Best Standard Def DVD Player under $8,000 used?

To the original question:

I have the Denon 5910 and find the video output of my Levinson 51 to be superior. The Levinson may have been the finest DVD player ever made. It is about $8K used (it is also a fabulou CD player). The color quality of the Levinson is superior to the Denon.

Tom, The DVD Standard measured better than any DVD player ever put on the bench. I purchased mine with the HDMI option. ($9500) These never, EVER, come up, but look around, and standard Standards are going for less than 2k. KILLER CD playback. See if Krell will still upgrade one. Mine isn't going anywhere but as you can see, the people want to know, 'why you are looking for an older technology'?

Tom,

I have owned or still own all your choices but the DVD standard.

Which one is best for you will depend on what you want.

Do you want just DVD? CD? Need SACD and/or DVD-A?

If you have a Meridian pre/pro, get the G98DH, it's a really good DVD-A and CD transport and a solid scaler, but it doesn't play SACD.

The 5910 is the player I'd recommend least, it scales well, but is sort of soft and doesn't image well at all.

The Linn 1.1 is really nice and musical, but I prefer my Esoteric DV-50s as it has better bass control and definition.

check out Reference Audio Mods for their selection of "NEW" DVD players (many models also play SACDs & DVD-As) which the owner will modify with top-of-the-line components (wiring, IECs, RCA outs, power supply, transformer, super clock, caps, resistors, opamps, etc.) for a lot less than $8,000.00, but will easily compete sonically with $8,000.00+ units. I have a Denon DVD-5910CI unit (awesome audio with music DVDs, CDs, SACDs, DVD-As + upconverts STD DEF DVDs to 1080P) that was modded by Reference Audio Mods and audio quality is absolute best...video quality is also incredible!!!

If you don't have SACDs & DVD-As, then ask Reference Audio to help you select a new Blu-ray for mod (you can play your DVDs on a Blu-ray player) and sonics will be 5x better versus an out-of-the-box player...

with money you save buying an "audiophile" quality new DVD (if you also listen to SACDs or DVD-As) or Blu-ray from Reference Audio you would have plenty of money leftover to buy a new 1080P Panasonic Plasma model TH-50PZ800U (THX certified).

I'd like to help, but really now, everyone knows you can't get a decent player for less than 8 grand.