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

I responded earlier and wanted to add. I have the Pioneer 09FD blu-ray and the Oppo BD-83, the former hooked up to a JVC RS20 projector and the latter to a Kuro 9th Gen. 720p 50" plasma. I also have an Esoteric UX1 and a Denon 5910 and owned what I regard as the finest DVD player ever made, the 18k Levinson No. 51. The Levinson was significantly superior to the Denon. The Pioneer with Bluray was superior to the Levinson, which is why I sold the Levinson. The Pioneer with DVD seemed also to be a bit better (more vivid) than the Levinson. I no longer use the BD or DVD player to decode the music as I now take the PCM feed into a DAC.

However, I did try the analog output; the Levinson was naturally the best of the lot and by far; you could also hook it up to an amp directly. In that scenario, it was very good, not as good as the Wadia 921/931 stack but clear, neutral and with excellent detail and soundstaging. Among the best CD players out there, too. There is one for sale here on this site for around 10k.

I have not had Krell gear since the FPB and K Audio Video Standard (got it for a pretty penny when it came out - ouch). If Krell gear remains true to its sonic hallmark, it likely has amazing bass, sharp attack and perhaps a bit closed in or opaque rather than starkly neutral.

Since the new Denon A1-UDCI is now shipping, it may be worthwhile to investigate this unit. It has balanced audio out and the same famous Realta HQV chipset for DVDs plus Blu-ray so ideally you could get the best of all worlds. Plus it comes in black.

I like the Oppo BD83 hooked up to my TV and receiver in the family room setup because the image quality is fine and it is FAST.

Thanks Classicjazz, lots of interesting and good info there!!

The Krell is below the last 3 Oppo DVD players image wise. Why settle for substandard video playback? Features? Balanced outputs? You are using the digital output anyway. aside from prestige, what? When you watch a DVD, do you stare at the Krell or the screen? Oppo with Anchor Bay processing has image so shockingly good I have to eject DVD's to show people that it is NOT a Blu Ray DVD. Every movie when someone new walks in, 'Hey, allright! Blu Ray!' We just laugh. Poweramps? Krell all day long. DVD players? Oppo and then everybody else afterward. Check the DVD shootout, even the pre- Anchor Bay units from Oppo matched Denon's flagship 5910. For only about $300. The Oppo is every video editor's reference for good reason my friend. Even giant Lexicon from the Harmon group, with all their might and tech wizardry is repackaging/rebadging the latest Oppo to sell as their own. They admit it. If all comparisons were as easy as the Oppo hi fi would be so much simpler.

spend $300 on a Samsung Bluray then take the other $77oo and buy new speakers

01-11-09: Tom92602

Ok.. Nice work all you $300 BluRay payer lovers..
If only you had highend systems to appreciate the
gear I am wanting to discuss.

BluRay is slow to load disks, Disks are expensive and
I have a 500+ standard Def DVD library.

The PS3 and Oppo BDP-83 (which is $500, thankyouverymuch) are very fast to load. If you're budgeting $8000 and spend only $500, that leaves $7500 to upgrade your DVD library to Blu-ray. You should be able to buy at least 300 Blu-rays, and more likely replace your entire library of 500.

If you want better redbook, rip your CDs (losslessly) to a laptop and get a Wavelength Cosecant USB DAC for a mere $3500. I dare you to find a CD player that will match that.

Any way you slice it, $8K for a std def DVD player, even if it will play dinner plates, is throwing good money after bad. Go whole hog on an Oppo BDP-83SE ($900) plus laptop (say $800) plus Wavelength Cosecant DAC ($3500), and you have better playback in every format for $5200. Use the other $2800 to upgrade your video library to Blu-ray.