Blu-Ray Player that supports SACD & DVD-Audio that doesn't cost $500 (ie. Oppo)

I believe many (if not all) of the Sony players do SACD but don't do DVD-A (you can of course access the DVD-V compatible content of the disc). So you can play DVD-A discs but just hear the dolby digital or whatever compatible content they have. I have a Sony player I got at Costco last year in the office system for under $100 (I think they have a current coupon on a newer Sony model) that passes DSD to a Pioneer receiver and it sounds good for the money.

Pioneer Elite BDP-52 http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Home/Blu-ray-Disc-and-DVD/Elite-Blu-ray-Disc-Players/BDP-52FD MSRP $399

Pioneer Elite BDP-53 http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Home/Blu-ray-Disc-and-DVD/Elite-Blu-ray-Disc-Players/BDP-53FD MSRP $499

Yamaha BD-A1010 http://www.crutchfield.com/p_022BDA1010/Yamaha-BD-A1010.html?tp=171 MSRP $399

Denon has the 1611UD for about $435. http://www.amazon.com/Denon-DBP-1611UD-Universal-Blu-Ray-Player/dp/B003V8B0VG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325970996&sr=8-1

Integra has the DPS-6.9 but it's probably over $500. http://www.integrahometheater.com/model.cfm?m=DPS-6.9&class=DVD&p=i

OPPO had the BDP-80 for $299 but it was disconntnued with the BDP-83. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a used OPPO off Audiogon/Videogon from a good owner, but they tend to sell quickly. The two 83's on Vidiogon have been sold (about $325) and Audiogon's site is down for re-construction ( this worries me).

Many of the super-rediculously priced high-end models like Ayer and Lexicon are based on the OPPO's.

I use an Elite Bdp-05 and DV58av combo in one room ($350 total) and a BDP23/DV48av ($200) in the other, all bought used off Audiogon/ebay.

I completely forgot about the Marantz UD5005! It retails for $599 but ac4l has refurbs with a two year warranty for $399 with free shipping.

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/MARUD5005A/Marantz-UD5005-Internet-ready-universal-Blu-ray-player-3D-ready/1.html

They also have the Denon 1611UD for $299 + sh. http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/DENDBP1611UD/DENON-DBP-1611UD-Universal-Blu-Ray/DVD/CD-Player/1.html

The Integra is a DVD universal that is no longer made. No Blu-Ray. At last year's Capital Audiofest in July, I talked to the Integra rep who indicated at that time they had around 100 units in the warehouse left to close-out. Next to the Integra room was Everything Audio Network which is an online publication run by John Gatski (and does some neat reviews). John, like myself, uses an HDMI audio de-embedder which one uses to take SACD converted to PCM in a player such as an Oppo and converts it from HDMI to a digital output (e.g. coax) to use with a DAC. The Oppo players (and I have a modded on in the main system and a couple in the the secondary basement system at present - I swap stuff between the main, bedroom and basement systems) will output 24 bit 88.2kHz PCM from SACD and I actually prefer that in the main system thru my Bryston DAC (via the de-embedder) vs. the modded player's analog outs.

To make a long story short, I read the Integra manual which indicates it will do 176kHz PCM was SACD. I went to my local Integra deal (last August) and picked one up for the close-out price of $299. My DAC indicates sampling frequency but not bit depth. I finally managed to get over to John Gatski's (everythingaudio.net/) place since he has an ATI analog to digital converter/sample rate converter (model ADAC 2) which shows bit depth (I'd love to have one but they cost about $1.5k and it's a business expense to John). Like many other players John has tested in his thorough reviews, it truncates the bit depth to 16 bits when converting to PCM (as do the Sony players).

My other suggestion to the original post is to ask what is being used as a receiver. Some receivers will do DSD. The old Oppo DV980H I have in the basement (a DVD universal) does not sound great over the analog outs but via HDMI doing DSD to a receiver like a Marantz or Onkyo (I've used it with both that have DSD decoding) it sounds pretty good. It has not be made in years and listed for $170 and still sells for about the same amount. With a 4 digit code on the remote you can also turn it into a region free DVD player.

The list that Gene did was excellent. The Denon at $299 + shipping might be the best way to go at this point.

I listed the Integra DPS-6.9 because it's still listed on Integra's website as a current product. The little I know about it is that with sound quality it's every bit as good as the OPPO 83 but I doubt the video quality is since it seems to use a lessor video DAC. But video quality isn't my area of expertise so maybe it is. It's interesting that the Integra 50.3 BR player has multi-ch analog outputs but doesn't support DVD-A/SACD.

I guess it does depend on what receiver the OP has since the Pioneer Elite 52/53 don't have mc analog outputs. These seem to be disappearing from players and receivers.

I have to admit I'm quite happy with my Pioneer players and receivers for hi-res audio. The DV48av is kind of entry level but through hdmi (either DSD or PCM) it's more than adequate. But I'm always on the lookout for another DV58 to replace it if I can find one at a great price (I'm sorta cheap ).

My rooms are lsomewhat less than quiet and my speakers are nice but not that nice so I don't think I can really take advantage of a really good setup , but the best sounding hi-res system I've had so far is an OPPO 83se, Audiocontrol Rialto EQ and H/K AVR 7200, with mc analogs of course (and Swan Diva speakers). But a Pioneer Elite 59txi and DV59avi via iLink came in a very close second. I think iLink is an excellent way to transfer audio.

BTW, I'm listening to Carol King's Tapestry SACD (in DSD-Stereo) on the Elite vsx-23/DV48 as I write this .

Gene - have not tried the video or the analog outs on the Integra DPS 6.9. From the HDMI out for either DSD or conversion to PCM it is definitely about as good as the the BDP-83. The BDP-83 is a bit better on PCM since it does not truncate word length to 16 bits. I'm kind of holding back on what to do with hi-rez going forward. I do have a new PC and may digitize more stuff (I've been using older WMA lossless files from an old Zune player with a Squeezebox Touch into a DAC along with a few purchased hi-rez PCM downloads). Mytek (a company that mainly does studio equipment) has a new DSD DAC that is supposed to be good and it is not silly expensive (in audiophile terms - sometimes cheap is good:cool:) - I have an HDMI audio de-embedder with an Emotiva DAC in the secondary basement system. I just moved (swapped equipment with the bedroom system) the BDP-93 to the basement (maybe I'll do 3D) and have been using the Oppo DV980H with the de-embedder into the Emotiva DAC and it sounds good.

The 1611UD would be an excellent choice. Also look at the Denon 1712 for $269 with free shipping. http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/DENAVR1712/DENON-AVR-1712-7.1-A/V-Surround-Receiver/1.html#!more

Phil lost me a couple of times too!

:D:D Yes - I've been told that before. I was trying to help. Can't help being a crazy audiophile. It is incurable. Not immediately, but I am also looking at hi-rez sound and improvements. Mytek Digital not that long ago came out with a DSD ('Direct Stream Digital' - the underlying technology behind SACD) DAC and I'm also looking at other things converting SACD to hi-rez PCM. System really does sound good through now.

I wish I could explore "other things" but my walls are thin and my neighbors too close. A noisey environment and hi-res audio don't mix . But I'm very happy with what I've got. Maybe that comes from not exploring other possibilities too much. I am thinking of going backwards a bit though and connecting a turntable. I received a 180 gram Doors album for X-Mas!

I went the route of a single family home when my moved into my current location in 1997 and I have a very small lot (0.20 acres) and not a blade of grass (long driveway towards the back of a cul-de-sac with no front lawn - just landscaping in front and I landscaped the one big side). Lived with thin walls before and can't deal with it. I can play it as loud as I want at any hour and if you get about 8 feet from the front door you might hear a drop but not any neighbors. I do have common ground after the back down a big slope that does back up to a road so there is some noise but it is tolerable. Got rid of my turntable ages ago. Harder to take care of records and they take up more room. Although SACDs are not cheap. I'm about to buy this - http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=UIGY-9520

I gave you a bunch of options (too many probably) in the Speaker Forum. Have fun browsing .