Used within its limitations, the DVDMaster 8000 Pro could produce stunning sound. Well-recorded Dolby Digital soundtracks such as Down from the Mountain or VHS1 Divas sounded fantastic through a hot-rodded system consisting of the 8000 Pro plugged directly into my power amps. Harmonically, the 8000 Pro sat right between the Meridian 568 and the Lexicon MC-12—a bit warmer than the Lexicon, not quite as rich as the Meridian—and soundstage dimensions and image depth were on a par with both of those fine processors. The Meridian has a smidgen better back-to-front depth, while the Lexicon provides slightly more precise lateral image placement. Yet low-level detail and definition through the 8000 Pro should satisfy even the most demanding old-style audiophile. Even with the most complex mixes, individual melody lines and subtle background instruments retained their clarity and identities.

Two-channel sources played back through the 8000 Pro with no derived surround-sound effects sounded extraordinary. It had been a long time since I'd enjoyed 2-channel sound as much. Like its predecessor, the DSP-9000, the 8000 Pro got closer to the music, with fewer extramusical colorations, than any digital source I've heard recently. Were I not such a maniac for surround-sound music, I might have been lured back into the 2-channel fold by the 8000 Pro's seductive and musically natural sound. Everything seemed less mechanical through the DVDMaster: Electronic grain and texture, which normally place limitations on how relaxed and real recorded music can sound, were less noticeable; I couldn't have been more involved in the music.

Used in conjunction with a first-rate processor like the Lexicon MC-12 or Meridian 568, the 8000 Pro offered some intriguing sonic options. Not only can you use the DVDMaster's analog outputs if your processor has analog pass-throughs, but you can hook up its coaxial or TosLink digital audio outputs and use it as a DVD and/or CD transport. With the Meridian 568, which lacks analog pass-throughs, the second option is your only option. The 8000 Pro performed admirably as a CD transport. When compared directly in matched-level A/B tests with my reference C.E.C. TL 2 transport, the 8000 Pro came microscopically close in sound quality. Minute differences could easily be attributed to cables or transmission methods (the 8000 Pro was tethered via coaxial; the TL 2 was hooked up via AES/EBU). Both transports delivered top-echelon sound. I doubt if anyone using the DVDMaster as a CD transport would be disappointed in its sound.

Truth or Consequences?
Every manufacturer prays for a rave review, especially when their product is the first of a whole line of new components. Longtime readers know that I seldom turn in an unqualified rave, and this review is no exception. Even though the EAD DVDMaster 8000 Pro is far more than a one-trick pony, I suspect it will appeal to a limited market: audiophiles who want to expand into home theater and DVD-Audio while retaining a state-of-the-art 2-channel music system. The 8000 Pro is the perfect choice for someone who isn't enamored of surround sound derived from 2-channel sources but is ready to make the plunge into DVD-Audio and -Video. When installed in a carefully set-up system, the DVDMaster can produce state-of-the-art sound and a top-flight 480p image.

Its limitations are primarily in flexibility. As a standalone unit driving a multichannel amplifier directly, the 8000 Pro is fine if you just want to listen to and/or watch DVDs and CDs, but it can't be used as the command center for an extensive and full-blown home-theater system. If you want to use a laserdisc player or a phono preamp or another CD transport, you can't. The same goes for other video sources; the Adagio board has no auxiliary video inputs, so it can't function as a line doubler for a laserdisc player or VCR. Addicts of Survivor and soap operas will not find this entirely to their liking.

The sole point of purchasing a high-priced DVD player is its potential for great performance, and EAD's DVDMaster 8000 Pro delivered results on a par with its lofty price, and produced the best picture and sound I've seen or heard from any DVD player. For a select segment of viewers, the 8000 Pro will be the perfect center for an exceedingly fine home-theater system. I hope that, having read this review, you now know exactly who you are.