Hi,

I know there is no quick answer to my basic questions (details below), but I searched these forums and many others before buying my Yamaha DVD-C961, but I just can't find the product I am looking for. I am hoping somebody knows about something I missed, or else has heard about something coming down the pipe...

What I am really looking for is an 'audiophile grade' 5 or 6 (or more) disc player for my DVD-A and SACD collection.

I don't give a hoot about video performance, my needs are well met in that department with other equipment...I am looking for an audio player.

I want a "disc changer transport" that:

- can play both formats, and CDs
- will let me load at least 5 or 6 discs (mixed formats) and do 'random play'
- will send out bitstream or PCM via HDMI (for BOTH formats please) to my Denon AVR-5308ci, which has very high quality DACs to decode, etc
- is built like a tank
- Is AUDIO focussed - I don't need a fancy video processor built-in
- has an ethernet port for firmware upgrades

Notice cost is not even on my list, although I would hope it's less than $3k...

It's driving me NUTS!!

The closest thing I have found is the Yamaha DVD-C961, which I bought. It's not a bad unit, but...

Here are the problems with it:

1) It is definitely a 'consumer grade' unit. I am looking for something more robust, more 'high end', and I am willing to pay for it.

2) Very slow load times

3) Will NOT enable 'random play' feature for SACD and DVD-Audio, (only for CDs) which is all I really want that feature for!

4) Does not have a ethernet port for firmware upgrades, which might otherwise fix the above

Sony has a few units (like 'ES' series changers) which would be of interest EXCEPT nothing from Sony ever has or ever will support DVD-Audio. I have nothing againt Sony, but THANKS GUYS.

Denon has the DVM-2845ci, but it was released back in early 2007 with HDMI 1.1...which will not support SACD (only by analog 5.1 outs), and it has no ethernet port, and no Denon-Link either.

As a matter of fact, I have NEVER seen a dedicated audiophile player for DVD-Audio OR SACD, whether single disc or multidisc...something focussed on AUDIO with only a cursory video funtion for using the disc menus, etc...it's always a DVD player with all sorts of video hoop-la first (which if course you pay for), and SACD or DVD-A support second.

Denon's forthcoming DVD-A1UD comes close (sort of) except it is:

- A Blu ray and DVD player with a high end Realta video chip adding at least $1500 - $2000 to the price

- a Single disc player

SO, what the heck?!?

Am I the ONLY person who wants to put a few SACD or DVD-A discs into a mid-end to high end transport, settle into my chair and choose a few tracks to enjoy, or put it in random mode?

WHY am I stuck to single disc players to get the quality and format support I want? I simply cannot accept that it is not possible to engineer a really solid 'high end' 5 disc changer, even if it gives up a small amount of 'solidity' to its single disc counterpart.

Am I the ONLY person who has a high end receiver / video processor and speakers, and doesn't want to replicate all those features at great expense and redundance (like the Denon DVD-A1UD , aside from it being a single disk unit), just to get a quality disc transport?

WHY can't somebody build a changer with a solid 25lb 'carved-from-billet' loading tray, copper lined chassis, isolated power supplies, etc, etc. Just give it HDMI 1.3 to carry the full bandwidth digital audio stream and let my receiver do the rest, thanks very much...I only need 480i video for the menus, thanks...

SO...does anyone know of such a beast, or has anyone heard of any rumours of a Denon DVM-A1UD or similar?

I would even give up the HDMI if I have to; my receiver has 5.1 inputs. Denon has had '3 series' and even one or two '4 series' changers in the past, but these have been pretty poorly reviewed in terms of reliability, and at this point would be using pretty outdated DACS for passing the audio through 5.1 analog outputs...that's why I would prefer to stick with HDMI, sending digital audio direct to the late model DACS in my receiver.

If it's a quality transport with full bandwidth digital audio output (not SPDIF optical or coaxial...it's not full bandwidth) it could live in my system indefinitely, and my receiver upgrade in time would upgrade the DACS.

So, please somebody help me and tell me about a product I just haven't seen before, or a rumour about something new coming along...

Thanks!

Doug