While looking at Denon DVD-1600, you can see that the player’s remote looks very similar to Panasonic remotes of the previous generation of the DVD players.

The specs and features of the player look very similar to Panasonic RP82, which is not a coincidence. The DVD-1600 is based on a Panasonic design and uses the same MPEG decoder and Genesis FLI2200 as found in Panasonic RP82. Make no mistake – you are paying $200+ extra for the name here.

Front Panel

Unlike Panasonic DVD players that have DCDi (by Faroudja) but don’t have the DCDi logo on the front panel, the Denon proudly displays it. The front panel looks nice and has a headphone jack with volume control knob. Only basic buttons can be found on the front panel.

Connectivity

The player has no coaxial digital audio out (as Panasonic DVD players) but has an optical digital audio out, 5.1 analog audio out, separate stereo audio out, 2 composite video and one S-Video outs as well as a progressive/interlaced component video out.

Performance

The player is very close to Panasonic RP82 in terms of performance, since it uses the same components as RP82. Which means that the picture quality is superb, especially in progressive scan mode (in both film and video modes). Some people complain about the layer change delay in Panasonic players, which is a little less than 2 seconds. Denon DVD-1600 has the same issue, even though it supposedly has a 3Mb buffer for quicker layer change.

The player has 5.1 analog audio out for DVD-Audio (which it can play), Dolby Digital and DTS. You can adjust speaker size (“large”, “small”, “no”), delay and balance. It can play CD-R, CD-RW and MP3 discs. The sound quality is excellent in DVD-Audio as well as Audio CD, Dolby Digital and DTS modes.

Up to 5 bookmarks can be stored and returned to on a disc. There is program and random play. The DVD-1600 has 5 slow motion speeds and 5 fast scan speeds in either direction. There is parental control, angle select, soundtrack and subtitle select, etc.

Does it look familiar? It certainly look to me – pretty much the same specs, performance and features as Panasonic RP82.

Bottom Line

Virtually identical in features and performance to Panasonic RP82, the Denon DVD-1600 is $200+ overpriced. But, as RP82, it performs well and produces excellent picture and sound quality.


Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 430