Scad/dvd-a Players

[poneal]

It's Christmas time, and I'm getting the itch to buy a SACD/DVD-A player. Can anyone here recommend a decent mid-priced player? I would like to keep it under $500.00, but I am willing to pay more for a quality product. I want something that will last at least 5 years or more. Any input welcome via this thread or hyperlinks is greatly appreciated. Thanks, Paul.

[Woochifer]

Your only option in that price range is the $200 Pioneer DV-563A (unless Apex has a new universal model to replace the one that they were selling for $350 last year). The reason why Pioneer can offer this universal player for so cheap is because the SACD conversion is not done in its native format. Rather than decoding the SACD in its native DSD format, the signal is first converted to PCM format before it gets output in analog. The sound quality is supposed to still be pretty good, but it adds a conversion step along the way that could affect sound quality with SACDs.

I believe that the next step up is the $600 Denon DVD-2200. Then you got another Pioneer model at $700, then Denon and Yamaha check in at the $1,000 price point.

[psonic]

also throw in the pioneer elite dv-45a, this is highly regarded at under $400 with HQ DACs, look it up on www.pioneerelectronics.com

[Woochifer]

also throw in the pioneer elite dv-45a, this is highly regarded at under $400 with HQ DACs, look it up on www.pioneerelectronics.com

Not bad, I always thought that unit generally sold for about $700 though. Worth considering if it's now priced under $400.

[recoveryone]

Not bad, I always thought that unit generally sold for about $700 though. Worth considering if it's now priced under $400.

Hey Woo, I picked mine ( Pioneer Elite Dv 45-a) up for $325 from a Ebay dealer

[poneal]

Thanks all.