Sony DVP-NS9100ES DVD Player

I bought the Sony 9100ES sight unseen based upon the reviews I read on the previous Sony ES DVD players. I am glad I did. I wanted a dedicated CD/SA-CD player and have found it in the 9100. The audio quality in this unit is simply fabulous. Best I've ever heard. I have a fairly upper end HT that includes a Denon 5805 receiver, Samsung HD1000 DVD/CD/DVD Audio player, Sony DHG-HDD500 DVR, Monster AVS2000 voltage regulator and Pioneer 64" CRT RPTV. The Samsung is an awesome video player that upconverts via component output to 1080i. It is a reference player that has stood the test against the likes of the Pioneer 59AVi, Denon 3800 and Yamaha S2500. It is also a reference CD player, but I wanted an SA-CD player as well. Thus I bought the Sony. The Sony's CD performance is so far above anything I've ever owned I can't begin to compare it. The soundstage is huge! Phenomenal clarity, tight low end and smooth mid range. The high end is not harsh in any way. Simply true to form. I can't tell you how much I enjoy CD's and SA-CD's on this unit. The video is very, very comparable to the Samsung (component comparison here - hdmi could even be better, but I have no way of testing it). A very smooth picture, very detailed with beautiful colors. A ton of video adjustments that I needed to cure a slight red push on my set up, which I partly attribute to the fact that my set was calibrated with the Samsung and it's 1080i signal. Skin tones are natural and it's just a pleasure to view. This is a fabulous player that does not disappoint in any aspect of its performance. I am just hooked on its audio quality. I am keeping the Samsung as I believe it handles less quality transfers slightly (and I mean very slightly) better. However, overall, the 9100 would have to rate higher in my opinion simply because of its superb audio performance. I can't imagine a better value on the market today.