Pioneer Elite DV-47A

This is supposed to be an excellent unit. I was considering buying it but was a little unclear on the connections. It turns out that in order to listen to the real multi-channel SACD and DVD-Audio, you have to have a processor with multiple sets of 5.1 channel inputs. Otherwise you're only going to get stereo SACD and DVD-Audio, which to me is missing the whole point.

I'm very confused as to why you can get multi-channel audio from standard DVD's with a single coaxial digital cable, but for SACD or DVD-Audio you have to have a full set of 5.1 analog interconnects.

Anyway, for the real experience of multi-channel SACD it turns out I'm just not ready to make the investment in the player itself as well as a new processor and probably a whole new set of analog interconnects.

I bought 1 three weeks ago and out of the box it sounded like hell, sizzling highs, bloated bass,and no low level midrange detail (listening to onboard dacs straight to analog hybrid tube preamp). I put a burn in disc on and let it burn in for 2 weeks 24/7, and the unit improved considerably. I then tried hooking to Integra Research RD-7 and also a Lexicon MC-12B using the processors internal dacs, and am getting respectable sound. You will need a processor with 6 channel audio inputs (like the Integra Research or Lexicon), and analog direct. I have yet to try an SACD (don't have any), and will shortly compare the DV-47A to my DV-38A, which does not have SACD, but does have DVD audio. The unit is much smaller and lighter than the DV-38A, more like the Toshiba units. There have been mixed reviews on its audio capabilities, but be sure to do a long burn in.

The only reasonably-priced universal format player in town right now. Doesn't have the build quality of the 38A. Also, the Pioneers are afflicted with the chroma bug - you may or may not see it. Very irritating if you do, blissful ignorance (in the best sense of the word) if you don't.

No HDCD.

Dan Wright of Modwright,LLC (www.modwright.com) will be offering a series of modifications to improve the DV-47a both as a transport and as a stand alone SACD/ DVD-A player. The DV-47a plays SACDs in their native PWM format without converting to PCM. As of this time, there are no external SACD (PWM) D/A converters. I believe, though I am not sure, that to play multi channel SACD, the unit outputs a converted PCM signal which can be fed to a multi channel processor.

It will be fed into a B&K AVR305. I will have to sniff around and see how good a fit these two components would be - I must admit most of my knowledge is two-channel, so the learning curve may be a bit steep...