Reference DVD Player with Reference Video/Audio Performance

Well, I decided it's about time that I review this product that I have owned for over a year now.  Amazing to see that manufacturers sell universal DVD players that can sell up to 5-15 times more than what you might find at your local Costco or Best Buy.  I will try to answer the question if spending this much money is justified over an entry-level universal DVD player vs. the Marantz which is advertised as a reference level universal DVD player.  I will share both my video and audio experiences and compare it to an entry-level universal DVD player that I reviewed here: Oppo Digital DV-970 which costs almost 15 times less!

Background:
The Marantz DV-9600 is touted as a reference level universal player targeted for those consumers looking for the absolute very best video and audio performance.  In order to realize this claim, Marantz probably expects you to have a fairly hi-end home theater system.  If you don't, you probably would not be interested or probably not be willing to spend the MSRP of $2100.00 for this player.  This is definitely a player you will not find at your local Costco.  Luckily, this player has recently been discontinued and now can be purchased between $500.00 - $700.00 on the used or discontinued market.  According to Marantz, the main reason someone would want to purchase this is that they do not want to compromise in any way the audio performance commonly found on less expensive players.

Video Performance:
The Marantz has the capability to upscale standard DVDs to 1080p.  It also has a native output of 480i for those of you that use a separate upscaler.  To make things fair for the Oppo, I had the Marantz upscaled to 1080i  via its HDMI v1.1 connector to compare their video performances equally.  The Oppo doesn't have 1080p upscaling capabilities.  I will later comment on the Marantz's 1080p performance.  The first DVD I tried was, "The Matrix", and looked at the opening Warner Bros. logo that flickers over the blackish green background.  Having seen the movie in the theater, I remember this flickering of the logo.  The Marantz had no problem reproducing this scene.  There was no grain, pixilation, or jaggies during this scene on my monitor.  The Oppo on the other hand, though good, still had some slight grain and jaggies seen during the opening scene and other parts through the movie.  Next I tried, "Star Wars, Episode III", and again looked to the opening scene for blackness and color richness with the spaceships.  Again, the Marantz had no problem portraying the blackness of deep space in the scene without any detectable grain and the colors on the spaceships were rich and vibrate without any bleeding.  The Oppo to compare conveyed a similar look but again, there was a perceptible amount of grain and slightly less visual blackness to the deep space scene (think black vs. dark charcoal gray) but I think for the average or even picky user, you probably wouldn't know the difference unless you did a side-by-side comparison like I did.  Last up, I used, "Mamma Mia", there is a deleted scene in the bonus disc where two characters in the movie are speaking to each other against a moon lit background.  The Marantz again had no problem conveying this blackness without any grain.  It portrayed a smooth, dark background where the Oppo again portrayed some slight grain and a bit of gray to that same dark moon lit background. 

Upscaled to 1080p for the same scenes, the Marantz's video performance is stunning.  It is probably equal or within 5% of the best Blue-Ray players I have seen by Sony.  Colors at 1080p are rendered even richer and more accurate than at 1080i.  There is definitely much more detail to be seen.  You can see the individual hairs off the actor's arms or faces at 1080p when at 1080i the hairs are more a blur.  It makes me wonder if all this hype about upgrading to a Blue-Ray player is justified.  So far, the Marantz in my system has lived up to its advertised hype as a reference video player.  Lastly, the Marantz can also play PAL discs.  Now for its audio performance.....

Audio Performance:
This player is advertised as a player for those consumers that do not want to compromise the audio in any way.  This player can play just about anything thrown at it.  CDs, SACDs, DVD-As, CD-Rs, etc. are all readable and playable.  My findings will be based on connecting the Marantz via the iLink to have the anti-jitter device active.  The nice thing using the iLink connector is that it replaces six RCA interconnects.  The Marantz has the capability to play SACDs in full DSD mode whether in 5.1 or 2 channel modes.  DVD-A discs can also be played in 5.1 or 2 channel mode.  Full bass management can be done with standard CDs, SACDs, or DVD-As.  This is one of the few players out there that can do this. 

First up, Norah Jones, "Feels Like Home", CD and listening to the second track, "What Am I To You", you can feel the intimate sense where each musician is relative to each other where the Oppo sounds flat and 2-dimensional.  Norah's voice is captured with a richness and ease that the Oppo cannot capture.  Every time she takes a breath, the Marantz gives you that experience while the Oppo cannot.  The bass instrument heard on this track is full and balanced where the guitarist's pluck of the strings have the lifelike attack and decay you hear in real-life. 

Next, listening to Diana Krall's , "The Girl In The Other Room", on SACD and listening to the title track of the same name, Diana's breathing again can be easily heard.  Even her puckering/pursing of her lips can be heard.  Again, the electric guitar in the opening has the attack and decay just like in real-life.  In 5.1 surround, Diana and her ensemble sounds as if she and her group is in an intimate jazz club in your room.  Listening to this same track on full DSD without any processing, takes this SACD to another sonic level.  It's too bad that Sony really isn't supporting this format much anymore.   Hearing a SACD in full DSD justifies the argument that it sounds better than the competing format of DVD-As.  Listening to this same track on the Oppo, there is a lack of depth, attack and decay are not there and certainly the sounds of Diana taking a breath between notes is not easily heard.

Last, I took out my DVD-A of Eric Clapton and B.B. King's, "Riding With The King", and listened to the title track of the same name.  Immediately, I heard the opening guitar solo between my left front and rear speakers.  It was like the guitarist was floating in space between these speakers.  The Oppo played this same track and imaged the guitarist as if the guitarist was coming out of the left speaker.  Both Eric's and B.B.'s voices were rich and full.  Again, when they need to take a breath between notes, it can be easily heard.  In 5.1 surround, it is almost eerie to have that sensation where there are musicians surrounding you in a very life-like fashion.

Areas For Improvements:
The remote used looks and feels like an ordinary remote found on an entry-level player.  It is made of plastic and the keys are not backlite.  Also, it would have been nice to have a headphone volume control on the remote rather than a small knob on the front faceplate.  Luckily, the remote's functions are easy to use and navigate where most of the functions can be seen on the player's display. 

Conclusions:
As you can imagine, I was quite pleased with the video and especially with the audio performance of the Marantz.  It has lived up to its advertised hype for me.  I would definitely recommend this player for the consumer that wants the absolute best in video and audio performance where price is not a concern.              
 
Key Features to Highlight:
Upscales to 1080p.
Native 480i output for use of separate upscaler.
Full video controls including contract, brightness, sharpness, etc.
Plays PAL or NTSC discs.
Built-in anti-jitter device via iLink compatible receiver or preamp.
Channel output connectors spaced far apart to easily use large hi-end interconnects
Dimmer/off switch for display to extract maximum video/audio performance.
Separate IEC AC cord so you can upgrade to your own power cord.
User selectable auto off feature when the player is idle.
User selectable auto on feature to turn on/off audio or video needs.
User selectable background screens.
Full DSD for SACD discs.
Full bass management with SACDs and DVD-As.
Gold-plating for all connectors and front-face logos.
Dolby headphone jack with volume control on front faceplate.
Custom-made transport tray.
Double copper bottom to eliminate vibration, EMI and RF.
Thick aluminum front face plate.

Specifications From Manufacturer's Website:
The DV9600 includes many examples of Marantz's best engineering and refined circuitry with carefully chosen internal components. It supports DVD, DVD-A, SACD (stereo and multi-channel), CD, CD-R, CD-RW, VCD 2.0, SVCD, and MP-3 discs with built-in Dolby Digital and dts decoders and true DSD processing for all SACDs. An IEEE-1394 connection allows a digital connection for all possible audio formats, including SACD and DVD-A, while the HDMI 1.1 output will pass both the digital video and audio for DVD and DVD-A. A dual-transformer power supply separates circuits to eliminate interference. Analog audio circuitry includes unique high current HDAM modules mounted on a separate circuit board for extra isolation. The chassis includes a double-layer bottom plate to minimize vibrations and the transport mechanism is highly damped to minimize tracking problems that can affect both picture and sound. Video circuitry includes a separate progressive-scan 12-bit video processing in addition to the main 216MHz/14-Bit video decoding. NSV (Noise Shaped Video) circuits further reduces video noise for extraordinary reproduction. Marantz' Pure Direct Digital Video circuit allows the raw 480i digital video to pass straight to your display device unencumbered by any video processing. This avoids the pitfalls of duplicate processing and in the case of state-ofthe-art circuitry such as in our VP-12S4 projector, allows the processor the cleanest possible starting point from which to work.  And for the latest in HD displays, the DV9600 will upscale to 1080p, in addition to the existing 480p, 720p, and 1080i resolutions. Conveniences abound. There's a customizable start-up screen, parental controls, an HDMI video output. And an RS232 port for total system control. There's even a direct IR flasher input! The DV9600. Proof that Marantz values your total satisfaction.

Plays Back DVD-Video/Audio, SACD-Stereo/Multi-channel,
DVD-R/RW, CD, CD-R/RW, SVCD, VCD, MP3 and JPEG Discs
216MHz/14-Bit Video D/A Converter
192kHz/24-Bit Audio D/A Converters
HDMI Output
Built-in 12-Bit Progressive Scan (w/3:2 Pull Down)/Scaler for
1080i,1080p, 720p and 480p Output
NSV Technology for Optimization of Video Signal
Newly Developed High Precision Mechanism
HDAM® Audio Output Circuits
Bass Management for Both SACD and DVD-A w/Delay
Lip Sync Control
Fine Video Adjustments
DTS 96/24 Decoder
Dolby Digital®/ DTS Decoder
Dolby Headphone
DSD Based SACD
Simultaneous Live Video Outputs
Video/Digital Circuit Off Mode
Exclusive Power Transformer for Audio Circuit
Zero-impedance Copper Ground Plate for 6 Channel Analog
Output Jacks
Double Layer Bottom Plate
Customizable Start Up Screen
Parental Control
On Screen Display
Component, S-Video and x2 Composite Outputs
5.1 ch Analog Audio Output
Stereo Analog Audio Output
Digital Audio Outputs (coaxial, optical)
RS232C Terminal for System Control
D-BUS (RC-5 In/Out) Remote Connection

FEATURED OPTICS
DTS Decoder
Dolby Digital Decoder
Disc Capacity
Progressive Scan
3:2 Pulldown
Playback Formats
Video DAC
Audio DAC
HDAM
Video Circuit Off
Display On/Off
Power Transformer
Gold Plated Terminals
Chassis
Zero-Impedance Plate
Double Layered Bottom Plates
Headphone
Video Scaler
Bass Management
Lip Sync. (Digital audio delay)
Separate Power Supply for Audio
INPUTS/OUTPUTS
VIDEO
HDMI Out
Component Out
S-Video Out
Composite Out
AUDIO
Analog Out (RCA)
5.1ch Analog Out
Optical Digital Out
Coaxial Digital Out
i.Link (IEEE 1394)
OTHERS
External Control (RS232C)
D-Bus Remote (RC-5) In/Out
• (96/24)
• ( Dolby Headphone)
DVD-V, DVD-A, SACD-Multi, SACD-Stereo, DVDR/
RW, SVCD, VCD, CD, CD-R/RW, MP3, JPEG
216MHz/14-Bit
192kHz/24-Bit

GENERAL
Color Black
Front Panel Aluminum
Remote Control Device Remote RC8500DV
Power Requirements AC120V 60Hz
Power Consumption 35W
Dimensions W x H x D (Inches) 17 5/16" x 4 1/2" x 15 1/8"
Weight (lbs.) 18.9
Freq. Response (Digital Audio) 4Hz - 88kHz
S/N Ratio 130 dB
Dynamic Range 110 dB
THD (1kHz) 0.0008%
(DVD-Audio, fs: 192kHz)
 
Warranty:
Three years from date of purchase.

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