Denon 1axva schematic

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Denon DVD-A1XVA ◆ £2,700 (approx) ◆ 01234 741200 ◆ www.denon.co.uk

Making the best
even better

The DVD deck we once described as ‘having no equal’ is back – only now

it’s even better, as a mesmerised John Archer discovers

ack in issue #115 Home Cinema
Choice was lucky enough to

B

spend some quality time
with Denon’s fl agship DVD player,
the DVD-A1XV. What we discovered was
a deck that set wholly new standards
of video and audio performance.
So forgive us for being ridiculously
excited by the arrival of a souped-up
version called the A1XVA.

So what’s new? Well, Denon has
added a 1080p output to the deck’s
upscaling talents. But, before I get
into whether the addition of 1080p
really adds anything to the exceptional
video quality that this deck already
delivers with its 1080i/720p upscaled
options, it’s worth recapping on
why the A1XV sits at the top of the
DVD tree...

Build and connections

For starters, it’s built like the proverbial
brick outhouse; it’s so outrageously solid
and robust that some might be put off by
its considerable bulk.

Connectivity is outstanding. For
instance, while most upscaling DVD decks
only provide one digital video option,
the A1XVA has two: one HDMI and one
DVI. Other notable connections include
a duo of component video outputs for
progressive scan duties, and twin i.link/
IEEE1394 ports capable of piping full
high-resolution multichannel audio
streams (from DVD-Audio and Super
Audio CD discs).

The unit also has the latest iteration
of DenonLink3; a proprietary Denon
interface able to transfer audio
data between high-level Denon kit at
lower than normal voltages, making
it less susceptible to jitter. It’s this
connection which should be used for
audio if you’re lucky enough to partner
the A1XVA and a suitably equipped
amplifi er/receiver like the brand’s own
AVR-A1XV.

On top of all this, of course, you get
the normal attributes like digital and
coaxial digital audio connections, an RGB
Scart output, and analogue line-outs for
six-channel mixes.

Dig inside the A1XVA and you’ll fi nd
the true heart of the beast: its advanced
picture scaling system. Of course, there
are decks costing under £100 that now
boast HD upscaling. But the quality of
Denon’s proposal frankly eats the budget
brigade for breakfast…

It’s based around two core
components: a single-chip version of

RATINGS

Highs: 1080p performance; general

excellence; awesome build quality

Lows: No DivX support… and it’s

very big!

Picture

Sound

Features

OVERALL

★★★★★

★★★★★

★★★★★

★★★★★

Silicon Optix’s hugely acclaimed Realta
Hollywood Quality Video picture
processing; and Anchor Bay/DVDO’s
10-bit Precision Video Scaling system.
Denon’s marketeers love to remind us
that a ‘full’ version of the Realta system,
as used by numerous Hollywood movie
studios in Silicon Optix’s ‘Teranex’
processor, would set you back $60k – so
getting a version of it on a £2,600 DVD
deck rather seems like a bargain.

The new 1080p element of the A1XVA’s

processing actually comes from DVDO,

SPECIFICATIONS

ITEM SUPPORT DETAILS
Video upscaling
Progressive scan

Multiregion
Composite video
Phono stereo audio ●● Plus 5.1 line outs
S-video
HDMI/DVI
Scart
Component
DV (i.Link) input
Digital Audio

Dimensions : 434(w) x 170(h) x 432(d)mm; Weight: 19kg

Also featuring
THX Ultra specified, HDCD decoder; Anti-vibration mechanism and four
layer chassis base; Dolby Digital and DTS decoders; 10-bit Denon pixel
image correction; Dual 216MHz 14-bit video DAC; four Burr Brown
14-bit 192kHz PCM-1792, with no cross conversion of DSD and PCM
signals; Advanced proprietary AL24 processing; Bass management for
HDMI; Pure Direct mode; SRS TruSurround; Source Direct mode for PCM
and SACD/DSD bypasses bass management but permits channel level
and delay time adjust without conversion of DSD to PCM; simultaneous
video out from component (progressive), DVI, HDMI as well as composite
and S-video

● Upscales to 720p/1080i/1080p

● Compatible with 480p with 576p

Region 2 out of the box

● 2 phono outputs

2 outputs

● 1 HDMI, 1 DVI

1 RGB
1 output
For digital multichannel audio
Electrical, optical and Denon Link 3

50 HOME CINEMA CHOICE

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JUNE 2006

Tr ie d &Tested... DVD Player

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