Denon DVD-2500
The DVD-2500 was Denon's early try at a "universal" player. One box played both DVD-Video and the then-new DVD-Audio format. It was meant as a cheaper way into DVD-Audio, undercutting most competitors by several hundred dollars at its $1,299 retail price (one review notes "about $1000"). Audio (October 1999, p.37) included it in a roundup of CD and DVD players that year, placing it among the first wave of machines to take the format seriously.
The pitch was the audio side. It has dual discrete 192kHz/24-bit converter circuits feeding a 5.1-channel analog output (one source lists no 5.1-channel analog output), which gets you full DVD-Audio resolution without an external decoder. Video gets a 54MHz 10-bit D/A converter with progressive scan output, plus component, S-video, and composite jacks. There is no built-in Dolby Digital or DTS decoder. The player passes those bitstreams digitally to your receiver, so if you didn't already own a surround-capable amp, the DVD-2500 alone wasn't going to give you 5.1 from DVD-Video discs.
Contemporary reviews were generally positive. Audioholics found the analog output stage clean and detailed with DVD-Audio material, and praised the progressive scan for improving image stability on compatible displays. CNET called the video performance "crisp, clean images with accurate color" and found setup straightforward. The caveats were typical of first-generation DVD-Audio gear. Not all DVD-Audio discs were supported, and the lack of onboard decoding was a real limitation for many buyers.
Known specs, such as they are:
- DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, CD, CD-R, CD-RW, Video CD, MP3 playback
- Progressive scan output; 54MHz 10-bit video D/A converter
- Dual discrete 192kHz/24-bit audio D/A converters
- 5.1-channel analog output (one source lists no 5.1-channel analog output); optical digital output
- No built-in Dolby Digital/DTS decoder
- $1,299 retail (one review notes "about $1000"); occasionally appears on the used market
The record is thin on the usual archival details. No production years are confirmed, and there are no dimensions, no weight and no service documentation. One trade listing puts the DVD-2500 below the DVD-3300 in Denon's lineup, though nothing else corroborates that.
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