Onkyo DV-CP704 6 Disk DVD Changer with HDMI
Comparing the Onkyo DV-CP702 & Onkyo DV-CP704:
As the name suggests, the DV-CP704 is the newer model, yet both look absolutely the same. The specs too match exactly with some very slight variations. Here is my review for the DV-CP702
( http://www.epinions.com/content_226430455428 ) . The front look is exactly the same including the button placement and display. The only difference externally is at the rear. The layout of the ports is different and the placement of the all the ports is rearranged. The differentiating factor between the 2 models is the HDMI capability of the DV-CP704. There is a HDMI port included in the video ports cluster along with the Component & S-video. The supported formats are identical on both models. One major change is the remote, it is totally redesigned. The 704’s remote has a lot fewer buttons & it seems much well organized and easy to use. The DV-CP701’s remote seemed too cluttered and complicated. Here are the specification differences between the 2 models…
Video DAC – 54 Mhz/10 Bit (DV-CP702)
108 Mhz/14 Bit (DV-CP704)
Weight – 11.7 lbs (DV-CP702)
12.1 lbs (DV-CP704)
Absolutely identical…
What you get:
1. 6 disk DVD changer
2. Remote
3. S-video cable
4. Audio/Video cable
5. User Manual
6. Quick Start guide
What you don’t get:
1. HDMI cable (that’s expected, no other DVD player comes with one
2. RI cable – The RI cable connects to other Onkyo equipment (HTIB, receiver etc) and works in tandem, for instance, powering on the DVD player also powers on the Onkyo HTiB it is connected to… etc.
External attributes:
As mentioned the front fascia looks exactly like the model it replaces. The Power ON/OFF button at the lower left corner and the eject button at the right upper corner. The DVD tray divided the fascia in two and the disk buttons (6 in all) are on the top right corner and the random, repeat, channel, display and the play function buttons are at the bottom. There is a blue light above and in the middle of the disc tray, useful to look at the disk numbers when the tray is opened in the dark, but not bright enough.
The rear has the HDMI added to the video ports cluster along with the S-video, Component and RCA. There is a optical out along with co-axial. The HDMI interface is supports both the Audio & Video. The included remote is a full function remote. Has plenty of buttons for every function on the changer. The Disk select buttons are missing from the previous model, but it can be accessed by a secondary functions.
Though nothing has changed on the fascia, it still looks very modern and compact, esp. for a 6 disk changer. The black colored changer looks obscured, mysterious and majestic, while the silver looks lively, bright and stands out. So depending on your taste and color of other equipment, there is a choice here.
Installation & Setup:
Setup is a breeze, connect the corresponding cables between the receiver/HTiB and the DVD player and you are ready to go. The quick start guide is very useful, gives a diagrammatic representation of the connections. The user manual is big and lists all the functions of the DVD changer with indepth & detailed instructions. I was able to get the system connected to the Onkyo HTiB in less than 30 mts… which included briefly reading the manual. So the installation is fairly easy and quick. Once the connections are made, there is no more configuration necessary, just pop the dvds in and sit back and have fun.
Performance:
This player works just as good as the older DV-CP701 or the DV-CP702 when using the component cables. But the real difference is with the HDMI cable. The picture is displayed in full 1080i mode, while the component is 720p. The video quality is the best with a HDMI cable, it is all digital and supports both Audio & Video. Since there is no Digital-to-Analog conversion (DAC), there is no losses in the conversion process. There is a visible difference in the quality from the Component to the HDMI. I saw the picture quality from a HD DVD player with a HDMI, the difference is striking. But the prices of the HD DVD * Blu-Ray DVD players being so high, the next best thing we have is the Onkyo DV-CP704 with HDMI. HDMI is common in most Plasma/LCD TVs these days and is getting more and more common. There are a new range of HTiBs and receivers which support HDMI. And HDMI is going to go a long way into the future. So a HDMI capable equipment would be a good investment.
There is one issue here, this changer does not support "1080P" resolution. Most of the TVs today support 1080P resolutons. I would expect an Onkyo's latest offering to have the latest technology. Personally I think there is hardly any noticable difference between 1080p & 1080i, BUT, I would want to have the latest & greatest.
There are very few changers that hold 6 disks in the market, most hold 5 disks. The customizations are very simple. There are a lot of functions that this changer can do, but don’t be fooled into thinking you can figure it out with out he user manual. The user manual is very comprehensive and covers all features. It has tons of features and it is a good idea to go through the manual at least once to know what it can do. Most of the features are never used but some like the memory function is very useful. Each of the 6 disks display a different colored background on the TV, giving a sense of which disk is being played. The LCD light intensity can be set to 4 levels, low to very bright. This is nice to have, and this can be controlled via the remote.
Things I don’t like:
1. Price – I think this player is over priced, you get comparable models at a better price. But if you want the quality of an Onkyo, it will be well worth it.
2. Blue light over the tray is too less, it hardly lights up the open tray
3. DVD changing noise – this is slightly higher than normal, but acceptable.
4. Remote does not include separate buttons for selecting disks in the tray.
5. There is no 1080p resolution support.
