[DrewWinters]

Has anybody heard this source? I was nearly set on the Pioneer Elite DV59-AVi until I saw this. The DV-SP800 seems to be a great choice as well since it is SO much cheaper - but it doesn't have the HDMI output that I wanted.

Anybody have opinions on this source?

 

[Welly Wu]

Looks fantastic by its' specifications but has anyone actually bought one and posted their impressions?

DrewWinters:

Not many people here believe in hi-rez formats nor universal DVD players. You should ask your questions at a dedicated home theater discussion forum.

 

[Welly Wu]

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...Onkyo+DVSP1000

The Onkyo DV-SP1000 does not utilize both HDMi and DVI-D simultaneously...

 

[DrewWinters]

I didn't see anything on that thread about HDMI and DVI (DVI-D? Is there a difference?) - the thread was about HDMI and Component, and no one had any information about the Onkyo there - just speculation that it might be able to do it. Did I miss something? The Onkyo's HDMI connection is DVI compatible, however.

Nonetheless, I can't imagine either of those things being a problem for me. By the time I can afford to buy an HD TV with a HDMI connection - it will probably be standard. Even if it isn't, I can pick a TV with a HDMI connection.

Features-wise - both Onkyo's are close to the Pioneer DV59-AVi. But IMHO, they look WAY better. All other things being equal - I greatly prefer the Onkyo. But I can't justify spending way more (for the SP1000) or sacrificing features (SP800) just for looks. I am hoping to discover enough solid reason to get the Onkyo over the Pioneer - but at $700 more right now it's gonna be tough.

I found ONE guy on a forum somewhere that said the Onkyo DV-SP1000 sounded a little better and had WAY better video quality (which he was surprised about) than the Pioneer 696-Avi... or some number like that. Is the 59-AVi sold under a similar name elsewhere in the world? The specs I found seemed to match the 59 and the picture looked like a gold-colored 59.

Perhaps I'll ask around in other places though, thanks.

 

[Welly Wu]

The Pioneer Elite DV-59AVi is the model number for the North American version. The European version is the Pioneer Elite DV-969AVi. You have to ask yourself whether it is worth the $2000 USD MSRP or $1750 USD street price for the Onkyo DV-SP1000 based on scant customer and professional reviews. Technology wise, it is just a hair bit more advanced than the DV-59AVi but you have very little knowledge about this unit available anywhere. Also you don't have the luxury of deep discounts for the DV-SP1000 like you do now with the Elite DV-59AVi. When I got mine, the MSRP is $1600 USD but I paid $998.75 USD. I saved over $600 USD at a time when it was really hot and brand new! That is because I researched the unit and found that a lot of Pioneer models get heavy discounts because their markup is so high to account for profits made by authorized Pioneer resellers.

I'm not saying that the Onkyo DV-SP1000 is bad but I am telling you that it is kind of hard to justify that $2000 USD MSRP when you know the Denon DVD 5910 is coming just around the corner.

By the way, what is your budget for a universal DVD player?

 

[DrewWinters]

Well, my budget is ~ $1000. So the Onkyo would be dramatically above it, currently. But, I may be looking at a longer wait on the amp - so I could spend a little more time saving up - since the source without an amp will do me little good.

I was thinking that by the time I was ready to buy the source, it may have come down in price. As things stand, I am not willing to spend 700 extra bucks for the better looking and *maybe* slightly higher performance source. But if I found reason to believe the singular comparison I found online then it may be worth it if the price could come down somewhat.

You may think I'm shallow for this - but the Onkyo has all the little stylistic things I like: Minimalist, round buttons, blue lights, and it doesn't have a yellowish LCD like the Pioneer. It just looks better. I guess I'm just trying to substantiate my stylistic preference.

Out of curiousity - I have read that some Onkyo players were based on Pioneer OEM units. The feature set of the SP1000 and the DV59-AVi is extremely similar. Hmmm... could they be based on the same design?

EDIT: A Review of the SP800 stated that it was based on the Pioneer DV-47A. That same review stated that the Marantz 8300 had substatially better sound. Of course, considering the price difference, that's a hardly fair comparison.

 

[Welly Wu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrewWinters Well, my budget is ~ $1000. So the Onkyo would be dramatically above it, currently. But, I may be looking at a longer wait on the amp - so I could spend a little more time saving up - since the source without an amp will do me little good. I was thinking that by the time I was ready to buy the source, it may have come down in price. As things stand, I am not willing to spend 700 extra bucks for the better looking and *maybe* slightly higher performance source. But if I found reason to believe the singular comparison I found online then it may be worth it if the price could come down somewhat. You may think I'm shallow for this - but the Onkyo has all the little stylistic things I like: Minimalist, round buttons, blue lights, and it doesn't have a yellowish LCD like the Pioneer. It just looks better. I guess I'm just trying to substantiate my stylistic preference. Out of curiousity - I have read that some Onkyo players were based on Pioneer OEM units. The feature set of the SP1000 and the DV59-AVi is extremely similar. Hmmm... could they be based on the same design? EDIT: A Review of the SP800 stated that it was based on the Pioneer DV-47A. That same review stated that the Marantz 8300 had substatially better sound. Of course, considering the price difference, that's a hardly fair comparison.

DrewWinters:

A lot of companies use an OEM Pioneer chassis and PCM to build their own brand name models: Integra, Onkyo, Lexicon, etc. If you think about it, then it is much like modding a stock unit. For example, I got the Pioneer Elite DV-59AVi. I will send it to ModWright LLC for custom mods. These companies are sort of doing the same thing except they're not taking it to the extreme level that I am about to do. They add their own proprietary circuit boards and add some fancy marketing fluff but it's still a Pioneer Elite OEM chassis and PCBs. So, can you afford to pay more for something that is strikingly similiar to another product? Will you pay more for just a re-branded unit that happens to look better? Are you seriously going to plunk down an extra $750 USD above your budget based on one person's impressions?

 

[DrewWinters]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Welly Wu Are you seriously going to plunk down an extra $750 USD above your budget based on one person's impressions?

Nope! That's why I was hoping to find some more people that had heard it!

Don't worry, you've sold me on the Pioneer...unless I can get the Onkyo for a VERY similar price and be convinced it will be as reliable and perform as well as the Pioneer. Both of those are unlikely to occur within the next month though.