Philips DVD727 Progressive-Scan DVD Player
A 12 bit video DAC for under $100!
This puppy can oversample at a 4X rate -meaning it can read ahead of the data stream and anticipate/correct variances before you are even aware there was a problem.  Add to everything else written here about its features.  I just burn plain ole MPEGS and this baby has no issues. Nice internal volume and picture settings for special tweaking. All region hack capable. And LORDY they even include BOTH optical and coax audio out-a simple necessity which the Panasonic chowderheads apparently neglected in rushing to promote their soon to be outdated DVD-RAM format.  As the long-time tech leader in Europe with its inherent multiple, incompatible formats, Philips has always demonstrated a technical flexibility with media - it plays DVD+R/RW also.<br />WARNING! Do NOT use the Philips upgrade disc (found at their website)with their earlier models as this effectively froze my beautiful 724 player and I have read others also having this happen to theirs.  On the bright side, Philips is exchanging this despite being almost a year old!  I am impressed-so far.