$500 budget at the absolute maximum. Will feed into 1050. Main speakers still to be determined, but I'm currently leaning towards Diva 6.1 or Axiom M80TiSe towers. Which ever I go with will be configured as LARGE and there will not be a subwoofer.

I own one DVD-A (Blue Man Group - Audio), no SACD's and a couple hundred redbook CD's. After having looked at lists of DVD-A/SACD material, there's not many more than a half-dozen titles in either format that I really feel the need to get ASAP. So I suspect a good redbook player would make the most sense. If I go pure CD player, I'd need to deduct $100 from the budget to allow the purchase of an inexpensive secondary DVD player.

Within my budget limitations and for use with the 1050, would any of you care to make a recommendation? Should I feed it into the 1050 via a digital input or the L & R of the 5.1 analog inputs?

I'm not looking for anyone to "tell" me what to buy, but there is such a huge range of options that I simply can't figure out where to start. And I hoped that by asking here, I'd find out what has worked well for other 1050 owners.

Thank you,

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pat----

email: pat@sklenar.info ---===--- home page: Grumpy's Lair

The Sony DVP-NS500V was a very good bargain at its original price ($299) but is a real bargain at its current price ($200). You get a good DVD player, CD player and SACD player. No DVD-A though. It works very well for me until I get a TV with progressive component inputs. I use a Denon 370 for most redbook CD playback on this system because it is a carousel and is more convenient for the use we have for it.

From what I understand from some research the Sony NS 500V, as mentioned above, has the Burr Brown DACs (3 I believe). Apparently Sony spared no expense in this unit. The idea was to get more people on the SACD bandwagon. The unit is very well built; weighing in at about 13#. The price just can't be beat.

I know the Blue Man Group - Audio DVD plays as both a DVD Audio and DVD Video, depending on which side is in (The video side has still pictures on the screen and each song is played as a chapter). Are there other DVD Audio discs that do this? I don't know if it would be worth saving a few bucks on a DVD player and getting a lower price one that does not have DVD-A capabilities. Probabably not, but just a thought.

I know some DVD-Audio discs include a DTS track or DD5.1 track, either in a separate side like Blue Man Group or on the same side. I have two DVD-A discs, Blue Man Group and Toy Matinee. TM includes a DTS track and has a static screen with a track list.

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

I take it that "Burr Brown DACs" are good? How would I take advantage of them? Would I plug this Sony into the 1050's 5.1 analog inputs?

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pat----

email: pat@sklenar.info ---===--- home page: Grumpy's Lair

I'm still figuring out all this myself, but for my system, using a digital optical connection (and, therefore, the 1050's DAC) produces markedly better sound from redbook CDs than with an analog connection, even to my untrained ear. Potential causes may be the "Audiophile-grade Wolfson output DACs" in my HK DVD, the additional A to D conversion when using the analog connection, or the lousy analog cable that I'm currently employing.

I tried the following experiment: I first verified that I could hear the difference between the analog and digital routes through headphones. Then I connected the DVD player to the left and right 5.1 direct inputs and listened to a CD with the headphones. Using headphones eliminates a bass management problem I would have otherwise. With this configuration I can quickly flip between the DVD's DAC and the 1050's by pressing the "5.1 Ch Direct" button. One problem is the volumes of these two sources are not similar so an adjustment is mandatory and slightly detracts from the A/B style comparison.

Anyway the result is that they sound about equally good. I think this eliminates the possibility that my DVD's audio DAC is the source of the problem or the analog cable I use between the DVD and the 1050. This leaves (someone please correct me if I've overlooked something) the additional A to D conversion that occurs for all the other analog inputs.

This may not be an issue for you if you are willing to hook the disk player to the direct inputs of the 1050. I guess with no subwoofer, you won't miss not having bass management on that source.

I use the optical output for DD and DTS off DVD's and the 5.1 outputs (6.0 really) for multichannel SACD and for stereo SACD and redbook. I have the Denon hooked up via digital coax since the 1050 has better DAC's than the Denon IMO.