Best Standard Def DVD Player under $8,000 used?

Connect the 809 with a Audioquest hdmi coffee or even better with the Audioquest Diamond and you will outperform many cd player till 5000 dollar. I did many blind test with clients with very expensive players. They all bought the 809 with coffee or Diamond. They sold there source. At the end they had superior sound and some had even even extra money to do other things. Reinvesting by selling old audio is what i do a lot these days. I compare sources, amps, cables with the source. cables or even amps what they own. I sell them new better stuff for good prices. And I help them to sell there old stuff for good prices. I do this Always for free, for all my clients. I write and place there advertisements. I do the eamils and send them to my clients. Many shops ask money for this overhere, I do not want to earn 2 times money on a client.

These days I use the Olive 06HD as a streamer which outperforms almost any highend cd layer with ease. And I use the Onkyo BD-SD809 for bluray. This player has a clocklink and is the only player till 1000 dollar which can give a deep and wide stage. Was better in timing than my 800. 800 had more weight but was not that good as the 809 in all the layers of the low freq. The 800 had a better musical sound. But the high freq was better with the 809 as well. By using the clocklink of the 809 the stage is deeper and wider than my old 800.

Which player(s) are you using Bo1972?

I would never spend money on a old DVD player anymore. I sold my Meridian 800 DAXV4 one year ago for 4000 euro. New price was 25000 dollar. I was Lucky to get this amount. Time and technique goes on. These days you get better quality for much better prices.

Tom -

I know this thread is a little older, what player did you buy?

You want to spend $8,000 on a used SD DVD player? Sorry I can't answer that seriously...

01-11-09: Tom92602

Ok.. Nice work all you $300 BluRay payer lovers..
If only you had highend systems to appreciate the
gear I am wanting to discuss.

BluRay is slow to load disks, Disks are expensive and
I have a 500+ standard Def DVD library.

The PS3 and Oppo BDP-83 (which is $500, thankyouverymuch) are very fast to load. If you're budgeting $8000 and spend only $500, that leaves $7500 to upgrade your DVD library to Blu-ray. You should be able to buy at least 300 Blu-rays, and more likely replace your entire library of 500.

If you want better redbook, rip your CDs (losslessly) to a laptop and get a Wavelength Cosecant USB DAC for a mere $3500. I dare you to find a CD player that will match that.

Any way you slice it, $8K for a std def DVD player, even if it will play dinner plates, is throwing good money after bad. Go whole hog on an Oppo BDP-83SE ($900) plus laptop (say $800) plus Wavelength Cosecant DAC ($3500), and you have better playback in every format for $5200. Use the other $2800 to upgrade your video library to Blu-ray.

spend $300 on a Samsung Bluray then take the other $77oo and buy new speakers

The Krell is below the last 3 Oppo DVD players image wise. Why settle for substandard video playback? Features? Balanced outputs? You are using the digital output anyway. aside from prestige, what? When you watch a DVD, do you stare at the Krell or the screen? Oppo with Anchor Bay processing has image so shockingly good I have to eject DVD's to show people that it is NOT a Blu Ray DVD. Every movie when someone new walks in, 'Hey, allright! Blu Ray!' We just laugh. Poweramps? Krell all day long. DVD players? Oppo and then everybody else afterward. Check the DVD shootout, even the pre- Anchor Bay units from Oppo matched Denon's flagship 5910. For only about $300. The Oppo is every video editor's reference for good reason my friend. Even giant Lexicon from the Harmon group, with all their might and tech wizardry is repackaging/rebadging the latest Oppo to sell as their own. They admit it. If all comparisons were as easy as the Oppo hi fi would be so much simpler.

Thanks Classicjazz, lots of interesting and good info there!!

I responded earlier and wanted to add. I have the Pioneer 09FD blu-ray and the Oppo BD-83, the former hooked up to a JVC RS20 projector and the latter to a Kuro 9th Gen. 720p 50" plasma. I also have an Esoteric UX1 and a Denon 5910 and owned what I regard as the finest DVD player ever made, the 18k Levinson No. 51. The Levinson was significantly superior to the Denon. The Pioneer with Bluray was superior to the Levinson, which is why I sold the Levinson. The Pioneer with DVD seemed also to be a bit better (more vivid) than the Levinson. I no longer use the BD or DVD player to decode the music as I now take the PCM feed into a DAC.

However, I did try the analog output; the Levinson was naturally the best of the lot and by far; you could also hook it up to an amp directly. In that scenario, it was very good, not as good as the Wadia 921/931 stack but clear, neutral and with excellent detail and soundstaging. Among the best CD players out there, too. There is one for sale here on this site for around 10k.

I have not had Krell gear since the FPB and K Audio Video Standard (got it for a pretty penny when it came out - ouch). If Krell gear remains true to its sonic hallmark, it likely has amazing bass, sharp attack and perhaps a bit closed in or opaque rather than starkly neutral.

Since the new Denon A1-UDCI is now shipping, it may be worthwhile to investigate this unit. It has balanced audio out and the same famous Realta HQV chipset for DVDs plus Blu-ray so ideally you could get the best of all worlds. Plus it comes in black.

I like the Oppo BD83 hooked up to my TV and receiver in the family room setup because the image quality is fine and it is FAST.

The meridian G 98 is good stuff. now with the G series comes dressed in silver with a dark glass top reminiscent of the 500 series. The G98 is an ultra-high-performance CD/DVD transport, complete with a powerful video processor and scaler capable of displaying broadcast quality video at a retail price of $5,995 to $6,495

You're right, Tom. I'll give you $300 for the Denon.

I'm still LMAO!!!!!

There sure are a lot of ignorant and rude people on this
message board. People like Skippybo and others whom
insulted me without having the experience are just plain
wrong, ignorant, and a bunch of jerks! Yes Skippybo you
are both wrong and a complete idiot!

I just bought the Denon 3800-BDCI Bluray player to try
against my Krell DVD player. This is Denon's $2000
Bluray and is currently available at a discontinued price of $580.

The Krell had far better DVD playback PQ than the Denon
3800-BDCI when playing the same DVD. This was on my
Pioneer 50" Kuro Plasma. The Krell DVD also blew the
Denon 3800-BDCI out-of-the-water when testing both for
playing Redbook CDs.

So the truth is $300 BluRays (or even $2,000 Denon BluRays)
do not match SOME very highend DVD players when it comes
to DVD+Redbook playback. All these idiots made false
claims without doing the trials themselves.

I wish the moderators would ban the rude people who mock
other posters. Especially when these same "mockers"
clearly don't have any idea of what they are talking
about. I can't think of anything more stupid than people
mocking people when they are themselves incorrect in their
statements.

When it comes to the best "DVD and Redbook" playback, just
buying $300 BluRay will not give you the best playback in
these 2 formats..

You obviouslyhavent heard the new uncpmpressed audio of Blu-R
ray or you wouldn't feel that way

kennyt...............I said the audio section of any $300 blu ray player will not touch the audio section of a Meridian G98!!! Who cares about video!! I realize he asked about video so........

When it comes to video, sure, HD, blu-ray! But I have to tell you, I have compared blu ray against my Meridian and the difference was not night and day! I can handle a few less lines of resolution for the amazing improvement the audio section of a G98 gives over any $300 blu ray. AUDIOgon!

Best video quality.. I would say that the $499 Oppo BDP-83 is up there amongst the best. Denon A1BDCI would also end up there. Yes, those are BluRay players, but both perform admirably with DVD's as well.

For that kind of money, I would consider getting a HD-SDI modified player and a DVDO VP50Pro. It will be about half what you want to spend, but the picture quality will be outstanding!

Bullot,

Keep living the dream.....

I may be the only person who actually DID answer the original posters question, having owned every player he queried on except the Krell, and never even received any feedback from him!

You are sorely mistaken in your belief about ANY SD DVD player. Yes, the G98 is a great CD player, but scaled 480i and AC3/DTS don't come close to making up for the native 1080p video and uncompressed codecs of Blu-ray!

Wow, lots of jerks on here responding insultingly to the good man question. This forum is "audio"gon, and there is no Blu-Ray out there that can match the audio section of a Meridian G98. Get one of these used on here Tom for around $1200 to $1500, and you will have picture rivaling Blu-Ray, and audio that kills it!

LMAO!!!!!

...
Musicman, I'm just going to ignore your ridiculous lowball offer for my 8-track player.
.

Krelldog, you're in luck my brother has a 1996 Caravan I'm sure he'd let it go for $75k. ;)

BTW if anyone has a top of the line 8-track they'd be willing to let me pry from their hands let me know. There's $20k in it for you.

What a ridiculous thread...

Anyone know where I can get a used mini van for around 75K?

No Johnnyb53, Tom and the other hi-end DVD/CD player Devotees are right! I've come to my senses. Dunno what I was thinking.
Yep, they're correct. I've missed it. The players you've mentioned Johnnyb53 are all superior. We've just been deluding ourselves, really - just to save money. Let's be honest here.
Tom? Others? Please do all us delusional budget shoppers the supreme favor of buying up all those old hi-end pieces we shun so much, so we don't have to sort through them on the list of "last two days" of listed classified items on audiogon!
I just hate sorting through all that extraneous product I have no need for, really...

01-11-09: Tom92602
To all: If you have no experience with these 4 players
do us both a favor and post elsewhere. If you have a/b'd
these I'd love to hear of your experiences.

We're not alone in our assessments. Check out www.ultimateavmag.com for their rankings of video disc players.

Their Ultimate Choice category is entirely populated by HD disc players, from $1500 Pioneer Blu-ray all the way down to an entry-level Toshiba HD DVD player.

The next level down, "Premier Choice," is populated by expensive battleship-build-quality boutique std-def DVD players ranging from a thousand to $11K:

Ayre DX-7e $5,999
Lexicon RT-20 $4,495
Linn Unidisk $11k
Marantz DV-9600 $2,099
Meridian G98DH $6,000
Pioneer Elite DV-79AVi $999
Simaudio Moon Orbiter $6,500
Sony DVP-NS9100ES $1,300

Most of us have moved on and consider the purchase of high zoot std-def DVD players as throwing good money after bad. Read the reviews for the better Blu-ray playes, such as the $2K Marantz.

Most of the better Blu-ray players do great upconversion of std def DVD, so they'll take good care of your 500 std-def DVD collection. If your TV doesn't accept HDMI, you'd get better picture for the money by getting a modern 1080p display and feeding it a 1080p upconverted or native mode Blu-ray signal--even if it's from a (gasp!) $500 player.

Your assessment of the Oppo DV 983H based on component video output is missing the point. Even my 720p display looks significantly better when it's fed an upsampled signal via HDMI. I have compared component vs. upconverted HDMI video from four different DVD players in my house and the HDMI trumps component every time.

Not that long ago, state of the art home theater was anchored by a 480p Pioneer Laserdisc with AP3 1st-gen Dolby Digital 5.1 with the video signal fed to an outboard $20,000 Faroudja video processor. These were superseded by the disc players of which you speak--high end std-def DVD players with the Faroudja circuit built in. These have since been superseded by the Blu-ray players of which *we* speak.

Quit shooting the messenger.

Any upsampling of standard 16/44 is equivalent of upscaling 480p dvd's to 1080p...not the same.
But that's OK! You all keep thinking that old cd and dvd is capable of transending higher rez and better digital. Again, after all, someone's gotta buy up all that old gear. Might as well be ya'll...
Seriously, if I didn't need to consider better audio/video through SACD, DVDA, HD-DVD and Blue Ray's, I wouldn't! I'd be using upsampling players and high quality CD players and transports instead

"However in terms of resolution, body, detail, etc, it's no contest. The SACD stomps the standard 16bit/44khz CD playback in the dust,for the most." Skippybo.

Me thinks you have not heard what GNSC is capable of with Wadia product in redbook.

One word, Seditious3- Delusion!
It's the equivelant of thinking your Krell reference CD player sounds better than a cheap SACD player/disc, basically. Sure you're Krell might do things like dynamic contrast, noise floor, etc, better. However in terms of resolution, body, detail, etc, it's no contest. The SACD stomps the standard 16bit/44khz CD playback in the dust,for the most.
Digital processing has improved much over the years for sure. I used to own a $700 DVD player from 1998 that was reviewed as "Better than Levinson separates" from Absolute Sound, and that was indeed the case overall! Old Digital, no matter how well executed, was never perfect.
Yeah I would be simply using one of these old CD players or expensive DVD's if that's all that was needed to get the job done, but it doesn't. Those old formats leave too much on the table compared to newer, more improved technology.

"I personally think in most cases my KRELL standard def player will look better than $300 bluray. Everytime I see one at the store I think to myself that my Krell looks
better."

Tom, that's the first clue that you're wasting your money. You compare what you have to what's in the store? I don't care how high-end the shop(pe) is, you can't tell until you get it home and tweak it for your system.

Do this: buy one of the less expensive blu-ray machines and use it exclusively in your system for a little while. Tweak the set-up properly. Watch both DVD and Blu-ray.

Then go back to the Krell and be happy.

Theater Research speakers . . . do they handle 500 watts per channel, have 8 drivers, and the best vinyl cladding this side of a Payless shoe? I bet their greater than my Martin Logans. About the cable, sorry, I only buy cable from Best Buy.

lol, I got some cable from a nice guy in a white van for sale......they say they go great with Theater Research speakers!

Dude! Hush up, I'm trying to hustle up some change to buy new stands and cables.

COLBY.....its a really budget company.

I recently swapped a Classe DVT-300 transport out of my system (off for some repair work), and in it's place, bought a Sony BDP S5000ES BluRay machine (thought I'd try out the format). What a disappointment! The Classe blows the Sony out of the water. Its upsampling to 1080p is easily as good as the BluRay player. And the picture is more sharp, more vibrant. The Classe is beautifully built, the Sony looks like it came from Best Buy. The audio is no slouch, either - coax out to EMM Labs DAC2. There's nothing wrong with DVD playback on a good machine.

Oh, I forgot about the standard def dvd player I bought from a guy right out of his white truck parked with the motor running in a Big Lots parking lot. There's no name on the unit, as the original was partially scraped off. However, I can make out the letters C*lby. Whatever brand that is. I will take a loss at $3999, but that's your gain. Have a Nice Day!

Tom, Danmyers is taking advantage of your naivety. I own Denons 3930ci and 5900. I will sell you both for $5000. They are the perfect complement to each other -- the 3930ci which basically is the same as the 5910ci, has problems outputting video, but the sacd and dvd audio sound is luscious, and the 5900 has a sdi output and the picture is to die for, but has problems outputting sacd and dvd audio. Please use paypal and I won't charge the 3% tariff.

Otherwise, I have several non-Circuit City dvd players that I can mark up to $7500 and they are used. Such a deal!

Hey playingnude, Chadnliz was stabbing at sarcasm.

"Remember when everyone went from LPs to CD, tubes to SS, mono to stereo to multi-channel. Now they are all back to the tried and true technologies/topologies."

Yeah, that's not exactly the same situation here. Analogy is bad here, I think. You're talking apples n oranges. The progression from Analog movie sources - namely Beta/VHS (ok, Beta stomped VHS) and Laser to DVD, then from DVD to HD/Blue-ray has been nothing but a progressive improvement in every area, video-wise. It's also been a steady improvement, for the most, in the video sound quality as well.
Your point is better made with a down swing in sound quality from old analog source to poorly processed digital for some time, until the advent of SACD. Now, we're back to MP3's and poor sound from the masses, on the ipod front.
I don't think you can say anything accept we've been making better and better video strides since the beginning.
That's all I'm tryin to say...

Tom if you buy from Dan I have this bridge you may want to look at!

Tom, my apologies. You are right and the Denon 5910CI is an awesome universal DVD player. I own it and it's is simply the best there is. Absolutely incredible in my HT. Blu-Ray Shmu-Ray - it's slow and the discs are not cheap. Remember when everyone went from LPs to CD, tubes to SS, mono to stereo to multi-channel. Now they are all back to the tried and true technologies/topologies.

So yeah, like I said earlier. I will sell you my used Denon 5910CI for only $7000 - a $1000 savings for you! It is black and will be in the original box. I will throw in a good cable with it at no extra charge, too.

Don't listen to these guys, they are all leaping without looking where they will land. They will be sorry in 20 or 30 years. DVD we know and love: it works and works great with the right system and my Denon is the best, really, THE BEST.

Please PM me ASAP and let's get this deal wrapped up. When were done, come on over to my place and we'll watch home movies on my Super8 setup. If only DVDs could look this good!

Best,

Dan

Tom, they aren't trying to bash you but save you big cash! Just because it's more doesn't make it better. I have two rolex watches and a Patek any my digital casio keeps better time when left without wearing. Bluray not only is BETTER in sound and video but is the future. You aren't the only guy with high end audio gear and a big dvd collection. Why continue on a dead end path when you could start buying the future and improve as better machines become available. BTW, complaining that BR disks are expensive while asking about an $8000 USED SDVD player is nearly the worst comment ever on the forums. MHO of course.

Yes, we are all avoiding your question Tom. We are simply stunned by your purchasing proposition. You'll have to forgive us. But it's no fun to delve into your question. We'd rather ridicule and chastise your for your viewpoints - lol.
Yep, as Skippy said, we are all contemplating the merits of $300 Blue Ray players now-a-days!
Actually I didn't even know you could still pay more than $300 for a standard DVD player at this point! Maybe $8k is a typo from Tom...he probably meant $8. Yes I'm sure it was a typo

If you are really looking for absolute highest quality audio & video, then I would buy a Pioneer Elite Blu-ray player model BDP-09FD est. $1,900.00 (or less) and ship it to Reference Audio Mods for overhaul..I did this with my Denon DVD-5910CI and it came back with both "killer" audio and video. I had RAM perform the audio mods on the front 3 channels (L/C/R) of my Denon in lieu of only L & R. Audiophile quality at very reasonable prices...

with your budget you could also add a new Faroudja DVP-1080 video processor (or equivalent..see High-End Palace website)...This world class processor upscales up to 1080p reference progressive format though DVI/HDMI with HDCP and analog component though five high quality BNC connectors with Horizontal and Vertical alignment. The DVP-1080 converts DVD's, HD programming, HD DVD's and Blu-Ray to reference caliber progressive format.

The Faroudja DVP-1080 HD provides a realism, vividness, contrast, brightness, sharpness and detail, improves color saturation and overall picture quality by 15 to 25%. It also provides accurate pixel count to all high-end projectors, plasmas and LCD displays, All DVD's, HD programming, HD DVD's and Blu-Ray Disc benefits drastically from a DVP-1080. This high-end processor is what we call a world class processor, an out of this world improvement for all high-end DLP's, LCOS's, SXRD's, D-ILA's, CRT projectors, Plasmas and LCD displays, the processor for perfectionist. Get a true film like experience in your theater today.

I am now looking for a fair deal on a Pioneer Elite Blu-ray player model BDP-09FD....the best (both audio & video) Blu-ray unit to date..bar none...NEXT purchase after that will be above video processor or equivalent....

.
...a note to Kennyt........I agree with you on the XA2... I owned the Panasonic XA2 player. The first time I fired it up on a standard def disc, my jaw dropped...just a gorgeous picture. The Reon chip in there is really something special when it comes to upconverting stadard def discs. When the supposedly more advance Realta chip came out, I had to see what the fuss was all about. So I purchased the Marantz BD 8002 Blu Ray player. The standard def upconversion is even better than the XA2, and of course the Blu Ray picture is stunning. So, for about $250., you can get a killer standard def picture by finding a used Panasonic XA2 player.

I paid $2k for the Marantz.....but $8k seems outlandish for a standard def unit when the two aforementioned units are readily available.
.

-11-09: Tom92602

Ok.. Nice work all you $300 BluRay payer lovers..
If only you had high end systems to appreciate the
gear I am wanting to discuss.

Tom,

I do believe that you are confusing what high end is all about. High end is most certainly NOT about high cost,but it is about high performance.

But truth be told bro,I'll take my so called low end ps3 and enjoy true high end picture and sound quality. Quite frankly dvd sucks compared with high end blu-ray.

Tom,

While I have had long term experience with three of these players as I posted in my initial post, I totally agree with what everyone is saying, buy a Sony BDP-S350, they street for sub $200, and it is a profile 2.0 capable player that functions so quickly you won't notice any slow load times.

Buy the high end players for audio performance, as I said, I still have two on your list in my systems, but don't fool yourself that your getting better than Blu-ray, and BTW for a dollar a month Netflix will mail you any Blu-ray you want, or by shopping around you can easily buy them for sub $20.

I can see owning the players you listed, and as I said, I do, I also have several Blu-ray players, and I DO NOT use my DV-50s or Denon 5910CI for SD DVD's anymore. I use a Sony Blu-ray player in the bedroom for this (and the Denon 5910 for audio there) and I use one of the three b;lu-ray players in my main rig or the Toshiba HD XA2 as they are amazing scalers! The XA2 outperforms the Meridian G98 and Denon 5910 in video, I never had it to directly AB to the Linn, but I suspect it would beat it as well.

So, my point is that all the people you feel are attacking you for not just answering your question are actually helping you by steering you to a new and far superior technology. I will go one step further to say if you do not own a blu-ray player now and you spend that much on a SD DVD player YOU are the fool!

Tom, no need to quit acting like a lady lol!
I never ridiculed you, unless you are counting that lady comment.............smile, this is supposed to be fun!

If it means anything I didnt think too much of the Krell, its not really what that company is about anyway...the Esoteric DV-60 was better, even the Lexicon RT10 was but you have a need for black.

To all: If you have no experience with these 4 players
do us both a favor and post elsewhere. If you have a/b'd
these I'd love to hear of your experiences.

Danmyers you don't get it do you?

I asked about 4 very specific players and you (as
well as many others who ridicule me) have nothing
useful to say about these 4 players. You guys just
can't read can you? If you have no experience with
these 4 players than you have no business changing
the discussion topic to something else.

How much clearer could I be about the discussion topic?

Either you can't read or your just being a jerk.
Maybe even both... Yes I think both..