My old AMC cd player is starting to show signs that the rca connectors need repair, with one of my channels going out, and coming back when I wiggle the cable just right. As a backup, I have an old Denon DVD-1500, my first ever DVD player, and bought it used as a college student on a budget. I hooked it up as an interim solution, and music honestly sounds horrible through it. It’s very bright, sharp and edgy sounding. I’m guessing this bias is great for movies, since the player has been one of my best for not muddling dialogue amid special effects, but it’s not music to my ears. Which is disappointing, since it seems to have a respectable DAC and does as well as can be expected with DVD video. I need audio DAC recommendations, I haven’t found much info online about the DVD-1500, other than it’s from around 1999-2000, and is a generation before HDMI became standard. It does have optical and coax digital outputs. I did visit my local used audio store, and they pointed to one of their old Arcam players and said it has a DAC that’s as good or better than most cheap separate DACs. I don’t doubt there will be a huge difference at the end, but I don’t want another disk player taking up space.
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Need DAC recommendations for my old Denon 1500 DVD player
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Apesbrain
Addicted to Fun and Learning
SMSL SU-1 Stereo DAC Review
This is a review and detailed measurements of the SMSL SU-1 stereo USB DAC. It was arranged to be sent to me by shenzhenaudio from the company and costs US $79.99. Despite its simplicity, the SU-1 manages to look elegant with nice fonts and LED indicators for different inputs. Back panel has...
www.audiosciencereview.com
You'll need to bring your own 5V USB-C power supply.
If you want access to streaming (e.g. internet radio, online music services), consider WiiM Pro or Pro Plus. Both have optical input for your Denon.
Or, the WiiM Mini too...cheap and good...SMSL SU-1 Stereo DAC Review
This is a review and detailed measurements of the SMSL SU-1 stereo USB DAC. It was arranged to be sent to me by shenzhenaudio from the company and costs US $79.99. Despite its simplicity, the SU-1 manages to look elegant with nice fonts and LED indicators for different inputs. Back panel has...
You'll need to bring your own 5V USB-C power supply.
If you want access to streaming (e.g. internet radio, online music services), consider WiiM Pro or Pro Plus. Both have optical input for your Denon.
Apesbrain
Addicted to Fun and Learning
Agreed, but the Mini does not have digital inputs so it would not help with the Denon DVD player.
True that. I was thinking of its optical OUTPUT.
The SMSL PS100 is only $30 (I'm mainly seeing aliexpress for availability now), Amazon has quite a few "converters" for $15, and if you'd like the idea of a remote control the topping e30ii lite is under $100 and has the same AKM DAC chip as the smsl su-1 but the smsl su-1 has no display and no remote control but a similar price.
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- #7
I’m curious how the SMSL compares to my AMC. Do you think the AMC would be better overall, or they’re more or less even? Though the SMSL does seem good for the price, I’m thinking if I spend money on a DAC, it might be worthwhile to have something I can use in other applications, rather than buying something to specifically pair with the old Denon. With this in mind, I would have a higher want for sound quality.SMSL SU-1 Stereo DAC Review
This is a review and detailed measurements of the SMSL SU-1 stereo USB DAC. It was arranged to be sent to me by shenzhenaudio from the company and costs US $79.99. Despite its simplicity, the SU-1 manages to look elegant with nice fonts and LED indicators for different inputs. Back panel has...
You'll need to bring your own 5V USB-C power supply.
If you want access to streaming (e.g. internet radio, online music services), consider WiiM Pro or Pro Plus. Both have optical input for your Denon.
- Thread Starter
- #9
Well, as I speculated before, it seems the audio output is biased toward clarity of dialog and special effects, and probably the surround sound systems of the time(late 1990’s). The audio is very sharp, very forward and very fast. Honestly, with movies it sounds clear and distinct, especially action movies. With music it just sounds edgy all the time.
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- #10
What type of attention would the laser need?
Svend P
Addicted to Fun and Learning
I find this to be extremely unlikely. All competently DAC's (and in effect CD/DVD players) sound exactly the same. If you are having issues with the sound, look for bad speakers or eq settings somewhere in the audio chain.
How can DAC's have a SOUND SIGNATURE if they measure as transparent?
I know there are people out there that think cables affect sound, which is much worse, but there really is no response to something like that, but just to smile and nod. But what about people who talk about DACS as if they were headphone drivers or speakers, and talk about the SOUNDSTAGE...
www.audiosciencereview.com
jcarys
Active Member
Any modern SMSL or Topping DAC is going to be technically superior to your 30 year old? Denon. Whether this actually makes a difference in your system and room are hard to say. But you don't need to spend lots of money to get a higher sound quality - excellent DAC performance is cheap these days. Buy a unit that has the I/O features you need and don't be swayed into spending big bucks for no performance gains.
Maybe you should mention what exact AMC CD player you got. If you got one with the optional tube stage, it may be understandable the Denon 1500 DVD sounds sharp.
Also, be sure to disable the Denon's sound options, if this is engaged, it will sound awfull.
Last, why don't you have the AMC repaired. These are well build players and fixing a mechanically defective output will take less than 20 minutes, opening, partly disassembly, soldering and closing all up again. If you have someone to do that, be sure to have the belt for opening and closing the tray replaced, it is an item with limited life, independent of use. It is no special AMC part, you just need rubber that fits. Those can be had at ebay or Aliex for 7$ a 100 piece mixed kit.
Also, be sure to disable the Denon's sound options, if this is engaged, it will sound awfull.
Last, why don't you have the AMC repaired. These are well build players and fixing a mechanically defective output will take less than 20 minutes, opening, partly disassembly, soldering and closing all up again. If you have someone to do that, be sure to have the belt for opening and closing the tray replaced, it is an item with limited life, independent of use. It is no special AMC part, you just need rubber that fits. Those can be had at ebay or Aliex for 7$ a 100 piece mixed kit.
- Thread Starter
- #16
I find this to be extremely unlikely. All competently DAC's (and in effect CD/DVD players) sound exactly the same. If you are having issues with the sound, look for bad speakers or eq settings somewhere in the audio chain.
How can DAC's have a SOUND SIGNATURE if they measure as transparent?
I know there are people out there that think cables affect sound, which is much worse, but there really is no response to something like that, but just to smile and nod. But what about people who talk about DACS as if they were headphone drivers or speakers, and talk about the SOUNDSTAGE...
Trust me, this isn’t my first rodeo with components. I’ve gone through my share of them, and the only reason this Denon DVD player has stuck around, is it’s a backup DVD player that hasn’t broken. I’ve seen family and friends go through DVD and Blu-ray players over the years, and yet this one keeps spinning videos. My AMC cd player sounds fine in this system, so do other well regarded cd players.
- Thread Starter
- #17
The AMC will get repaired, but it’s not easy to get it to the repair shop. Once it gets there, then estimated repair time can vary, and then I have to find the time to make the inconvenient trip there to pick it up. It’s just the time and space we live in at the moment, the reliable electronics repair shop is in a far and inconvenient location where the proprietor can afford rent. He also only accepts customers with an appointment. Sign of the times.
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- #18
I generally agree with this. However, my experience with budget items that have tested well- though they sound great, I haven’t been happy with their longevity or glitchyness/bugs. I’ve been told ‘better’ DACs have better output sections, and I would assume more expensive DACs simply have more expensive(and hopefully more durable) components to build the output sections.
That was never a thing inherent to any DVD players.
It could be you have some settings to readjust within the user-accessible menues of the DVD player. Certainly 'dialog enhancing' options (typically dynamic range-compressing) have existed in audio gear for ages.
Are you listening in two channel or multichannel?
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Trust me, sighted bias is real. Audible DAC differences, usually not, when outputs are level-matched.
Let's review. Your 'bright, fast' sounding Denon DVDP (a reputable brand) of a certain age is either:
--broken (ageing components)
--set to output something other than 'pure audio' (adjust in user menus)
--playing slightly louder than what you remember (adjust volume)
I can't think of any other plausible reasons at the moment.
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