Need yalls thoughts on some sources?

How about something from the Marantz DV series as a DVD/SACD/CDP?

Here's one example: http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?dgtlplay&1222103466

I don't have any experience with DAC's in that price range. I can tell you that there's not a large difference between the DAC's in the DV-7600 and the SA-8001. If you do some research, you'll see the SA-8001 gets stellar reviews and is thought of very highly in Stereophile. I own both, and IMO, the most noticeable difference are better attack and decay and tighter bass in the SA. For your budget, you should be very pleased with the DV and you shouldn't need a external DAC.

As for upconverting, I can't help you with that. But I can tell you I am pleased with using the 7600 as a DVD player.

Shicks18 wrote: »

Brings me to my next 2 questions:
1) How big of an improvement would a $125 used DAC be on a nice source like a Marantz?
2) I left off that I would like an up-converting DVD player. But the 2 other ones I have used in the past (Semi-Cheapo.. $100) never really improved the picture quality over a progressive scan. Do nice up-converting players (like an Oppo) do a good job?

a $125 DAC on the Marantz would be a disservice to the Marantz.

I've had a Marantz DV9600 in my system for about a week now. This thing is the real deal. I like the fact that it has HDMI and will upconvert to 1080I. That is the highest my TV/projector goes. Multichannel music is a must. This player sounds great. I tried a Denon 3910 used. Sent it back because the laser was going out(would not play hybred sacd's). And the disc tray growled really bad when closing. I then tried the Oppo 980. Had system compatibility issues, and had to return it. I am very happy with the Marantz.

I have a DV7600 that I love. It plays SACD, DVD-A, and upconverts standard DVD's. It marginally out performs my Samsung BD-P1500 blu ray player on up conversion picture quality.

My thought is that if you are going to spend money on a DAC and DVD player you might as well just get a quality universal player so you can play SACD, etc. Marantz makes such quality products.

I prefer the SR6001 of the two, but of course its more spendy. The 4001 has one more HDMI input but the 6001 is easier to use and has 20 more watts per.

I say the 6001 is easier because it processes video upconversion (and DSD decoding for SACD that the 4001 lacks) through the HDMI output like most of Marantz' higher end gear. It also has 2nd zone capability which is always important to me since I never know when I want to branch out. Of course, I will eventually have a zone in the bathroom but that's another story.