Best DVD/CD Player to buy

My vote is for a modified Pioneer, but via John Hillig at Musical Concepts, who modded my DV-4l4 a year ago and it's been running like a champ ever since. However, I can't attest to its DVD performance since it's used ONLY as a CD player (plays 24-96 discs too) in a system where it's by far the least expensive component. That's how good it is.

I also use a Sony 7700, but only as a transport. In that role I've found that it bests a CAL Theta. Married with an EVO Millenium DAC II I'm really enjoying the music.

Grandpad, maybe you left something out, but CAL & Theta are two different companies. Kind of confusing.

As to modifying DVD players, one of my buddies just sent a Pioneer off to Stan Warren. Stan flat out told him that h should not expect the bass capabilities that his more expensive CD player offers. I guess that my previous findings that DVD players have always sounded leaner than a good cd player has been verified. Sean
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Sony 9000ES has gotten some good reviews for cd sound as well as progressive scan on the dvd side. Retail $1500, but selling used for $900 or so.

Jeff i am sure that Stan Warren's mods are very good. But well within your budget is the Toshiba SD 9200. It weighs 33 lbs, has an iec to upgrade the powercord if you so desire, has a copper lined chassis and even does DVD A - - no software to talk about yet. This DVD player has an absolutely magnificent picture and sonically it can stand up to most players. It is not thin nor strident sounding. Retail was $2000 but Toshiba has lowered the price to $1500 which is a steal for a player of this quality and you can purchase them for less. In the store at this time I have alot of very good one box players such as the EMC 1 with 24/192 upgrade $5000, the Audio Meca Mephisto 2 $7500, the Alchemist Product 8 24/192 upsampling player $2400, we have also had the Sim Eclipse and Audio Aero and though the Toshiba is not as good as any of these players it is close enough that I have no problem listening to music on it after being spoiled by all these great cd players.