Worth the money? Yep.

My second Denon DVD player, also my second 5 disc changer from Denon (previous DVM 3700). The changer feature is something you either want or don't. I find myself watching scenes from movies about as often as I do whole movies, so it was a no-brainer for me.

From the outset, I wanted to upgrade to a progressive scan player and take advantage of my Mitsubishi HDTV, rear projection model. A frequent reader of multiple home theater forums, I have followed the pros and cons of multiple players. Even among the expensive machines out there, several bugs are evident - a chroma bug (displaced colors, usually red), a scaling bug (zooming non-anamorphic images), etc. I viewed multiple players from multiple manufacturers. The Denon was an easier decision than I would have imagined. Features, ease in use, picture and audio quality, changer utility made the choice for me.

For the technically inclined, the audio and video end are top notch. Real 24 bit, 192 kHz D/A conversion, featuring newly enhanced Burr-Brown PCM-1704 DACs. 24 bit, 96 kHz Burr-Brown DACs for c/SL/SR/Sub Channels. 2 composite, 2 "S", 1 set component video outputs, built-in Dolby Digital, dts and DVD-Audio decoders with 5.1 analog outputs, PCM, Dolby Digital, dts and HDCD compatible digital outputs, optical and coaxial digital outputs, it is wonderful. The Denon folks are using by report an upgraded Genesis chipset to handle the progressive scan video functions, staying away from the chroma bug chipset of the DVM 2800. This chip is not bug free, however, and has a scaling bug that Denon can fix at the factory, and which has evidently been fixed in recently distributed units. My point is that the scaling bug was not evident to me - I don't zoom any movie to display. Make sure you get a unit that has been corrected, or hook up with the firm you purchase it from to get it done. Spend this much money, make it right.

The set-up was simple - I pulled the plugs from the other unit, put them in the new one. I went (obviously) with component video plugs directly to the TV. Very simple. The remote is very nice - a sure upgrade from the DVM 3700. Kind of bulbous at the end, simply marked. Easy to use, with just big enough keys. Thoughtfully organized. The onscreen menus are easy to work through - I would have appreciated a bit quicker access to common items, however. Sometimes you find yourself paging through a few steps to correct something you just did. Easier with familiarity. Some folks have questioned the quality of the carousel drawer. I think it is solid enough. The display is subtle, but looks high end. The cabinet and unit is quite solid.

Picture quality? Breathtaking. Now I know what the HDTV interest is about, and I can appreciate the 3:2 pulldown talk (check out some references on the web, or go to a home theater forum). Check out the new Pearl Jam concert DVD (turn it up), or anything you have watched and were familiar with. Top Gun never looked so good. It's funny now that I actually can recognize areas where I noticed artifacts before and had just ignored them. The sound quality for audio CDs is really excellent, and the player allows you to choose "audio only" to take advantage of the sonic abilities of the system. It will play HDCDs. I've got a few, and the spatial localization and clarity is pretty exceptional. I have chosen not to worry too much about the coming shoot-out between the various music formats, and I'll take care of a player and start buying music when somebody wins. SACD, DVD-audio, who knows?

Overall score - a 9 for me. Until HD DVDs come along, I will likely watch this beast.