Vote

Yes but, not as much as software availability or price of machines, as the quality of playback, especially on regular red book CDs.

I wish that it was't be necessary to buy a "universal player." However, since the industry can not standardize a single format, a universal machine will be the only way to get the best music on both formats, when music actually becomes avalable, that is.

Only when there is no copy-protection .

I would love an all around AUDIO universal player. That's why I have been waiting for a couple years to purchase a new CD player, even though my sytem sorely needs a new one.

Already bought a DVD-Audio player and feel like I jumped in too fast.

It's called a DVD player. It plays CDs and DVDs and MP3s and VCDs. I'm not interested in those freaky high-rez audio formats.

Not a lot of SACD/DVD-A music out there, but what there is sounds great. What are you waiting for?

Definitely! The truth is Ii can't wait to get the Pioneer Elite 45a. I'll wait a couple more months—maybe the prices will drop.

Yes, when hardware AND SOFTWARE prices drop. SACD and DVD-A titles are too expensive.

The real questions are: (1) Will the players sound as good (let alone better) as vinyl? (2) Will copy-protection adversely impact sound quality (whether on the original source or on my homegrown compilation discs for my car)? and (3) Will the combo players sound as good as players dedicated to a single format?

actually not about prices but need more universal players in terms of choice...one always "loses' when buying the first product out there...where are the hi end companies in this? where are the universal players from Levinson, Linn, Ayre, Musical Fidelity, Arcam, etc etc? As soon as some of these and other mfrs deliver on the universal player, I'm buying right away.

Lovely, but, what about the digital conexion?

Of course, when prices drop, new releases are available (not 20 year-old titles), and there's a single-cable digital interface.

Yes, provided that: (1) DMCA is balanced by the interests of the Public Domain and consumer group and (2) Audio-only multichannel will become distinct from the 5.1 home theater setup. That is, new audio MC should be starting from 3D audio research and Ambisonics.

2-Channel is all I ever need. I have so much trouble placing them properly that 5 speakers and a sub would be hell. I say quality before quantity.

Say YES to SACD, Redbook, MP3, and DVD. DVD-A not so much.

Did Sony and the others learn anything from the Elcaset and Betamax? Too many formats that are incompatible are destined to confuse and alienate the consumer. Throw in copy-protection (no digital out on high-rez) and you have few compelling reasons to buy into these new formats. The only saving grace will be the universal players becoming ubiquitous in every price point imaginable. Then, and only if the software is available at a very reasonable price, will these formats survive and grow.

Still quite a premium for the all-format player and no one seems to have pulled it off—yet. I am in Canada and hardware and software are priced to high too compete with other mainstream formats. I can buy new vinyl issues cheaper than SACD or DVD-A. Where's the incentive to enter the market?

The idea of an all-in-one player worries me. It remindes me of the old recievers vs separates arguments. Not all of the formats are not optimized to be used in the same box.

Pioneer 47AI

I will need to buy a new CD player anyway, so I will probably buy one with one or both of the new formats.

I view the do it all machines the same way I view the 10000 CD mega CD Changers and AV Recievers. At this level of sophistication we should be more concerned with the quality of sonic reproduction than how much a single component may do. If it doesn't do it exceptionally well (everything that it does, it should not be degrading the rest of the system).

I would like to keep my HT system as bundled as possible. My 5 Tier rack is already full and I don't want another one.

It's unfortuate that the APEX AD-7701 multi-format player has a mass of irritating problems. VINYL RULES!

Went through the SACD list of available titles and found four that I would buy—and I already own all of them on CD or LP.

My key concern is that manufacturers will optimize their primary format and skimp on others, like buying a tuner with great FM but very poorly executed AM, or buying a SACD player that has CD redbook inferior to the current state of the art. If I could feel that a universal player was designed for top flight performance in all its formats, I'd buy it. But for now, would you trust Sony to put in really good DVD-A with one of its SACD units? Or Panasonic to put in really good SACD in the same box as its best DVD-A? Maybe when universal players become commonplace and their prices start to come down, high end manufacturers will be in there competing on quality of execution at quality-added price points, not defending their vested interests.

I am going to get a universal player once the price drop to about $1000 & the player has bass managment for both the High Rez formants.

I like to upgrade, but there is no new software out there, only the oldies. Also prices need to drop and don't forget the one cable digital conexion.

I'm concerned with the seemimgly mediocre performance of standard CD's on "multi-play" machines...

Multi channel is the most important improvment since we turned from mono to stereo. The fact that these formats also offer higher resolution than CD is fine, but not the most important fact.