Philips DVD963SA Clearance $286

[firstadopter]

http://ww1.onecall.com/About_00001000_6_95_0_40_0_0.htm

Onecall is clearing out their inventory of this quality SACD and DVD player. I may get one myself.

Here's some reviews:

1) http://www.homecinemachoice.com/testbench/frame.html?http://www.homecinemachoice.com/testbench/DVDPlayers/Philips/PhilipsDVD963SA.php

2) http://www.hifichoice.co.uk/review_print.asp?ID=2702

[CAG]

Thanks for the heads-up...too bad they don't sell it in black..I'm looking for a new DVD player for our home theater system. Our Sony won't play CD-R media.

[firstadopter]

Here's a Philips PDF spec.

http://www.sacd.philips.com/pdfs/dvd963sa_us_lft.pdf

[firstadopter]

I just ordered one. I will let everyone know how good the product is. I'm excited to finally get a SACD player for my Sennheiser 600HD headphones. Got it for $305 shipped FedEx. Whee!

[CAG]

Like I said...too bad they don't make it in black :(

[firstadopter]

Another review.

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter/148/philips_portal_definitive.html

According to FedEx I'll get it on Thursday. Can't wait!

[CAG]

Rendition:

Found this Sony http://www.oade.com/Home_theater/sony/dvd/dvpnc685V.html I think its runs around $200. I read the Philips reviews you posted...how does this Sony compare spec-wise?

Thanks :)

EDIT: Nevermind...I think I found something else...thanks anyway

[firstadopter]

I couldn't find any reviews on that Sony model, but the specs seem fine. But in the world of audiophile-dom, specs don't mean much as much of listening is subjective. I would make sure you read some professional reviews on any player before you buy something. The best site for that is:

http://www.ecoustics.com/Editorial/

[firstadopter]

So I installed my DVD963 today. Watch a couple of DVDs: the picture is stunning, much better than my old cheap Toshiba DVD player, but then again the Philips is progressive scan, so it wasn't much of a contest.

I tried a few CDs on it also and the sound quality is amazing. Much better than my old Yamaha 5 disc CD player and the Toshiba DVD player.

Things just seemed so much more detailed and clear.

The upsampling feature seems to help for classical music, I like it turned off for normal pop music however.

All in the all, at $286 I think this player is a steal and I haven't even tried SACD yet. :)

[CAG]

Geez...after reading your review, now I REALLY wish they made it in black...

[firstadopter]

I tried a SACD today, Diana Krall. Even though I don't like the CD much, the piano sounds were so life-like, I'm dying to buy more SACDs now. :)

[firstadopter]

http://www.whatvideotv.com/testbench/frame.html?http://www.whatvideotv.com/cgi-bin/displayreview.php?reviewid=2870

another review.

[firstadopter]

Here's an interesting article from the product manager of the DVD963SA and the about the successor player coming out soon:

http://www.videohifi.com/9_VictorTan_eng.htm