Best CD sound from a DVD player

The proceed PMDT is fabluous but may be over your range. It is software upgradable. A lot depends on your surround processor. If your using player for this than other issues come into play. The pioneer 47/A has all the features for a good price. I have heard sony's comparable unit has a better processor for more money. If like most people today with multichannel systems you are doing outboard processing decide the level of money. The proceed is incredible. The pioneer great for less.

BWhite--Just bear in mind that the DV-8300 uses Crystal's second-best DAC chipset, not their best one. I have to admit, though, that I haven't heard the unit myself, nor have I seen any available reviews for it (I check online twice a day while I'm bored at work and thinking about music). And yes...it's ugly. If I ran the world, every single component on earth would be available in silver/aluminum finish. (I suppose I would call that place, "Great Britain.")

Thedautch - ya.. I think the DV8300 uses the CS4392 DAC vs. the CS4397 (SA-1). However, I do not know what DAC Marantz uses in the SA14 - it might be the CS4392.

The 8300 is definately a tier two product in the Marantz linup but then again, people have had good results modifying Sony's lower end SACD players and DVP9000ES units.

In this regard, Sony SCD-1, 777ES, and XA777ES absolutely kill the 9000ES but we don't read about many 9000ES owners complaining.

So - maybe the DV8300 is a good candidate for mod. While its SACD / CD performance might not be up to the level of the top tier SACD units, it has capabilities that these players can only dream about.

BWhite--I agree with your comments about modding the unit, and I look forward to the ability to purchase a DV-8300 for myself. (The next question would be which receiver to buy, since separates will be out of my league, but I'll need a level of fidelity high enough to take advantage of the 8300's hi-rez formats in the first place). All this inspite of the fact that I've seen the 8300's little brother, the Pioneer DV-47Ai, on sale for just $730. Tempting, but I think I'd rather have the 8300.

McIntosh has a nice CD/DVD player if you have a dealer nearby.