Ok, I got the DV-655A through the Military Exchange Catalog and have run it for a couple of weeks now. All I can say is it is the best $240 (bought it before it went on sale!) I've spent on my system!
It has played everything I've thrown at it flawlessly. Easy to set-up, amazingly easy to use........load a disc, push play, listen.....whether its multichannel SACD, DVD-A, DTS cd, DTS cdr. My only complaint is that it doesn't play Dolby Digital cdrs.....but then again, no other player with built-in decoder will recognize them either (illegal format for DD).
A couple of main points:
1) It plays SACD High Rez...no PCM conversion. Of course the High Rez is only available out of the analog outputs...no DSD out the digital......but who cares? I don't have anything that would take a DSD stream anyway!
2) It does have bass management built-in......Hoorah!
3) It will "downmix" the center channel if you program it for no center channel........Absolutely great!!
I guess the consensus is that the 655A is the international model of the U.S. model DV-45A. I would note that it IS NOT the same as the 656A.....which is the identical chassis but without the multichannel SACD capability (and a lower price).
So, whether you can get your hands on the 655A for a really great price, or the DV-45A for a good price.....I would highly recommend these players.
Also, I was highly pleased that my restored QRX-999 handled the high resolution analog output just fine, and really "warmed" up my Klipsch LaScallas!
Ok......you're on a budget and want a killer quad setup?
Get yourself:
1) Quad receiver or 4channel separates of your choice
2) 4 matching speakers you like
3) Pioneer DV-45A or 655A
4) Room on your credit card for SACD and DVD-A releases when they finally come out!
5) Make friends with a couple of the good DTS converters around this board and get as many CDRs as you can!!
Enjoy the Hell out of it!!:rollin:
There is no way you're going to get better quad or 5.1 for the $$ than doing the above! And, to think I spent 20 years tweeking, experimenting.......and searching for good music!! And, then they come along and do this to us.....a great player for a great price......that will play all the digital quad formats we have available!
Forgive me oh great God of Quad........I even bought the Rolling Stones Hot Rocks and Best of the Byrds on STEREO SACD......just because I had to hear the High Rez release!!! I'm so ashamed:evil:
"Quad" Bob