For several years we have been urging Pioneer to build a reference DVD/CD transport, ideally with just digital data outputs for audio and video so that all conversion is in the amp.
DV989AVi 2005...
Pioneer said there was a limited market for such a product, then sent us the prototype of the DV-989. It features a new power supply with better seperation of analogue and digital supplies. The chassis is stiffer, heavier and better damped. Lowering the disc tray has improved disc stability. Alongside the standard digital audio and video outputs there is i.Link and HDMI. There is SACD and progressive scan selection and the high quality on-board audio DACs have a Pure Audio mode. Aimed at the audio purist it disables everything except the analogue outputs and sounds fantastic, pinpoint accurate and crystal clear. | 
