SACD/DVD Audio Combi Players?

Right now, do not buy a Sony at list price. The $5,000 SCD-1 is sold in the low to mid $3,000. The $3,500 SCD-777 is being sold for around $1700. The $1,500 list S9000ES DVD/CD/SACD player is still hard to find discounted, but some have mailordered it for around $1,100. The $1200 list SCD-333 can be bought for around $800. A new player released in Europe, the SCD-555 is getting rave reviews and might be the best yet. Sony has not announced a release date in the U.S. It sells for around $1300. There are subtle differences between all these players. All of these at one time of the other have been judged by some as the best. One thing is certain, you get a quality CD/SACD player with all of these choices. Sony is a mass market manufacturer, not highend, and is pushing to significantly increase the number of SACD players.

Personally, I love my S9000ES as a CD and DVD player. SACD is a free bonus. Some people have sold their SCD-1 and SCD-777 players and bought the 9000ES because they thought it had better SACD sound.

Pioneer has announced a SACD/DVD-A player. It's around $4K if I remember correctly, but SACD supporters do not think it will be good. It takes the SACD signal and converts it to a DVD-Audio type signal. This will limit the SACD to DVD-Audio quality--a step down. Rather than 2,820K/second sampling, it will be converted to 96K or 192K/sec sampling.

Well, let me just state that, for at least my record, the Sony SCD777 or SCD1 are definitely a cut above the Sony 9000es DVD/SACD player!!! We've done side by sides on some of the best associated equipment set-ups, and the 9000ES is most definitely not in the same league as the flagship 777es and scd1 pieces! It shows much better res on SACD's, ofcorse than standard 16/44's on the same player. But isn't nearly the last word in refinement, dynamic contrast, or transparency that the, 777ES or SCD1 can deliver.
I've heard the reviews say the Maratz player for $7500 show even better contrast and air, by a small shave. But, again, I have serious quams with someone stating implying you could possibly sell a better Sony 777/SCD1 in favor of a DVD player, that happens to throw SACD processing in as an after thought of some sort!!! This is undoubtably just like assuming cheeper cd players that can do 16/44 are as good as any other 16/44 cd player that costs thousands!!!..not the same.
As for the combi players that play both the new DVD-A format and SACD. I just got back from spending 4 day's at CES, and talking to more people in the industry than I car to remember. And the consesus seems to be that all the DVD-A players, that are currently out, down convert or only process 24/44!...not anything promised like the potential 24/192 cable stuff!...? This is just what people in the industry where passing around. It sounded kinda like what they were saying about the whole D-TV thing...which promises the potential of 1080 resolution and digital sound. But, that doesn't mean you'll get 1080 and 5.1! Sounds like they're doing the same thing here. It doesn't supprise me that if you do buy a DVD-A player today,you'll only hear 24/44 processed sound quality, and not the hoped for 24/96 or 24/192 category...hummmm?

You cannot go wrong with either the Sony SCD-1 or the SCD777. If you are on a budget, there is no better CD player for the price, than the Sony SCD777 period. If you have money buy the Sony SCD-1, the only reason is it looks better.