Absolute Best DVD Player?

I have to agree with you Bmpync, $500.00 is more than just chump change. It really depends on where your next purchase is heading, or what your last one was. It wouldn't make a lot of sense to dump the player you just got so you can loose money there and go spend even more on another player just to hear SACD. Don't get me wrong, it is a great format but not a lot of software yet. If you where all ready in the market for a cd player or dvd player then it is worth a listen. The Sony 7700 (cd playback) was not in the same ball park at all when compared to the Cal. Audio but the 9000es could hang with it. I feel o.k. saying it would compare with 1 to 1.5k cd players but am not so sure about some of the comparisons with Levinson and such. Thanks for the compliment, your posts and replies allways are considerate and helpfull.

Hey no_money, which CAL did you compare the 9000es to?

Camelot Round Table Features:

Video Stage
¨ Composite, S-Video, Component interlaced video outputs
¨ S-Video output driven by Excalibur Powered S-Video technology for pristine clarity
over cable runs up to 150 feet

¨ Physically separate video daughter board
¨ Progressive Scan Output with 720x480 resolution, featuring PureProgressive™ Digital
Video Technology by DVDO

¨ Progressive Scan outputs available via RGB, VGA or Component Y-Pr-Pb) interfaces

Audio Stage
¨ Full 24-bit/96 kHz compatibility
¨ Burr Brown PCM 1732 24-bit DAC/HDCD® Digital Filter
¨ Automatic upsampling of normal 16-bit/44 kHz CDs to 24-bit/96 kHz quality
¨ Discrete I/V Converter and post filter/buffer stage
¨ Seven independent analog section local power supply stages
¨ Massive, low-stray field power supply
¨ Fourteen total separate power supplies
¨ Independent power supply windings for display/user interface, transport mechanism,
video signal processing, and audio processing stages

¨ Ultra low jitter Coaxial and I2S digital outputs
This thread was about the absolut best DVD player. I now own both the Round Table and the Sony S9000ES. CD playback on the Round Table is incredible, automatic upsampling of normal 16-bit/44 kHz CDs to 24-bit/96 kHz quality precludes the need for a seperate upsampler such as the Perpetual Tech P1-A (appx. $900, which I also use on my Denon DCM-5000). I have not even hooked up the video portion of the S9000ES, I use it only for the SACD option.
The Round Table is unsurpassed in video performance, the picture is absolutely stunning and CD playback is as good as anything I have ever heard on regular CD's, up to the $8000 price point. Yes the software is limited for SACD, but I find myself buying types of music that I wouldn't normally listen to just because the SACD sound is so unbelieveable.
Both of these players have their strong suits and I found it impossible to choose between the two. That's why I bought both.

Hi Talmage3, it was a IkonMkII. It was a close call between the two but the Sony seemed to be a little smoother with better mids, while the Cal had a little more bottom end to it.

Treed, I would be curious to know what you think of the Camelot's picture when compared to the 9000ES. I know that the Sony can't handle difficult discs as well, but I wonder how it differs with a good quality anamorhic DVD?