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"To
Upgrade -or- not to Upgrade, there is no Question"
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What would an average DVD player sound like if it was rebuilt with premium components which allowed it to operate at its peak potential? Where the market driven cost constraints for internal component parts were taken out of the equation, and the circuit design is optimized for musicality and transparency to achieve State of the Art performance levels. I recently had the pleasure of hearing such a digital source in my system, and I can tell you the bar has been raised. I have other sources which could be argued, in their stock form provide State of the Art performance, albeit at a very hefty price tag which is way out of reach for most audiophiles. The player was an "upgraded" modest DVD player rebuilt by The Upgrade Company, a $1495 MSRP Denon DVD-3930Ci 1080P Universal player. David Schulte gracefully sent me a Signature Edition Denon DVD-3930CI to evaluate in my all digital system next to my stock Denon DVD-3930Ci I had been using to fulfill video roles, never dreaming it could be capable of anywhere near State of the Art sound quality via it's digital output. Having spent more than four months with my stock Denon DVD-3930CI connected to my TacT Audio 2.2x/Boz 216/2200 digital preamp/amp system driving a pair of Escalante Design Pinyon's and a pair of Escalante Design Uinta subs, I had become intimate with the stock Denon DVD-3930Ci's shortcomings. After swapping in the Upgrade Company's "Signature Edition" Denon DVD-3930CI into my system and comparing the two, all I can say is “perfection”. For starters, the overall system resolution was enhanced evenly across the frequency spectrum yet remaining neutral in presentation. The stock 3930 completely starved the signal in its transmission. I found the upgraded 3930 to have an extreme transparency of the treble and midrange with superb bass extension which also excelled in openness and coherency. With the music laid bare by the Signature Edition upgraded 3930CI, I never had the sense that it added its own character but remained neutral and relaxed in presentation. In my system I experienced a much deeper emotional connection with the music then I had previously. The essence of each instrument was captured and displayed in the most believable sense with a significant jump in resolution and space between and around instruments. Pinpoint imaging came to mind during my evaluation with the original note preserved and having the expected overtones. The bass output on my powered Uinta subs never sounded this tight, fast, extended and impactful. I was amazed. Lastly, I A-B'd the video performance via the HDMI outputs of the stock Denon 3930Ci versus the upgraded Denon 3930Ci off of it's HDMI output, with both players set on the same menu settings. The upgraded 3930's video output was substantially improved upon: I noted better black detail with less noise in the blacks, better gradation of blacks, an overall reduction in noise and color bleeding, and much more three dimensional. Highly Recommended. Mike Girardi Audiogon ID "MIKEG" |
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