Taking the plunge on a DV137...

[Emdubya]

Hi, folks.

I'm presently using an AVR350 with some quite high-end DIY speakers and a 50" plasma TV. My source is a Denon DV3300 which is about five years old and does a pretty good job at both audio and video, as far as my eyes and ears can tell anyway. I want to replace the Denon with a good universal player so that I can play SACDs too. Audio is more important than video as long as the video is still good, and I tend to expect many years of service from my equipment.

I'm very close to ordering a DV137, but I'm also very nervous about the reliability issues. I've never had any problems with any British or Japanese AV products in the past...with the exception of my AVR350 which has had a faulty headphone socket since the day it arrived. My alternative to the DV137 is the Denon 3930CI which has received excellent reviews and is 60% of the price of the Arcam. Since my local Arcam dealer gave up the distributorship a couple of years ago, and my next nearest Arcam dealer is a day trip away and only brings them in to special order anyway, I have no opportunity for an audition.

Can anyone please comment from first-hand experience on how the DV137 and 3930CI compare? Many thanks for any help you can provide,

M

 

[AmerArcamOwner]

I too wanted to take the plunge into high-end audio and video and bought a 137 at the beginning of this year. It died twice. I then upgraded to the 139 at a great price from Arcam....it now no longer recognizes the SACD layer on most of my discs and has HDMI handshake issues....it is going back for good .....just my experience. The sound and audio quality on both units were fantastic...the reliability issue for me was too much to ignore, especially since I get stuck paying shipping to send it for repairs

 

[Emdubya]

Yes, I read your thread - most disconcerting. Have you decided on an alternative universal player to Arcam? Thanks for replying,

M

 

[AmerArcamOwner]

Yes, I read your thread - most disconcerting. Have you decided on an alternative universal player to Arcam? Thanks for replying,

M

Now I am not trying to talk anyone out of buying an Arcam...I am just relaying my experience....I know on this forum others have the 137 and 139 and have no issues at all.

I am going with the Marantz SA8001 Stereo SACD/CD player for stereo music and the Pioneer DV-46AV for 5.1 channel SACD / DVD-Audios. I chose the Pioneer because I had their DV-578A Universal player previously (ex. took in a divorce). I had that for two years and worked without a hitch and to my ears the sound was great.

I am also taking the plunge into HD-DVD with the Toshiba HD-XA2