Arcam FMJ DV-27A does really well in latest "secrets" tests

[cybersoga]

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/cgi-b...amFMJ%20DV-27A

[MikeE]

I note in the review they say many of the improvements in the DV27 come from using the Vaddis V mpeg decoder rather than the Vaddis IV.

Before I go and buy a DV27A (assuming they haven't all gone already) does anyone know how to recognise which decoder it has from the outside? Is there a model no or serial no change?

Thanks

[Gordon @ Convergent AV]

I think the A designation is the giveaway but could be wrong. Calling Arcam will probably get you the answer.

Gordon

[kurtz]

I see that Secrets rated the DV-27A's layer change as 0.5secs which is much faster than their rating of the DV79's (which was 2 seconds).

Does this mean that the 27A has a better drive, or that it has more buffering than the DV79? Would the new DV29's layer change be similar to the 27A's?

[John Dawson]

OK - the original DV27s and 88s used the Zoran Vaddis III (not Vaddis IV - we have never used that - it's simply a typo in the review).

All other Arcam DVD players to date, including all DV27As, use the Vaddis 5 which is a much better chipset all round. You can recognise a 27A because it says so onthe front panel and also has DVD-Audio and MLP logos on the front panel too, plus multichannel audio output sockets on the back.

There is to my knowledge no difference in the speed of the layer change in any of the Vaddis 5 players.

HTH.

John Dawson (Arcam)

[comet]

Quick question then.
Is there a differnce between an upgraded DVD 27 and a DVD 27a. i.e. does the upgraded model have the same Zoran Vaddis or not.
I upgraded my DVD 27 and was given the impression that it would be the same as a DVD 27a.

Many Thanks

[ANDY_DUTTON]

Hi,

Tha Vaddis V chips set is required to do the DVD-A processing, so when your DVD player was upgraded the DSP will have been changed to a Vaddis V. There is no electrical difference between a upgraded player and a DV27A.

Regards,
Andrew

[malcolm mccabe]

Hi,

I have been thinking of upgrading my system from a DIVA DV88 Plus to the new FMJ DV29 but the literature on the new website does not appear to be there. Can you advise the chipset this has, I am predominantely upgrading to make use of HDMI to a Pioneer plasma? thx

[cybersoga]

AFAIK, the DV27A and DV29 both use the same Vaddis V chipset. In the case of the DV29, it uses the progressive output/deinterlacing built into the Vaddis V chip, even with HDMI. The 27A uses silicon image sil 504 on a seperate board for progressive output, but it does not have HDMI.

[vonhosen]

Other good thing about the DV29 is that it can apparently also output interlaced over HDMI (so you can let an external deinterlacer/scaler do this work if you would prefer it to the Vaddis V doing it.)

[spiderv6]

Nice review.

Always makes me feel good when someone validates my purchase decisions (stupid I know)

The remote got slagged off (again) though......surely the message is getting through now (Mr D?)..................

[Walton Goggins]

Originally Posted by spiderv6

The remote got slagged off (again) though......surely the message is getting through now (Mr D?)..................

Arcam have got the message
People buy them anyway !

Why bother improving the remote

[spiderv6]

so, which piece of Arcam kit do you own Walton?

[Walton Goggins]

Hi Spider

Alpha 9 amp & Alpha 9 cd along with some older black stuff

Still working great after four years

Bought Sony dvd though

[cameronl]

the arcam remotes are horrid! I wish they would out source the remotes to the MX people like my Halo gear that uses the MX-700 & sidekick.

CaM