Like a lot of people, we huffed and puffed when we heard just how expensive Blu-ray Disc high-definition DVD players were going to be but genuine hi-fi and home-cinema buffs, we now suspect, will simply have shrugged and reached for the Carte Blanche the moment they heard there was a waiting list.
At least, that's the impression we were left with after learning the prices of some of the more esoteric upscaling standard-def DVD players that were being displayed at the combined What Hi-Fi? and Best of Stuff shows.
Denon offers a couple of what it describes as 'Universal Players' with 1080p-upscaling, top-dog being the DVD-A1XVA. Shop around carefully online and this is yours for a mere £2,700, while the next model down - the DVD-3930 - is pitched at a bargain-basement £1,000.
The range leader, picture below, is the size of a small out-building (but far better constructed than most) and appears to do everything you could possible want - apart from the washing up and, maddeningly, playing either of two new-gen high-def DVD formats.
It's got no shortage of sockets, as you'd expect (click the image above to get a better view), and, of course, DVI and HDMI ports are featured - though we're more than a little confused by the fact that they're said to be HDCP-compliant.
Are there any SD-format DVD movies that require HDCP compliance? If not, then this might be a sign that they're likely to be coming some time soon. Eeek!
Clearly, if money is no object, an upscaling player such as Denon's would be a nice toy, and, of course, these products are aimed at people who pay out big for their toys.
Even so, we can't help thinking it's crazy to pay way more for a player that can't play hi-def discs than for one that can, even if it has a 'Hollywood Quality' video processor and an accompanying features-list that's longer than a Jumbo Jet runway.
Mind you, if the output quality is really top-notch and the pricing differential between high-def and standard-def movie discs remains big, some might reason that it's better to opt for a £2.7K standard-def upscaling player instead of a hi-def player and save some money on movies!
Are we missing something here or do you think our cynicism is well founded? Let us know your views in this thread in the HEXUS.lifestyle.news forum.
Oh, and on the subject of the weird and wonderful, do check out PURE's press release about the EVOKE-1XT Marshall Edition DAB radio and check out the pic we took at the show. Our initial impression on catching sight of the Marshall Edition model was, "who on earth would buy THAT?", and we're still wondering now. But there's no doubt in our mind that PURE is a very smart operator - and we were impressed when we reviewed the company's Tempus-1XT DAB radio - so perhaps it really does know best.
HEXUS.links
HEXUS.community :: discussion thread about this articleReports from What Hi-Fi? and Best of Stuff shows
HEXUS.lifestyle.headlines :: Sharp shows five LCD 1080p sets & offers four at discount
HEXUS.lifestyle.headlines :: Fujitsu promising 1080p plasmas for 2007
HEXUS.lifestyle.headlines :: UK punters get first chance to go hands on with Sony PS3
Show press releases
HEXUS.lifestyle.pressreleases :: PURE launches Élan DX40 DAB/FM portable radio
HEXUS.lifestyle.pressreleases :: PURE EVOKE-1XT Marshall Edition DAB radio
HEXUS.community :: discussion thread about PURE EVOKE-1XT Marshall Edition DAB radio
HEXUS.lifestyle.reviews :: PURE Tempus-1XT DAB radio
External.links
Denon UK - DVD-A1XVA home pageDenon UK - DVD-A1XVA features-list
Denon UK - home page
