Replacement for Arcam DV88 DVD player

[admin_exported]

Hi, my Arcam DV88 is now starting to have trouble playing CDs claiming there's no disc - even after cleaning on some occasions. Also the open/close button has collapsed into the case. I've been given a "complete guess" of upto £250 to repair it and been advised the money would be better spent towards a replacement. So here's my dilemma - my late husband was the hifi fan - it's taken me quite a while just to learn how to use the set up! I watch a lot of film/DVD, very little TV and don't often put music on in the living room partly because of the aggro with the player and partly as I've got out of the habit since being on my own. He chose the DV88 because of the sound quality for CD playback- I don't have a seperate CD player. I no longer have the sort of money to replace it directly and am also tossing up between a recordable DVD player and blu-ray. I love the picture quality I get from my current set up.

The set up is Yamaha DSP-A1 amp, Infocus screenplay 5700 projector, a sky HD box on freeview as I'm not paying subscription at the moment. Speakers are B&W P6 fronts. B&W CC6 52 centre, REL Q200E sub and B&W rears (don't know what number can't see that)

So do I repair the DV88 - after all hifi shop would say it's better to buy something else wouldn't they and it's still a quality machine? or a much cheaper blu-ray player or recordable dvd player.

Budget ideally about £300 but could go a bit higher if it made a big difference. All suggestions gratefully received but please keep techno speak to a minimum - it's all foreign to me.

thanks

 

[plastic penguin]

boogiegirl:

Hi, my Arcam DV88 is now starting to have trouble playing CDs claiming there's no disc - even after cleaning on some occasions. Also the open/close button has collapsed into the case. I've been given a "complete guess" of upto £250 to repair it and been advised the money would be better spent towards a replacement. So here's my dilemma - my late husband was the hifi fan - it's taken me quite a while just to learn how to use the set up! I watch a lot of film/DVD, very little TV and don't often put music on in the living room partly because of the aggro with the player and partly as I've got out of the habit since being on my own. He chose the DV88 because of the sound quality for CD playback- I don't have a seperate CD player. I no longer have the sort of money to replace it directly and am also tossing up between a recordable DVD player and blu-ray. I love the picture quality I get from my current set up.

The set up is Yamaha DSP-A1 amp, Infocus screenplay 5700 projector, a sky HD box on freeview as I'm not paying subscription at the moment. Speakers are B&W P6 fronts. B&W CC6 52 centre, REL Q200E sub and B&W rears (don't know what number can't see that)

So do I repair the DV88 - after all hifi shop would say it's better to buy something else wouldn't they and it's still a quality machine? or a much cheaper blu-ray player or recordable dvd player.

Budget ideally about £300 but could go a bit higher if it made a big difference. All suggestions gratefully received but please keep techno speak to a minimum - it's all foreign to me.

thanks

Hi boogiegirl

I'm having problems with my Sony DVD Recorder, so I've been checking various dealers. Check out this site www.creative-audio.co.uk they have an Arcam DV135 for less than 300 squid. This could be just the ticket.

Also look at the Marantz DV7001 - although not as heavily discounted as the Arcam.

As for the Blu-ray option, unless your heart is set on it, your budget needs to be upped by a fair degree to get a decent machine (IMHO).

Good luck

 

[Gerrardasnails]

plastic penguin:boogiegirl:

Hi, my Arcam DV88 is now starting to have trouble playing CDs claiming there's no disc - even after cleaning on some occasions. Also the open/close button has collapsed into the case. I've been given a "complete guess" of upto £250 to repair it and been advised the money would be better spent towards a replacement. So here's my dilemma - my late husband was the hifi fan - it's taken me quite a while just to learn how to use the set up! I watch a lot of film/DVD, very little TV and don't often put music on in the living room partly because of the aggro with the player and partly as I've got out of the habit since being on my own. He chose the DV88 because of the sound quality for CD playback- I don't have a seperate CD player. I no longer have the sort of money to replace it directly and am also tossing up between a recordable DVD player and blu-ray. I love the picture quality I get from my current set up.

The set up is Yamaha DSP-A1 amp, Infocus screenplay 5700 projector, a sky HD box on freeview as I'm not paying subscription at the moment. Speakers are B&W P6 fronts. B&W CC6 52 centre, REL Q200E sub and B&W rears (don't know what number can't see that)

So do I repair the DV88 - after all hifi shop would say it's better to buy something else wouldn't they and it's still a quality machine? or a much cheaper blu-ray player or recordable dvd player.

Budget ideally about £300 but could go a bit higher if it made a big difference. All suggestions gratefully received but please keep techno speak to a minimum - it's all foreign to me.

thanks

Hi boogiegirl

I'm having problems with my Sony DVD Recorder, so I've been checking various dealers. Check out this site www.creative-audio.co.uk they have an Arcam DV135 for less than 300 squid. This could be just the ticket.

Also look at the Marantz DV7001 - although not as heavily discounted as the Arcam.

As for the Blu-ray option, unless your heart is set on it, your budget needs to be upped by a fair degree to get a decent machine (IMHO).

Good luck

I disagree with PP. If you are not interested in cd playback, a Bluray player is a no brainer. My Sony S550 would beat your Arcam for dvd playback and the Bluray playback is exquisite. You can get them for around £230 and they chuck in a couple of films too!

I don't personally see the appeal of a recordable dvd player when you have Sky HD but it's your money. One thing is for sure is that the Bluray players like the Sonys and Panas are well worth the money.

 

[Gerrardasnails]

I forgot to mention, the HD sound from the Sony BD player with your speakers and amp will be amazing!

 

[Dave_]

Gerrardasnails:plastic penguin:boogiegirl:

Hi, my Arcam DV88 is now starting to have trouble playing CDs claiming there's no disc - even after cleaning on some occasions. Also the open/close button has collapsed into the case. I've been given a "complete guess" of upto £250 to repair it and been advised the money would be better spent towards a replacement. So here's my dilemma - my late husband was the hifi fan - it's taken me quite a while just to learn how to use the set up! I watch a lot of film/DVD, very little TV and don't often put music on in the living room partly because of the aggro with the player and partly as I've got out of the habit since being on my own. He chose the DV88 because of the sound quality for CD playback- I don't have a seperate CD player. I no longer have the sort of money to replace it directly and am also tossing up between a recordable DVD player and blu-ray. I love the picture quality I get from my current set up.

The set up is Yamaha DSP-A1 amp, Infocus screenplay 5700 projector, a sky HD box on freeview as I'm not paying subscription at the moment. Speakers are B&W P6 fronts. B&W CC6 52 centre, REL Q200E sub and B&W rears (don't know what number can't see that)

So do I repair the DV88 - after all hifi shop would say it's better to buy something else wouldn't they and it's still a quality machine? or a much cheaper blu-ray player or recordable dvd player.

Budget ideally about £300 but could go a bit higher if it made a big difference. All suggestions gratefully received but please keep techno speak to a minimum - it's all foreign to me.

thanks

Hi boogiegirl

I'm having problems with my Sony DVD Recorder, so I've been checking various dealers. Check out this site www.creative-audio.co.uk they have an Arcam DV135 for less than 300 squid. This could be just the ticket.

Also look at the Marantz DV7001 - although not as heavily discounted as the Arcam.

As for the Blu-ray option, unless your heart is set on it, your budget needs to be upped by a fair degree to get a decent machine (IMHO).

Good luck
I don't personally see the appeal of a recordable dvd player when you have Sky HD the record/pause functions dont work unless you subscribe, which boogiegirl isn't

 

[Gerrardasnails]

daveh75:Gerrardasnails:plastic penguin:boogiegirl:

Hi, my Arcam DV88 is now starting to have trouble playing CDs claiming there's no disc - even after cleaning on some occasions. Also the open/close button has collapsed into the case. I've been given a "complete guess" of upto £250 to repair it and been advised the money would be better spent towards a replacement. So here's my dilemma - my late husband was the hifi fan - it's taken me quite a while just to learn how to use the set up! I watch a lot of film/DVD, very little TV and don't often put music on in the living room partly because of the aggro with the player and partly as I've got out of the habit since being on my own. He chose the DV88 because of the sound quality for CD playback- I don't have a seperate CD player. I no longer have the sort of money to replace it directly and am also tossing up between a recordable DVD player and blu-ray. I love the picture quality I get from my current set up.

The set up is Yamaha DSP-A1 amp, Infocus screenplay 5700 projector, a sky HD box on freeview as I'm not paying subscription at the moment. Speakers are B&W P6 fronts. B&W CC6 52 centre, REL Q200E sub and B&W rears (don't know what number can't see that)

So do I repair the DV88 - after all hifi shop would say it's better to buy something else wouldn't they and it's still a quality machine? or a much cheaper blu-ray player or recordable dvd player.

Budget ideally about £300 but could go a bit higher if it made a big difference. All suggestions gratefully received but please keep techno speak to a minimum - it's all foreign to me.

thanks

Hi boogiegirl

I'm having problems with my Sony DVD Recorder, so I've been checking various dealers. Check out this site www.creative-audio.co.uk they have an Arcam DV135 for less than 300 squid. This could be just the ticket.

Also look at the Marantz DV7001 - although not as heavily discounted as the Arcam.

As for the Blu-ray option, unless your heart is set on it, your budget needs to be upped by a fair degree to get a decent machine (IMHO).

Good luck
I don't personally see the appeal of a recordable dvd player when you have Sky HD the record functions dont work unless you subscribe, which boogiegirl isn't

Fair play - didn't read that bit properly.

 

[plastic penguin]

Gerrardasnails:plastic penguin:boogiegirl:

Hi, my Arcam DV88 is now starting to have trouble playing CDs claiming there's no disc - even after cleaning on some occasions. Also the open/close button has collapsed into the case. I've been given a "complete guess" of upto £250 to repair it and been advised the money would be better spent towards a replacement. So here's my dilemma - my late husband was the hifi fan - it's taken me quite a while just to learn how to use the set up! I watch a lot of film/DVD, very little TV and don't often put music on in the living room partly because of the aggro with the player and partly as I've got out of the habit since being on my own. He chose the DV88 because of the sound quality for CD playback- I don't have a seperate CD player. I no longer have the sort of money to replace it directly and am also tossing up between a recordable DVD player and blu-ray. I love the picture quality I get from my current set up.

The set up is Yamaha DSP-A1 amp, Infocus screenplay 5700 projector, a sky HD box on freeview as I'm not paying subscription at the moment. Speakers are B&W P6 fronts. B&W CC6 52 centre, REL Q200E sub and B&W rears (don't know what number can't see that)

So do I repair the DV88 - after all hifi shop would say it's better to buy something else wouldn't they and it's still a quality machine? or a much cheaper blu-ray player or recordable dvd player.

Budget ideally about £300 but could go a bit higher if it made a big difference. All suggestions gratefully received but please keep techno speak to a minimum - it's all foreign to me.

thanks

Hi boogiegirl

I'm having problems with my Sony DVD Recorder, so I've been checking various dealers. Check out this site www.creative-audio.co.uk they have an Arcam DV135 for less than 300 squid. This could be just the ticket.

Also look at the Marantz DV7001 - although not as heavily discounted as the Arcam.

As for the Blu-ray option, unless your heart is set on it, your budget needs to be upped by a fair degree to get a decent machine (IMHO).

Good luck

I disagree with PP. If you are not interested in cd playback, a Bluray player is a no brainer. My Sony S550 would beat your Arcam for dvd playback and the Bluray playback is exquisite. You can get them for around £230 and they chuck in a couple of films too! I don't personally see the appeal of a recordable dvd player when you have Sky HD but it's your money. One thing is for sure is that the Bluray players like the Sonys and Panas are well worth the money.

Ordinarily I would agree. I mentioned the Arcam purely and simply because of her budget - let's face it, at the moment, who needs to spend more than they really have to?

 

[Anonymous]

I'd suggest a Sony S350 £159 or S550 £220 giving blu ray.

Or if on a budget maybe the toshiba XDe500 available for £59 and (although splitting opinio) considered a fine DVD player.

I would not want to spend £300 on a std dvd player, when blu ray is now out. But you could buy a yamaha 1700 which had rrp of £399 and was considered a good audio cd and dvd player, but can now be had for £99 new.

 

[John Duncan]

I'd second the DV135 if you can still find it for less than £300 (Superfi now appear to have run out), though the Yamaha DV-S1700 for £99 is a real bargain, and would probably be what I'd go for in these recessionary times. I've yet to have the visual case for bluray (over DVD) proven to me, though cannot speak for the audio. DVD Recorders are a complete waste of time compared to a good PVR, IMO.