Best CD sound from a DVD player

Maybe we all should be looking at the Marantz DV8300 which is the latest "one box wonder". I know... its ugly but look anyway!!! This thing plays SACD, SACD MultiChannel, CD, DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, MP3, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW and video CD. Damn!

With its component video/progressive scan and 12-bit video DAC, I presume its at least at par with the Sony DV-9000ES for video.

How's the audio???? I doubt much of the Marantz SA-1 technology flowed into this box - maybe the SA14?.. Also, its Marantz's first attempt at a DVD-A machine - so that is questionable - but at least you've got it.

This is certainly one machine which could benefit from modifications. Maybe if enough of us started knocking on Dan Wright's door - he'd round up Jena Crock and build a upgraded tube analog output, power supply, and parts upgrade for under 2K - which is about what it costs to do full upgrades to a XA777ES.

By the way.... anyone here ever listen to one of these things?

Thedautch - ya.. I think the DV8300 uses the CS4392 DAC vs. the CS4397 (SA-1). However, I do not know what DAC Marantz uses in the SA14 - it might be the CS4392.

The 8300 is definately a tier two product in the Marantz linup but then again, people have had good results modifying Sony's lower end SACD players and DVP9000ES units.

In this regard, Sony SCD-1, 777ES, and XA777ES absolutely kill the 9000ES but we don't read about many 9000ES owners complaining.

So - maybe the DV8300 is a good candidate for mod. While its SACD / CD performance might not be up to the level of the top tier SACD units, it has capabilities that these players can only dream about.