UltimateAVmag.com: Buyer's Guide: Disc Players / Recorders: Premier Choice

	UAV Recommends. These components offer outstanding performance that is just short of the Ultimate, but still worthy of consideration for your system.

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	Ayre DX-7e $5,999 Digital Video Output: DVI (video compatible with HDMI) Video Upconversion: No Audio Decoding: No Ins and Outs: DVI, component/RGBHV on BNCs, optional SDI digital video, coaxial and AES/EBU digital audio Feature Highlights: DVI output with Silicon Image deinterlacer, zero feedback circuit design, configurable with SDI digital video output, electronic isolation of audio and video circuits, low jitter mast clock, NTSC and PAL support The Skinny: Ayre's DX-7e is something of a video savant. And it has to be to earn our love at $6K and be a transport only on the audio front. That's right- at a price at which there are high-end universal players available, the DX-7e has only digital audio outputs. But it does have a remarkable degree of configurability on video. It can be ordered with DVI or even SDI digital video out, and also has RGBHV outputs. But the real story here is the pure, deep, three-dimensional imagery that the best (and largest) displays can reap when this player is the source, whether the video output is digital or analog. The video is somehow richer and more lifelike, and yet completely free of fatigue. In short, the video, even with a digital display is a just a bit more natural and analog-like and "transparent," as though the playback machine isn't there. While high-def players are now coming into the market, if you want to see the absolute best that DVD is capable of, take a look here. This player's video performance stands alone, even in this lofty company. Ayre's DX-7e is what the high-end is all about: pushing the performance envelope.
	Lexicon RT-20 $4,495 Digital Video Output: HDMI Video Upconversion: 720p, 1080i Audio Decoding: DD, DTS, DVD-Audio, SACD, MP3 Ins and Outs: HDMI, component, composite and S-Video, optional SDI digital video, coaxial (one on RCA, one on BNC), Toslink and AES/EBU digital audio, 5.1-channel analog audio, RS-232 Feature Highlights: Universal player, upconverting HDMI output, Silicon Image deinterlacing, full bass management with delays for all signals except SACD The Skinny: Lexicon's RT-20 is another expensive standard-def player in what's slowly but surely becoming a high-def world, but other than HD video, the RT-20 does everything and does it exceptionally well. In addition to upconverting HDMI video, and sterling image quality in general, the RT-20 plays anything audio that comes on a 5" silver disc. Whether it's picture or sound, regardless of the format, the RT-20 is simply impossible to fault in any way. Your entire library of discs can be upgraded to a higher level of picture and sound.
	Linn Unidisk $11K Digital Video Output: DVI (not activated at time of review, video compatible with HDMI) Video Upconversion: No Audio Decoding: DD, DTS, DVD-Audio, SACD, MP3 Ins and Outs: DVI (not active at time of review), component, two each composite and S-Video, RGB/SCART, coaxial and Toslink optical, 5.1-channel analog audio, balanced two-channel analog, RS-232 Feature Highlights: Based on Linn's proprietary, advanced Silver Disk Engine, native conversion of al audio signals, Silicon Image deinterlacing, 4:4:4 color upsampling, advanced switch mode power supply technology The Skinny: Linn practically invented the concept of the high-end source component over 30 years ago with the LP12 turntable. Now, in the 21st century, Linn has provided a standard-setting player for silver discs (or perhaps I should say silver disks!). While the video quality is "merely first rate," the Unidisk's audio quality is simply in another world. To maintain that level of resolution and transparency Linn offers no bass management, and in addition it sometimes coughed with some discs we played. But beyond that, this lightweight, compact player from Linn maximizes the performance of all formats, with sparkling detail, rhythmic speed, and harmonic righteousness. The Linn Unidisk is an Ultimate Choice player in every respect except one- its DVI output wasn't active at the time of the review. We plan a follow up, and if it's up to snuff the Unidisk will be movin' on up!
	Marantz DV-9600 $2,099 Digital Video Output: HDMI Video Upconversion: 720p, 1080i/p Audio Decoding: DD, DTS, DVD-A, SACD, MP3 Ins and outs: HDMI, component, two each composite and S-Video, two i.LINK digital audio toslink and coaxial digital audio outputs, two-channel and 5.1-channel analog audio Feature Highlights: Universal player with upconverting HDMI output, 14-bit/216MHz video DACs, full bass management with levels and delays for all formats, including DVD-A and SACD, AV sync delay, and too many other features to list! The Skinny: In this era of $500 HD DVD players and $1,000 Blu-ray players, the DV-9600 is an expensive universal player at just north of two grand. It's an overbuilt and nicely outfitted, and while it doesn't quite compare to some less expensive players we've heard in audio quality it gets over for our recommendation with its stellar video quality. On a big, high resolution display the image quality here is superlative, with pristine, natural looking detail with no artificial enhancement about it.
	Meridian G98DH $6,000 Digital Video Output: HDMI Video Upconversion: 720p and 1080i Audio Decoding: DD, DTS, DVD-Audio, MPEG, MP3 Ins and Outs: HDMI, component on BNCs, two composite, three S-Video, coaxial and optical digital audio, 5.1-channel analog audio, Meridian proprietary three-channel coaxial digital audio connection Feature Highlights: Upconverting HDMI outputs, configurable with standard coaxial and Toslink optical digital outputs or proprietary three-channel coax for connection to Meridian processors, Faroudja deinterlacing w/DCDi The Skinny: Meridian's G98DH is available in a couple of configurations depending on how it's outfitted for audio. The G98DH we reviewed offers only a proprietary digital audio connection scheme for use with a Meridian surround processor. The G98AH offers six-channel analog outputs and standard coaxial and Toslink digital audio outputs. In either configuration, the Meridian is equipped with component and HDMI digital video outputs, video upconversion powered by Faroudja processing and offers astounding video quality. But even that's not all. This "player" has composite, S-Video and component video inputs, allowing it to function as an outboard video processor for your other sources. Whether the source is inboard or outboard, the Meridian G98's video quality is in a class of its own.
	Pioneer Elite DV-79AVi $999 Digital Video Output: HDMI Video Upconversion: 720p, 1080i Audio Decoding: DD, DTS, DVD-A, SACD, MP3 Ins and outs: HDMI, component, two each composite and S-Video, two i.LINK digital audio toslink and coaxial digital audio outputs, two-channel and 5.1-channel analog audio Feature Highlights: Universal player with upconverting HDMI output, 14-bit/108MHz video DACs, full bass management for all formats, including DVD-A and SACD, Legato PRO and Hi-Bit audio processing, more than a dozen video adjustments The Skinny: Pioneer Elite's DV-79AVi might just be DVD's last hurrah. While it costs a thousand bucks and doesn't play Blu-ray or HD DVD, it does play everything else on a 5" disc and it performance across all formats is simply superb. Although expensive in today's DVD player market, it might be an excellent purchase for those of you with a large collection of CDs and DVDs who are looking for better performance right now, especially if you're sitting out the format war.
	Simaudio Moon Orbiter $6,500 Digital Video Output: DVI (video compatible with HDMI) Video Upconversion: No Audio Decoding: DD, DTS, DVD-Audio, SACD, MP3 Ins and Outs: DVI, component, composite and S-Video, optional SDI digital video, coaxial (one on RCA, one on BNC), Toslink and AES/EBU digital audio, two-channel and 5.1-channel analog audio Feature Highlights: Universal player w/DVI output, Silicon Image deinterlacing, advanced switch mode power supply w/shielding and eight stages of regulation The Skinny: Simaudio's Moon Orbiter is a universal disc player that excels across all formats, earning its price tag with picture and sound that are a clear and substantial cut above. This player offers a 480p DVI output with an image that's remarkably deep and solid in dimension, with a vivid, lifelike character. Although there's no built-in bass management, the Moon Orbiter's audio is every bit as stellar as the name suggests. It has the kind of resolution, image focus and soundstage dimension that separates dedicated high-end audio players from the mass-market flagships, and yet it sounds freer and more natural than digital ought to. Although it's not an absolute world beater with any one format- like the Ayre DX-7e is with video, or the Arcam FMJ DV29 is with CD playback- the Simaudio Moon Orbiter is remarkably close, and offers nearly best in class performance across all formats. Your music and movies will live and breathe through this player.
	Sony DVP-NS9100ES $1,300 Digital Video Output: HDMI Video Upconversion: 720p, 1080i Audio Decoding: DD, DTS, SACD, MP3 Ins and Outs: HDMI, component, two each composite and S-Video, two i.LINK IEEE-1394 digital audio, coaxial and Toslink digital audio, two-channel and 5.1-channel analog audio, RS-232 Feature Highlights: Upconverting HDMI output, SACD playback, 14-bit/216MHz video DACs, separate audio and video circuit boards, dual transformers The Skinny: When Sony makes an ES- "Elevated Standard"- component that's designated as a flagship in a category the result is a serious piece of work. The DVP-NS9100 is attractive and substantially built, and adds an upconverting HDMI output. Of course, the video quality is striking, the ergonomics and disc access speed superb, and the sound quality is excellent with SACDs and very respectable with CDs. A player at this price is a harder sell than it once was with HD DVD and Blu-ray players in the same price range, but we still can't find any faults in this player's performance.