1st impressions. Whoever's post I read on this site comparing favorably the Denon DVD 2910's redbook cd performance to the NAD C542 had one too many before listening. At least upon first impressions It ain't even close. Listen to acoustic bass if you want the difference stuck right in your face. I read somewhere on this site that someone actually sold their C542 in favor of the DVD 2910! Wow! Either they are missing that NAD by now or they forgot what it sounded like. The Denon has fine redbook performance if you compare it to say the Marantz CC4300 or a Sony of any kind. It is very close with the Marantz and obviously trumps any Sony until you get near the top of their line.
Denon DVD 2910 vs Marantz DV6400 - SACD, DVD perfromance. The 2910's video performance out of the box was a bit disappointing as the picture appeared blurry and not as colorful as I've had grown accustomed to with the Marantz. I did however see the potential for better performance as the picture seemed less exaggerated. I then began to fuss with the many (and I do mean many)adjustments in the video menu's. Before long I had a stunning picture both more realistic and dynamic than the Marantz with incredible blacks and whites. The sound was a something altogether out of this world. The Denon killed the DV6400. Dialogue clear as you could get. This is the best sounding DVD player that I have ever heard by a wide margin. Try the scene early in the movie "House of the Flying Daggers" where The fella (forget his name) was throwing the beans against the drums and Mei was dancing and hitting the drums with her garment. When he threw the entire plate of beans at the drums I could not believe the sound coming from my system. The sound of the DVD 2910 for video is in a word "stunning"! Most amazing is that I don't have a DVI or HDMI cable yet, my observations were with the component video and coax digital hookups. SACD performace is far more relaxed with the Denon than the Marantz. The Marantz always gave the impression that the sound was compressed or forced. I have not listened to redbooks CD's again since the first night with it, but the NAD C542 was so much better that I may not try it again fo awhile. The competition is "no competition", the Denon is far superior to the Marantz in everyway. Reservation; I have not used the Denon or the Marantz for DVD-A.