Denon DBP-1611UD 3D Blu-ray Player Reviewed

Published On: August 14, 2010
Last Updated on: October 31, 2020
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Denon DBP-1611UD 3D Blu-ray Player Reviewed

Denon plans to offer universal playback in all of its Blu-ray players from this point forward. The new entry-level model is the DBP-1611UD ($399). In addition to Blu-ray 3D, SACD, and DVD-Audio support, this player has a limited Web platform with Netflix and YouTube access.

Denon DBP-1611UD 3D Blu-ray Player Reviewed

By Author: Adrienne Maxwell
Adrienne Maxwell is the former Managing Editor of HomeTheaterReview.com, Home Theater Magazine, and HDTVEtc.com. Adrienne has also written for Wirecutter, Home Entertainment Magazine, AVRev.com, ModernHomeTheater.com, and other top specialty audio/video publications. She is an ISF Level II-certified video calibrator who specializes in reviews of flat-panel HDTVs, front video projectors, video screens, video servers, and video source devices, both disc- and streaming-based.

denon_DBP-1611UD-Review.gifDenon recently announced two new additions to its Blu-ray lineup: the $799 DBP-2011UDCI and the $399 DBP-1611UD. Both models are universal disc players, and both are 3D-ready. We have not performed a hands-on review of the DBP-1611UD, but here is an overview of its features. This Profile 2.0 player supports BD-Live Web functionality and BonusView/picture-in-picture playback, and it offers both onboard decoding and bitstream output of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. In this year's models, Denon has added a limited Web platform that includes YouTube and Netflix. The DBP-1611UD is also DLNA-compliant, so you can stream media content from a connected PC or DLNA server. A firmware update will be required to add 3D functionality and YouTube access; that update is currently slated for sometime this fall.

Additional Resources
• Read more Blu-ray player reviews from HomeTheaterReview.com.
• Find the perfect 3D HDTV to pair with the Denon DBP-1611UD.

In terms of video connections, the DBP-1611UD offers HDMI, component video and composite video outputs (no S-video). This player supports both 1080p/60 and 1080p/24 output resolutions via HDMI, and it includes a Source Direct mode that allows it to output all discs at their native resolution. This model does not use the higher-end Anchor Bay video processor employed in the step-up DBP-2011UDCI, but the setup menu still offers a thorough array of picture adjustments, including contrast, brightness, gamma correction, sharpness, hue, chroma level and multiple noise-reduction options.

Audio outputs include HDMI, coaxial digital (no optical) and 2-channel analog. The player lacks multichannel analog audio outputs. The DBP-1611UD has onboard Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding, and it also passes these high-resolution audio formats in their native bitstream form over HDMI, for your A/V receiver to decode. A Pure Direct mode shuts down unneeded video circuitry to achieve higher-quality audio. The 2-channel analog output uses Burr-Brown PCM-1781 24-bit/192-kHz D/A converters, and it offers a stereo mixdown for multichannel SACDs.

As a universal disc player, the DBP-1611UD supports a variety of formats: BD, DVD-Video, SACD, DVD-Audio, CD audio, AVCHD, MPEG, AVI, WMV, WMA, MP3, AAC, JPEG and Divx Plus HD. You can add the player to your home network using the back-panel Ethernet port; this model is not WiFi-ready. The DBP-1611UD offers 1 GB of onboard storage for BD-Live content; a front-panel USB port is provided for additional storage, as well as media playback. It lacks the RS-232 port that you'll find on the DBP-2011UDCI, but it does have a remote control input/output.

Read The High Points, Low Points and Conclusion on Page 2

High Points
• The DBP-1611UD is 3D-ready.

• This is a universal player that supports SACD and DVD-Audio playback, as well as 1080p/24 playback of Blu-ray discs.
• It offers a Source Direct mode to output all discs at their native resolution via HDMI.
• The player has internal Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding and can pass these formats in bitstream form over HDMI.
• It supports BD-Live and BonusView.
• You can access Netflix and YouTube, as well as content stored on a DLNA media server.

Low Points
• The DBP-1611UD lacks multichannel analog audio outputs, so it's not
the best choice for someone who owns an older, non-HDMI A/V receiver.
• The player doesn't support wireless connectivity to your home
network, and its Web platform is limited, compared with the competition.

Conclusion
With an MSRP of $399, the DBP-1611UD is the least expensive Blu-ray
player in Denon's repertoire, yet it offers most of the big-ticket
features--including video-on-demand, YouTube, DLNA streaming, and
3D-readiness. If all you're looking for is a Blu-ray player, you can
find other models that offer those features for less money. But, if
you'd also like a player that can handle your higher-end audio discs,
the DBP-1611UD is up to the task. Denon has priced this model to
compete with Oppo's less-expensive universal players, which don't offer
Netflix or 3D functionality. Basically, if you want a player that can
do almost everything and doesn't cost a fortune, the DBP-1611UD
deserves a serious look.

Additional Resources
• Read more Blu-ray player reviews from HomeTheaterReview.com.
• Find the perfect 3D HDTV to pair with the Denon DBP-1611UD.

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