Disc players vary in built in features and the types of disc they will play. This overview of three top pick disc players at different prices will help you decide which player is best for your system.
Top Pick Stereo CD/SACD Player - Pioneer Elite PD-D6
The new PD-D6 CD/SACD player from Pioneer Elite is a good choice for stereo systems. Its high performance 192kHz / 24-bit Burr-Brown DACs (digital to analog converters) offer excellent low level signal clarity, detail and dynamic range. Pioneer’s Hi-Bit Legato Link extends frequency response out to 40kHz and its Pure Audio feature shuts off the front panel display and disables the player’s digital output for the best reproduction when listening to an analog audio source. The PD-D6 can also play CD-R/RW, MP3 and WMA music files on disc. The PD-D6 has an attractive front panel finished in brushed-silver or slate grey with a bright LCD display. At $499, the Pioneer Elite PD-D6 is a good value. Read my review of the Pioneer PD-D6.Top Pick Universal Player - Yamaha DVD-S2500 DVD-Video/Audio Player
The Yamaha DVD-S2500 is a full-featured DVD Audio-Video/CD/SACD player with excellent performance. The DVD-S2500 has HDMI (high definition multimedia interface) output, a single cable interface that carries high definition video and multichannel audio. It also has two iLink digital outputs (also known as firewire) for carrying digital SACD and DVD-Audio signals from the disc player to an iLink capable receiver or amplifier. The DVD-S2500 will also play JPEG, MP3, DivX, WMA, DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW, CD-R/RW and Video CD discs. With Faroudja DCDi progressive scan video processing and video upconversion, the DVD-S2500 will output 480p, 576p, 720p and 1080i video signals and is a great choice for a high performance disc player, priced at $749.00.Top Pick Budget DVD Player - Denon DVD-1740 DVD-Video Player
At $169.00, the Denon DVD-1740 is an affordable DVD-Video player that will also play CD, MP3, WMA, JPEG and Kodak picture discs. Its feature set includes one HDMI output, video upconversion of standard DVD discs to 1080p, and 192 kHz / 24-bit audio DACs and 108MHz / 24-bit video DACs. It has one optical digital output, one coaxial digital output, one stereo audio output, one S-Video, one composite video output and one HDMI output.
