Integra DBS-30.1 Blu-Ray player

[Vintage Pete]

I picked up my Integra DBS-30.1 Blu-Ray player today. Although I have a good amount of watching and listening to do yet, I'll post my initial impressions. Right off the bat, I'm quite impressed with the player and its capabilities. While the machine isn't in the build quality league with the "heavyweights", its operation is smooth, it performs very well, and melds nicely into my system. I've connected it to my Sony KDS-50A2000 TV via the Wireworld Ultraviolet 5-meter HDMI cable that I got with the machine. I've also connected the analog output jacks to the CD2 input jacks on my McIntosh C40 Control center via a pretty decent cable that I've had laying around that I wasn't using. Setup was very simple, with the only thing needing to be set was the resolution, which needed to be set on "Auto", rather that the apparent default setting of 1080i. Now the Blu-Ray discs, as well as the upconverted standard DVD's play in 1080P. I picked up a couple of Blu-Ray titles to start with with-the store I stopped at didn't have a huge selection, but I picked up 2001: A space Odyssey, and The Lake House. I'll likely pick up some more titles tomorrow. I was thinking that I won't replace my standard DVD's with Blu-Ray, but will likely buy Blu-Ray for new additions, whenever possible. However, after watching the Blu-Ray discs, I can see one getting spoiled real quick!

What do I think of the Blu-Ray performance? What can I say...phenomenal. The clarity, color brilliance and detail are amazing. I see color nuances in 2001 that I'd never noticed before. On a similar note, the audio performance of the machine is excellent, again I notice little nuances in the audio track that I don't recall picking up when watching the DVD version on my McIntosh MVP-841. Upconverted DVD's, from what I've seen so far, are improved noticeably, but I think I'd have to say that the Blu-Ray discs are still better (as they should be). The load times are about 12-13 seconds for a standard DVD, with a longer load time, (and seemingly wider spread) on Blu-Ray, on one disc it was about 32 seconds, on another it was about 25 seconds.

On the audio side, once again the performance is excellent. The Audio DACs are 192Khz/24-Bit, though I don't know (as yet) who makes them. At any rate, the sound is superb. With the volume levels carefully matched, I cannot tel the difference when I A/B between the audio signal passed though the TV and on to my system, and the analog signal fed to my C40's CD2 jacks. With music CD's, with the very little time I've spent as yet listening to them, I'm impressed. I don't know that I'd be prepared to say that it trumps my McIntosh MCD7009, but it is very good. I have much more listening to do. SACD is not an issue for me, so the fact that the Integra player doesn't support this format does not bother me at all.

All in all, I'm quite pleased with the Integra DBS-30.1, and I think it will meet my needs for a good while very nicely. And the deal I got makes it that much nicer.

I've attached a few photos-the Integra player is residing at the top of the left hand stack, atop the JVC Digital VHS recorder. (The photo that shows the TV is in no way intended to represent picture quality...)

I'll post some more impressions as I get a few more hours of playing time in. But I'll say right off, Blu-Ray is definitely the way to go!


Pete

[Mack]

Try picking up a few Blu-ray concerts if you get a chance.

[jdandy]

Pete.......Enjoyable review. I am happy that the Integra DBS 30.1 Blu-ray player is living up to your expectations. I was certain it would. I have a feeling that the more you listen to two channel audio on it, especially after it has 50 hours or so on it, you may find the audio running neck in neck, or even surpassing the MCD7009. The DACs in the MCD7009 are a little long in the tooth. Fifteen years of DAC advances have proven to deliver remarkable improvements. The Teac transport in the MCD7009 is superb. When I played my MCD7009 from the coaxial digital output to the DACs in the MCD500 I was floored at the improvement. Perhaps a Bryston BDA-1 DAC might be a way to squeeze some serious performance gains from the beloved MCD7009.

Anyway, back to the Integra Blu-ray player. It sounds like the picture quality knocked your socks off. It is a big jump for 480p DVD's to 1080p Blu-ray discs. I have to assume that Loreena McKennitt - Nights from the Alhambra will just pop off the screen. You will definately enjoy that.

Congratulations on your new Integra Blu-ray player, and other goodies. You are in high cotton now.

[Vintage Pete]

Originally Posted by Mack

Try picking up a few Blu-ray concerts if you get a chance.

Mack,

Yes, I will do that...one I had in mind is one of the David Gilmour performances. I looked for it while I was shopping today, but they didn't have it. I'll definitely be looking for some Blu-Concerts....I imagine Amazon will be picking up some more coin from me...

Pete

[Vintage Pete]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Pete.......Enjoyable review. I am happy that the Integra DBS 30.1 Blu-ray player is living up to your expectations. I was certain it would. I have a feeling that the more you listen to two channel audio on it, especially after it has 50 hours or so on it, you may find the audio running neck in neck, or even surpassing the MCD7009. The DACs in the MCD7009 are a little long in the tooth. Fifteen years of DAC advances have proven to deliver remarkable improvements. The Teac transport in the MCD7009 is superb. When I played my MCD7009 from the coaxial digital output to the DACs in the MCD500 I was floored at the improvement. Perhaps a Bryston BDA-1 DAC might be a way to squeeze some serious performance gains from the beloved MCD7009.

Anyway, back to the Integra Blu-ray player. It sounds like the picture quality knocked your socks off. It is a big jump for 480p DVD's to 1080p Blu-ray discs. I have to assume that Loreena McKennitt - Nights from the Alhambra will just pop off the screen. You will definately enjoy that.

Congratulations on your new Integra Blu-ray player, and other goodies. You are in high cotton now.

Dan...yes I know the beloved MCD7009 is getting on in years and behind in DAC technology, but is still a great sounding player. I'd sure like to see an MCD500 in its place...

Yes, I did play one track from the Nights from the Alhambra DVD and it did look and sound superb. Like Mack says, I'll need to pick up a few Blu-Ray concerts.

The Integra player is a welcome addition to my system, and I'm sure to have a lot of fun with it.

Pete

[schaefer11]

Pete, Congratulations on your purchase and I am glad you are enjoying it right from the start. It sure is more fun when a product operates as it should right out of the box, without a lot of fiddling.

[Vintage Pete]

Originally Posted by schaefer11

Pete, Congratulations on your purchase and I am glad you are enjoying it right from the start. It sure is more fun when a product operates as it should right out of the box, without a lot of fiddling.

Thanks Kevin...I'll be picking up some more titles today. Fun, fun!

Pete

[AudioNut]

Pete,

How do you think the build quality compares with your "good stuff"? I purchased my first (and only) blu-ray player (a really cheap Samsung) and thought it to be so flimsy and cheap feeling that I took it to my weekend house in the mountains - I don't want "no junk" at home! I'll probably never use it again for blu-ray - maybe an occasional DVD.

I guess the picture quality was OK but the slow loading time, coupled with the flimsy build quality, were just too much (or too little) for me to endure.

I want to give Blu-Ray another try - don't want to spend a fortune - trying to decide what to get. Maybe Oppo - How about the Integra? I really like "build quality" about as much as sound or picture quality.

Thanks for advice.

[JFR0317]

Pete, definitely try this David Gilmour Blu-ray concert: Amazon.com: David Gilmour: Remember That Night - Live At The Royal Albert Hall [Blu-ray]: David Gilmour, david mallet: Movies & TV

[Vintage Pete]

Originally Posted by jprice

Pete,

How do you think the build quality compares with your "good stuff"? I purchased my first (and only) blu-ray player (a really cheap Samsung) and thought it to be so flimsy and cheap feeling that I took it to my weekend house in the mountains - I don't want "no junk" at home! I'll probably never use it again for blu-ray - maybe an occasional DVD.

I guess the picture quality was OK but the slow loading time, coupled with the flimsy build quality, were just too much (or too little) for me to endure.

I want to give Blu-Ray another try - don't want to spend a fortune - trying to decide what to get. Maybe Oppo - How about the Integra? I really like "build quality" about as much as sound or picture quality.

Thanks for advice.

My really "good stuff" is McIntosh, and of course most of what's out there can't compare to it. I know just what you mean, I'm a real stickler when it comes to build quality. The Integra is not as sturdy as I'd like, doesn't have the desired solid aluminum panel, etc. From what I can tell, the Oppo player is a nicer machine in these respects. However, as I mentioned I had other goals on the table as well, and overall I got a good deal which covered a few bases while not spending a fortune. I'm not an authority by any means on Blu-Ray players, but I would say that the picture and sound quality of his unit is better than "okay".

What I generally do, if I buy a starter unit, (which for my purposes, is what the Integra is), when I upgrade I'll move that starter piece over to one of my secondary systems.

My first CD player, back in 1988, was a really cheap Sanyo player. It definitely didn't even belong in my system as far as overall quality, but it got me started. Even so, I used it for 3-4 years until I upgraded to a Carver SD/A-490t. I used it about 5 years before moving up to a McIntosh player. The Carver now resides in my office system.

All other things being equal, talking about just the player, I'd say for $500 you can't go wrong with the Oppo player, from everything I've heard. That would have been my first choice but unfortunately it's not a dealer-available item, and had I bought that unit I would have spent considerably more to meet my goals. That said, I have no regrets over buying the Integra DBS-30.1 Player.

Pete