Best Mid-Priced DVD/SACD/DVD-A/HDCD Player?

I would say the Oppo 981 is quite amazing.I replaced a Pioneer Elite with the Oppo,the Oppo sounded much better for CDs,SACDs and audio DVDs.The video is also far superior.I also prefer the Oppo to my Rotel CD player.I have Thiel CS6s powered by Classe mono blocks,five channels powered by a Classe 5100 and a Classe SP-300 processor.

The onkyo OP1000 is a great player (great BUILD as well, easily as good as a "high end" brand) if you don't mind wearing a "onkyo" badge ( :

Redbook sounds even better than my prior Jolida JD100 (I A/Bed before I sold the Jolida). A bit cleaner with a tad more resolution

Another vote for the Oppo. I have the Oppo DV-980H. It doesn't have the Faroudja chip, but the video and the HDMI upconverting are very satisfactory. Oppo says the 980 is slanted more toward sound quality. For a music player I really like it. It is smooth and musical, and its internal surround processing is good enough that I usually just play its 7.1 analog output plugged into the analog inputs of my pre/pro. Plays just about every 5-1/4" disc except Blu-ray and HD DVD.

This silly little $169 player replaced a $600 Philips SA-963, which was considered a giant-killer in 2003. The Oppo beats it in every conceivable way in picture and sound. The Philips' internal processors were not as good as the ones in my Boston Acoustics Pre/Pro, but the Oppo is at least as good as the BA and maybe a little better. And on music, the Oppo is far easier to listen to with enjoyment and lack of fatigue than the Philips ever was.