[Phil A]

All of audio isn't what it was in the old days - e.g. - https://www.theverge.com/2017/3/1/14775392/polk-audio-denon-marantz-sound-united-acquisition     Most of the drives for CD players are made by a few companies.  Many people buy things today based on a reputation of a company and in many cases that company isn't what it used to be many years back.  Esoteric makes their own transport mechanism (e.g.  " VRDS-ATLAS"   https://www.esoteric.jp/en/product/k-01xd/top) and the players are of course really expensive.  The Pansonic 9000 I mentioned earlier is really well built but doesn't play SACD or DVD-As like the Oppo players.  It will play up to quad DSD files and is quite decent as a CD player.  I don't play discs other than video ones (unless someone brings one over and wants to hear one).  Here's Paul McGowan's (of PS Audio) take on SACD players and file playback (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yE8R8nVNlZU).  The video is also down the page here - https://musicgadgets.net/best-sacd-player/  and below that are instructions using an Oppo 105D to rip an SACD.  There's also info here - https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/topic/28569-sacd-ripping-using-an-oppo-or-pioneer-yes-its-true/

[TABARD]

Hi Guy's Thanks for your responses. I have just pulled the pin on a local auction site for a Pioneer DV-S969AVi DVD/SACD/CD Player. made maybe 15 years or so, but then here anyway was quite pricey at around $4,000. Have learnt a bit from this as I now know I can download my SACD from the HDMI (my old Arcam did not have HDMI) through a  HMDI Audio De-Embedder Extractor. So I will do that, I also (when I find the time may fit a new laser unit & drive belt to the Arcam as they are still available.

All I've got to do is get it into the house without the wife seeing it.

Cheers & happy New Year

[Phil A]

Happy new year to you as well.  If you have not seen this thread, it may have things of interest to you - https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=82217.0

[TABARD]

Hi Thanks for I will work my way through it.

Cheers & Happy New Year to everyone

[Elizabeth]

One odd thing few check are capacitors. The laser does not track so they think the laser is bad. Many times the problem has zero t do with the laser failing it is some stupid little capacitor in the circuit.  If you have anyone who can check caps in your current player you might find it is just  little capacitor causing the problems.

[Carlman]

I have been on a mission to move back to listening to physical CD's.  Also, I'm moving to DVD spinning.
I thought I found the perfect solution with a Yamaha BD-S681... I bought it from accessories4less as a Yamaha-refurbished unit.
Hooked it up and it looked and sounded great the first night of use.  Played a couple or few DVD's.
Next morning I wanted to see how it sounded on CD's.. but it wouldn't power up.  Seems this is a 1-use only DVD player.    So, now I wait for the RMA process to unfold...

1 thing it has is SACD capability... it does everything from what I can tell.. It reduces the speed of the CD for CD playback too... just lots of neat little features in an easy-to-use package that matches my receiver (sort of).  I was hoping it'd last 5-10 years until my itch to spin discs finally dries up completely.  And it is just an itch... I play 99.99% of my music from a hard drive.  I'm not nuts about Plex so DVD's are my main interest.  I foresee streaming as a way to re-write history so I want to keep physical discs... I just wish I could find a serviceable DVD player for the long haul.  To that point, I really appreciate Phil's perspective in this thread WRT his physical media journey.  Depending on what A4L does with my RMA will determine next steps.  For now I'm realistic that this may be a fools errand I've given myself....