Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Better Choice for Sound Quality

I've read where getting a high end DVD player will give you
better sound quality as well as better video quality, such
as Denon's 3910. I have a Pioneer Elite DVD player DV-45A.
which I am not all that crazy about. How much would I gain
in sound quality with the Denon, though the Denon is
extremely expensive. Would I be better off getting better
speakers for sound quality instead of a better DVD player?
I presently have Paradigm Mini Monitors, CC370 center channel a PDR10 sub, a pair of Cinema ADP's which I want to upgrade to a pair of QS8's. My receiver is a Pioneer
Elite VSX-54TX. Possibly adding a pair of M60's instead of
the Mini Monitors. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Tim















s

In reply to:

---

Would I be better off getting better
speakers for sound quality instead of a better DVD player?

---

Hell yes. Nothing will change the sound quality of your system as much as a new pair of speakers.

Second that.

In terms of relative contribution to your "listening experience", speakers might be a 10, player maybe a 2 or 3, having enough receiver/amp maybe a 3 or 4, having the *right* brand of receiver/amp maybe a 1 or 2.

They all make a difference but speakers can definitely make the most difference.

The only scary thing is that the shape of the room you are in, placement, wall/floor coverings and other room treatments as needed are probably at least a 5, some would say a 20.

Try to use your current Pioneer player with Musical Fidelity x-10 V3 tube buffer output stage. I own one and the sound can never be better on my system.

I would have to say as the others and go for the speaker upgrade.There is no other piece of equipment you could replace or add that would make a better improvement than the speakers.

The Musical Fidelity x-10 V3 very well might be a great piece of equipment but at $400 plus tax or shipping it is around half the price of a set of M60s.I think it would be $ better spent on the speakers.

Whether a new DVD-P will give you better sound is debateable (very debateable-we have fights about it regularly!). However, I think everyone here (most everyone) will agree that different speakers will make far more of a difference than DVD players, even if DVD players make any difference with sound quality. Of course, all of it rests on how good the original recording is. Bad recordings still sound bad on good speakers.

The Pioneer Elite is a pretty solid DVD player. It is not like it is a Samsung $45 walmart special or anything. Yes, you will notice a difference with a new DVD player, such as the Denon 2910 or 2900, which are not as expensive as the 3910.

However, as has been said, getting great floorstanding speakers, such as the M60's, will make your system sound much better.

Understand, however, that you may be experiencing "upgradeitis", which is the phenomenon where you constantly think your system could sound a little better if you bought a new product. I just finally bought a Denon 2910 after years of needing a new DVD player (old one had problems). In that case a new DVD player was necessary. The DVD player improved my sound quite a bit, but of course now I am wondering if a new sub would improve my sound even more. I just dont get that deep gut thumping bass everyone talks about when Darla pounds on the glass.

Speakers will make a world of difference. I have the same Pioneer Elite player (DV-45A), and I have a dedicated Sony ES CD player, and I can't tell a smidge of difference between the two.