batch they go has problems, the two units my dealer had on their floor has issues with SACD. My unit initially froze up on a scene in the Underworld and then started doing it on other movies. Fortunately my dealer is going to get me another unit, it is worth the hassle because I believe this to be a good machine and know that the folks at Arcam will stand behind their products. I wouldn't hesitate to purchase one if you are considering it.

Thanks for the update. After my Proceed PMDT expired a few months back, I swore I would never go upscale again. Replaced it with an S97 but have the upgrade itch again and am considering the Arcam or the Denon 3930.

Thanks for the update. After my Proceed PMDT expired a few months back, I swore I would never go upscale again. Replaced it with an S97 but have the upgrade itch again and am considering the Arcam or the Denon 3930.

Why would you swear against upscaling, just curious? I have never had any luck with it myself.

Why would you swear against upscaling, just curious? I have never had any luck with it myself.

My apologies- I only meant 'upscale' in the sense of investing in a top of the line player.

Incidentally, since I have a few Region 2 discs which I have not had a chance to play, did you have a chance to test the PAL-NTSC conversion in the ARCAM ? If I go the Denon route, I will likely go with OPPO'S 971H replacement for PAL discs since it is supposedly will have component upconversion. I am still using a 40" Sony CRT pending release of SED or a 1080p plasma.

I got my DV-137 set up over the weekend. I played a variety of disks non-stop for about 48 hours with no problems.

Audio playback is excellent. I didn't do a direct comparison with my DV-79, but there did seem to be an improvement with all types of media. The 79 was stunning with DVD-A music, but this player seems to be a bit better. I have no complaints at all with CD playback, which means that I finally have a "universal" audio player that I can live with. (Over the years I've owned and sold the Denon 2900, 2910, and 3910.)

For video the DV-137 is connected to a Panason AE900 720p projector via HDMI. I used Arcam's cailibration software, which was good, and output at 720p. I watched Return of the King, and the picture was excellent. I'm more of an audio guy, so I tend to notice the major problems. Didn't see any here.

All in all I'd say my system will not be upgraded anytime soon. I have the DV-137 matched with Arcam's AVP700/P1000. Speakers are Paradigm Studio Reference 60s, bi-amped, and the CC570 center. The last thing I need to do is buy some rear speakers.

Unfortunately I realized over the weekend that this system is more enjoyable to listen to than my more expensive two-channel rig...

I got my DV-137 set up over the weekend. I played a variety of disks non-stop for about 48 hours with no problems.

Audio playback is excellent. I didn't do a direct comparison with my DV-79, but there did seem to be an improvement with all types of media. The 79 was stunning with DVD-A music, but this player seems to be a bit better. I have no complaints at all with CD playback, which means that I finally have a "universal" audio player that I can live with. (Over the years I've owned and sold the Denon 2900, 2910, and 3910.)

For video the DV-137 is connected to a Panason AE900 720p projector via HDMI. I used Arcam's cailibration software, which was good, and output at 720p. I watched Return of the King, and the picture was excellent. I'm more of an audio guy, so I tend to notice the major problems. Didn't see any here.

All in all I'd say my system will not be upgraded anytime soon. I have the DV-137 matched with Arcam's AVP700/P1000. Speakers are Paradigm Studio Reference 60s, bi-amped, and the CC570 center. The last thing I need to do is buy some rear speakers.

Unfortunately I realized over the weekend that this system is more enjoyable to listen to than my more expensive two-channel rig...

How do you like the P1000?

Give us more--please.

Does the ARCAM 137 really put out 768p? It seems like if it did and if a 1366X768 Plasma would accept 768p over HDMI that you would have the perfect match. Has anyone tried the ARCAM 137 with a 1366X768 Plasma? Would anybody that doesn't own an ARCAM 137 land a 1366X768 display ike to hazard a guess as to the quality of such a combination?

The preceeding questions have been censored by the Denon lovers.

Does the ARCAM 137 really put out 768p? It seems like if it did and if a 1366X768 Plasma would accept 768p over HDMI that you would have the perfect match. Has anyone tried the ARCAM 137 with a 1366X768 Plasma? Would anybody that doesn't own an ARCAM 137 land a 1366X768 display ike to hazard a guess as to the quality of such a combination?Interesting that it does do this. However, some 1366x768 plasmas will only sync at 1360x768 for NR. There isn't a standard that I'm aware of for video timings for 1366x768 like there are for 720p and 1080i, etc.

larry

IF there will continue to be 1366X768 Plasmas manufactured for a few years--would it be THAT difficult to make them able to accept 768p over HDMI and have all the overscan issues perfectly resolved so you COULD get 1:1 mapping? Is it beyond the mind of man to accomplish such a feat?

I got my DV-137 set up over the weekend. I played a variety of disks non-stop for about 48 hours with no problems.


How do you find the audio quality of the DV-137 compares to the Denon 3910?

Like yourself I am more concerned with audio quality than video quality. I have a Rotel pre/pro with Bryston ampification. My speakers are all B&W Nautilus series. For video I am using the Sanyo Z3.

Players I am concidering are the Denon 3930, Marantz 9600, Onkyo Sp1000 and the Arcam DV137. Obviously the 3930 isn't out yet but have you auditioned any of the other above players?

Steve

IF there will continue to be 1366X768 Plasmas manufactured for a few years--would it be THAT difficult to make them able to accept 768p over HDMI and have all the overscan issues perfectly resolved so you COULD get 1:1 mapping? Is it beyond the mind of man to accomplish such a feat? That assumes 1:1 mapping is necessary. Is it? Depends. Also, when there's no standard to adhere to, it's kinda hard to make it work for everybody.

larry

I am considering this player, but I want to know if I will notice an actual diferrence in HT over my Pioneer Elite DV79AVi. Better picture? Better sound from digital out?

anyone?

this is a good question. I would also like to know the answer. The Arcam seems like it should be awesome, but...

I am considering this player, but I want to know if I will notice an actual diferrence in HT over my Pioneer Elite DV79AVi. Better picture? Better sound from digital out?Here is another one interested in the answer.
Only I do not care about digital out sound quality (shouldn’t it greatly depend on your decoder/receiver – not player) but about quality/comparison of analog 5.1 output. Especially for music.
:D

I am considering this player, but I want to know if I will notice an actual diferrence in HT over my Pioneer Elite DV79AVi. Better picture? Better sound from digital out?

Well, I guess I can answer the question. I had a DV137 and am now waiting for a replacement because the first one was defective. I have a 79avi that I use in the bedroom and brought it downstairs to put in the main room while the 137 was out. My TV looks worse with HDMI so I am using component, I don't remember seeing an appreciable difference video wise or audio wise (via digital). The Arcam may have a better picture and sound but it is subtle at best but after all, I think we pay huge premiums for those subtle differences.

What are you using as your pre/pro or receiver?

You can check a person's profile and they often have that in there. In this case, and Arcam 700.

Yes, the AVP700. I was just told by my dealer that I won't see a replacement unit until the end of the month as there is a software glitch with SACD.

Mine died over the weekend as well. It lost the ability to play back everything except CDs. I will say that the audio is very nice from this player. But I'm disappointed that it lasted one week before breaking down.

See this thread about the DV-137

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=85627

Despite being a happy Arcam owner I'm going to have to pass on this one.
Looks like the 3930 for me

In order to optimise performance on DVD and CD playback we have decided to remove multi channel SACD playback from the DV137.

Ditto. Either the 3930, or if they bring back MC SACD someday on the 137. Or, I'll just keep my current player. :)

Thanks for the heads up.

I think I may just have to track down a good price onm a Marantz DV9600... it looks like it is the best bargain out there right now...

That, or the Onkyo 1000, or the Denon 3930 when it comes out.

Here is the Andy Dutton's sticky posted on AV Forums:

Hi

First I would like to apologise to those people that are having problems with their DV137 players. We will upgrade or replace any player that has an issue as we always have in the past.

The vast majority of problems that have come to light have been fixed by the introduction of new software version 2.03.The software has already be published to our distributors and dealers to enable them to help you.

All the players were tested before they left the factory and soak tested over night. However a small number of units have shown problems once they have been installed.

Many of the issues we have come across are down to set up. Please do not assume as soon as there is any problem that the player is faulty. HDMI problems can be down to configuration, cable length, even bending the cable too sharply, especially at 1080P. Please speak to your dealer about any issues first HDMI, Audio or Video as they may be able to resolve the problem just by helping you with the setup.

In order to optimise performance on DVD and CD playback we have decided to remove multi channel SACD playback from the DV137. We found distortion on a number of multi channel SACDs which requires further investigation but in the meantime we think it sensible to delete this feature. We hope to be able to reintroduce this later however it is impossible to give a cast iron promise on this. The DV137 can still play stereo SACDs.

Again I would like to offer our apologies for the problems some of you have had. You can rest assured that we will get it sorted as soon as possible. We have received hundreds of positive comments from dealers and end users on the DV137’s audio and video performance, our focus is now on rectifying the outstanding issues.

Regards, Andrew Dutton
__________________
Andrew Dutton
Engineering Manager.
ARCAM

I wouldn't get to bent out of shape about this player if you haven't bought one yet, I was an early owner and am out a DVD player until they get me a new one so I have the most to gripe about. One of the joys about purchasing a product like Arcam is that there is no grey area, just send it back and you get a new one. On top of that you got people like Dawson and Dutton buzzing around this forum making an effort to appease the masses at the onset of the problem. Hell, when my Denon 3800 went on the fritz or my Onkyo SP1000 had issues, nobody from those companies was proactively taking such lengths to nip the problem in the bud. More to that effect, I had to call Onkyo and Denon numerous times to get a straight answer about well known issues, pay for all the shipping involved and wait several months just to get the same unit back supposedly repaired. Arcam on the other hand, sees the issues early, swaps out a brand new one at no charge and the only aggravation is some lost time where you could have enjoyed the unit. I doubt this player will be inherently buggy, it is similar enough to Arcam's other players.

I just want to best player I can get for home theater use. I do no thave a 1080P display so I am not all that worried with it yet, however, It woul dbe nice to be able ot enjoy that down the line...

My objective is to get a player that is going to give me the best possible 1) sound and 2) picture. (in that order) I know that the digital out is the one that gets the least attention, but I really want to find the player that "sounds best for HT" Is that too much to ask?

I currently own the Pioneer Elite DV79AVi but I would trade it in if I found something significantly better. Do you think that the Arcam DV137 is going to be significantly better? Or should I seriously look at the Marantz 9600?

(I am also trying to decide which will be a better HT receiver the Marantz AV9600 or the Arcam AVR350, so...)

I just want to best player I can get for home theater use. I do no thave a 1080P display so I am not all that worried with it yet, however, It woul dbe nice to be able ot enjoy that down the line...

My objective is to get a player that is going to give me the best possible 1) sound and 2) picture. (in that order) I know that the digital out is the one that gets the least attention, but I really want to find the player that "sounds best for HT" Is that too much to ask?

I currently own the Pioneer Elite DV79AVi but I would trade it in if I found something significantly better. Do you think that the Arcam DV137 is going to be significantly better? Or should I seriously look at the Marantz 9600?

(I am also trying to decide which will be a better HT receiver the Marantz AV9600 or the Arcam AVR350, so...)

Seeking the best is what this hobby is all about but by the same token, the improvements you will get between the Pioneer and Arcam will not be huge video wise, in fact, anything that you'll see will depend on your display and your ability to notice the subtle differences. If audio is your thing, Arcam gives you a more noticeable improvement. I wouldn't necessarily trade up for the Arcam, Marantz got good scores if thats your thing, the new Denons will also score well.

Well, I am really looking fpor the player that is going to sound the best for HT. My display is not going to give me any picture that is significantly better than the one I have now...

That being said, I want to get the one that is going to sound the best via digital out.

solondandy, Have you compared the 9600 to the arcam or onkyo?

Well, I am really looking fpor the player that is going to sound the best for HT.

That being said, I want to get the one that is going to sound the best via digital out.
Digital out? Like Toslink or Coax? If that is what you are planning to do, I honestly think that your Pio 79 will do just as well as the Arcam or Denon or any other player that can accurately output a clean digital signal.

If you're spending big money for a DVD - CD player, you want analog out to take advantage of the DAC's and other processing that the player will give. In 99% of cases digital-out is digital-out, and you will never be able to tell the difference between players.

shane

No mutlchannel SACD?? Not for me.

solondandy, Have you compared the 9600 to the arcam or onkyo?

Never saw the Marantz but I had two Onkyo SP1000's, the Onkyo had a better picture than the Arcam but it wasn't worth keeping because of occasional lip sync issues and it was picky with discs.

In 99% of cases digital-out is digital-out, and you will never be able to tell the difference between players.

shane


Is this true? i get a MUCH better sound out of the Pioneer Elite 79AVi than I did from my Sony DVD player. This is what has prompted me to ask.

Is this true? i get a MUCH better sound out of the Pioneer Elite 79AVi than I did from my Sony DVD player. This is what has prompted me to ask.
Yes my friend, it is true. Through the analog (6x) cables, my 79avi sounded slightly better than when fed via coax (or Toslink) to my Denon rcvr. The 79avi's DAC's were slightly smoother and had a bit more warmth. One of the main reasons I got my 79avi was for the improved sound through it's DAC's :D

Edit: And so, one of the reasons I was interested in the Arcam was because of the DAC's and it's glorious audio... which would be defeated by going out digital. :(

Digital out from my CD player, or either of my DVD players was identical. Ones and zeros. If the digital feed is accurate, there should be ZERO difference.

shane

So, if I were to get the ARCAM then I would need to feed the receiver the analog outs to get the best sound? or would it even matter for HT?

So, if I were to get the ARCAM then I would need to feed the receiver the analog outs to get the best sound? or would it even matter for HT?

You would want to use the analog for two channel CD play and the digital for DVD movies.

Did ARCAM decide that DVD-Audio was great and that SACD sucks?

Did ARCAM decide that DVD-Audio was great and that SACD sucks?

Who knows, they obviously have implemented DVD Audio successfully in their other players. My guess is judging by the way that Arcam does things, they probably thought they could do a better job of implementing SACD by stepping out of the cookie cutter mold and got a little too fancy with it. That is OK though, for those that buy a DVD player for video and 2 channel audio, you still come away with a competitive machine. Further, for those convinced that HDMI makes a difference you get a nice specified player with the highly regarded ABT scaler.

My guess is judging by the way that Arcam does things, they probably thought they could do a better job of implementing SACD by stepping out of the cookie cutter mold and got a little too fancy with it. Or they do what other higher end universals do - optimize for 2 channel because it the most commonly used and something went wrong with the "unoptimized" part. :) Optmized is a bad word here, but I can't think of a better one ATM.

larry

I guess the technology they use- mask of silence or something? - can mask 2 ch noise but not multichannel noise. :)

Or they do what other higher end universals do - optimize for 2 channel because it the most commonly used ... Not in my system. ;)

One thing to note about digital output of Redbook audio from DVD players is that some players automatically upsample to 48000 instead of outputting the native 44100. Many PCs with digital outs do this as well.

My experience is that this upsampling definitely degrades the audio quality when input to and converted by a DAC. I get listener fatigue -- i.e. headaches -- when the audio is upsampled this way.

I'm not sure what the Arcam outputs, but I'm almost positive it is 44100. I believe that Benchmark Audio, makers of the DAC1, published a list of DVD players that output native 44100 for Redbook.

I had a Sony TA-E9000ES pre/pro, and now a Lexicon. Both can display what the freq and bit depth of the source is. At least with the Pio players I've had, they are were all native 44.1/16. What players output 48kHz for CD? I am not aware of any.

Here's the issued I referred to:

http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/m.mpl?forum=digital&n=113021&highlight=benchmark+list+dvd+player+48k+redbook&r=&session=

I never found the list of offending players referenced in the post.

Sounds like the guy is putting forth a lot of conjecture. :)

Besides, a lot of players now feature upsampling to 96 kHz. I'm not going to say it's a good or bad thing, but I do know that some people like the effect. (And the Anthem AVM's and D1 upsample withiin the pre/pro.)

In the old days, sample rate converters didn't necessarily do a good job. But today, I'd be surprised if anyone could actually hear the difference between a 16/44.1 CD and one upsampled to 48 kHz.

The Philips 963 he mentions actually gets pretty good marks for CD and SACD playback.

I thought about this and thought about this, because I have *never* heard of any player upsampling 44.1 kHz to 48 kHz and not giving you a choice in the matter. (And I *do* read a lot of HT mags in addition to places like here and HTF and Audio Asylum, etc.)

I think I figured out how that guy got confused.

A lot of modern DVD players *do* have a setting for LPCM output. In the old days, a lot of receivers and pre/pro couldn't accept a 96 kHz signal. So players have a setting of *maximum* LPCM freq. Usually, you can change it between 48 kHz and 96 kHz. But 44.1 kHz CD still comes out as 44.1 kHz, no matter what the setting is. All this setting affects, is whether 96 kHz signals are downsampled to 48 kHz, or not. The old Digital Audio Disc format. (DVD-V's which were meant mostly for audio with a 24/94 format, a la Chesky and a very few others.)

I think that's where that dude got confused.

I thought about this and thought about this, because I have *never* heard of any player upsampling 44.1 kHz to 48 kHz and not giving you a choice in the matter. (And I *do* read a lot of HT mags in addition to places like here and HTF and Audio Asylum, etc.)

I think I figured out how that guy got confused.

A lot of modern DVD players *do* have a setting for LPCM output. In the old days, a lot of receivers and pre/pro couldn't accept a 96 kHz signal. So players have a setting of *maximum* LPCM freq. Usually, you can change it between 48 kHz and 96 kHz. But 44.1 kHz CD still comes out as 44.1 kHz, no matter what the setting is. All this setting affects, is whether 96 kHz signals are downsampled to 48 kHz, or not. The old Digital Audio Disc format. (DVD-V's which were meant mostly for audio with a 24/94 format, a la Chesky and a very few others.)

I think that's where that dude got confused.Bingo.

larry

Dunno. Since Benchmark never published a list, maybe this is a bogus issue.

I will say that I tested my PC outputting Redbook audio to a Benchmark DAC1. The sound was pretty bad, and I got a headache in minutes due to the harsh high end. Turns out the PC was outputting the digital signal at 48k. So from my experience, 48k output is to avoided...which is apparently easy.

Got my replacement DV137, they tested it at the store and apparently it is up to snuff.

Still waiting for my replacement. My AVP700 is also in the shop, and the repair man went on vacation for 10 days, so I'm out of luck for a while.

I have to say I'm frustrated with this mess.

Still waiting for my replacement. My AVP700 is also in the shop, and the repair man went on vacation for 10 days, so I'm out of luck for a while.

I have to say I'm frustrated with this mess.

I feel for you...fortunately I was able to get a new AVP700 and although it was a hassle, it is a nice piece. My new 137 has not shown any of the issues that my old one did, I got me fingers crossed. It is hard to believe that Arcam's latest offerings have been so problematic, the stuff is made in England, the quality control I would assume is better than "average". Fortunately they support their dealers well and in the case of the 137, they replaced it somewhat quickly. Still a bit of a hassle though, there is nothing worse than having your gear down.

When I bought my Arcam A85 a few years it had problems right out of the box and the volume knob was bent.
You could hear it scraping on the front panel when you turned it.
Dealer tried to replace it with an open box unit. I refused and insisted they bring in a new one, which they did.

Glad they have solved the problem with the 137. It's still not available in Canada and the local dealer hasn't even heard of it.

Why would you assume that? A country that no longer has any native car production can hardly be considered "the workshop of the world" anymore or a leading technology or engineering power.


..the stuff is made in England, the quality control I would assume is better than "average"...

Why would you assume that? A country that no longer has any native car production can hardly be considered "the workshop of the world" anymore or a leading technology or engineering power.

Compared to the mass marketed Asian stuff my assumption Arcam to me qualifies as a more intimate ownership experience. The management is actively visible and responsive on a level which is not typical. Further they have moved up the ranks pretty fast for a smaller company, the products are either always competitive or class leading.

I agree that a number of senior folks from Arcam regularly post on this (and other forums). However I think there QC seems a bit weak - there seem to be a lot of people buying there products as soon as they are released, and then having issues. This happened with the AVR300, the AVP700 and now the DV137.

It's nice that Arcam respond quickly and try to fix problems, but wouldn't it be better if they tested their equipment better in the first place?

I agree that a number of senior folks from Arcam regularly post on this (and other forums). However I think there QC seems a bit weak - there seem to be a lot of people buying there products as soon as they are released, and then having issues. This happened with the AVR300, the AVP700 and now the DV137.

It's nice that Arcam respond quickly and try to fix problems, but wouldn't it be better if they tested their equipment better in the first place?

I guess you are right to some extent. Ultimately I am ok weathering the issues because the AVP700 is an excellent value and the 137 has the potential to be as well. I think Arcam has been so progressive as far as pushing the performance envelope and this has come at the expense of some QC, it is still a decent trade off for me as long as my dealer and Arcam will make things right.

If the AVP700 could handle audio from HDMI I would be all over it as well. I was really disappointed when the AVR350 came out and only had video switching on HDMI. I guess they are waiting for 1.3. before adding audio processing via HDMI.

I just set up my DV137 which replaces my FMJDV29. I would say the picture has a slight edge and the sound is equal. The set up menu is a big improvement. I think the big difference is the addition of SACD and the $1000 price drop. I set the unit on Auto resolution format and it looks great, but did discover I had to power down the unit after making resolution changes. I was told this was because of my projector, but did not have that issue with the DV29.

I had 3 top end Denon,s before I went to Arcam and they were all very disappointing. Lots of features that didn’t work well and lots of freeze ups and problems. Warranty service for a factory defect on my Dennon (I discovered from this forum) cost me $300 because I discovered the problem 13 months after buying it. I would think when they know they have a problem they would cover it.

I have been very satisfied with my Arcam units and like the idea they have a 5 year warranty.

Glad you like your 137, could you describe in more detail the difference in pq vs. The dv29?

I would say the picture is a bit smoother. One of the disks I use to test is Gladiator, the scene where they fly over the city to the coliseum and then end up in a talking scene. Less quality DVD players always fall apart in the detail here. The DVI output of the DV29 seamed a bit harsh as in you could see flaws in the actors makeup, not that it was bad it was just to much detail. When you used the comp out it was much more film like. The new DV137 is excellent on the DVI out in detail and a bit less harsh. I originally thought this harshness had to be a problem as my older DV79 to me looked like it had a better picture on DVI but not as good on comp. I sent the unit back to be tested and Arcam did not agree, they just told me they were different and I liked the more film like look.

Sound quality is very very good also. I had a DV79 that had a great picture on HDMI out but just did not sound all that great, that’s why I went up to the DV29. I think I like the sound of the 137 even better but I have only had about 12 hours on the unit and am still tweaking.

The DV137 now has it all sound and picture. Just one owners opinion.

Here is the Andy Dutton's sticky posted on AV Forums:

Stick with amps and integrateds, Arcam. $2000 DVD players that don't work are a drag. :confused:

When you have the best amps and you want the best sound you start buying the best sources. You get what you pay for the trick is to be happy about what you buy. I have never had that problem with any of my Arcam buys, I just wish they would stop getting better.

I would say the picture is a bit smoother. One of the disks I use to test is Gladiator, the scene where they fly over the city to the coliseum and then end up in a talking scene. Less quality DVD players always fall apart in the detail here. The DVI output of the DV29 seamed a bit harsh as in you could see flaws in the actors makeup, not that it was bad it was just to much detail. When you used the comp out it was much more film like. The new DV137 is excellent on the DVI out in detail and a bit less harsh. I originally thought this harshness had to be a problem as my older DV79 to me looked like it had a better picture on DVI but not as good on comp. I sent the unit back to be tested and Arcam did not agree, they just told me they were different and I liked the more film like look.

Sound quality is very very good also. I had a DV79 that had a great picture on HDMI out but just did not sound all that great, that’s why I went up to the DV29. I think I like the sound of the 137 even better but I have only had about 12 hours on the unit and am still tweaking.

The DV137 now has it all sound and picture. Just one owners opinion.

Thanks. So far I am noticing a little less detail (softer picture) but the picture appears to be less flawed. When I say "detail", it looks less hidef and more film like which isn't necessarily good if you prefer the hidef look. The colors are rich, depth of picture and blackness are top notch, it has all the features I am looking for and sounds good like most Arcams. I have my fingers crossed that it will be reliable, so far the only quirk has been occasionally when I hit stop, it goes into the pause mode and then I hit play the movie goes back to the beginning. It only happened on one movie though.

Any new news about multichannel SACD?

Nothing I have heard. Anybody have this player, opinions?

I emailed Arcam. They essentially said that they are still working on the MC SACD issue. I'll bug them again in a month or two if none of us hears anything in between.

Does the ARCAM 137 really put out 768p? It seems like if it did and if a 1366X768 Plasma would accept 768p over HDMI that you would have the perfect match. Has anyone tried the ARCAM 137 with a 1366X768 Plasma? Would anybody that doesn't own an ARCAM 137 land a 1366X768 display ike to hazard a guess as to the quality of such a combination?

Anyone have the definitive answer on this one? I am debating the price / performance of the DV79 vs DV137. It seems like the 137 would have an advantage for those with 768p TVs.

Plus, you have to be careful on the plasma side. Some don't accept their native resolution. (Some Panasonics don't, for example.)

The DV137 definitely puts out 768P, not all devices can accept it though. I tried the setting and my video processor (DWIN) went out of range and would not display anything. At this point I had to go to a composite output to get a menu back in order to change things back.

Do not know about the SACD yet, as all I have is DVDA discs to play, they sound great. I had a DV29 before the 137 and I miss it, mainly because it had RS232 capability that the 137 has, but they have not published yet. My other problem is that it does not sync up with my Dwin processor as good as the 29 did. If I have the 137 turned on, then turn on my Dwin, it won't display. It works fine when the Dwin is on and then I turn the 137 on, but not the other way around. This is just a slight annoyance, but it's one I did not have with the 29. I think all the Arcam players are great but in this price range they should be close to flawless.

The DV137 definitely puts out 768P, not all devices can accept it though. I tried the setting and my video processor (DWIN) went out of range and would not display anything. At this point I had to go to a composite output to get a menu back in order to change things back.

Do not know about the SACD yet, as all I have is DVDA discs to play, they sound great. I had a DV29 before the 137 and I miss it, mainly because it had RS232 capability that the 137 has, but they have not published yet. My other problem is that it does not sync up with my Dwin processor as good as the 29 did. If I have the 137 turned on, then turn on my Dwin, it won't display. It works fine when the Dwin is on and then I turn the 137 on, but not the other way around. This is just a slight annoyance, but it's one I did not have with the 29. I think all the Arcam players are great but in this price range they should be close to flawless.

How does the PQ compare between the 29 and the 137?

I think the PQ with the HDMI output is very similar between the 79, 29 and 137. I thiought the sound quality of the 29 and 137 was way better than the 79. Mair reason I changed was the HD output of the 137 and the SACD capability. I am not sure that it was worth it though, the 29 was a fatastic player.

Bill

arcam have a major software problem with this unit (2.03) firmware i know this because i have one here are the trouble
1...... takes a long time to load discs
2....... really bad layer change and freezes
3.......... locks up sometimes
4...........sacd sound so bad i won't play it and only 2 channel
5...........they have disabled multi channel sacd because of no.4
I really fedup with arcam for putting this peice of crap out on the market and at £1250 a unit it's totally not worth it i may look at the denon DVD-3930CI instead
i found out that they have a version 3 firmware out soon but i may not bother after all this headace

I hear ya. But Arcam usually gets such good reviews for sound quality, that before you give up on yours, try to email them and see what they say. Maybe fixes are coming sooner than later. Who knows. But because you already have one, maybe they'll tell you something they can't tell the rest of us. I keep hoping that they can work out the bugs in this player.

I read on the Arcam forum that there is a 3.0 firmware on the way in September, the main guys from Arcam have been pretty vocal about their awareness of the issues and have been dilligent as to the remedies. I have had several pricey Denons and Onkyo's that either crapped out or were rife with issues (s) and getting any support and acknowledgment of the issues from the company was non existent, at least with Arcam they are actively working through the problems and are supporting the product through the dealers. Is it frustrating, sure it is but ultimately you got a company that is standing by the product and should get it right.

i know this and now i've looked at the big picture arcam are really doing their utmost to correct these problems so that's why i'm now goig to give them a chance to sort it all out

i know this and now i've looked at the big picture arcam are really doing their utmost to correct these problems so that's why i'm now going to give them a chance to sort it all out

Let's assume they fix the SACD issue. Will this player allow multichannel formats over the HDMI cable? If it will be allowed, will it be in PCM or DSD?

I'm pretty sure it's HDMI 1.1. No SACD (DSD at least) over HDMI.

There are only a very few players that will do a DSD-to-PCM conversion for HDMI transmission.

The DV137 supports stereo and multichannel SACD as PCM over its HDMI 1.1 output (M/C SACD will be restored on the next firmware release due very soon).

John Dawson (Arcam)

Good to know! :)

The DV137 supports stereo and multichannel SACD as PCM over its HDMI 1.1 output (M/C SACD will be restored on the next firmware release due very soon).

John Dawson (Arcam)

John,

If you got your ears on perhaps you can help. I am on my second DV137 and am basically happy I stuck it out, it is worth any hassle knowing that you guys care enough to makes things right because ultimately, Arcam DVD players are always class leaders for those looking for a balance between outstanding audio and video. With that in mind, the new 137's have a great feature which has been absent on the last few Arcam DVD players, it will remember the place where you left off on the DVD, even when you remove the disc from the DVD player. However, this feature on my replacement DV137 only works once in a while, most of the time even when I don't remove the disc and shut it off and then turn it back on it will start over from the beginning, even my old Arcam 78 and 79 would remember the place if the disc was still in.

Also, occasionally I get some intermittent split second freezing, it is something I can live with but was curious to know what your take on it was.

Thanks again for staying in touch with us and thanks in advance for any help with these issues.

Andy

Andy:

So you got your replacement already? I've been waiting since July. In fact I just checked my records, and I pre-paid for my DV137 on MAY 7! It lasted one weekend then got sent back.

Do you have the 3.0 firmware? I've previously owned the DV88 and the DV79, but this experience -- four months without a source -- has been trying, to say the least.

I got my second DV 137 yesterday. Firmware is still 2.03.
So, all problems still exists.
1. Takes longer time to recongise some disks.
2. Frame jump for fraction of a second on chapter change especially Dual layer DVD's
3. Arcam unit freezs while switching off.
4. Some Multi-region DVD's won't play, If it all plays audio jumps.
5. In Some audio CD's (CDDA), at the start of the songs it jumps and re-start again.
.... list are end less.
I returned my first one because of problem 2&3 above problems but the new player has more bugs.

I guess Arcam recongnised all these problems and eventually fixed in the upcoming software version!.

If this is not true I am going to return this unit once for all and say good bye to blady Arcam.

Very very frustrated customer.

Perhaps John Dawson would like to comment in detail on the 137 issue. I have had 3 DV137, all with different faults and will no longer accept any excuses. This is a poorly developed player by a British "specialist" company. My £1250.00 will most likely go on the new DENON 3930 which I`m sure will outperform the Arcam in every area. Demand a refund / alternative player.

uh, new players ALWAYS have bugs. as much so as the 2910 and 3910 denons, and now even the new denons have bugs, lots with burned media. its the name of the game, new stuff= bugs. wait a year and then buy the "new" stuff and all should be well then. just my opinion.

That's not ALWAYS true. :) I've had early versions of the Pio 45a, 47Ai and now the 59AVi, and they have all come out of the chute relatively bug free. There are certainly performance issues with any of them, just like with all players, but nothing that prevented any one of them from being used for its intended purpose. Marantz players are also relatively bug free. Panasonic has also struck me as being pretty clean coming out of the gate, as well as Sony. It's a manufacturer thing, as well as sometimes a specific model thing. I think Arcam's previously players were pretty good in this regard, but the 137 is unique from what I know in terms of the problems it's had.

I`ve used many payers over the years and yes, some have had glitches with the odd disc in my collection. Just like I have a couple of CDs that won`t play in my CD player. That I can understand.... But no player has refused to play nearly every disc I`ve tried to play. ..

Basically this unit should not have been out on sale as it`s not ready to be released. Mine is in its box and will be back at the store today. I`ve reverted back to my previous Pioneer player and it`s almost a revelation when you compare disc loading times and the fact that it just "plays" the movies I want to watch... No frame skipping, no locking up, no problems.

Andy:

So you got your replacement already? I've been waiting since July. In fact I just checked my records, and I pre-paid for my DV137 on MAY 7! It lasted one weekend then got sent back.

Do you have the 3.0 firmware? I've previously owned the DV88 and the DV79, but this experience -- four months without a source -- has been trying, to say the least.

I feel for you, I really do, that is a long time. My dealer turned a new one for me around pretty good after the initial problem. I had a DV79 previously, this one is an improvement in all areas and the 79 was very good. The software I have is the 2.03, I heard the 3.0 is out and am looking forward to it. I didn't buy this player for multi-channel audio so I am not bothered as some may be, my 137 is a tad quirky at times but most DVD players I have owned have been as well. For now, I am looking at the situation as the glass half full, it is certainly frustrating to get something that has issues but it is encouraging that Arcam has been diligent in an effort to rectify the issues and stand by the dealers, something you just don't see with other companies.

For instance, the well-known lip sync issues with the equally as expensive Onkyo SP1000 was a major flaw and Onkyo wouldn't even fess up to the issue. Similarly, several Denons I have owned have had faulty laser pick ups, vibration problems etc. and to get someone on the phone was like pulling teeth not to mention the slow turn around if Denon agreed to a repair. Arcam on the other hand is all over the forums, communicating with the Dealers and replacing/repairing without a hassle.

My feeling is that this player is going to be worth the hassle, specification wise it should eventually do everything and quite well at that, top notch parts, no layer change or chroma issue if that floats your boat, great audio and the list goes on. I can understand why someone would not want to cut a company any slack, especially for someone who has finally decided to pull the trigger on a pricey DVD player and got stuck with one that is not performing properly. For those of us that flip equipment around a little and are always looking for the latest and greatest, perhaps has had a good experience with Arcam in the past and/or has a relationship with a local dealer, you kind of look at these issues as something you have to work your way through.

Well said, Andy. Until recently I've had very good results with Arcam. With the exception of a single blown fuse, my FMJ two-channel system has been flawless. I previously bought the DV88 and DV79 right as they were released and had no problems. In fact I had one of the first DV79s in the USA.

This summer my AVP700 and DV137 died within a week of each other. And now I'm experiencing a buzzing from my P1000 that might require a repair. All of this leads me to believe that Arcam may have changed it development or manufacturing processes for the Diva line, and these changes have not made the products more reliable.

This said, if I get this system to work I will stop complaining. I've also learned a lesson about compulsively upgrading components that are working well. I spent a lot of money to replace my reliable DV79 and AVR300. I hope in the end the improvement in sound and video quality is worthwhile.

lip sync issue my 137 has this any ideas?

Well said, Andy. Until recently I've had very good results with Arcam. With the exception of a single blown fuse, my FMJ two-channel system has been flawless. I previously bought the DV88 and DV79 right as they were released and had no problems. In fact I had one of the first DV79s in the USA.

This summer my AVP700 and DV137 died within a week of each other. And now I'm experiencing a buzzing from my P1000 that might require a repair. All of this leads me to believe that Arcam may have changed it development or manufacturing processes for the Diva line, and these changes have not made the products more reliable.

This said, if I get this system to work I will stop complaining. I've also learned a lesson about compulsively upgrading components that are working well. I spent a lot of money to replace my reliable DV79 and AVR300. I hope in the end the improvement in sound and video quality is worthwhile.

I hear you there, I have brought misery on myself by messing around with an upgrade over something that worked well, it kind of goes with the territory if you are compulsive. I am on my second AVP700, IMO, that piece is worth the hassle. The 137 hopefully will be worth it as well, I think Arcam is just on a bad run here but as mentioned, it makes a difference when you have good dealer support and a back up DVD player that you like.

lip sync issue my 137 has this any ideas?

The 137 is supposed to have the ability to adjust for lip sync. check the setup menu - it should be in there. (I do not own a 137, but I have been looking at upgrading my DVD player).

According to the specifications: Global audio delay manager, 0-150ms, for perfect lip sync with digital processors / displays

Mike

i don't understand why some off you are letting arcam off the hook here i think they should have taken this player off the market as it didn't live up to what they was saying the player can do @1250 pounds i would have liked the player to work. sacd not working dvd not playing is not what i bought arcam for never again i'll stick with denon never buy british again,just look at the p1000 it crap avr300 avr350 all gone the same way

Software update released for DV137 today to fix bugs including MC SACD. Pm me if you have any questions at all.

Also, someone mentioned issues with the AVP700. I would love to know specifics as we havent run into any problems with them at all.

Hey AudioArchitect,

I had a problem with the digital inputs on my AVP700: the sound was cutting in and out. The problem resulted from a fault in the power supply on the input board, or something like that, and was quickly fixed by the service center.

Also, the buzzing on the amp went away -- I think extremely wet soil around the grounding spike was the culprit.

Finally, I just heard that my fixed DV137 is on its way to me. With luck I'll be able to enjoy my system this weekend.

Let me know what you think of your DV137.

I am ready to purchase a solid upscaling unit to go with my new Pio 1140. All of the high end shops are pushing this Arcam DV137 but judging the comments on this forum it has issues? I am also told that these issues have been ironed out by software upgrades. There are raves for the Oppo which is a tenth the price but the power supply has been known to go bad in a short time. Any suggestions other than these two. I hear Denon makes some excellent ones. Does the Elite series of players offer an upscaling unit? Or convince me to go with another.

Does anybody out there know how to register the DivX? There is no option for Arcam when registering through the DivX 6.4 software online. Completely frustrating as DivX support is almost nonexistent.

Thanks in advance,
Dean

Hmmm... I just got the new WSR. There is a "product spotlight" there for the Arcam DV 139. Plays SACD and DVD-A too. :) Looks like they rechristened the 137 the 139 to try and distance themselves from the problems the 137 had. I wonder if there's any other differences?

A little searching revealed:

http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=370700&page=16

Hmmm... I just got the new WSR. There is a "product spotlight" there for the Arcam DV 139. Plays SACD and DVD-A too. :) Looks like they rechristened the 137 the 139 to try and distance themselves from the problems the 137 had. I wonder if there's any other differences?

A little searching revealed:

http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=370700&page=16

The DV137 and DV139 are in fact different DVD players. One major difference is that the DV139 incorporates both deinterlacing and scaling from Anchor Bay, whereas the DV137 has scaling from Anchor Bay.

Interesting. :) I assume that once the 139 is available, they will discontinue the 137?

137 is in DiVA range. 139 is in FMJ range. So they’ll coexist.

The DV137 and DV139 are in fact different DVD players. One major difference is that the DV139 incorporates both deinterlacing and scaling from Anchor Bay, whereas the DV137 has scaling from Anchor Bay.Josh, ideally I'd like to purchase the VP-50, but don't want to spend that much $$ at this time. So my thought is to buy a DVD player with the current Anchor Bay scaling and deinterlacing, such as the DV139. However, my Denon AVR 3805 receiver does not have HDMI input. What functionality would I be losing, considering I have no HDMI, should I buy the DV139? Thanks.

EDIT: Hmm, I see no reason why I can't go DV139 directly to my plasma via HDMI, bypassing my receiver.

137 is in DiVA range. 139 is in FMJ range. So they’ll coexist.

Are you sure about that? :) I have been seeing list price numbers for the 139 in the same ballpark as for the 137 (in one of the latest UK mags). Time will tell anyway. But I personally don't see enough of a difference between these two players for the 137 to continue to be manufactured.

The UK price for the DV139 will be 1800 pounds. This currently converts to $3420 US. I would anticipate the US price to be between $3000 - $3600 for the DV139.

I saw 1299 lbs in the latest Hi Fi News.

Kevin:

This is where I saw the price of 1800 pounds, including VAT in the UK.

http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=416784

Mike

I emailed Arcam yesterday to see what the price will be in the U.S. I'll report back.

The DV137 is in the Diva line and is $2K MSRP

The DV139 is in the FMJ line and replaces the DV29. It is $3K MSRP

The DV137 is in the Diva line and is $2K MSRP

The DV139 is in the FMJ line and replaces the DV29. It is $3K MSRPCan someone explain the difference between these 2 lines? Is one higher-end, or do they represent different products? Thanks.

EDIT: I see. Per Arcam, "The DiVA (Digitally integrated Video and Audio) range continues to offer the music and movie lover the most complete range of high performance home entertainment from any specialist manufacturer." "The Arcam FMJ series is a range of strikingly attractive components aimed at the buyer who demands superlative performance. These leading-edge products deliver a level of sound quality previously only available at much higher prices and take high fidelity and home cinema to a new level."

Doesn't seem like a lot of difference between the 137 and 139 for a 50% price increase.

As per Josh from DVDO (post #162), the DV139 has the ABT-102 de-interlacer card already installed. Not sure how much this card retails for, but I am sure that this would contribute greatly towards some of that 50% increase you see in price. Also, what about better electronics, capacitors, etc. ?

Here is information on both players:

Arcm Diva DV137 (http://www.progressive-av.com/dvd_players/arcam_diva_dv137_HDMI_DVD_SACD_Player.htm)

FMJ DV139 (http://www.progressive-av.com/dvd_players/arcam_fmj_dv139_SACD_DVD-Audio_HDMI_DVD_player_with_abt.htm)

The DV137 @ $2000 MSRP is added to the Diva line above the DV78 @ $1000 MSRP and the DV79 @ $1500 MSRP

The FMJ DV139 @ $3000 MSRP replaces the FMJ DV29 @ $3000 MSRP

Here is information on the Anchor Bay Technologies 1010

ABT 1010 (http://www.digitaltvdesignline.com/products/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=193401908)

Here is information on the Anchor Bay Technologies 1010

ABT 1010 (http://www.digitaltvdesignline.com/products/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=193401908)Great article, Dice9. Thanks.

Arcam could have made some effort to name their products with a bit less confusion! DV137 and DV139 in different product lines??? If a consumer wants to compare all their DVD players, in both lines, say performance and price, it's very difficult to do.

Hello All,

New to this forum but own a Arcam DV137. The vide play back in 1080p is awesome and the audio is incredible and have not had any issues until this weekend.

I went to play some music and I could not power it up. The little stand-by light was not even on. I unplugged it, plugged it back in to the wall directly and still nothing. I have a power conditioner/surge protector so I wanted to make sure that wasn't the issue. Nope still nothing. I called my dealer and emailed Arcam.

But one thing I am worried about is the posting from Andrew Dutton Engineering Manager. ARCAM about the SACD problem. That is the reason I bought it in the first place. I own one DVD-Audio and close to 50 multi-channel SACD's so if Arcam does not offer that anymore the player is useless to me. Has anyone dealt with Arcam and know about a refund policy?

Also one other issue. I cannot get sound from the Arcam through HDMI in 1080p. I can in 1080i and lower. I asked my dealer and he said he called Arcam and they said it was a bandwidth problem....any ideas.

Hello All,

New to this forum but own a Arcam DV137. The vide play back in 1080p is awesome and the audio is incredible and have not had any issues until this weekend.

I went to play some music and I could not power it up. The little stand-by light was not even on. I unplugged it, plugged it back in to the wall directly and still nothing. I have a power conditioner/surge protector so I wanted to make sure that wasn't the issue. Nope still nothing. I called my dealer and emailed Arcam.

But one thing I am worried about is the posting from Andrew Dutton Engineering Manager. ARCAM about the SACD problem. That is the reason I bought it in the first place. I own one DVD-Audio and close to 50 multi-channel SACD's so if Arcam does not offer that anymore the player is useless to me. Has anyone dealt with Arcam and know about a refund policy?

Also one other issue. I cannot get sound from the Arcam through HDMI in 1080p. I can in 1080i and lower. I asked my dealer and he said he called Arcam and they said it was a bandwidth problem....any ideas.Sorry about your problems. I know they can be extremely frustrating. Not sure what path you'll end up taking, but if you do get a refund, I would recommend the Denon DVD3930CI. At $1,500 retail, it has Silicon Optix Realta HQV video processing and has stellar audio fidelity via all outputs (Denon Link 3, HDMI, analog) - the perfect player to support your multi ch music collection.

How is the picture quality on the Denon. I have a JVC HD-56FH97 tv which accepts 1080p through HDMI and I can tell you the Arcam picture is breathtaking. The first disc I watched was Ice Age 2 The Melt Down. I was stunned at the picture. Made my Samsung Upscaling player look like crap. In fact since my divorce I have been watching two DVD's every Sunday through the Arcam just to see how good they look. The LOTR Trilogy looks and sounds amazin.

I will wait to hear from Arcam and my dealer before I commit to anything else but thanks for the input. I have already gone to Denon's site to look at the player and it would definitely be something I would seriously consider.

The Silicon Optix Realta HQV processor is pretty much right at the top. I thought I had an issue w/ mine for a bit, but the issue I was having had to do w/ the DVDs themselves. Good to excellent video transfers to DVD look pretty much as good as it can get w/ an ISF calibrated plasma. Check out this review from Audioholics:

http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/transports/dvd-players/denon-dvd-3930ci

and this one from Secrets of Home Theater:

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/masterindex_video_players.html

The Arcam 137 is reviewed here as well.

Just received an email from Arcam Tech Support stating that the SACD multi channel issue has been resolved with the latest software release. Which was not an issue with my player.

THey also stated the the power problem was most probably hardware related and that my dealer would have to look at it.....

Will keep you informed.

Just got word from the repair center. My DV137 is done and will be overnighted to me via UPS at no charge to me. It needed a new transformer as well as a power
supply board. They said that a power surge or spike could cause that, but I told them I had a surge protector/line conditioner. They said then it was nothing I did, probably just faulty parts.

I sent it last Thursday and will have it tomorrow. A great turn around time. Charlie from Audiophile Systems, Ltd. was on top of this the whole way and did an outstanding job supporting the repair. As well as the repair company in CT.

And they updated it to the latest firmware....now I will just sit back and enjoy it and hopefully no more issues.

I own two Arcam components and would have dearly loved the DV137 but it is prohibitively expensive here in Canada.

I could pay retail for a Denon 3930 and have enough money left over for a really good HD-DVD or entry level BluRay player.

Good review of the 139 in the current Hi Fi News. (They look at audio more than video.)

My Pioneer 59AVi seems to be taking longer and longer to recognize discs. I'm almost hoping it dies so I could try a 137. ;)

Well the Arcam DV137 just died again while I was watching a movie. I am sending it back for good and have told my dealer and Audiophile Systems that I expect a full refund as I will now be buying something else. I am looking at the Denon 3930CI or the Marantz DV7001. Anybody own either of these and can tell me how good they are. I am leaning towards the Marantz as I had a Marantz receiver (the SR7000 I believe) and it was awesome, but I have since upgraded to the B&K AVR505 S2. Plus the Marantz is half the price which means I can use the rest of the money to buy a Hi-def player. I will be waiting for a few more companies besided LG and Samsung to come out with a player that plays both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD.

Anyone purchased one of these players lately? What do you think of this player? I am considering one for CD/SACD/DVD-Audio

The 137 was always a buggy player. I've got an older FMJ-27a and never had any problems with it or my DIVA AVR350. Knock on wood. I really didn't like Arcam's choice to allow the zoran mpeg decoders do the deinterlacing(29, 79, 135, 137). The 139 is back on track but very expensive. I like the 3930ci or 7001. I'd go with the 3930ci for better video over the 7001's better audio but that is just my 2 cents. The faroudja chip macroblocks to much IMO. If audio is your primary concern I'd get the 7001. Its cheaper also!

The 137 was always a buggy player. I've got an older FMJ-27a and never had any problems with it or my DIVA AVR350. Knock on wood. I really didn't like Arcam's choice to allow the zoran mpeg decoders do the deinterlacing(29, 79, 135, 137). The 139 is back on track but very expensive. I like the 3930ci or 7001. I'd go with the 3930ci for better video over the 7001's better audio but that is just my 2 cents. The faroudja chip macroblocks to much IMO. If audio is your primary concern I'd get the 7001. Its cheaper also!
Thanks. I think I'm going to go for a modded Denon 3910, though I did also seriously look at the 137 and the Marantz 7100 and 9600.