Redefining "Universal Player"

I was under the impression that the term universal player described a unit that played all sliver disc formats, i.e. CD, SACD, DVD-A, CD-R (etc.), and now Blu-Ray.

I never thought it had anything to do with having a digital input.

Why would a source component have a digital input? I can understand a digital output, but the digital input requirement has me puzzled.

T-Bone, is there any commercially made universal player produced in the past five years that has a digital input? I'm thinking specifically about the players from the major companies: Sony, Panasonic, Marantz, Denon, etc.?

Do the universal players from Ayre or Esoteric have digital inputs?

My universal player has a digital input, but only because it's a modded player that has an optional digital input available as part of the modification.

I agree it's handy.

I see your goal Kthomas. I recall that perhaps PS Audio is coming out with something like you describe, but I'm not certain.

FWIW, I have never considered SACD/CD players universal machines. IMO, a truly universal player must include DVD-A, but that's nit picking since DVD-A an SACD formats have been marginalized.