philips sacd 1000 as a redbook player

some of you are missing the point. take the sacd 1000 as a $400 redbook cd player and how does it compare to the nad 541, arcam 62t, rotel 1070, music hall cd25, or rega planet? this is what i am trying to get at as most of you are comparing it $2000+ cd players and dac combos.

Okay, everyone. I just bought a SACD1000 and I was expecting it would have the ability to replace my current Digital SetUp, a Philips 921 (Transport & a MSB Link II (DAC). Ihave burned it in for 100 hrs. My result with SIDE-BY-SIDE comparing with a Philips 921 (as a transport) and a MSB LINK II (DAC), is, the MSB totally blew the new SACD1000 away! MSB apparently produce higher resolution and more accurate Hi-Freq than SACD1000. Midrange would be warmer for the SACD1000, but the soundstage yet is more shallow and narrow than my MSB Link II; too forward, forget about the word "deep". Low-end bass would be a little bit slow and over-weight; yet doesn't even go that low, extremely low-freq disappeared! Speed wise, the MSB is a lot faster and punchier than the SACD1000. The fact that it doesn't feeds PCM digital out for audio CD made me stuck from parting it with a quality out-board DAC. As a $400.00 Stand-Alone CD Player, it would be a Class B. I don't know why the hack it was rated Class B in Stereophile, as I said, maybe the total general rating would be Class B because it's cheap price and compatibilities, but it's too far behind from MSB Link II DAC which is rated Class B also. Video-wise it uses only 10bit video chip and it doesn't have Progressive Output. SIDE-BY-SIDE comparing with my Philips DVDQ50, result in lack of functions and picture resolution. The DVDQ50 apparently produce a more natural, better contrast, and higher resoltion picture. Well, you have to think about that the DVDQ50 is a Stand-Alone DVD Player ONLY. All the money you paid went to DVD, of cause it produce such a state-of-art video picture. Unlike the SACD1000, for $100 extra it went to alot of other places like SACD/DVD/CDR/CDRW compatibilty, a bigger power supply, a bigger chassis and multi-channel and a lot more component inside the unit...
I don't think any of you has done a SID-BY-SIDE comparing, what I have here will tell you how good/bad the SACD1000s sound-------Good and warm midrange with limited hi & extreme-low frequence. Sounds not as accurate and fast as it should be, at least the same class MSB Link II has done it... Fair picture quality with lack of progreesive scan and PCM digital output will make you feel like hell from upgrading. Function-wise it would be a DVD player with very little functions. However, as a $400.00 player, you get DVD playing, and Multi-Channel for free. So, no matter what, it's worth the price somehow.
As a excellent redbook player, I would suggest you look elsewhere. If you have a tight space or you only have a limited amount of money to spend, this would be the player for you! Single chassis, plays SACD/DVD/CDR/CDRW and produce "okay" sound from it. My personal conclusion with the SACD1000 would be:

An "Okay" DVD player with SACD Multi-Channel as an extra.

I was going to replace it with my Philips 921 (Transport) and MSB Link II (DAC), but I think I have to keep them now. I am starting to look for a Marantz SA-14, SA-8260 or maybe I will go for Sony SCD-1. I am keeping it for my secondary system. I couldn't upgrade, because of it's lack of PCM digital output for audio CDs and it's lack of progressive video out. Maybe I will sell it? To me, it's a Class C for Audio & Video and a Class B for it's value.

Many of you know that the Philips is coming out with a new SACD/DVD player called the DVD963SA. I have seen both the inside of the two units. The SACD1000 features the Marantz HRAM Module, but the DVD963SA doesn't. Both the power supply and the electronic component inside both the unit are far different. The DVD963SA looks like a cheap player (it's weight half the SACD1000), the good things are:

It has progreeive 12bit/108Mhz
It feed PCM out for audio CD (As I was told)
It's video circuit can be shut off while playing audio disc, to lower interferences and dissortion
It has a newer firmware, of cause
It upsamples to 24/192

If you people are waiting for a DVD963SA instead of buying the SACD1000, then I think it's wrong. Video and function wise the DVD963SA would definitely be better, but audio-wise I don't know if the DVD963SA will perform better with such a tiny power supply and lack of Marantz HRAM Module. Email me if you peoiple are interested in further discussion with me about these units and if you have any questions. Good luck AV hunting!

After 96 hours of burn in my Tweeters $399 special is really performing well. The SCAD CDs are very nice to listen to. Very dark background but I like that. Seems fine on the high and low end although I run a sub with my 2 channel tube set up (run a parellel feed directly out of the 4 ohm taps into the high inputs of the sub and match the bottom end of my speakers to the top end of the sub as best as possible frequency and level wise)so low end weakness would not be a factor for me as it may be for others. As far as redbook CD player, I am pleasently suprised. I run a Ah! Tjoeb with upsampler and Amperex tubes and love that player. The Phillips is VERY close in resolution soundtage and dynamics although the Ah! is warmer (which is how I prefer things with redbook CDs). Very happy so far. Hope another 100 hours of burn in will really do the trick.

BTW: The 1000 is a lousy DVD player. My $200 Toshiba with progressive scan blows the Phillips away. Also, the 2 channel outs on the Toshiba do a decent job on DVD audio into my amp whereas the Phillips two channel outs are NOT meant for high def audio (read the manual). The Phillip's on-screen displays are just awful and about 3 years behind the times. This is DEFINITELY a music player and NOT a movie player. Phillips rightly marketed this as a music player first and foremost although at its original street price of about $1000 that should not have been the case.

As an aside to the post from infinity_audio, I have compared a stock MSB 3 using a Sony 779 ES transport (one of the last battleship-like transports Sony made before SACD)to a Linn Genki and it was neck and neck, so perhaps this is the general price range of CDP to compare this dac? Equipment was Bryston 3BST/BP25>N805>Kimber. The MSB also greatly improves the CD section of a Linn Classik. It's nice to have a one box player, however for the price of a MSB on the used market you can't go wrong with even adding it to a basic DVD player for decent redbook sound at a fraction of the cost of a comparable CDP. I'm waiting for a price drop on the current 777ES before I sell my MSB.

Against my modded 333ES (a "Kerned" Level 1 mod + Superclock) both the redbook and SACD sections are better presented on the Sony - with the SACD section being closer between the two units. While its not too fair a comparison as the Philips has just 20 hours on it and the Sony is well run in I find the bass on the Philips a little loose and the soundstage farther back than the 333ES offers - kind of like I'm sitting in the 10th row with the 333ES and the 20th row with the Philips. Perhaps this will change with more time on the SACD 1000...

I had hoped that the stock Philips might "out do" the Sony but the Sony's mods have proven, at least at this juncture, too much for the Philips. Now I am considering having the Philips modded (by whom is not set at this time as each modder would appear to offer their own interpretation of how this unit should be tweaked) and will continue to play the Philips to see how things better with more time.

As my Philips may just be the only unit within Canada I don't think I'd have many problems re-selling (without a loss) if I decide that is the path to take...