Best Sensibly Priced DVD/CD Player with VMPS Speaker???

gobears · « **on:** 14 May 2005, 06:27 am »

I'm trying to keep my HT space efficient by trying to "hopefully" have one DVD/CD unit for the main system (I don't care about DVDA or SACD).

Since VMPS are highly resolving, can any of you recommend a great DVD/CD player (under $2k) that justifies[/u] being in the same room with the VMPS?.....or are all existing units so grating that you'd recommend me to go for separates....and if so, which ones?........

Could a Pioneer 588 or 59AVI and their similar ilk do the job or am I losing some shine by putting it up with the VMPS?,.......

BTW, I'm not worried about DVD playback/connectivity issue as much as getting a bang-up sound with CDs and movies that make the VMPS shine without going over the top silly spending.....

meilankev · « **Reply #1 on:** 14 May 2005, 10:53 am »

gobears,

First of all, welcome to our site!!!

I'm going to resist giving an opinion on digital sources. I put together my current system 3 1/2 years ago, and over the first 18 months, I would say I spent 80-85% of my time listening to vinyl. Over the last 2 years, I would guess that figure is up to 95% of my time.

I own a CD player and a DVD player (with DVD-Audio capability). I have also tried 4 other CD players (including an SACD capable deck) over the last 2 years. I have also tried the Scott Nixon tubed DAC and the Benchmark DAC-1 in my system.

Despite these efforts, and the fact I have a decent CD collection, I very seldom pick up a CD (or DVD-Audio disc) to listen to. I'm certain many others on this site can assist you better than I can.

Good luck in your search!!!

Kevin

BobMajor · « **Reply #2 on:** 14 May 2005, 11:02 am »

I think the best way to go is to get a stock unit modified to audiophile standards. Check the posts on either the Modwright or Bolder Cable forums here on AudioCircle. Dan Wright and Wayne Wannanan both have great taste in audio and do great work at very reasonable prices.

jimmyp58 · « **Reply #3 on:** 14 May 2005, 12:43 pm »

Though you aren't interested in DVD-A or SACD, I have an Onkyo DV-SP1000 in my system and it does a superb job with my VMPS' for all formats actually.

ted_b · « **Reply #4 on:** 14 May 2005, 12:51 pm »

Well, modding a stock player is one idea (I have the Modwright 999ES Platinum SACD/CD/DVD and it is almost perfect in all ways!!). However, your comments about budget are a litttle vague (oops, see edit). And why no interest in hi-rez if you are interested in DVD players with great cd resolution? Nothing approaches vinyl like a good tubed-output hi-rez (SACD, DVD-A) disc. Plus, if the DVD player is built for good audio, it'll probably have some hi-rez format on it.

With all that in mind, either get a Denon 3910 ($800-900, great audio and video, universal player) and then have Dan Wright mod it down the road. His 3910 modded deck is State-of-the-art. Or, get a Cambridge Azur 540D (considered the best mid-priced redbook audio DVD player). Audio Advisor has it for $379, and it has DVD-Audio to boot. Audio a step below the 3910, according to some, but way above the Best Buy decks.

Edit: Oops, sorry, didn't see the "under $2k" reference. See if you can get a tubed output Modwright on Audiogon for $1900-ish. Then you're golden. Otherwise, with no hi-rez needs, buy two units, a DVD player for $300 and a good redbook cd player for the other $1500+. As far as the recommendations above, I still stand by them for budgets under $1000. Also, if you want one box and don't find a Modwright, a Denon 5900 is considered their audio king and can be gotten for $1600-ish. It's not on Dan's modding list though.

Ted

ScottMayo · « **Reply #5 on:** 17 May 2005, 07:27 pm »

I love the Modwright'd Denon 2900. I didn't have all channels redone, just the ones that drive the good stuff. It's a universal player, so SACD, DVD, DVD-A etc. is covered.

But any competent SACD source will deliver the goods. Yes, some digital sources are better than others; since I got the Denon, I've been unwilling to listen to my old CD player - the Denon's noticably more detailed even on redbook CD, and there's no just comparison between SACD and CD formats. (I think of all the good music that's never going to hit SACD, and I wince). But I haven't heard much bad about any SACD-capable player.

bubba966 · « **Reply #6 on:** 17 May 2005, 08:11 pm »

A Pioneer DV-AX10 can be found used for around $1,500 (new price was $6,000). It beats the pants off the DV-59AVi in DVD & CD sound. And I preferred the video of the AX10 to the 59AVi as well.

I've ran the AX10 against a Proceed PMDT (another $6K DVD/CD player). The Pioneer edged it out in both audio & video. Not by much mind you, but it was still slightly better than the Proceed.

I think you'd be hard pressed to find a player for the same $ that'd outdo the AX10. And I'm guessing that the build quality of the AX10 has something to do with it. It's insanely well shielded with much isolation between components inside. Which is why it weighs in at 54 pounds!

ctviggen · « **Reply #7 on:** 17 May 2005, 08:32 pm »

The Proceed PMDT can be had for about $1,500 (which is what I paid for mine). Another nice thing is that you can get a processing card for it that will take a 480i source and output 480p. I also bought this card, and it makes good 480i look like very good 480p (though not on the standard of a 480p signal produced by using DVD). And, if you have a Proceed AVP, they operate together. In other words, when I dim the AVP, the PMDT also dims. When I hit "play" on the PMDT, the AVP switches to the PMDT input.

Mad DOg · « **Reply #8 on:** 17 May 2005, 08:41 pm »

i'd recommend picking up a used McCormack UDP-1 on A-gon...awesome sound quality. and i've had the following in my system: MW LII P-Tech DAC, Benchmark DAC-1, Pioneer Elite DV-47A, MW modded Pioneer Elite DV-47Ai, Dodson DA-217MkII, Dodson DAC-263, Dodson DA-218, Pioneer DV-AX10, Empirical Audio modded P-Tech P-3/A, Onix CD-1, Esoteric DV-50...

Only with the Dodson DA-218 did I clearly prefer it over the UDP-1 on redbook and DVD-A. I preferred the Esoteric DV-50 on SACD by a slight margin. The EA modded P-Tech DAC was very close on redbook. I preferred the UDP-1 over everything else in varying degrees.

lkosova · « **Reply #9 on:** 18 May 2005, 12:01 am »

GOBEARS,

Does this mean you are from Chicago like I am???

I use and resell the Cary dvd/cd player 6. This is a wonderful player for both mediums and really brings out the midrange ....like VMPS needs it. Vocals are silky smooth and attack is perfect. It is not as good as the Cary 300/303 or the Cary 308_T(tube) but does very well and lists at $2,000. but who the hell sells at list??? Reviews have been very good and some say it compares to players in the $5,000 range.

Anyway the video portion has wonderful colors and makes my Infocus 7200 make a better picture on my Screen Research screen.

I have sold lots of these players to audio and videophiles and everyone is very happy with them.

These players need a good break-in of about 100 hours then they really open up.

Larry
AudioandImage.com

Ears · « **Reply #10 on:** 18 May 2005, 01:59 am »

I have to second the Onkyo sp 1000 as it replaced my Modwright signature with all options in its stock form, and also offers the best video of any player other than the Denon 5910.... which falls short on audio to the sp 1000 and is just very slightly better at video.

This thing has the smoothest transport and a tank like build to boot.

lkosova · « **Reply #11 on:** 18 May 2005, 02:14 am »

Ears,

"and also offers the best video of any player other than the Denon 5910".

Err...you have seen every dvd player on the market????? Or is this just an opinon by reading reviews.

Larry

John Casler · « **Reply #12 on:** 20 May 2005, 08:48 pm »

Quote from: gobears

I'm trying to keep my HT space efficient by trying to "hopefully" have one DVD/CD unit for the main system (I don't care about DVDA or SACD).

Since VMPS are highly resolving, can any of you recommend a great DVD/CD player (under $2k) that justifies[/u] being in the same room with the VMPS?.....or are all existing units so grating that you'd recommend me to go for separates....and if so, which ones?........

Could a Pioneer 588 or 59AVI and their similar ilk do the job or am I lo ...

Along the same tac as LKosova, some love to put "tubes" in the front end of their VMPS systems.

Tube CDP and PreAmps.

To that end, you might also find the Jolida JD-100 to your liking. It is priced well (less than $1000) and has been reviewed favorably. It was on my short list.

gobears · « **Reply #13 on:** 21 May 2005, 09:38 am »

Quote from: John Casler

Along the same tac as LKosova, some love to put "tubes" in the front end of their VMPS systems.

Tube CDP and PreAmps.

To that end, you might also find the Jolida JD-100 to your liking. It is priced well (less than $1000) and has been reviewed favorably. It was on my short list.

How would a tube CDP along the likes of the EE Minimax compare to the Jolida JD-100?........

John Casler · « **Reply #14 on:** 21 May 2005, 11:35 pm »

Quote from: gobears

Quote from: John Casler
Along the same tac as LKosova, some love to put "tubes" in the front end of their VMPS systems.

Tube CDP and PreAmps.

To that end, you might also find the Jolida JD-100 to your liking. It is priced well (less than $1000) and has been reviewed favorably. It was on my short list.

How would a tube CDP along the likes of the EE Minimax compare to the Jolida JD-100?........

Quite favorably.

I had the MiniMax in my VMPS system too, as well as the Bada HD22 (which I just sold)

I ended up prefering the BADA HD22 just slightly over the MM, due to a very nice metalic richness, without splashiness (but that could simply have been tube selection)

I now use the ONIX CD1 (as a transport) which is also "very" good and many describe it as "tubelike".

I have only had the JD100 in my system for a day (as a warm up for a client I had picked it up for) and it was at least as good as the BADA if not better. And that was "without" rolling any tubes at all.