Pioneer Dv Ax10

[Claude]

LIKEMANY REVIEWERS HERE,I WAS LOOKING FOR A SOURCE COMPONENT THAT COULD PLAY ALL FORMATS AND DO IT WITH OUT MAKING ME WANT TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT. THIS PLAYER HAS ACCOMPLISHED THAT QUEST. I AM USING THIS IN A TWO CHANNEL SYSTEM. IT IS CONNECTED TO A TV, BUT I SELDOM WATCH MOVIES ON THIS SETUP. I HAVE BEEN USING THIS PLAYER STRICTLY FOR AUDIO. IT IS STILL IN THE BREAK IN MODE. HOWEVER, IT'S PERFORMANCE THUS FAR HAS PROMPTED ME TO SELL OFF MOST OF MY ALL IN ONE CD PLAYERS, TO NAME A FEW, MUSICAL FIDELITY A3, ARCAM FMJ, EAD 2000, AND A CAL CL15. THIS PLAYER LEAVES NOTHING BEHIND IN ANY FORMAT THAT I HAVE AUDITIONED. TOTALLY REVEALING, ULTRA SMOOTH, EXPANSIVE SOUND STAGE, AND MICRO/MADRO DYNAMICS THAT ARE SIMPLY OUTSTANDING. WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THIS PLAYER, I THOUGHT I WOULD RESELL IT FOR A QUICK PROFIT. BUT, MY CURIOSITY GOT THE BEST OF ME AND I UNPACKED IT AND HAVE NOT REGRETED IT FOR A SECOND. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THE ULTIMATE ALL IN ONE, DIGITAL PLAYBACK, THIS IS AS GOOD AS IT GETS,AT LEAST FOR MY BUDGET. IN CASE YOU ARE WONDERING ABOUT THE PURCHASE PRICE? YES, I DID PURCHASE IT NEW, A STOCK FROM AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR THAT PRICE.

Now I have a pioneer AX-10, Philips SACD-1000, and Philips Q50.For CD playback Q50 was the best.For SACD playback Philips SACD-1000 was the best.For Video backback Pioneer AX-10 was the best.I also got SONY S-7000 but already sold,the video compare with AX-10, AX-10 still better.Knowing that some DVD having DVI output get much better video playback, let wait to see.I have no DAC,I only using the Audio Research tube pre-amp and power-amp, rogers 15 ohm speaker.May be another picture if I change a AV-amp.

I have always wanted a statement player that will play everything. This one came and I was a disappointed with the SACD palyback. But then I was comparing it the $28,000 DD-100/DC-101 combo my friend has. I''m not as rich as my buddy so I settled for this. CD playback was compromised also due to being a jack-of-all-trade machine. But then I had my machine modified by MSB Technology and they put in a 24/192 output board and I mated this with MSB''s Platinum DAC and it is audio nirvana! Owners of this machine-consider doing this if you are as much of an audiphile as a videophile. I tell you I do not miss my old Wadia transport and DAC! And since DSD is converted to PCM internally in the machine the Platinum DAC is able to decode the SACD. Well, not like Accuphase but close! And better than the true SACD Sony 9000 and 777ES, although the 777 can play multichannel SACD.

The best picture I've ever seen from a DVD Player bar none. Watching on my RCA F38310 HDTV, films look like films. Zero artifacting, no combing (to my eyes anyway) and a smoothness that is superb. The champagne finish on the unit is simply sublime. The remote lights up the areas that need to be lighted up (most of the time) in a clear but not harsh red tone. Though for six grand, maybe they should have lit up the whole remote. Unfortunately I cannot rate the value of this machine as highly as I'd like to, as it is twice what any other top of the line DVD player costs. The reason for this is that it plays all formats. DVD, DVD-A, SACD, CD-R, CD, VCD and HDCD. What you are really paying for is the only unit on the market that has both DVD-Audio and SACD. I assume Pioneer had to pay a fortune to both of the patent holders on these new audio formats - hence the price. Ok, having said that...if you have to have the ability to play both formats then this is the player for you. My opinion is that only one of the formats is going to stick around and it's probably going to be DVD-A. Not because it's better perse but because WB have been quicker to support the format in releasing titles. We'll have to wait and see.

I connect its balance output to my set of Krell pre and power amp. The result is many hours of music enjoyment. I sell my Sony transport and PS Audio Ultralink II HDCD after purchasing DV-AX10. You see how strong is AX-10 in CD playing.

DVD-Video ----- Ever since the appearance of LD players, Pioneer is the king of optical disc technology. Same in DVD-V.

SACD and DVD-A ----- new generation pure audio format. Pioneer AX-10 let you verify the power of SACD and DVD-A. They are much better than CD!

For starters forget anything you saw from Pioneer,this unit makes other Elite DVD players look cheaply built in comparison!And Pioneer is known to make some of the best DVD player on the market!

First the built quality is simply impressive,from the quality finish to the quality of the conectors on the back!

The unit weighs around 50lbs!In the same weight range as my two other players from Denon and SONY!

While built quality and weight dont mean you will get astounding performance this unit exells at CD playback and DVD playback! Its a High-End CD,SACD and DVD player!

The sound is detailed,spacious,no sign of electronic glare.

Its a real bargain even if used only as a CD player!Its that good!

In fact after the rave review Stereophile Guide to HT gave this unit I had to have one.And after the experiance at the store I will soon get my hands on my unit!

Great work Pioneer,top quality sound and built like a tank with detail reserved for a Swiss watch.Very very nice.

Recomended to anyone who can spare the change to get this unit.Even if you are a soupe au lait audiophile elitist ,like me!

5/5 and justified.Its audio and video nirvana.

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