Best budget (under $200) universal cd/sacd/dvda player?

[will0957]

This has been argued endlessly on all the different audio boards.. but there doesn't seem to be a definitive answer.

$200 max for a player that plays CD, SACD, and DVD-A.

From what I can tell, these are (depending on who you talk to) considered the best options:

Pioneer DV-563A (single disc) - ~$99
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Pros: Very inexpensive. The general consensus is that this is better than the DV-578A.
Cons: Converts DSD to PCM (but some people seem to say that the difference isn't noticable. regardless, I wouldn't consider this a good thing). This unit is no longer in production.

Pioneer DV-578A (single disc) - $99 at best buy right now
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Pros: Very inexpensive
Cons: Converts DSD -> PCM

Toshiba SD 4960 (single disc) - $120-$150
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Pros: Regarded as having better than average redbook playback, Has an actual DSD processor (i think? haven't seen any definitive answers)
Cons: I've read that complex music can sound compressed.

Toshiba SD 6915 (5-disc) - $120 at best buy right now
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I haven't been able to find much of any information on this player.
Pros: ?
Cons: I've read that the remote is clunky, the dvd playback is awful.. all around the reviews I've found have been horrible -- except for one.. and this person said that it worked flawlessly and that some of the earlier production units had problems.

Samsung HD-841 (single disc) $150-$200
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Pros: Supposedly the same as the Toshiba 4960, which has gotten some solid reviews.
Cons: It's said to be extremely buggy, which makes me wonder about the 4960. I can't seem to find any definitive answers about this.



Am I missing any units in this price range? Add to the pros/cons from your personal experience!

I'm in the market for a universal player under $200. I am leaning towards the Toshiba 4960, but I haven't decided for sure.

Feel free to add/contribute, and correct things I've said!

Thanks,

Jason

 

[soundboy]

I've heard that the Pioneer 563 will only do a DSD >> PCM conversion when used in multi-channel mode. The 578 has a different decoding chip altogether.

 

[duff138]

do the toshiba play SACD?

I think at least one of the toshiba only plays 2 channel DVD-A, are you looking for 5 channel sourround.

Pioneer 563a seems to do all fairly good.

 

[will0957]

Quote:

Originally Posted by duff138 do the toshiba play SACD? I think at least one of the toshiba only plays 2 channel DVD-A, are you looking for 5 channel sourround. Pioneer 563a seems to do all fairly good.

Yes, both the ones I listed play SACD. The 3590 (which is the one that has all the hype surrounding its redbook playback) only plays DVD-A... That's probably the one you're thinking of.

 

[will0957]

I just picked up a Pioneer DV-578A-S at best buy for $99 to try it out.

I've only had it hooked up for 20 minutes, but here are my first impressions:

- I have the same complaint with my DV-656A, it is really noisy. If you have the music on even remotely quiet, you can hear the disc spinning. That bothers me.

- Loud seek noise inbetween tracks.

Otherwise it sounds nice.. but I hate how noisy it is.

 

[xantus]

well I've got a 563-A and its SILENT...the only noise I can hear is 2 small quick mechanical noises when I press track forward (and this is with my ear right infront of the transport door, I can't hear anything from my usual spot of....a foot away to the left) its silent when fast-forwarding and silent when playing.
I wonder why they made the 578 a loud-#$**

i'd reccomend the 563. SACD sounds great and redbook sounds great as well(I initally thought it sucked, but then I noticed Vsurround was on Vsurround doesnt affect SACD so I didn't notice it at first)

 

[Stecchino]

Quote:

Originally Posted by will0957 Am I missing any units in this price range? Add to the pros/cons from your personal experience! I'm in the market for a universal player under $200. I am leaning towards the Toshiba 4960, but I haven't decided for sure. Feel free to add/contribute, and correct things I've said! Thanks, Jason

I'm in the same market, Jason. Actively searching as well.

 

[Glassman]

Pioneers 565a/563a are true DSD mashines, have DSD DACs and only convert to PCM when some processing is enabled, like setting speakers to 'small', the player needs to redo bass management, but as long as they are set to 'large', there's no processing and DSD goes to the DACs

575a/578a converts DSD to 24/88.2 PCM all the time regardless of the settings..

 

[Natsuiro]

I have the toshiba 4960 and I think that in stock form the SACD sounds great (but it's the only sacd player i've heard), but I don't think that the redbook playback is very good.

 

[soundboy]

Looking on the J&R website, I noticed a Yamaha DVS5750 universal player for $140.00.

Maybe an alternative to the above players.

 

[will0957]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Natsuiro I have the toshiba 4960 and I think that in stock form the SACD sounds great (but it's the only sacd player i've heard), but I don't think that the redbook playback is very good.

Really? All the reviews I've read said that redbook playback was above average. I'm going to be picking up one of these players in the next week or so to hear for myself

 

[will0957]

Quote:

Originally Posted by soundboy Looking on the J&R website, I noticed a Yamaha DVS5750 universal player for $140.00. Maybe an alternative to the above players.

Hmm.. sounds interesting. J&R doesn't really give any details or pictures, and I wasn't able to find any information about this player on google. If it isn't on google, it must not really exist

 

[soundboy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by will0957 Hmm.. sounds interesting. J&R doesn't really give any details or pictures, and I wasn't able to find any information about this player on google. If it isn't on google, it must not really exist

J&R said it's in stock, so give them a call

 

[bundee1]

here's the review, I think:


http://www.audioreview.com/DVD,Playe...4_1587crx.aspx

 

[Natsuiro]

Quote:

Originally Posted by will0957 Really? All the reviews I've read said that redbook playback was above average. I'm going to be picking up one of these players in the next week or so to hear for myself

I'm not too sure what "average" is. But coming from a modified toshiba 3960, i felt disapointed by the 4960 in terms of redbook playback.