Experience with SAMSUNG DVD-HD950 universal player?

[RichardP]

Does anyone own this universal DVD player? I have been wanting a

universal DVD for a while, and thought I would certainly get a Denon

1920, but this Samsung sure beats it on price ($179 vs. $350); price is

somewhat of a consideration given that high-def DVD is

practically here, and we all may be replacing our "regular" DVD players

in the near future.

The only drawback about the Samsung is that in a Sound & Vision

review of it earlier this year, they noted that it was surprisingly

noisy in its DVD-audio and SACD playback. I sure wouldn't want to hear

hiss during soft passages, and if this was the case, would go for the

Denon.

Does anyone have any experience with the Samsung?

[easylistener]

I have had both players and the denon is worth the extra money if you

listen to sacd and dvd-a. The audio section in the denon is much

more refined. The picture quility is about the same in the two

players, they use the same video chips. Just remember that hd dvd

is going to take a while for them to get rolling. Many movie guys

will not shot on digital media and that is what you need to get a true

hd picture, so the film converted hd dvd will look just like your

upscaled dvd picture.

[RichardP]

Thanks, EasyL. I am not a videophile (unlike those guys over at

AVSForum) so I am not concerned about the ultimate video signal

quality. I have a HD monitor with no HD source, so I am used to crappy

SD video images. I am currently using a 1998 Panasonic DVD, which does

not even have progressive scan output, so upgrading to any modern DVD

player will provide an improvement when playing DVDs. Audio

quality is much more important to me, so I am grateful for your

recommendation of the Denon. I do have a local source who seems

willing to match the best online price for the Denon.

[Kriton]

Hey,

I, like you apparently, am much more concerned with the audio portion

of the player, and I picked up a used like new Denon 1920 locally for

$250 and was glad to get it...I find that if you look around, you will

find them going for cheap due to the fact that the player has a known

flaw in the HDMI video switching on-off thingy...something that is well

dicussed in the audiocircle, avs forum and places like that.

Since I am still using a crt via s-video, it don't mean squat to me ( I

am waiting till all this format, definition, plasma, HDTV, LCD, DLP,

XYZ crap calms down ) They had discussed a firmware fix, but I

don't even know if that is possible with this player, so you throws the

dice.

The 1920 was my first Denon, and let me tell you, if you have not heard

SACD before, you are in for a treat. I have been amazed at the

sound quality; the 1920 has a "pure" pass through button that shuts off

the on screen display and the player display to give you the "purest

signal path"...this may be hokum, but couple that with the straight 8

channel path on my pre/amp, and it is glorious to hear - audible

difference. Much too bad the format is already dead but just

don't know it; ah well let us praise the Ipod, brethren, and the demise

of sound as we know it.

If the video glitch is not a problem for you, I highly recommend the

Denon - I have not used the Samsung, of course, but I can give the

Denon a pretty rousing endorsement, and it is a steel at retail IMHO,

and you can definitely get it cheaper.

K