Disk players on the edge

Men's Fitness, Oct, 2003

IF YOUR JONES IS ultimate video and audio replay in the home, then treat your senses to these special machines ... and if you want to buy one, have a high-limit credit card on hand.

The RT-10 from Lexicon, an upscale brand in the house of Harman Kardon, is compatible with any five-inch-format you can throw at it: DVD, DVD-R, DVD-RW, CD, CD-R, CD-RW, MP3, even the newest five-channel, all-audio formats SACD and DVD-A. In addition to featuring the latest high-resolution innards designed for audio, the RT-10 has video capabilities that are among the best in the world. And that's why this universal player just may be worth every bit of its asking price: $3,495; www.lexicon.com

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If you're a purist who spends more time listening to music than watching videos, Oracle Audio's CD1500 may be your ultimate CD player. Its dynamic range (106 decibels) is spectacular, whether your ear prefers Prokofiev or 50 Cent, and because its signal-to-noise ratio is ultralow, even a subtle triangle note will be discernible in the midst of big-band bedlam. The unit is a work of art, and at 70 pounds its biceps-building heft is equal to its $6,350 price tag. www.oracle-audio.com

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