Under $1000 Universal Player?
There seems to be a lot of threads asking about affordable SACD player / Universal Player. I thought it might be good to sum up all the options currently in the market:
Denon DV-2200 ($1000 cdn)
Pioneer DV-563A ($250 cdn)
Pioneer Elite DV-45A ($600 cdn)
Marantz DV6400 ($???)
Sony DVP-NS755V (can you still find this model??
I'm sure I've missed quite a few, but here is the question: Pioneer is the only one who can offer not only one, but two universal players for well under $1000. I have seen a lot of rave reviews about the DV-563A, but they are all rated in light of its VERY low price.... for someone who don't have a thousand bucks to spend but still wants more than decent sound, is it worth going to the DV-45A, or is the DV-563A actually THAT good?
another universal / SACD player suggestion
Here's another one that I have had my eye on:
- Onkyo DV-SP800
It's expensive, but the few reviews I've read have been very positive (I'm hoping someone else will have some more to say about it). The sound, I think, is subject to fairly standard DA converters that are probably manufactured to similar standards in most players. But in the end, the price of a player is determined by its construction and durability. The Pioneer seems to be rather flimsy with a lot of plastic parts.
One simplistic test I alway perform when I look at a player is to pick it up. Is it heavier? do the sides bend a little? does the transformer make up the bulk of the weight? Etc.
Anyhow, that's my take on it.