philips sacd 1000 as a redbook player

After 96 hours of burn in my Tweeters $399 special is really performing well. The SCAD CDs are very nice to listen to. Very dark background but I like that. Seems fine on the high and low end although I run a sub with my 2 channel tube set up (run a parellel feed directly out of the 4 ohm taps into the high inputs of the sub and match the bottom end of my speakers to the top end of the sub as best as possible frequency and level wise)so low end weakness would not be a factor for me as it may be for others. As far as redbook CD player, I am pleasently suprised. I run a Ah! Tjoeb with upsampler and Amperex tubes and love that player. The Phillips is VERY close in resolution soundtage and dynamics although the Ah! is warmer (which is how I prefer things with redbook CDs). Very happy so far. Hope another 100 hours of burn in will really do the trick.

BTW: The 1000 is a lousy DVD player. My $200 Toshiba with progressive scan blows the Phillips away. Also, the 2 channel outs on the Toshiba do a decent job on DVD audio into my amp whereas the Phillips two channel outs are NOT meant for high def audio (read the manual). The Phillip's on-screen displays are just awful and about 3 years behind the times. This is DEFINITELY a music player and NOT a movie player. Phillips rightly marketed this as a music player first and foremost although at its original street price of about $1000 that should not have been the case.

Just a quick note on redbook now that I have about 220 hours on the Phillips. It got ever so slightly better than at the 96 hour level. Opened up a bit more throughout and tightened up on the bottom and low mid end a little more too.

However, the Ah! is still a clear winner. Have to agree with RGD about percieved depth within the imaginary "hall."

As I had a/b'd my Ah! against a Rotel 991 before settling on the Ah! I can judge the Phillips against the Rotel to give an idea of product placement. The Phillips would definitely have beaten the Rotel had I kept that latter unit. So truthfully the Phillips is a great value in redbook at its $399 Tweeters price and probably worth buying as a redbook/SCAD "all in" box for some at the +/- $500 price you can buy through the 'gone.

As a SCAD player (which is, after all, why I bought this unit) it is a keeper and has its place along side my Ah! redbook CDP.

Context. context, context people! For a $399 player it does redbook at good value for the money. No one is saying that this is a $399 redbook player that is as good as a $1000 redbook player.

HOWEVER, IMHO it would beat the Rotel 991 (which was a $1200 player list new) but does not beat the AH! (about $1000 with all upgrades new. But, you have to keep those observations in context to the price of the player, the purpose of the player (SCAD), etc.

Also keep in context the original post where TOK 2000 asked for opinions and observations.

Bottom line: for a $399 peice of equipment it more than holds its own at THAT price point even with a head full of earwax to boot. LOL :)

No, I would not.

"So, pardon me and dont get me wrong. For $399 tweeter price, it's still a SUPER DEAL. I am keeping one myself..."
Infinity_audio

Yes, I do belive that is what was said here and is indeed also the point of the original poster's question.