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DVD-A and SACD player combo

I know very little about these two formats but I do know that I want to stay with a 2 channel audio system. I have a decent progressive scan DVD player that I use to watch movies and it connects to the TV's S-video input and the TV's speakers. I suspect it will stay connected to the TV as I don't watch many movies and don't really want a HT set up. I know Pioneer already introduced a player that plays all formats but it also plays DVD Video disks. Has any one heard about a player that is still focused on audio output only that will play redbook CD's, DVD-A and SACD's. I would want to use it in my 2 channel system and would have no need for video playback.
msnloeth
chams_uk
158 posts
 
I have the Apex 7701. The unit is suprisingly good on SACD, almost the equal to the Sony SCD-777ES I have. On CD, it needs help (I have a Taddeo Digital Antidote II on my Sony, may try it on this). As far as DVD-A, the only one I have is ELP "Brain Salad Surgery." I have nothing to compare it to, however, I wasn't super pleased with it in general; only a LITTLE better than the quality I got from CD, and not as good as the SACD discs I have. Again, it'd be interesting to see how it would do with the Taddeo off it, but I haven't got off my butt to swap it in yet....

I'd check the cheaper Pioneer when it's available. Sounds like it could be a nice deal.

BTW, the Apex 7701 is $300.
ljgj
955 posts
 
Chams uk - What does the Taddeo do for the player to make it better?
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
I have a wait and see attitude. I worry that a player designed to do everything, will have too many compromises and will end up preforming only fair, instead of doing a few things very well.
msnloeth OP
57 posts
 
Sugarbrie, that is my concern as well. I would rather have one piece that does one or two things very well instead of one that does many things just OK.
ljgj
955 posts
 
There is a review of the Apex unit in the Feb/March issue of Sound and Vision. It pretty much indicates that until these units come with bass management and independent level controls through the analog inputs of av receivers and processors the sound of these multichannel formats will suffer. A digital output for these formats might help out in regards to this concern. The new Pioneer receiver - the Elite VSX-49TX is also reviewed in this issue and is said to have bass management through its analog inputs. It sells for 4200.
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