I might consider the MSB model, which lists for $8000. It sounded out of my price range at first, but I think it's a receiver, DVD-A, SACD, CD player all built into one. So if I take what I'd want to spend on a universal player, and I add that to what I'd spend on 5-channel amplification that's meant for hi-rez audio, and if I could get the MSB unit at a discount of some sort ($6,999 or something), it might be something I'd look into. I mean, just think of the savings on cables alone...there's nothing to run your SACD/DVD-A/CD player into, because it's all built into that one unit. Taken together, seven grand might be a very reasonable deal.
The Year of the Universal Player
Universal players appear to have come of age, with announcements at CES of new universals by at least 8 high end manufacturers, and rumors of 'in progress' from several others....Bel Canto, Linn, McCormack, MBL,Audio Aero, MSB, Lexicon, Teac, (Krell?, Goldmund?). And in addition, a majority of Japanese makers have them, and even at multiple price points.
This is excellent news for high resolution, as it follows on a general industry consensus, expressed by S. Rochlin at enjoythemusic.com, that both SACD and DVD-A are here to stay. That, together with the success of SACD disc sales, the availability of appropriate chip sets, and the fact that the majority of high end audio shops are now heavily involved in home theater and multichannel sales.
Universal players by high end makers are clearly aimed at that 75% of the audiophile market that is still fence-sitting because of the format war.
Will the presence of higher quality universals now affect your decision to buy into these formats?
This is excellent news for high resolution, as it follows on a general industry consensus, expressed by S. Rochlin at enjoythemusic.com, that both SACD and DVD-A are here to stay. That, together with the success of SACD disc sales, the availability of appropriate chip sets, and the fact that the majority of high end audio shops are now heavily involved in home theater and multichannel sales.
Universal players by high end makers are clearly aimed at that 75% of the audiophile market that is still fence-sitting because of the format war.
Will the presence of higher quality universals now affect your decision to buy into these formats?
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- 13 posts total
- 13 posts total