Philips 1000 vs 963 for 2 channel. Which one ?

Socrates - I agree. If you want great redbok playback, use the 9000 as a transport with a good upsampling DAC. If you don't care about SACD, just buy a used Sony 7700 and get it modded.

Socrates,Whatever...comparing a 3k player to a 500.00 player and then grading the cheaper player a C+ and a polished turd....give me a break....you are the one who has it wrong.
I had the 9000 es for two years and its sonics are severly lacking in comparison to the 963sa, and why even talk about transport use...it wasn't part of the original question.
I can add 3-400.00 in parts to the 963sa and probably equal the 3k Marantz in sonics.
I have already done mod 1 as that is what i hear in the 963sa.....mod potential, and lots of it.

All of the positive online reviews of the 963sa....but you step in and claim it a polished turd,and insinuate everyone else is wrong....you are the one being ignorant and egotistical.
I can afford a much more expensive player if I choose to,but don't like losing 50% value in a year when I can mod and get 3k sound for hundreds of dollars and even get some of it back when I decide to sell.
All the business that all the modders are getting, tells me I am not alone in this thinking.
Speakers,amps and analog preamps are were to spend money imho...not ever changing high dollar digital.

I will ask again,seeings how you want to avoid the cost issue...what player does Marantz have that compares to the 963sa that lists for anywhere near the price???....nuff said.

I personally do not care if you visit the boards any more...or less than you used to.
Who are you, that I should care?
I have been a member here for years and anytime someone compares a 500.00 player to a 3k one, and calls it a polished turd, I will have to question there reasoning,whether I own the player or not makes no difference.
You act as if people are claiming the 963sa to be a world beater in your first post, and that the almighty Socrates needs to step in and tell the world that they are wrong and that its merely a "Polished Turd"

Has anyone compared the sound of NAD C541i to the philips DV963sa?

Just a FYI,

I put up a post but hasn't hit yet, Amazon is offering the Philips 963 for $349 today only with free shipping. Link is below:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00008WIX1/ref=br_lf_outlet_27//102-5714172-4942556?v=glance&s=outlet&n=548166

You have to add to your shopping basket to see the price.

Regards,

DAMMIT MattyB -

Why did you have to 'knock me off the fence' about buying a 963sa with this amazon link!! ;O (j/k)

I just ordered it, and indeed it included free shipping through J&R - but ONLY if you buy it via Amazon and use standard shipping.

My only conundrum now is this:

I ALREADY have a nice, primary DVD/CD player - an Arcam DV-88P progressive model, that I use as my primary source for redbook AND DVD's. At least this will give me a chance to compare 44k to 192k upsampling, CD to SACD, etc. Who knows - maybe I will like the Philips more then the Arcam (though I doubt it).

Maybe a nice external DAC with Home Theater Pass-through (I'm thinking Bel Canto DAC2 or Musical Fidelity 324 ..?..?) would even the playing field for the 963, though I have seen the threads on AudioAsylum that indicate it isn't even needed....

Any opinions here would be appreciated ... Whatcha Think??