The Pioneer 563A is NOT too good to be true. I have one, and I can assure you that it is truly an astonishing bargain. Here is what you DON'T get:
(1) Fully adjustable bass management for the 6-channel-analog-output. Instead, you can only set speakers to "large" or "small" and sub to "on" or "off." Some users have complained that the crossover is too high, particularly for DVD-A, but I haven't noticed a problem.
(2) You don't always get pure DSD-to-analog conversion with SACDs. To quote a post from the HTF forum:
"Here's how Bass Management and DSD conversion work on the 563A.
"If you set the Audio Output to 2 Channel in the 563's menu, it turns off Bass Management. If you set it to 5.1 Channel, it turns it on.
"So, let's say you want to listen to the stereo track of a multi-channel SACD. You set the 563 (Initial Settings/Options) to go to the Stereo track, then if you want Bass Management, set the Audio Output to 5.1.
"Here's how the DSD conversion works:
"Bass Management OFF - DSD to Analog directly
"Bass Management ON - DSD to LPCM to Analog
"Since it goes to LPCM, you shouldn't hear a difference and, in fact, I can't when I play SACD's either way (except, of course, nothing comes out of my sub-woofer with BM Off).
"It seems that the people who don't have a 563 are the ones concerned about DSD conversion and the ones that have one know that SACDs sound good. There are at least 3 high end SACD players ($5000 to $20000) that convert DSD to LPCM also, and they are well regarded."
IMHO, the Pioneer is an excellent "stopgap" universal player until such a time as affordable and standardized all-digital-out players become available.
To see the machine taken to pieces, both literally and figuratively, go to
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htforum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=150437.
