When will the Theta Compli become available?
Also, does anyone have an opinion on where the Lexicon RT-10 stacks up in this group? It was in the original list but not mentioned since. |
Don't Forget to add the new Theta Compli. $4500. If you have a Theta Pro Gen VIII or Casablanca III/Xtreme DAC you'll be able to interface the DVDA and SACD output digitally...unreal!
Kevin
The Sound Broker |
I am still in burning process with my Primare DVD30 universal player,hoping to get promising result on the part of sacd
however I have coupled it with my Chord Dac64 for the redbook
cds hoping its transport section will reach my existing Vecteur L4,2 players transport success.
The most important aspect for choosing this player is it has
balanced analog outs,it has passed 100 hours for burning yet. |
well I went for the phillips dvd 963a. It was/is a fine piece of gear. But then I went all out for a Linn unidisk and it is flat out amazing.
I would go in this order by price
Yamaha DVD-S2300
Pioneer 47Ai
Teac esoteric 50
Linn unidisk 1.1
nice to see my post again. |
Dtf...Nine to hear a good word about Pioneer players. My first player, a DV-45A, is almost identical to the DV-47A with regard to audio.
I gather from other threads that most players offer only one subwoofer crossover frequency. That's the story with my recently acquired 3X cost Denon 2900. The Pioneer offers 40, 60 80, 100 Hz crossover options. In many functional areas the Pioneer is superior (and the sound aint bad either). |
This looks to be the best Quality for the Price. |
I am inclined towards the two box solution. High def. video recorders/players are just around the corner. A good SACD/CD player now and a DVD-A/highrez DVD player tommorow is my gameplan. |
The Marantz 8400 DOES NOT convert DSD to PCM.
--Lenard |
I based my audition of the DV-47Ai on an article in the British press. I have a daughter who just spend a semester there and I have had her send me their audio magazines. I find that their reviewing is much more like ours was 20 years ago. They don't rave about everything and they do point out flaws and limitations where they see them. They also donÂ’t seem to follow the current bent I see in the US audio magazines that more expensive automatically is better.
I found the Pioneer quite good, and at a street price of $800, very reasonable. I already have a top flight SACD player in the XA777ES, so I wasn't as concerned with the lack of pure DSD. I also separate my stereo and home theater, because I don't feel any of these multi-channel systems measure up to the state of the art in 2 channel reproduction. The medium is too young. My goal is to have a player that does a good job (not necessarily the absolute best) but can take whatever my mood calls for, from CD to DVD A and make it listenable. I feel the Pioneer does that.
I also opted for the McCormack MAP-1, to get a multi-channel analog pre-amp. I haven't taken possession of it, as the dealer didn't want to give up his only unit. I'm not expecting the same level of fidelity as a true high end stereo, but from the auditions, I think that surround is much better then just a few years ago. I have the Proceed PMDT/PAV/PDSD combo, which was about the state of the art just a few years ago (and certainly priced like it). I was amazed that the DVD, analog pre-amp combo bettered its sound, at least to my ears.
I do agree in a year there will be better players and thatÂ’s why I love Audiogon. IÂ’ll sell some gear, like the Proceed combo I will shortly put up for sale, and some lucky person will get a system which has been carefully maintained and experience a far better setup then they might otherwise afford. And we audio fans, always in search of the best sound, will be looking for something better then we have today. |
"Deven8":
In your first list of affordable universal players, I have read reviews of four of those players, and so far, what I have read has not compelled me to go out and spend a grand on any of them. Of all of the ones that are on that list, the one that seems to be the most promising so far is the Yamaha S2300. The Integra DPS-8.3 has left me going ho-hum so far. I don't know anything as to how the Pioneer Elite DV-47Ai stacks up, but my initial impression of its predesessor (the DV-47A) hasn't been too impressive. And I am disappointed by every review that I have read on the Marantz DV8300, so I have pretty much crossed the Marantz DV8300 off my short list. The jury is still out on the Denon DVD-2900, and understandedly so. A month ago, I was really interested in this machine. But now, with the negative press that (affordable) universal machines have been getting so far, I had to scale my enthusiasm of this machine back a little bit, as I am supicious about this machine as well. With exception of maybe some circuitry (or might I say lack thereof) that is inside the DVD-2900, it appears to be the offspring of the flagship Denon DVD-9000. And the build quality seems to be top notch for what is essentially a $1,000.00 machine. I "REALLY" want to like this machine so much. But I have to see what the press says about it first before I even think about adding one to my system. And also, I will add that a used Sony DVP-S9000ES and the newer DVP-NS999ES have also topped my shortlist.
But right now, I applaud your move in going with a less expensive player such as the Philips. Because that what I think I am going to do also. I think the road I am going to take right now is to get me a Philips DVD963SA (which lists for about $500.00, but if I shop around on the net, I think I can get me one for about $400.00 plus shipping) as well. Try it out in my system for a month (in reference to redbook CD playback), and then if I feel the need and desire to, just add an anti-jitter system and an outboard DAC (either a used Camlot Arthur or MSB Link DAC II or III and P1000 Power Base Power Supply) to it, and wait until the dust settles.
Once the dust settles for once and for all, I'll go ahead and invest in either a reference CD player or a reference quality universal player then.
--Charles-- |
I kinda of discredit the marantz and pioneer because they do not play SACD in true DSD they down mix to pcm. I think they are missing the boat there but I feel it is probably easier for them to make it universal that way. I stand corrected about them being second gen but until they have fully DSD capability I would not really consider them as universal players I am interested in. |
Deven just so you know, the Marantz 8400 is a second generation universal player.
--Lenard |
I have a feeling that next year at this time there are going to be more universal players than you can shake a stick at. They will all be pretty darn good by then and prices will have dropped as well. The second generation of player will have also sorted out all of the weakness of the first ones. Can we wait thats the really big question? Hopefully by next year new releases will be sacd/cd or cd/dvda the day they come out. Will see..... |
I thought about the DV-50 as well, but after several calls to TEAC I can't get a straight answer about future service and support. One time they say Esoteric is being reintroduced to the US market, then whien I ask who the dealers will be they call back and left a message saying there were no plans to sell them in the US. I love some of TEACs gear and the DV-50 looks like the best thing currently made, but I'm not going to spend $5K and not have a repairable transport.
I've got a Pioneer Elite DV-47Ai home for audition this weekend and so far I really like what I hear. It's not the DV-50 in terms of quality of build, but as Eldartford said, it's a good unit (similar to the one he recommended, but newer) for the $800 the dealer said it will be if I keep it and I can wait to shell out several K until the format wars settle out. |
Only the Teac Esoteric 50 MSRP at all interests me. I have not heard it, but many who have say it is extraordinary. I have a Lindemann and have ordered a Meitner, so I doubt that I will try it any time soon. |
The Denon, which has yet to be released, looks really promising. DSD digital converters and 17 pounds to boot.
Can't wait to check one out. |
well I settled on a philip dv963a. I looked at available software and didnt really see much dvda for the moment. I like sacd better and Thought well, I spend $400 now and wait a year to see all of these universal players get sorted out. Then I will buy a reference piece. The sacd portion of it is pretty good and the dvd video is great. So it should get me through the year. thanks for all the help |
Pioneer DV 45A...Less than $500. Enjoy it while you struggle with the problem of what to do with the extra 2 or 3 grand in your pocket. |
I am also trying to figure out what to do about a universal player. I own an XA777ES, which gives me multi channel SACD but no DVD A or video. I have thought about a DVD player with the DVD A feature, but to get a true audiophile unit is another $3 to 5K, and I have two players and my current PMDT is then surplus, which is getting a little ridiculous.
What have you heard about there being agreement on a digital output standard for SACD and DVD A in the very near future?
Don |
thanks scotty did not know that. I missed that in the specs. |
While I am a big fan of Muse(I own a model nine signaure version three and think the redbook playback is great), you should be aware that the model 10 is not universal - it does not play sacd - it will only play the redbook layer on the sacd hybrid disks. |
chelentano thats kinda how I am leaning. I could get the yamaha now and wait two more years for hopefully everything to get straightened out. Then go with a reference class player, although I do really like the lexicon, but it is based on the pioneer and just got a pretty face and a upscale audio section. I was wondering if there is something out there I might of overlooked. |
Lexicon RT-10 looks nice but too much money for me. Yamaha seems to be the best buy |
Go with the RT10. I am only considering all things which are important to me -- great audio and video- all at a reasonable price. They are hard to find right now due to short supply, but it sure would look great with your existing silver gear. My only gripe is no analog XLR out. |
