Cambridge Audio has been at the 'audio' game for quite some time now, and their main field of focus has definitely been in the sonic seas. However, that doesn't stop Cambridge Audio from swimming into the tides of video every once In a while with DVD players like this one here, the Sonata Sonata DV30, whose dimensions are best suited for the mini-system department.
First Look
This was not like the Azur series we've been getting off-late by Cambridge Audio, especially when size and color are concerned. For a 2.7" thick metal-chassis DVD player, this Sonata DV30 doesn't weigh at all, just like its cousins in this mini-system Sonata series that also share the 'black-as-the-darkest-night' finish (you can go in for the silver as well). But what has made its way onto the Sonata DV30 front panel from the Azur are the round, metallic buttons that pop out ever so slightly from the front-panel. As for the back, the Sonata DV30 Is not needlessly decorated, keeping the organization of the player in check.
Technical aspects
The Sonata DV30 is a complete DVD player that is doing it’s very best to make it into the hi-fi bracket, or 'mini hi-fi' as Cambridge Audio prefers to call it. The player up scales the entire standard DVD signals to 1080p, including DIvX, so that the single HDMI port on the back panel can be used to its optimal even without a Blu-ray signal.
Let's take a closer look Inside: Besides being able to upscale all the way from 720p to 1080p, the player comes sporting a Wolf son Microelectronics WM8746 24-blt/192kHz DAC, a 6-channel DAC that's ideal for DTS, AC-3 and MPEG streams. Although this DAC is capable of 106 signal-to-noise ratio, the Sonata DV30 comes with <-90dB, primarily because of the rest of the electronics in the bucket that still do not make an audible difference despite the degrading. The front display illustrating the track number and time sparkles in the same blue as the Sonata sign above and to the right of it. Getting to that chassis, looking macho isn't all it is doing. Its low resonance acoustically dampened quality helps the audio chipset by keeping out any sort of audio distortion that may be pounding on the player. The chassis is incredibly sturdy, even though it may not feel so when you lift the player up. The same goes for that remote control. Remote control convenience:
Built with the same metal and organization the player so rightfully boasts of, this controller is one for the palms. Just controlling the player wasn't enough, this remote can take charge of Cambridge amplifiers and receivers too, which is why you may feel there are too many buttons on the panel to manage. The Sonata DV30 should have come with its own little remote, sort of like a mini-version of this, and it should've been made available in black if that's the finish you've chosen for the player.
User’s experience of Sonata DV30:
With this player's versatility in video playback, While playingThe Godfather II', the sound was exquisite, the video didn't shake at all, even during the party scene in Havanna. As for the sharpness, it could've done with a little more, especially when watching the footage on big-screen televisions. Since the Sonata DV30 has a big 'CD Player' tag written across its box, let us see how it fares with the CD namely Claude Debussy's 'Sonate For Flute, Viola & Harp — performed by Linda Chesis and Sara Cutler'. This CD brags of rapid harp arpeggios played with extreme care and extreme power (when needed), along with a flute and viola that do their rounds in going In and out of the mix. We must say that the Sonata DV30 is quite an authority in the 2-channel department. You will be stunned at the imaging and soundstage the player could create. The SNR felt like a solid 110dB as the music swooped from a soft pianissimo melody to a mercilessly plucked fortissimo, all the while never losing its texture and richness.
Bottom line:
There are small points that can be looked at for the DVD playback section of the Sonata DV30, but considering this is a mini-system, all can be forgiven. It gives you everything you can ask for, except Blu-ray, which is sufficient enough in this price-range. The player's extra advantage is its stereo playback, be it when playing back meticulously played solo instruments of the orchestra or a distortion sandwich of hard rock guitars. And if the exceptional sound is not enough, the DC30's hypnotizing visuals and near natural skin tones are sure to seal the deal.
