Quality SD DVD player recommendations.

[LeeC]

Hi all,
I hope you're not all getting tired of the "which DVD player would you recommend?" type threads, cos this is another one.

I currently have a Sony DVP-NS700V running into a Sony STR-DB940 AV receiver, and connected to an LG42LY95 TV. Both the DVD player and the receiver are showing their age, heck, the DVD player doesn't even have component or progressive output but it does support SACD.

So... my needs are simple... Good quality, multiregion, SD DVD player, HDMI or component output, high quality CD playback (definitely important) with SACD compatibility. That's it... no DiVX or MP3 or USB or picture shows or anything like that needed. I buy original disks, I don't play files.

My stumbling block might be the price, I originally paid £150 for my NS700V when it was £250 off so I want that kind of quality level/price if possible... i.e. £200 or less

I don't want to go HD, I've already got a PS3 collecting dust, don't want anything else that expensive to do the same thing. If anything, there's a benchmark, it has to be significantly better than the PS3, which to be honest, shoudn't be that hard. My NS700V already is but it doesn't have the required connections.

Thanks all

[OneDesi]

Moorgate acousitcs were selling some Arcam DV78's new for £300 - a bit over budget (I would've recommended the DV79).

My only other experience was a Harman Kardon Dv22 and Dv47 - both great players with good looks to boot (DV22 now discontinued but I recall Sevenoaks in wolverhampton had some new for c.£100). DV22 had component whereas DV47 does HDMI and upscaling etc.

I recommend the above stores as I've bought kit from both and liek 'em - no personal connection etc. etc.

[LeeC]

Cool, thanks for that... I'll go check some prices.

Hmmm, just noticed the DV47 does 720p & 1080i, no 1080p though...

[gblades]

I am very happy with my Denon DV1940 which was £170 from richer sounds.

[jolly]

Try looking in the classifieds on this forum; an older flagship player should fit the bill

Ie:-tosh 900

Steve

[Bob Roberts]

Originally Posted by LeeC

................
So... my needs are simple... Good quality, multiregion, SD DVD player, HDMI or component output, high quality CD playback (definitely important) with SACD compatibility. That's it... no DiVX or MP3 or USB or picture shows or anything like that needed. I buy original disks, I don't play files.

.............

Have you considered a Marantz DV6001, it might be slightly over your budget but it’s audio performance is more than worth it.

[Ron240]

Originally Posted by LeeC

high quality CD playback (definitely important)

Taking you at your word here...it is this point that will very much narrow down your options,and also make it highly unlikely to find within(for a new player)your budget.

[LeeC]

Thanks for the responses everyone...

I decided to take a slightly different option in the end. Part of my plan was to upgrade my AV Receiver too and after looking at the price of DVD players with decent audio playback quality, I decided to keep my Sony as my audio playback unit (for now) and opted for a cheaper option of the Pioneer DV600 for playing back SD DVD's.

The additional £400 for the Onkyo 605 is going to hit the budget but I think it is a wise choice given the age of my current receiver. Once my bank recovers from that, I will take a more serious look at the DVD player... although I suspect that some replacement speakers are probably on the cards too It was my wife who suggested some of these upgrades though and I'm not going to argue

Whilst probably not the ideal solution in the end, it means I get a decent SD player with the right connections and I retain the decent audio playback of the NS700V for the immediate future at least. The NS700V does have a circuitry bypass mode for playing audio CD's which is a pretty useful feature.

So again, thanks for the input, it did actually help and I hope you don't feel that I wasted any of your time after taking a different upgrade route.