Customer Reviews

Denon DVDA1UDCI Blu-ray/DVD/CD Player (Black)

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I had very high hopes for this machine when I purchased it from a local Denon dealer with cash I had been given as a gift. I have some SACD's and DVD audio discs, a huge collection of DVD's and CD's, and was ready to begin a collection of Blu-ray discs. I am running the player connected to a Denon AVR 4310CI receiver with which I am greatly pleased. When the player works, the sound and picture are outstanding.

I have been tremendously disappointed from the onset.

The machine has been thoroughly updated in its firmware and is still picky about playing and not playing certain Blu-rays as well as even CD's. It was suggested that maybe this was because its firmware was not properly updated.

To update the player, one is supposed to be able to easily access online through its ethernet connection the Denon site that downloads these things. However, the player will not stay connected to the internet long enough to complete the downloads. I have Cat 7 cables, and the fastest "business" speed internet connection that Comcast provides. It has been tested and has been shown to be reliable and steady. To assist me in this, the local dealer from which I purchased the player actually made a couple of discs to use to load the firmware updates into the machine. Their tech came to my home and accomplished this procedure. The player indicates that it is up to date now, indicating "latest" when firmware update is checked. It still will not connect and play "Blu-ray Live" options that are available on many discs. It still will not consistently play the Ironman Blu-ray disc. At least one audio CD I own will not play in the machine. I have checked these discs by taking them to try on various other players and even back to the dealer's shop to try on their players. All but one music Blu-ray disc (defective) have played flawlessly elsewhere.

As has been noted in another review, the player is very slow starting up even if it is set in "quick start" mode.

The owner's manual is hopelessly useless in assisting in use of the player. The GUI is "pretty," but very difficult to understand- even for the tech from the local dealer!

Finally, since hooking the new receiver and this Blu-ray player into my system, I have encountered a repeated problem with my Dell plasma TV (5 years old) flashing pink or having a constant pink background on it when starting up or changing from cable to Blu-ray, or from cable to the Rhapsody music source online through the receiver's ethernet connection. No one has been able to tell me how to fix that problem! I can't say that the Blu-ray player has caused this, but it never happened before I installed the new player into my system. Denon has been no help and the local dealer has no idea how to fix this TV problem. Dell's customer service suggested that I buy a new TV to fix it!

Over all, the decision to purchase this Blu-ray player has been a very expensive mistake. I would recommend that anyone considering it try a cheaper Samsung with the ability to connect wirelessly to the internet to access Netflix, Pandora, and other online services.

I would've liked to report something good about the Denon A1UDCI and the folks here at Home Theater Store who sold it to me. Unfortunately, I can't.

My flagship Denon has an audio issue. On some BD discs which play flawlessly in other blu-ray disc players, the soundtrack in this machine cuts off twice in the midst of a show until given a quick fast-forward or reverse nudge with a button on its remote. Then the audio comes back on. Happens regardless of whether digital or analog connection. An annoyance particularly during Star Trek TOS blu-ray seasons 1, 2, and 3 also purchased at Amazon. The discs were exchanged. Denon's expert solution was to return the unit to the place of purchase. I called The Home Theater Store within the first week after received. They didn't feel obligated to help. Said that it was under warrantee and that Denon would have to take over. Denon, on the other hand, says the seller should take it back. At least Denon responded. Home Theater Store mutes its audio just like my machine after I wrote them twice as confirmed by Amazon mailing confirmation that I needed a Return Authorization. I never heard from them. And this is a BBB certified store, much less doing business through ol' reliable Amazon? Don't buy from here. Don't buy a flagship Denon, either. Never heard those upsampled 32 bits supposedly intended to improve the CD sound. The video is nothing to brag about. When a blu-ray plays the picture is naturally better in comparison to DVD, but not any better than a cheaper Sony or Playstation. About its DVD upsampling: No improvement on DVD.

It's my fault, too. Early on, I noticed several used machines sold on Amazon one month after production release of the DVD-A1UDCI. I should've known. Don't buy a used machine. Don't even buy it new. Mine was new. Do a careful research. Read the professional and unprofessional reviews. Other than price, most professional reviewers were complimentary about this unit. Most customers seemed happy, too. But there are defected machines out there. Other people through audio/video forums had complained about similar issues as mine. Denon should watch its quality control.

41 pounds, 32 bits, a slow load-up. Don't mind waiting if the quality is all it's raved to be. It's not. What a waste!

You're welcome to scroll through the pages of the forum attached, below. Even those who seem happy about their A1, please notice desperation to seek Denon firmware updates even from a foreign country!

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I have had this player for about a year. The player is very very very slow in every respect, loading discs, powering up, setting options, upgrading firmware etc. The player is buggy it will crash, hang, and loose sync 25% of the time. So one out of every four times i use this player I have to wait over 10 minutes before I can watch the movie, and one out of every five blu-ray discs dont play at all or stop working part way through. The picture and sound are fantastic, but I dont think it justifies the price tag.

I've owned my Denon DVDA1UDCI since August, 2009, and have had no problems with it. I use it a few times a week, and it has has played every disc so far. That said, it's not really worth the price to most of us, probably including me. I bought it when it was the only universal BD player on the market because I have a collection of SACDs. I thought I would use the excellent audio DACs and analog stage to play classical SACDs and opera DVDs and BDs through my 2-channel system, but then I upgraded my home theater and now use my 7.2 digital audio system for all that stuff; my Denon AVR5308CI receiver does the decoding. (The Denon 5308 can drive a pair of side surrounds on each side in addition to the front three, back two, and a couple of subs -- all PSB Imagine series. Produces a rich and lively sound field, with the side wall of sound worth the effort.)

I also own an Oppo BDP83 with the all-region hardware mod; it's another universal player (SACD), doesn't have the Denon tank-like build quality, but is a more cost-effective purchase. It can render movie SD DVDs in 1080p/24fps (no troublesome 3:2 pulldown); my Denon can't. And Oppo's BDP83SE and newer BDP9x series offer upgraded audio DACs and analog sections for reasonable cost, if required, and further after-market enhancements are available. But the underlying unit is probably more likely to fail, as my first Oppo DVD player did after minimal use over a few years.

I wrote this review primarily because I've used Denon gear since the late 70's and none of it has ever failed me in service (2 stereo receivers, 3 surround receivers, 2 DVD players & 2 BD players), notwithstanding the other reviewers' tales of woe. I think Denon do provide high-quality gear for their premium prices, and have earned their (mostly) good reputation. Don't fail to consider Denon's newer, more modestly built and priced universal BD players (DBP series) if you need one.

But minus one star for the price!!