0403wv03 Denon DVD2200 19/1/04 11:16 Page 65
circuitry to reduce the possibility of electrical interference on your music, and
OPERATION
Our only grumbles would be that the instruction manual doesn’t do a particularly great job of explaining some of the most complicated features (such as the two different progressive scan modes available) even though they can have quite an impact on performance.
Also, the default Scart output is, bizarrely, composite video, when surely RGB would have made much
more sense. The thought that there could be people out there spending £600 on the
PERFORMANCE
However, provided you do use the RGB output or, even better, the component video jacks, Denon’s refusal to compromise too far with the 2200 results in yet another exceptional Denon DVD performer. With pictures in particular, the 2200 even runs the
The most immediate impact comes from the 2200’s tremendous richness and solidity. This gives pictures a level of dynamism, depth and cinematic impact that precious few rivals at any price can muster.
What’s more, there’s almost the same superb fine detail talent as with the 2900, almost the same extensive contrast range, almost as little noise (be it MPEG blocking or electrical), and in progressive mode, seemingly exactly the same fluidity and dearth of jagged edges. Which all adds up to a truly outstanding effort for £600.
The 2200 also knows its onions when it comes to
CD playback is the 2200’s weakest area, with a few cheaper decks – particularly from Sony – able to deliver more dynamism and sparkle. But even though it’s the 2200’s weakest point, its CD playback still rates as ‘good’ by anybody’s reckoning.
CONCLUSION
What this all comes down to is that Denon has, with typical aplomb, completely confounded any doubts we might have had about the 2200. In fact, it’s judged this
SPECIFICATION
FEATURES
Plays: DVD,
SOCKETS
RGB Scart; component video outputs;
DIMENSIONS
434(w) x 101(h) x 318(d)mm
WEIGHT
4.7kg
TEST DATA
Video jitter: 3ns (very good)
Chrominance AM/PM:
Chroma crosstalk: -47.8dB (below average)
Frequency response at 5MHz:
CONTACT
☎01234 741200 www.denon.co.uk
Also consider...
DENON DVD-2900
If you can find £250 more, this
Reviewed: Oct ’03
PIONEER DV-757Ai
Performs roughly as well as the Denon 2200, but adds a digital link so you can deliver full SACD and
Reviewed: Mar ’03
March 2004 ■ WHAT VIDEO AND WIDESCREEN TV 65
