Good Universal Player with Balanced Outs

BTW Thsalmon, you're right, the Esoteric does have balanced outs at least according to the Stereophile review.

Lexikon has a new universal player called the RT-10, supposed to list for $3500. Also, the Linn Unidisk 1.1 is hugely expensive, but Linn just came out with the Unidisk 2.1 which is somewhat less (I think in the 5k-7k range). I don't know the difference between the two models, but if you find out, let me know.

I am also in the market for a universal player in your price range. I am not into home theater. I just like 2 channel stereo. My question is: if a universal machine is also a multichannel and video player, am I paying a lot more for functionality that I don't want.

Thanks,
Gary

I took a look at the Linn and the Lexicon. They both look like very nice players from solid manufacturers. I do notice that both seem to be missing 1394 support. I am trying to get the firewire since I'm assuming that there will be improvements in the next generations and eventually there will be DACs for the DVD-Audio signal that will far outstrip the current crop.

Just noticed the Lexicon lacks the balanced outputs also.

GBoren,

I don't think you're paying a lot more for the funtionality, only because I don't think any manufacturer will be creating any new players that arent' multichannel with video. I suppose you could buy one of the earlier Sonys used, but I would think that is sort of a waste. I also think you're going to need the video, at least for the DVD-Audio discs. While the discs don't HAVE to be authored to require video, many of them I've had are much easier to access with video. Otherwise you blindly jump between groups until you hit the right one. Seems tedious after spending this much money!

Huh, Linn may have come out with a Unidisk 2.1 since an $11,000 universal player is probably a tough sell in the current market.