I would like to learn as much as I can about these two formats.Are they worth buying a player that will play both and if so which is the best one for under $1,000.
Thanks

There are very few "universal" DVD-Audio/SACD players available. Apex has one that does both plus progressive scan (the AD-7701 ) that retails for around $250, but it is an Apex, and you get what you pay for. The general opinion online is that it does everything (progressive scan, DVD-Audio, SACD, MP3, JPG file viewing), but not necessarily very particularly well. Here's one review as an example (not necessarily the greatest review, since the first thing they complain about is the inability to use a digital output for DVD-Audio) and the 2.13 of 5 rating at AudioReview. Pioneer has three: the AX10 (retail for $6,000), the Elite DV-47A (retail for $1,200, available for comfortably under $1,000), and the new Elite DV-45A (retail for $700). The DV-47A has gotten some pretty good reviews in general, but some users have complainted that its SACD performance was not up to par. How accurate this assessment is probably depends some on the user, as there are DV-47A owners who seem very satisfied with the SACD performance. The DV-45A has not been out very long, and I haven't heard much about it. If you want a universal player, you should probably try to demo either the DV-47A or the DV-45A and see if it suits you.

------------------
gonk -- Saloon Links | Pre/Pro Comparison Chart | 950 Review

Or if you really want to something new, get one player for DVD-Audio and another for SACD. I've seen recommendations for this that come to less than $500 for both players together. That was montsh ago too. I know Toshiba makes DVD-Audio models and I believe Sony makes SACD. Then give one player all the good cables, and the other only good audio cables.

It would be kind of a nuissance having two players though. I don't know how many connections you have open. The Elite DV-45A model gonk listed might be something to look at for $700. The convenience of one player might be worth the few extra dollars. I don't know much about Elite though. I'm a little behind with anything to do with SACD because I don't have as much of an interest in it.

Most receivers and pre/pros only have one 6-channel analog input, so to use two players you either have to stick with two-channel SACD or get a switch box (either a few Radio Shack switch boxes or something like this ). Sony has some very serviceable SACD players for around $200 or less, and I've been very pleased with my Panasonic DVD-Audio player (and the RP-82 from Panasonic does DVD-Audio and progressive scan and can be gotten for under $230).

------------------
gonk -- Saloon Links | Pre/Pro Comparison Chart | 950 Review

Is SACD analog only at the present time? I thought DVD Audio was the only one. I could easily be mistaken though. In that case one unit would be the way to go.

SACD, yes, can only export the signal in analog, because of the same f**ked up piracy hysteria.

------------------
Matthew J. Hill
matt@idsi.net

YUP......no optical and no control,5.1 takes over! Not very much to my liking.Why in the world would these companies spend so much money and then kill the deal!Surely SACD and DVDaudio have the ability to reproduce superior sound,the pity is we may never know!