Best DVD player for the money?

Cambridge Audio Azur 540,

They also now have afew more model which I am not sure about

All DVD's are standard definition and they must be scaled to HD resolutions. The absolute best DVD player is one that has digital video output via SDI. This allows you to have the exact 1's and 0's off the disc before any processing and encription. The only way you can do this is with a SDI modified DVD player, and JVB Digital has the best SDI mods at the best price (you can buy a player already modified by them, they can modify yours or they will sell you the SDI board for DIY) (the JVB Digital Video web site is: http://www.jvbdigital.com/player). But, the only way you can read the SDI digital video information is with a special processor/scaler such as the DVDO iScan Ultra HD, Cinemateq SDI Picture optimizer plus, or the Key Digital HD Leeza (there may be a couple of others available - but please know all are expensive of $2,000+ USD). The best results with a SDI capable player and a SDI processor/scaler is to have a display device that accepts digital video as an input source.

To me the best-bang-for-the-buck is the Samsung 9xx series which outputs digital video via DVI/HDMI (the 1's and 0's off the disc are encripted with HDCP and some processing, but it still looks very good). The Samsung 9xx DVD player costs around $300 USD and you will need a display device that accepts DVI or HDMI and it must be HDCP capable. In my opinion, SDI video will only be 5-10% better than digital video via DVI/HDMI from the Samsung 9xx player. The Samsung 9xx DVD has a very decent scaler built-in. V, Inc. makes a good DVD player that has digital video output that looks very good as well and it is also fairly resonable.

I've recommended and installed many DVD players in my day, and I always make the client happy when we go to digital video. I've even gone so far as to do a side-by-side comparison of two DVD players feeding 2 inputs to their display device both being paused on the identical frame of the same movie in each player (I recommend one of the recent computer animated films) and we jump from one input to the other - it is no comparison that digital video always wins over 3 wire component every time. BTW - I own a Pioneer Elite DV-59 AVi and a Key Digital HD Leeza and this combo makes the best video picture of any player-processor/scaler on the market, including Meridian (and the Pioineer Elite DV-59Avi is a universal player for 2 channel and multi-channel audio as well which is also fantastic).

Not sure what ya want to blow on a player, but when I was searching for a great performing DVD player, with the extra added benefit of playing SACD's and DVD-A's (though not spectacular, much better than the CIrcuit CIty equivalent,) I ran across an almost brand-new Pioneer Elite DV-47ai. I think I paid about $600, and its absolutely flawless as far as video performance is concerned. A great player, and can be had for not alot now on the Agon.

My two cents.

Jon BRown

Greetings,
I agree with Dmenagh. I use a pioneer DV-59avi with a sanyo plv-z2 lcd projector. Outstanding in picture and audio. I had read a review recently on a stand off between the pioneer, ayre and a couple others. The pioneer was the cheapest out off the bunch and performed on par with the 8000.00 Ayre, which i believe is based on a pioneer transport. The ayre is regarded as probably the best player on the planet.

As I have a serviceable DVD player now (just a mass-fi Sony), I'm wondering if I wouldn't be better off waiting for HD functionality to come out in force?