CUSTOM INSTALLATION HOW-TO

TEST BENCH FOR WEB by David Ranada

VIDEO PERFORMANCE All results are for the progressive-scan component-video output. Test patterns from Avia Pro test DVD were 16:9 widescreen except for onscreen resolution. Vertical luminance response (re level at 100 lines) 200/300/400 lines: ±0/±0/±0 dB Horizontal luminance response (re level at 2 MHz) 4/6/8/10 MHz: ±0/-0.09/-0.54/-1.0 dB 12/13.5 MHz: -1.4/-1.4 dB Onscreen resolution: 540 lines (4:3 image) In-player letterboxing: fair (see notes)

AUDIO PERFORMANCE All data except for SACD performance were obtained from test signals containing dither, which sets limits on measured distortion and noise performance. All level trims were at 0, and all speakers were set to "large," subwoofer on. Results are from the front left channel but are typical of all channels. Reference input level is -20 dBFS.

DOLBY DIGITAL PERFORMANCE Distortion (THD+N, 1 kHz, -20 dBFS): 0.02% Noise level (A-wtd): -71.8 dB Frequency response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz +0.86, -0 dB

DVD-AUDIO PERFORMANCE Signals of 24-bit resolution at 96-kHz sampling rate. Custom-generated test disc. Distortion (THD+N, 1 kHz, -20 dBFS): 0.0016% Noise level (A-wtd): -98.2 dB Frequency response: 20 Hz to 46 kHz +0.56, -0.2 dB Noise modulation: <0.5 dB

SACD PERFORMANCE Philips multichannel test disc. Distortion (THD+N, 1 kHz, -20 dBFS): 0.021% Noise level (A-wtd): -86.1 dB Frequency response: 20 Hz to 58.3 kHz +0.87, -0.17 dB Noise modulation: 0.75 dB

CD PERFORMANCE Custom-generated test disc. Distortion (THD+N, 1 kHz, -20 dBFS): 0.027% Noise level (A-wtd): -75.4 dB Excess noise (with/without sine tone) 16-bit (EN16): ±0/±0 dB quasi-20-bit (EN20): +3.0/+3.0 dB Noise modulation: 0.75 dB Frequency response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz +0.08, -0.02 dB

BASS-MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE Measured results obtained with Dolby Digital or DVD-Audio test signals. Selected crossover frequency was 80 Hz. Subwoofer-output frequency response (crossover set to 80 Hz): 24 dB/octave rolloff above -6-dB point of 80 Hz High-pass-filter frequency response (crossover set to 80 Hz): 12 dB/octave rolloff below -3-dB point of 80 Hz Unclipped subwoofer output (trims at 0, worst-case signal): Dolby Digital, 1.9 volts; DVD-Audio, 3.0 volts Subwoofer distortion (from 6-channel, DVD-Audio worst-case signal; trims at 0): 0.32% Crossover consistency: bass crossover frequency and filter slopes remained the same for all signal formats Signal-format consistency: all disc types and signal formats received bass management Speaker size selection: all speakers - "no" (except front L/R), "small," "large" Speaker-distance compensation: applied to all speakers, including subwoofer, and all signal formats and disc types Speaker-balance level increments: 1 dB Distance-compensation increments: 1 foot

Overall, the audio performance of the Denon DVD-5910 was superb. DVD-Audio, SACD, and CD performance were among the best we have ever measured, especially in the noise area and especially for DVD-Audio and CD (dig that Excess Noise performance). Measured SACD noise performance has almost always lagged behind DVD-Audio, and I can't tell whether it's the SACD system itself or the Philips test disc we use that's to blame. That said, the Denon's SACD noise level of -86.1 dB was quite good - audibly much lower than its CD noise levels even though the latter hovered right at the theoretical limit. If you hear background noise with the DVD-5910, it comes from either the recording or some other part of your system, not the player.

This is one of the few players I've tested where the bass-management performance didn't change when I played signals of different formats - the crossover slopes and frequencies remained as they were set. The only "problem" is the usual 1-dB, 1-foot increments for level balancing and distance compensation, respectively. Adjustment increments half that size are necessary for really critical audio setups.

On the video side, there's almost nothing to complain about. Horizontal and vertical resolution out of the player's analog outputs was excellent, and it passed all of our usual progressive-conversion test sequences without a hitch. The only anomaly was a slight rolloff in vertical resolution when the player was set for in-player letterboxing, as when playing widescreen movies over a 4:3 screen. The visible consequence was a slight vertical smearing of very fine detail, thus the merely Fair rating in this respect. Then again, I can't imagine anyone's using this player to feed an ordinary 4:3 TV instead of a 16:9 HDTV.

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