Experiences with Blu-ray players


I'm starting to build a home theater and am investigating BD players. I could use some stories of experiences others have had.

I'd like to keep good 2-channel capability, but I do have a few multi-channel SACDs so I'd like to be able to play them as well. My 2-channel gear consists of Theta source, Cary preamp, Threshold amplification and Avalon speakers. Given that, I'm thinking that a BD player with analog audio outs and a multi-channel preamp might be best for my particular priorities. My wife would kill me if I brought home the Ayre, so I'm in the sub-$2k realm. The reading I've been doing brings the following manufacturers to mind as having products I could afford and might like:

Oppo: Seems to be the default player for the past couple of years. I like the 7.1 analog audio output and the universality of the transport. The high, generally positive traffic on the various forums seems a good sign, too. I am concerned about it's 2-channel audio performance, though.

Cambridge: Ditto with the 7.1 analog output. A bit more talk about the sound, but less about the video.

Marantz: The 7007 has only two-channel analog out, but 7006 has 7.1 analog audio out.

Arcam: Reliability problems? I haven't experienced any with my Arcam DVD, but I don't own any other Arcam gear, so my experience is limited.
128x128macdonj
Kr4 My Sony player is reading the SACD layer and states this is so on screen while playing, not the Redbook. What comes through the coax to the DAC is Downmixing the PCM signal according the manual
Gammajo, the SACD signal is in PCM, unless you specifically select the 5.1 track. There should be no downmixing per se. At least that is my understanding.
Gammajo-

I scanned the manual and cannot see any reference to (1) downmixing SACD or to (2) DSD/SACD output from the coax jack.
kr4, the copyright vultures have hobbled the SACD industry so that only HDMI is passed as native resolution. All else (coax, optical) is down sampled to prevent high res ripping. Which makes SACD uninteresting compared to high res downloads where you can exercise more control over your source chain fidelity
Kr4 I confess I am lost. Manual for BDP-S580 Sony page 22-23 talks about this. I am concluding that the only way to hear SACD, even two channel SACD is with a Player that plays SACD, connect via HDMI to a precessor that accepts HDMI, not a preamp - correct or can one connect a player via RCA to a preamp and hear two channel SACD?