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What We Think
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| This player's superb audio and video performance and full range of adjustments define "state of the art". |
The DVD-5910 has more connectors than any other DVD player I've seen. Most important are the digital outputs: DVI for video only, HDMI for video and audio, and IEEE 1394 for multichannel audio. Like many of today’s players, the DVD-5910 “upconverts” standard-definition DVD video to an HDTV format — its DVI and HDMI outputs scale to your choice of 720p or 1080i. Actually, these connections can’t produce HDTV-quality picture detail from DVDs, though if you have a fixed-pixel display — such as on a DLP, plasma, or LCD HDTV — they do offer an all-digital connection that will bypass the player’s digital-to-analog video conversion (which in the Denon is outstanding) as well as the TV's analog-to-digital conversion (sometimes of questionable quality).
Using the DVI, HDMI, or component-video connections engages the DVD-5910’s sophisticated processing power to carefully convert the interlaced 480i signal off the DVD into the progressive-scan 480p format. This is the starting point for any 720p or 1080i upscaling and is where the Denon stands out: for progressive conversion it uses a Silicon Optix Realta HQV processor, a high-end device with an impressive pedigree and an outstanding reputation. Scaling is in turn done by another video processor, this one from DVDO. Audio conversion is handled by 24-bit Burr-Brown digital-to-analog converters, which also carry all-star status among aficionados.
The player’s exceptional array of fine-tuning adjustments goes beyond the standard video controls (contrast, brightness, hue, saturation, and sharpness). The most interesting of these is "gamma," which controls the translation between the signal level on a DVD and the image brightness on your TV. Adjusting gamma can have an enormous influence on the visibility of objects in the darkest parts of an image without affecting overall brightness or contrast, and the DVD-5910’s multistep gamma control is considerably more versatile than most.
Full bass management and speaker-distance compensation are provided for the multichannel analog outputs, and — even more rare — the processing is applied identically, as it should be, to all the formats the player handles, including DVD-Audio, Super Audio CD, MP3, WMA, and CD as well as DVD-Video. You even get a generous selection of crossover frequencies (40, 60, 80, 100, and 120 Hz) for optimizing the bass.
SETUP Using any of the player’s multitude of audio or video outputs was straightforward. While its provision of professional-style BNC jacks to carry component-video signals is a bit extravagant (since there are also parallel-driven RCA jacks), this will please custom installers who prefer these ultra-reliable twist-lock connectors. Like most of the HDMI outputs I’ve checked out, Denon’s will carry multichannel digital audio (including, for once, an SACD bitstream), which greatly simplifies connection to an HDMI-equipped receiver.
The remote control is nicely laid out, with fewer buttons than you’d expect thanks to the extensive use of onscreen menus. All of the remote's buttons are backlit, but you'll need to memorize their positions since most of the labels remain dark.
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The Short Form
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| $3,500 / 17.125 x 6.125 x 17.125 IN / 40 LBS / USA.DENON.COM / 973-396-0810 |
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Plus
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| •Superb audio and video performance. •Accurate bass management for all formats, including DVD-Audio and SACD. •Wide range of video adjustments. •Extremely flexible connectivity. •Backlit remote control. |
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Minus
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| •Remote labels not illuminated. •Expensive.  |
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Key Features
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| •Internal scaling to 720p and 1080i signal formats •Plays DVD-R/RW and DVD+R/RW (except VR mode or dual-layer), DVD-Audio, SACD, MP3, WMA, and JPEG •outputs HDMI; DVI; component, composite, and S-video; optical, coaxial, IEEE 1394, and Denon Link digital audio; multichannel analog audio •Bass management and speaker-distance compensation for all formats •Price $3,500 |
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Test Bench
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| Measured as well as onscreen video tests produced excellent results, particularly for the DVD-5910’s progressive-scan conversion. If anything, audio performance was even better, with superbly low background noise levels. DVD-Audio noise was an astonishing 23 dB below CD noise, which was itself right at the theoretical 16-bit limit. Bass management and distance compensation were correctly applied to all signal formats. |
Jaggies were entirely absent on the Denon, not only with the Silicon Optix disc (as might be expected) but also in the live-action test pattern found in Chapter 9 of The Bourne Supremacy. While Matt Damon's fight scene is a nifty piece of combat choreography, it’s the background of thin Venetian blinds that represents the real video challenge. No jaggies here. Nor were there any other progressive-conversion problems with programs that switch frequently between video- and film-based sources, such as routinely occurs in DVD "making-of" documentaries.
And the picture just got better the closer I looked. In the director's cut of The Chronicles of Riddick, Chapter 8, the Denon realistically conveyed the wide variety of skin tones of the ethnically mixed crowd listening to the Lord Marshal's speech as well as the pinpoint highlights on the costumes. Vast expanses of near-flat or gently curved surfaces, as seen throughout The Incredibles, are difficult to reproduce — they can be degraded by "contouring" or "color-band" effects where there should be an even gradation of brightness or color. There were no such problems here — images looked very clean, crisp, and smooth.
But while the DVD-5910's wide array of picture fine-tuning adjustments may give it an edge on picture quality over some players, we've tested much cheaper models that look nearly as good. You'll need to look beyond video to fully justify the Denon player's premium price.
MUSIC PERFORMANCE Fortunately, you'll find that justification on the Denon's audio side, where its capabilities and performance clearly put it in a class by itself. The DVD-5910's sonic performance with both multichannel DVD-Audio and SACD was absolutely superb.
A continuously loud movie soundtrack or song is far easier for a player to reproduce impressively than music filled with soft and delicate passages, where a player's added background noise — the most difficult thing to eliminate — is most obvious. And no piece is better at stressing a player's dynamic range than Ravel's Boléro. The DVD-5910 took the wide dynamics of Paavo Jarvi's Telarc SACD in stride. The sound remained clean and clear from the pianissimo drumtaps at the beginning to the fortissimo, pounding-bass-drum climax. Bass management and speaker-distance compensation — which rarely work correctly in any DVD player — performed perfectly as I switched among disc types and signal formats, with no change in the bass balance I dialed in during setup.
BOTTOM LINE The Denon DVD-5910 offers faultless audio and video reproduction, and its wide range of adjustments and rock-solid bass management guarantee that no matter how good your HDTV and sound system are, your DVD player will never be the weakest link. If state-of-the-art is on your shopping list and price is no object, you won’t go wrong.
TEST BENCH FOR WEB
by David Ranada
VIDEO PERFORMANCE
All results are for the progressive-scan component-video output. Test patterns from Avia Pro test DVD were 16:9 widescreen except for onscreen resolution.
Vertical luminance response (re level at 100 lines)
200/300/400 lines: ±0/±0/±0 dB
Horizontal luminance response (re level at 2 MHz)
4/6/8/10 MHz: ±0/-0.09/-0.54/-1.0 dB
12/13.5 MHz: -1.4/-1.4 dB
Onscreen resolution: 540 lines (4:3 image)
In-player letterboxing: fair (see notes)
AUDIO PERFORMANCE
All data except for SACD performance were obtained from test signals containing dither, which sets limits on measured distortion and noise performance. All level trims were at 0, and all speakers were set to "large," subwoofer on. Results are from the front left channel but are typical of all channels. Reference input level is -20 dBFS.
DOLBY DIGITAL PERFORMANCE
Distortion (THD+N, 1 kHz, -20 dBFS): 0.02%
Noise level (A-wtd): -71.8 dB
Frequency response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz +0.86, -0 dB
DVD-AUDIO PERFORMANCE
Signals of 24-bit resolution at 96-kHz sampling rate. Custom-generated test disc.
Distortion (THD+N, 1 kHz, -20 dBFS): 0.0016%
Noise level (A-wtd): -98.2 dB
Frequency response: 20 Hz to 46 kHz +0.56, -0.2 dB
Noise modulation: <0.5 dB
SACD PERFORMANCE
Philips multichannel test disc.
Distortion (THD+N, 1 kHz, -20 dBFS): 0.021%
Noise level (A-wtd): -86.1 dB
Frequency response: 20 Hz to 58.3 kHz +0.87, -0.17 dB
Noise modulation: 0.75 dB
CD PERFORMANCE
Custom-generated test disc.
Distortion (THD+N, 1 kHz, -20 dBFS): 0.027%
Noise level (A-wtd): -75.4 dB
Excess noise (with/without sine tone)
16-bit (EN16): ±0/±0 dB
quasi-20-bit (EN20): +3.0/+3.0 dB
Noise modulation: 0.75 dB
Frequency response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz +0.08, -0.02 dB
BASS-MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE
Measured results obtained with Dolby Digital or DVD-Audio test signals. Selected crossover frequency was 80 Hz.
Subwoofer-output frequency response (crossover set to 80 Hz): 24 dB/octave rolloff above -6-dB point of 80 Hz
High-pass-filter frequency response (crossover set to 80 Hz): 12 dB/octave rolloff below -3-dB point of 80 Hz
Unclipped subwoofer output (trims at 0, worst-case signal): Dolby Digital, 1.9 volts; DVD-Audio, 3.0 volts
Subwoofer distortion (from 6-channel, DVD-Audio worst-case signal; trims at 0): 0.32%
Crossover consistency: bass crossover frequency and filter slopes remained the same for all signal formats
Signal-format consistency: all disc types and signal formats received bass management
Speaker size selection: all speakers - "no" (except front L/R), "small," "large"
Speaker-distance compensation: applied to all speakers, including subwoofer, and all signal formats and disc types
Speaker-balance level increments: 1 dB
Distance-compensation increments: 1 foot
Overall, the audio performance of the Denon DVD-5910 was superb. DVD-Audio, SACD, and CD performance were among the best we have ever measured, especially in the noise area and especially for DVD-Audio and CD (dig that Excess Noise performance). Measured SACD noise performance has almost always lagged behind DVD-Audio, and I can't tell whether it's the SACD system itself or the Philips test disc we use that's to blame. That said, the Denon's SACD noise level of -86.1 dB was quite good - audibly much lower than its CD noise levels even though the latter hovered right at the theoretical limit. If you hear background noise with the DVD-5910, it comes from either the recording or some other part of your system, not the player.
This is one of the few players I've tested where the bass-management performance didn't change when I played signals of different formats - the crossover slopes and frequencies remained as they were set. The only "problem" is the usual 1-dB, 1-foot increments for level balancing and distance compensation, respectively. Adjustment increments half that size are necessary for really critical audio setups.
On the video side, there's almost nothing to complain about. Horizontal and vertical resolution out of the player's analog outputs was excellent, and it passed all of our usual progressive-conversion test sequences without a hitch. The only anomaly was a slight rolloff in vertical resolution when the player was set for in-player letterboxing, as when playing widescreen movies over a 4:3 screen. The visible consequence was a slight vertical smearing of very fine detail, thus the merely Fair rating in this respect. Then again, I can't imagine anyone's using this player to feed an ordinary 4:3 TV instead of a 16:9 HDTV.
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