Want to buy a decent universal disc player. I will not be using it for
video.
Which of the two do people recommend? Or something else in the $500
range. Thanks much for comments.

"Tom" wrote in message
news:nwO7c.61238$1p.1021212@attbi_s54...
Want to buy a decent universal disc player. I will not be using it for
video.
Which of the two do people recommend? Or something else in the $500
range. Thanks much for comments.


Hi Tom -

Sentiments are mixed on the 2200...some people like it, some feel it is
really not audiophile quality due to (apparently) a pretty flimsy power
supply. I've heard some people who've audition both say that the Pioneer
563a sounds better than the 2200.

The Marantz 6400 is so new there is very little 'out' on it yet..no major
reviews that I know of and not even a lot of casual listener/owner comments.
It's bigger brother, the 8400 is of course pretty highly regarded but at
two-and-one-half times the price.

You might want to hold off a bit to get more reaction to the 6400 and see if
Pioneer brings the newer technology of the 563 and their top of the line
model into the middle range of the 45 and 47 players.

There is also a rumor that Phillips is about to launch a "universal" player
to replace their 963sa, which they've discontinued. This is one of those
times with considerable turmoil going on just below the surface that may
shake out in the next year or so.

If it were me, I'd wait. If I didn't want to wait, I'd try to hear the
Pioneer and the Marantz before I plunked cash on the 2200.

Just M2CW.

Harry

"Tom" wrote in message
news:nwO7c.61238$1p.1021212@attbi_s54...
Want to buy a decent universal disc player. I will not be using it
for
video.
Which of the two do people recommend? Or something else in the $500
range. Thanks much for comments.

It would be very helpful to the group if you would specifically list
what the player must play for it to meet your definition of
"universal." e.g. does it have to play CD-RW encoded with WMA music
files?

Norm Strong

"normanstrong" wrote in message ...
"Tom" wrote in message
news:nwO7c.61238$1p.1021212@attbi_s54...
Want to buy a decent universal disc player. I will not be using it
for
video.
Which of the two do people recommend? Or something else in the $500
range. Thanks much for comments.

It would be very helpful to the group if you would specifically list
what the player must play for it to meet your definition of
"universal." e.g. does it have to play CD-RW encoded with WMA music
files?

Norm Strong

I really just want a decent quality new CD player and want to get one
that supports the most likely to prevail audiophile format(s) and I
don't want to spend more than $600 (which probably doesn't qualify as
"high-end" for regulars in this group). Of formats:
SACD - important to me
DVD-A - Nice to have
MP3 - Nice to have
WMA - No
CD-RW - Nice to have but not that important
HDCD - would like it but doesn't seem to coexist with SACD in any
reasonable player, if any player.
Won't use for video; Don't plan to connect to TV

Will use with Denon pre-amp, B&K power amp, Kef 105 speakers.

Tom wrote:
"normanstrong" wrote in message ...
"Tom" wrote in message
news:nwO7c.61238$1p.1021212@attbi_s54...
Want to buy a decent universal disc player. I will not be using it
for
video.
Which of the two do people recommend? Or something else in the $500
range. Thanks much for comments.

It would be very helpful to the group if you would specifically list
what the player must play for it to meet your definition of
"universal." e.g. does it have to play CD-RW encoded with WMA music
files?

Norm Strong

I really just want a decent quality new CD player and want to get one
that supports the most likely to prevail audiophile format(s) and I
don't want to spend more than $600 (which probably doesn't qualify as
"high-end" for regulars in this group). Of formats:
SACD - important to me
DVD-A - Nice to have
MP3 - Nice to have
WMA - No
CD-RW - Nice to have but not that important
HDCD - would like it but doesn't seem to coexist with SACD in any
reasonable player, if any player.
Won't use for video; Don't plan to connect to TV

Will use with Denon pre-amp, B&K power amp, Kef 105 speakers.

Why not consider the Pioneer DV563? A lot of people seem to like it. It
sells for $150 at Circuit City.

"Tom" wrote in message
...
"normanstrong" wrote in message
...
"Tom" wrote in message
news:nwO7c.61238$1p.1021212@attbi_s54...
Want to buy a decent universal disc player. I will not be using it
for
video.
Which of the two do people recommend? Or something else in the $500
range. Thanks much for comments.

It would be very helpful to the group if you would specifically list
what the player must play for it to meet your definition of
"universal." e.g. does it have to play CD-RW encoded with WMA music
files?

Norm Strong

I really just want a decent quality new CD player and want to get one
that supports the most likely to prevail audiophile format(s) and I
don't want to spend more than $600 (which probably doesn't qualify as
"high-end" for regulars in this group). Of formats:
SACD - important to me
DVD-A - Nice to have
MP3 - Nice to have
WMA - No
CD-RW - Nice to have but not that important
HDCD - would like it but doesn't seem to coexist with SACD in any
reasonable player, if any player.
Won't use for video; Don't plan to connect to TV

Will use with Denon pre-amp, B&K power amp, Kef 105 speakers.

Tom -

I have a Sony CS222ES (third generation changer) that might work for you.
They sell used for about $300-350 versus an initial $800, later $500 msrsp).
The CD on this is so close to the same unit (or my previous Marantz 63SE)
feeding a DTI Pro jitter-buster feeding a Proceed PDP (baby Levinson) that
most of the time I don't bother using the DTI/Proceed combo. It does a
wonderful job with SACDs, and short of the $3000 Sony's probably is equal or
better in sound quality than any of the other Sony SACD players.

For both CD's and DVD-A's I use a $130 Panasonic S55 which upsamples CD's
and sounds wonderful, as well as plays DVD-A's better than two other DVD-A
machines I've owned.

So for $500 you could have all three formats, upsampling, and a choice of cd
players.

Please accept this as my personal experience and a recommendation to
consider; I don't have any experience with the universal players, so can't
give you a direct comparison. Of those, the new Marantz 6400 may have the
best odds (since its bigger brother is highly regarded) but it is so new it
really hasn't been reviewed or experienced by many people as of yet. It has
a retail price of $600 and should sell at a slight discount off that price
(Marantz's are generally not highly discounted).

Harry

chung wrote:

Tom wrote:
"normanstrong" wrote in message ...
"Tom" wrote in message
news:nwO7c.61238$1p.1021212@attbi_s54...
Want to buy a decent universal disc player. I will not be using it
for
video.
Which of the two do people recommend? Or something else in the $500
range. Thanks much for comments.

It would be very helpful to the group if you would specifically list
what the player must play for it to meet your definition of
"universal." e.g. does it have to play CD-RW encoded with WMA music
files?

Norm Strong

I really just want a decent quality new CD player and want to get one
that supports the most likely to prevail audiophile format(s) and I
don't want to spend more than $600 (which probably doesn't qualify as
"high-end" for regulars in this group). Of formats:
SACD - important to me
DVD-A - Nice to have
MP3 - Nice to have
WMA - No
CD-RW - Nice to have but not that important
HDCD - would like it but doesn't seem to coexist with SACD in any
reasonable player, if any player.
Won't use for video; Don't plan to connect to TV

Will use with Denon pre-amp, B&K power amp, Kef 105 speakers.

Why not consider the Pioneer DV563? A lot of people seem to like it. It
sells for $150 at Circuit City.

For the best DVD choices, go he
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/cgi-b...h&articles=all

or if that link is broken then here http://tinyurl.com/7c3m