Recom. for a new CD/DVD?

Well not much to say. CD comparison to the Meridian combo is extended low frequencies, the high end has lost a bit of harshness and is more "sweet". With sweet do not mean coloration or a sound that is more pleasent to my hears. It is closer to live performance. I could not notice much difference in the mid-band. Presentation, field depth, localization of instruments and voices are more present, i.e brought a bit forward adding more sense of live performance. Resolution is enhanced, with instrument details available where could not hear before. I have no comparison with other SACDs so cannot say much, I compared Bocelli CD with SACD, no drammatic differences but a sense of musicality not present in the CD and of course more extended low and high and minute details not audible in the CD. However you need to have a top notch system to dig out the advantages of SACD reproduction. It must be said that the mastering is probably not specifically done for SACD so there is probably some tuning at recording level that will allow a better differential between the two standards. I have only had the Philips for two days now and the sound is still changing a bit.
Should you have specific questions, ask will try to answer the best I can

Daniel

Daniel, thank you for posting your thoughts on the Philips player. Does the player have PCM coax output for use with an external dac? The philips website isn't clear on this. Thanks.

I have the Sony 9000ES and love it. I understand that the new Sony 999ES is slightly superior with CD, DVD, and SACD, and costs less as well.

Socrates

Yes it has PCM coax and fiber output. The set up software allows selection of 96Khz and 48Khz as output and can have a selection between PCM only or "All".

I am extremelly impressed with its performance, now that it has had some running-in, in absolute terms, if you consider that the price tag is around $400 you ask yourself a lot of question on how you have been spending your money and how much vapor-ware you were getting. I think it did switch the light on for me, can see a lot better now

Daniel

Daniel,

Thanks a million for your detailed posting. I was in hibernation. (They really should provide Internet access on planes these days!)

I'm glad to see you are enjoying your 963. Here's another one for you. Did you have a chance to compare yours with SACD-1000 or better yet Sony XA777ES? Where do you rank your machine amongst these contenders?

I was dangerously close to buying a cheap Chinese SACD player (either the Xindak SCD-2 or the Shanling T200, both have Tube output stage) but backed off in the last minute in favour of proven technology. Now contemplating between the SACD-1000 and XA777ES. Any advise??

Cheers,