I based my audition of the DV-47Ai on an article in the British press. I have a daughter who just spend a semester there and I have had her send me their audio magazines. I find that their reviewing is much more like ours was 20 years ago. They don't rave about everything and they do point out flaws and limitations where they see them. They also dont seem to follow the current bent I see in the US audio magazines that more expensive automatically is better.
I found the Pioneer quite good, and at a street price of $800, very reasonable. I already have a top flight SACD player in the XA777ES, so I wasn't as concerned with the lack of pure DSD. I also separate my stereo and home theater, because I don't feel any of these multi-channel systems measure up to the state of the art in 2 channel reproduction. The medium is too young. My goal is to have a player that does a good job (not necessarily the absolute best) but can take whatever my mood calls for, from CD to DVD A and make it listenable. I feel the Pioneer does that.
I also opted for the McCormack MAP-1, to get a multi-channel analog pre-amp. I haven't taken possession of it, as the dealer didn't want to give up his only unit. I'm not expecting the same level of fidelity as a true high end stereo, but from the auditions, I think that surround is much better then just a few years ago. I have the Proceed PMDT/PAV/PDSD combo, which was about the state of the art just a few years ago (and certainly priced like it). I was amazed that the DVD, analog pre-amp combo bettered its sound, at least to my ears.
I do agree in a year there will be better players and thats why I love Audiogon. Ill sell some gear, like the Proceed combo I will shortly put up for sale, and some lucky person will get a system which has been carefully maintained and experience a far better setup then they might otherwise afford. And we audio fans, always in search of the best sound, will be looking for something better then we have today.
I found the Pioneer quite good, and at a street price of $800, very reasonable. I already have a top flight SACD player in the XA777ES, so I wasn't as concerned with the lack of pure DSD. I also separate my stereo and home theater, because I don't feel any of these multi-channel systems measure up to the state of the art in 2 channel reproduction. The medium is too young. My goal is to have a player that does a good job (not necessarily the absolute best) but can take whatever my mood calls for, from CD to DVD A and make it listenable. I feel the Pioneer does that.
I also opted for the McCormack MAP-1, to get a multi-channel analog pre-amp. I haven't taken possession of it, as the dealer didn't want to give up his only unit. I'm not expecting the same level of fidelity as a true high end stereo, but from the auditions, I think that surround is much better then just a few years ago. I have the Proceed PMDT/PAV/PDSD combo, which was about the state of the art just a few years ago (and certainly priced like it). I was amazed that the DVD, analog pre-amp combo bettered its sound, at least to my ears.
I do agree in a year there will be better players and thats why I love Audiogon. Ill sell some gear, like the Proceed combo I will shortly put up for sale, and some lucky person will get a system which has been carefully maintained and experience a far better setup then they might otherwise afford. And we audio fans, always in search of the best sound, will be looking for something better then we have today.