Denon DVD 1940CI - DVD player - upscaling

Comment: It's a shame. My 1940CI just quit all-of-a-sudden after about six months of very light use (maybe 1-2 hours per week). I really enjoyed the clarity and color of the picture (even though constrained to 480p via component outputs to an old BenQ PB6100).

Today, we had a power outage and the 1940CI is kaput. It couldn't possibly have been a surge, since the 1940CI and my BenQ are both double protected, first by a two-outlet PowerVar which in turn is plugged into a second, four-outlet PowerVar. The Denon quit, while the BenQ still works fine.

Given my very negative experience with Denon's technical service (when I had a problem with my Denon AVR-1705), I daren't waste any time calling their facility in CT. I probably spent close to two hours just on hold, only to be answered by a person who could not speak English and who seemed to have no product expertise whatsoever.

This may very well be the last Denon product I ever purchase. In addition, this will be the last time I deal with the seller, kccmart. After e-mailing them about my failed equipment, I heard absolutely nothing back in reply.

Comment: Very easy to use - quick response time - plays DVD video, DVD audio, SACD, CD. If you haven't upgraded to Bluray and never intend to - by all means, this is the player to get. I just can't say anything bad about this player and it's a real steal at the price Amazon is asking. Origional price $345.00. I picked it up on Amazon for $129.00.

Comment: I was looking for a universal player without paying too much green, and am delighted with the Denon.
It plays all the discs I have in my collection and has not disappointed me in any format.

Comment: My system consists of a Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum integrated amp (Tubed) connected to a pair of Avalon Symbol speakers and a Hsu sub, the former two purchased recently. Originally, the speakers were auditioned with an Arcam player costing about $2k. Because my old Sony player expired I was looking for a replacement. While I may eventually get an Arcam, a throw-away replacement seemed in order until I settle in one place. This low priced Denon unit fit the bill.

While the product isn't hefty, the output is. CDs sound fine, but the SACD audio is very good indeed. I sampled the following well recorded SACDs: Mahler 5th (Telarc), Goldberg Variations-Glenn Gould (Sony), In the Flesh Live-Roger Waters [Pink Floyd](Columbia), Blow By Blow-Jeff Beck (Epic), Abraxas-Santana (Columbia), Broken Hearted Blues-Lightnin' Hopkins (Fidelity), The Door-Keb'Mo' (Epic/550), New Favorite-Alison Krauss (Rounder), Celine-Celine Dion (Epic/550), Kind of Blue-Miles Davis (Columbia Legacy), Guitar Town-Steve Earle (MCA), among others. The sonics were rich, solid, detaiiled and dynamic as SACDs are noted for. I am totally satisfied, especially given the very low cost of this unit. I cannot comment on the other capabilities of the product or its longevity at this time because it just arrived.

Comment: In the past year or so I have tried many different players, from Oppo, Marantz, Yamaha, Pioneer, etc. All of them had issues with certain disc's, especially DVD-R's. The Denon 1940ci so far has read everything I've thrown at it, even badly scratched disc's.

It's also the fastest DVD player I have owned, displaying video as fast as 4 seconds after closing the tray. I just sold my BDP51-FD BR player because I couldn't stand waiting two minutes for a disc to start, so this was a big plus to me. The picture quality is also excellent.

The only fault I can find, is that it won't play SACD's over HDMI. I use my Pioneer DV-48AV for SACD, so not really an issue with me.

I like it so much that I picked up a second one as a spare, as most of the better manufacturers seem to be dropping DVD players, or at least not introducing new models.