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Unlike the lively, ‘which is better: CD or vinyl?' debate of the 1980s, there can be no such discussion about DVD and HD. Hi-def is four times sharper, end of discussion. So how can it make sense to spend more money on an inferior format? Surely that makes about as much sense as a gold-plated VHS VCR?
Some will tell you that upscaling DVD material to 1080p with a good scaler is just like watching real high-definition, but we're afraid they're lying. There's no comparison. The real reason there is a place for a $1,499 DVD player is because that's the format you already have – and if you are serious about your existing collection, you'd be a fool not to want to wring the last bit of quality from each precious disc.
And there are more compelling reasons to consider the DV7100. It can play both Super Audio CD and DVD-Audio formats and promises audiophile CD playback, making it an eminently suitable source for your hi-fi too. And while every expensive DVD player can upscale, the Marantz can boast a rather good Faroudja DCDi chipset that does a quality job of it. The DV7001 doesn't actually introduce any new features or technology that we haven't already seen, but it is interesting in the way it incorporates nearly all of the benefits of Marantz's flagship DVD player – the highly-rated DV9600 – at a fraction of the cost.
