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Best used transport for CD, SACD, DVDA

Fellow listeners,
I am looking to upgrade my digital source from an Arcam CD37. I'd like to experience SACD and DVDA, and am not yet ready to move to a server and digitize my complete library of CDs. The Arcam unit is a good one, but I haven't done a lot of comparative listening, so I don't know from experience.
If you have experience with the player but have acquired a new unit to handle SACDs, or otherwise useful info, I'd like to hear from you. I see a lot of units on sale here, but I don't really want to spend over $1000 for a piece of hardware that will be obsolete in my environment soon enough.

Thx
Chuck
128x128cmjones
6 responses Add your response
tom6897's avatar
tom6897
1,484 posts
 
#1 If you like the unit, it sounds good and it works it will never be obsolete. Just because newer tech comes out that does not justify discarding pieces you have owned that bring you pleasure. This site is full of items that were bought to "replace" a presumably inferior item. Don't buy into that idea.

I have owned and enjoyed the ARCAM DV-139 Universal player and the Marantz SA 8001 SACD player. I thought both were very well engineered and the sound was excellent as well. They both have good reputations and have been well reviewed.
Good luck in your choice.
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jazzerdave
163 posts
 
I would just find a used Denon 3910 or 5910. You can probably find a 3910 for around $200. You could also look into the Marantz SA8004; they've added a usb input. Both Denon and Marantz have well-built and good sounding players. I'm not sure whether the Marantz plays DVD-A or not.
unsound
7,329 posts
 
If you are looking for a transport, I'm assuming you are also looking for a DAC. Very few DACs can handle SACD and/or DVDA, especially at that price point.
loomisjohnson
1,948 posts
 
agree with jazzerdave--the denon universal players sound really good and are available for a song. i also use an integra dps 6.5 ($100 or so on ebay) and have no complaints whatsoever. as you suggest, given the inevitability of computer audio (and the fact that most folks don't have a lot of sacd/dvdas) it may not make sense to spend a lot on a player.
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jazzerdave
163 posts
 
There are two modified 3910's and a modded 3930 for sale right now here on Audiogon. The Denon universal players are extremely popular in the upgrade community, but I've just left mine stock. You can do some searches on the particular upgrades to see if they interest you, but I've been fine without them. I know there's a handful of stock 3910's on eBay right now between $150-$400.
doggiehowser
672 posts
 
It seems that most DVDAs are not copy protected so they can output full resolution stereo over SPDIF.

I am feeding the optical output from my Oppo 95 Universal player to my EMM Labs XDS1 optical input to get the benefit of the XDS1 DAC.

Pretty nifty.

If you are looking for a transport and an external DAC for SACD and DVDA, the only affordable way I know how is to use an HDMI Universal Player/AVR setup

I'd recommend using an AVR and player that supports ARC that has a way to synchronise the clocks between the AVR and the player. Sony calls their system HATS, and Pioneer, PQLS. I use Denon's DenonLink4.
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