Pioneer DVL-909 DVD Player Reviewed
- By: Ken Kessler
- - Reviewer's System
- Resources & Links:
- Source Components ,
- View Ken Kessler's Reviews
- January 11, 2009
Rotting mutterers - myself included - have pretty much accepted that DVD is not going to go away. But have we learned our lessons, or will a bunch of idiotic Luddites attempt to stall the format the way they did CD? Probably not, as all of the main culprits in 1983 were only capable of making turntables; now they're all digitised to the last man. If the Pioneer DVL-909 is anything to go by, things are
What? The supposedly-cautious KK purchasing a
While I and others have bitched and grumbled about (1) the US and Japan getting DVD over a year ahead of Europe, and (2) the iniquities of the zoning system, it actually worked in our favour. How so? Simple: We never got any of the nasty, early-1997 machines which certain Yanks now regret buying.* So 'first generation' in the previous paragraph actually means 'first generation Europe' - equal to second or third in the US. Hence, the poor saps who bought DVD players in the first half of 1997 were our guinea pigs.
As for the new Pioneer machine, a friend in the USA - a hard-core videophile with hands-on experience of most top machines - tells me there's growing street-level support for the DVL-909 as 'the first combo-player worth owning'. This is due in no small part to the DVL-909 featuring twin pickups, one dedicated to DVD and the other to CD/LD, rather than sharing a joint device. Or so I gather.
Although Zone One consumers took care of the teething problems before we so much as got a sniff at a Zone Two player, we are at the same stage as they were 18 months ago: total ignorance, no software. So, please, try to follow my shaky logic: If this is Year One for
If the whole point of buying a kosher Zone Two machine is to avoid all of the problems of acquiring imported discs, it presupposes that we will eventually have access to a catalogue as broad as that in the USA. NaÔve, or what? If anything, we'll be as badly treated for at least the first five years as we were with PAL laserdiscs. But, giving the software manufacturers the benefit of the doubt, we must judge them as innocent until proven guilty, venal and stupid. In which case, the DVL-909 is a perfect way to start one's DVD 'awareness'.
Because this is a 'pure hi-fi magazine' and there lurk among you Philistines with an utter lack of interest in or respect for motion pictures, my brief was to assess the DVL-909's sonic worth. Which is a good thing because the DVL-909 supplied for review is absolutely identical to the 240V machines we will be able to buy here with one exception: it's a Zone One player in the DVD visuals department...
What the hell. At the time of writing, there's a total of one Zone Two DVD disc available as far as I can tell:
Merely to glance at the DVL-909, to mess around with its funky, comprehensive remote controller, to check out the various methods of configuring it, is to want one. It has the look of certain luxurious Marantz items, that aluminium front panel finished in champagne gold. For a machine which accepts 12in discs, it's sleek and compact at 420x146x464mm (WHD). The front panel is remarkably uncluttered because nearly every control has been fitted to the hand-held. All you get on the DVL-909 itself are separate open and close buttons for the LD tray or the DVD/CD tray, play/pause, stop, forward and reverse, side A or B, meter-off and power on/off. And the latter will be used rarely, as there's a standby mode: touch any button, e.g. tray open, and it powers on.
Pioneer thought of every possible installation requirement with an array of connections including two SCART in/out sockets, 75 ohm component video output, S-video, optical and coaxial digital audio, phono for analogue audio output and RF output to access Dolby Digital (off laser discs). Trying to imagine a situation which the DVL-909 couldn't address yielded nothing, unless you insist on BNC or XLR balanced...
Feeding a Lexicon DC-1 surround sound decoder/pre-amp and a speaker set-up of three Apogee LCRs across the front and two Apogee Compact Monitors at the back, driven by Acurus amplifiers, the DVL-909 was compared to a slew of CD players and DACs to assess its pure audio performance. These included Theta's now sadly-discontinued DATA III LD/CD transport, the Chroma and Pro Gen Va converters, Musical Fidelity's X-DAC, and the Jadis Orchestra and Roksan Caspian CD players. Programme material included a barrage of conventional CDs and samplers from Classic Records' 96kHz/24-bit program, plus assorted DTS titles. For the visuals, I compiled a selection of titles which I had on both LD and Zone One DVD, including
Week One with the DVL-909 involves merely exploring its features. Dig this: it comes with a 60-page English-only owner's manual --
Paranoids: look elsewhere. The DVL-909 handles all manner of CD, laser disc or DVD (of the appropriate zone), including the following variants and options: Dolby Digital, DTS (into the necessary decoder), 96kHz/24-bit audio, and MPEG 1 digital Video CDs (for you karaoke psychos out there). And it plays CD-Rs, which some won't. A further nice touch, its billing amusingly free of the justifiable snobbery which other makers might have employed, is a 96kHz-48kHz 'step-down' so you can play 96kHz/24-bit CDs digitally into external DACs or digital recorders which can cope with 48kHz but not the full 96kHz. As Pioneer's John Bamford put it: "The DVL-909's SP/DIF output can actually deliver 96kHz/24-bit data, but where are you going to connect it? And what about jitter?" Which is a neat way of saying, "Stick with the on-board DAC..."
Which I did for most of the time because it's so ideally tailored to the transport. Never did I feel that the DAC was letting down the player, having discovered instantly that the transport section was simply stupendous. Feeding it digitally into various DACs showed it to possess exceptional detail and clarity, if a bit less warmth than either the Chroma or the Pro Gen Va. Pioneer shows allegiance toward high resolution and transparency rather than the ameliorative stance preferred by audiophile makes. At no time does it sound edgy or overly crisp; neither will you ever imagine that it carries valves in its analogue stages.
Using the DVL-909 as a standalone CD player, it easily delivered sound quality consistent with players in the £800 to £1200 bracket, while excelling in the creation of a wide and deep soundstage. Some might find its sound a touch lighter than, say, the Roksan Caspian or the Jadis, the former of which seem to be voiced in a similar way as the '909 as far as detail and transparency are concerned, the main difference being that the Roksan has a richer lower register. The Jadis lacks the detail but adds warmth.
What knocked me over, though, was the sound issued when the source consisted of 96kHz/24-bit discs. Quite blatantly, the sound improved in nearly all areas, with greater slam, detail, transparency, dynamics - hell, it was like going from small two-way speakers to WATT/Puppies. The 96kHz capability reinforces the pitch that the DVL-909 is more 'future-proof' than its competition. After all, DVL-909 owners will be among the few who can exploit, say, the next generation dCS Elgar converter.
When it came to assessing video, I was in for a double surprise. What I didn't expect was that the LD portion would be so markedly superior to earlier players, including the DATA III, itself based on an earlier top-end Pioneer mechanism. Amusingly, the one area showing the greatest improvement is that which is used as a hammer for DVD to bash LD: in the 'blackness' of the bars above and below a widescreen picture on a 4x3 monitor. DVD offers true black, while LD has always provided shades of grey. Improvement was noted first on the DTS version of
But then there's DVD, and both
Pioneer's DVL-909 costs £899.95; its nearly identical DVD-only sibling, the DV-505, costs £449.95. Not having tried the latter, I can't say that it's a clone of the DVL-909's DVD section, so I can't swear that it's THE DVD player to opt for if you don't need LD compatibility. But what I will say is that the DVL-909,
Now, how about some Zone Two discs to feed it?
Keywords
Pioneer DVL-909 DVD Player Reviewed
- Lyra Dorian Mono Cartridge Rev...
- Manley Steelhead Phono Stage R...
- Proceed PCD (PDP & PDT) Compac...
- Radford WSCD1 CD Player Review...
- SME 20/12 and 312S Tonearm Rev...
- Tivoli Radio Combo System Revi...
- V, Inc Bravo D2 DVD Player Rev...
- Antex Triple Play Satellite Rad...
- Apex DRX-9000 Recordable DVD Pl...
- Audio Alchemy Digital Decoding ...
- Audio Analogue Maestro Settana ...
- Audio Analouge Maestro CD Playe...
- Audio Research DAC1 Digital To...
- Audio Research CD3 CD Player Re...
- Audio Research DAC2 Digital to ...
- Audio Research PH5 Phono Preamp...
- Audio-Technica AT-ART1 Phono Ca...
- Audiovalve Sunilda Phono Amp Re...
- Basis Turntable Reviewed ...
- Blue Angel Cartridge Reviewed...
- Bow Technologies Wizard Compact...
- Bow Technologies ZZ-Eight CD Pl...
- Bravo D1 DVD Player Reviewed...
- California Audio Labs Tempest I...
- Chord DAC 64 Digital To Analog ...
- Chord One CD Player Reviewed...
- Clearaudio Statement Turntable ...
- Copland CDA 266 Compact Disc Pl...
- Copland CDA822 Compact Disc Pla...
- Counterpoint DA-11 Transport Re...
- DCS Delius DAC Reviewed DCS...
- Day Sequerra FM Studio Tuner Re...
- Denon AVR 2807 Receiver & Denon...
- Denon DL-103 Cartridge Reviewed...
- Denon DVD 2900 Universal Player...
- Denon DVD-1600 DVD-Audio Player...
- Denon DVD-2500 DVD-Video Player...
- Denon DVD-500 DVD-Video Player ...
- EAR 324 Phono Stage Reviewed ...
- Esoteric Audio Research 834P Tu...
- Garrard 301 Turntable Reviewed...
- Garrard 501 Turntable Reviewed...
- Genesis IM-5200 Loudspeakers Re...
- Go.Video Dual-Dec DV-3130 DVD/V...
- Grado Statement Reference Cartr...
- Gryphon Competition Isolation D...
- Harman Kardon DVD 101 Reviewed...
- Harman Kardon DVD 25 Reviewed...
- Harman Kardon DVD50 DVD Player ...
- Humax DRT800 DVD Recorder with ...
- JVC HR-XVC25U D-VHS Deck Review...
- JVC XL-FA900 DVD Changer Review...
- Kenwood Sovereign DV-5700 DVD P...
- Koetsu Urushi Black Cartridge R...
- Krell DVD Standard DVD-Video Pl...
- Krell KAV-280cd player, KAV-300...
- Krell MD-20 CD Transport, Krell...
- Linn CD 12 Compact Disc Player ...
- Linn LP12 Turntable Reviewed...
- London Decca Reference Cartridg...
- London Super Gold Cartridge Rev...
- Lyngdorf CD-1 Player Reviewed...
- Maplenoll Turntable Reviewed...
- Marantz CD-11 SE Compact Disc P...
- Marantz CD-16 CD Player Reviewe...
- Marantz CD-63II K.I. Signature ...
- Marantz CD52 MK IISE Reviewed...
- Marantz DV8400 DVI-Enabled Univ...
- Marantz SA-11S1 SACD Player Rev...
- Marantz SA-15S1 SACD Player Rev...
- Mark Levinson No. 30 Digital to...
- McIntosh C2200 Amp Reviewed...
- McIntosh MVP851 DVD Player Revi...
- Meracus Imago CD Transport Revi...
- Meridian 586.2 DVD Player Revie...
- Mimetism CD 20.1 CD Player Revi...
- Mitsubishi DD-8030 DVD Player R...
- Musical Fidelity 3D Compact Dis...
- Musical Fidelity kW 25 CD Playe...
- NAD PP-2 Phono Preamp Reviewed...
- NEC ND-3500A DVD Recorder Revie...
- NEC ND-3500A DVD Recorder Revie...
- Nagra PL-L Preamp and PMA Mono ...
- Nakamichi DVD-10 DVD Player Rev...
- Onkyo DV-SP800 Universal Player...
- Oracle DAC 1000/CD 2500 CD Tran...
- Oracle Delphi III Audiophile Tu...
- Oracle Delphi Mark VI Turntable...
- Panasonic DMR-E80H Hard Disk/DV...
- Panasonic DMR-HS2 DVD-R Reviewe...
- Parnassus Cartridge Reviewed...
- Philips DVD-962SA Reviewed ...
- Philips DVD750VR Reviewed...
- Philips DVD793C 5-Disc Changer/...
- Philips DVD793C 5-Disc Changer/...
- Philips DVD963SA DVD Player Rev...
- Philips DVDR80 DVD+RW Recorder ...
- Philips DVDR985 DVD Recorder Re...
- Pioneer DVL-909 DVD Player Revi...
- Pioneer DVL-919E Laserdisc and ...
- Pioneer Elite DVR-7000 DVD Reco...
- Pioneer DV-59AVi Reviewed...
- Pro-Ject Tube Box Phono Stage R...
- QUAD 99 Compact Disc Player Rev...
- Quasar LE Turntable Reviewed...
- Rega Planet Turntable Reviewed...
- Rotel RDV-1080 DVD-Audio Player...
- SME M2 Tonearm Reviwed...
- SME Series 30 Turntable Reviewe...
- SME Series I, II, III Tone Arms...
- Samsung DVD-P721M DVD Player Re...
- Sequerra Model 1 FM Tuner Revie...
- Sharp DV-HR300 HDD/DVD Recorder...
- Shure V15 Phono Cartridge Revie...
- Simaudio Orbiter Universal Play...
- Simon Yorke Turntable Reviewed...
- Sony 333 SACD Player Reviewed ...
- Sony A VD-S50ES SACD/DVD Receiv...
- Sony DVP-NS315 DVD Player Revie...
- Sumiko Pear Cartridge Reviewed...
- Sutherland 12dAX7 USB DAC and P...
- T+A K6 Integrated Amp and Compa...
- Technics SV-DA10 DAT Tape Deck ...
- The Finial Laser Turntable Revi...
- Theta Carmen Universal Player R...
- Theta Chroma Digital to Analog ...
- Theta Compli Univarsal Disc Pla...
- Theta DaViD DVD-Player Reviewed...
- Theta Pro Gen V-A Digital to An...
- Thorens TD124 Turntable Reviewe...
- Thule Space 250b Universal DVD ...
- Tivoli Audio PAL Music Playback...
- Toshiba 32HLX95 Cinema Series H...
- Toshiba HD-XA1 HD DVD Player Re...
- Toshiba RD-XS32 HDD/DVD Recorde...
- Toshiba SD-2800 DVD Player Revi...
- Toshiba SD-3900 DVD Player Revi...
- Toshiba SD-V391 DVD/VCR Combo R...
- Transfiguration Orpheus Moving ...
- Transfiguration Temper V Moving...
- Unison Research Unico CD Player...
- Vimak DS-2000 D/A Converter Rev...
- Wharfdale DVD-750 DVD Player Re...
- Wilson Bensch Circle Turntable ...
- YBA CD 2 CD Player Reviewed...
- YBA CD3a Player Reviewed...
- YBA Integre Integrated Amp Revi...
- Yamaha DVD-CX1 DVD Audio/ 5-Dis...
- Yamaha DVD-S530 DVD Player Revi...
- Z-Systems RDP-1 Room Correction...
- Zenith DVD2381 DVD Player Revie...
- Zenith XBV343 DVD/VCR Combo Rev...
Today's Top Story
Can The Home Theater Business Re-price Itself Back Into The Hearts and Wallets of Consumers? -
This recession is a bitch. The talking heads on the Sunday morning shows were shooting off this weekend about the fact that the American economy was headed into recession no matter what, but the collapse of the real estate market... Click for more...
Latest Source Component Reviews (Classic)
Theta Chroma Digital to Analog Converter Reviewed -
Given that Theta's sublime Pro Gen V is a device which consistently astounds me with its transparency, speed, coherence and freedom from digitalia, there should be no surprise that it's my reference converter. Much as I adore the Marantz DA-12... Click for more...
Meracus Imago CD Transport Reviewed -
No, I don't know what 'Meracus' means, and I stopped playing around with anagrams after I reached 'ear scum'. How about 'US Cream'? No way: Meracus is so decidedly, unabashedly a German company that it couldn't possibly apply. Oh, is... Click for more...
Marantz CD-63II K.I. Signature CD Player Reviewed -
On the surface, it's just another set of modifications, right? Another way to sell CD-63s, eh? I suppose that a cynic could look at it that way, but - after hearing the 'K.I. Signature' - the cynic would have to... Click for more...
Bow Technologies ZZ-Eight CD Player Reviewed -
It could have grown out of the ZZ-One integrated amp, a Siamese twin just itching to use its amplifying sibling as a plinth. Whether or not it should be 'stacked' is doubtful, given the ventilating properties of the ZZ-One's end... Click for more...
YBA CD3a Player Reviewed -
Blame the end of the Millennium, the coming of DVD, the arrivals of HDCD/20-bit remastering/XRCD, what-have-you. All I know is that we're experiencing a flood of deliberately off-the-wall CD players, and if this is anti-digital backlash, then it's over a... Click for more...
Wilson Bensch Circle Turntable Reviewed -
No puns about 'squaring the circle', 'Will the Circle Be Unbroken?', 'circle jerks' or any of that stuff: the most-obviously named turntable since the Revolver is exactly the dream Wilson Benesch watchers hoped it would be. Its shape, its simplicity,... Click for more...
Theta Pro Gen V-A Digital to Analog Converter Reviewed -
Not keeping tabs on other reviewers, I can't say if it's normal practice to use as a reference something which members of the public cannot purchase. Hot-rodded hardware, prototypes which never made it into production - there are plenty of... Click for more...
Rega Planet Turntable Reviewed -
Buying into certain 'schools' of audio thought requires the same kind of metaphorical lobotomy as becoming a slavish football supporter or joining a religious cult. In real terms - if you let the mind-set supplant part of your personality -... Click for more...
Quasar LE Turntable Reviewed -
'Gorgeous.' That's the word I kept hearing, every time someone noticed the Quasar LE turntable in for review. And one of the first to utter it was the owner of a Michell Orbe, itself no canine. What these individuals cooed... Click for more...
Linn LP12 Turntable Reviewed -
Military manoeuvres come no more complicated. Merely considering a 'top secret' review involving a panel of seven or so listeners is to court disaster, as 'secrets' and 'journalists' are mutually incompatible. But we knew, as the only British hi-fi magazine... Click for more...




Comment on this article
0Post a Comment