Universal DVD Player* and 6000+ miles away

[misterq4u]

I was around Asia, and when I least expected, boom!!! there it was!
a beautiful and wonderful

Pioneer DV-696AV.

$139.00 was the price, nothing more nothing less.

Formats: Who cares for HDCD* decoding anyways, when you have SACD and DVD-Audio with HDMI already?

Video Processor: I did not buy this for video enjoyment, but it puts the Oppo out of the race on picture quality and speed. 12bit 108Mhz

Even the audio processing on this unit is remarkable, it managed to squeeze more detail out of the same CDs that have listened to already Amazing!

Tools: In case your TV is challenged on the calibration department or your receiver/amp o the Pio offers a comprehensive list of tools. AVphile kinda tools.

My setup choice: HDMI link to Onkyo 803
Provides me with:
DVD-Audio, 1080i switching and everything else except SACD (still analog).
This is not an issue since the Onkyo automatically handles what is coming in and tells me wheter is analog or digital, smart one!.

I am sad to inform you that this awesome machine is not being released on the US of A at the time of this write up. If you want the same prowess and feature set, you are forced to shell out at least $200 more. Hope that help anyone contemplating to buy the unit.
As of the time of this write up, there are no other reviews from US of A owners.

[Dusty Chalk]

I am sad to inform you that this awesome machine is not being released on the US of A at the time of this write up.

Bastids. That just don't make no sense.

[misterq4u]

Yep. At least we live on a relatively free nation, I wont trade that for the gear.

[squeegy200]

I think I would like to see them side by side to compare video

for $149

http://www.extremephono.com/Oppo_DV970_SACD.htm

it does have the usual
SACD
DVD-A
and HDMI

It will also play NTSC and PAL videos