Best sounding universal player (CD, DVD-A, SACD)


Hi all,
I choose the best universal player for CD, DVD-A, SACD. May be read SACD-R on DVD-R.
My list is:
Esoteric SA-60
Esoteric UX-1
Marantz UD9004
Accustic Arts SP1
Bladelius Freja
Ayre C-5xeMP
Meridian 800 DAX (only DVD-Audio)
Meridian 808.1 and 808.2 (CD, DVD-A)

Maybe someone compared? Another players?
knyazhm

Showing 4 responses by daveyf

I picked up a Esoteric DV60 recently...with the right connecting cable it is a real keeper. Plays DVD A,SACD and Redbook with tremendous musicality and transparency. 
@jafant  Great question. I have gone through a few cables with the DV60...it does seem to react well to cable changes. Right now, I am using the incredible Black Cat Coppertone ic. Will soon be going up line a little with the Black Cat Silverstar. The Coppertone easily bested cable from Audience, Synergistic and Cardas on this player. I totally love what the Coppertone does with the Esoteric...so much more controlled imaging placement and extension at both ends of the frequency spectrum. The air around instruments has to be heard to be believed! 
I also use a PS Audio power cord,I have not experimented much with that aspect, although the PS audio seems to work well.
jafant, I recently acquired one of the Black Cat Silverstar power cords. I placed it on my big Rowland amp...it was an incredible transformation!
Literally like getting a new more resolving and powerful amp! I am usually not one for hyperbole, but the Black Cat pc was a stunner. I was able to hear so much deeper into the sound stage and to hear minor details that had been lost in the mix before. This aspect is rare IME. So, since Chris’s new Silverstar pc is such a tremendous piece, i thought the ic would be nice potential upgrade. Not that the current Coppertone are bad at all! But you know how we a’philes are! IF the Silverstar ic can beat the already superb Coppertone, that would really be something, i shall report back.
BTW, it doesn’t really surprise me that the Wireworld PC sounded best in that group. Question is whether it could hold up to the Black Cat pc’s...something i very seriously doubt.
@chipdelacalada  I have now been listening to the new Silverstar ic between my Esoteric and the preamp. It is a superb cable with no faults that I can hear. Slightly more capable in the dynamics department and very slightly more able to portray bottom end definition than the still excellent Coppertone. I think the Silverstar might be preferred in some applications. Nonetheless, the Coppertone is still a tremendous cable and unbeatable IME at anything near its price range. 

@jafant  Thanks, I really highly recommend Chris's hand made Black Cat cables to anyone who is looking into new cables for their system.