Other Source Component Reviews

After I watched scenes from Toy Story, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and Saving Private Ryan, it became clear that the DV27 performs admirably in just about every phase of the DVD game. Toy Story's punch and crisp, clean lines were unmistakable through the DV27. Color saturation was up to speed with that of the better DVD players I've seen, which combined rather effectively with the player's sharpness and clarity to bring this movie's whimsical imagery to life. Resolution was readily apparent in Crouching Tiger, as well. I remained focused on the set's intricate elements, concentrating on their fine detail and their stability as the bodies and swords start flying. Once again, the DV27 was composed throughout, with little evidence of motion artifacts or other transient mishaps. This stability is especially important with Saving Private Ryan; the powerful thematic effect of the jerky, panic-inducing camera techniques are often rendered useless by players that can't handle this difficult load. The bottom line is that, even in this disruptive, speedily frantic image, the lines should stay clean and distinct, and the entire image should be free from ghosting and (for lack of a better phrase) stable in its instability—which the DV27 predominantly succeeded in doing. The potent combination of the Silicon Image chipset and quality surrounding components is clearly successful in the DV27.

The DV27's audio quality is evident with both movies and music. It got most of its run off of one of the main audio systems I use with video on the homefront, which includes a Chiro C-802 pre/pro, a Krell KAV-500 amp, and a Phase Technology Teatro 11.5 speaker system. This is a system that I know intimately, and the fact that the DV27 rendered little noticeable change in the way it sounds tells me that this player does exactly what I like a source component to do: It stays out of the way. To me, character in an audio system should derive primarily from your speakers and amplifiers. I prefer my source components and preamps to be open windows to the source and do little in the way of editorialization, which about sums up the DV27's performance in my system. Its HDCD capabilities also allowed me to get reacquainted with some old friends and served as an important reminder that quality high-resolution audio didn't start with SACD and DVD-Audio. Regular CD signals output through the analog inputs made it clear that the DV27's DACs are first-rate and aren't likely to disappoint if you decide to upgrade the DV27 for DVD-Audio.

There's nothing spectacular about the DV-27's peripherals but nothing I found to be a problem, either. As I mentioned before, I've seen better onscreen menu systems, and I could say the same about the remote. While I didn't notice this particular problem myself, others who toyed with the DV27 at the studio mentioned that they occasionally found that there was up to a one-second delay between button presses and the player's responses. That said, neither the remote nor the menus have any glaring omissions, and both do the trick. The manual is on the concise side and doesn't cover everything I would've liked it to, but it does cover the most important issues satisfactorily; it'll do fine for all but the most inexperienced users. You've got choices for aesthetics, including the more-standard black box or a sleek silver faceplate. The front-panel display is easy enough to decipher, and there are only buttons for the major functions, so the panel doesn't feel cluttered or gimmicky.

Arcam developed the DV27 from the ground up, and their desire to make it a success is clear from the inside to the outside to the bottom line: performance. The decision to include the Silicon Image chipset was an exceptionally good one. At $2,500, the DV27 may not be for everyone, but you should consider it if you're looking for a cut above. The DV27 has a nice picture and a nice sound, and it's built like a tank. Its guts are top-notch, and its modular approach should allow you to stay current for the foreseeable future.

If you (like our overenthusiastic friend from the large manufacturer) still have any doubt that a DVD-Video-only player is viable in the current marketplace, you may want to give the DV27 a look. I hear a lot of strange things at shows, but Arcam's assertion of faith in the latest addition to their DVD line definitely wasn't one of them.

Highlights
• Silicon Image chipset produces top-notch video
• Modular approach offers real upgrade potential
• Solid audio performance with music and movies