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Cheap Sony SACD players: best STOCK/MODified

Ok guys,

someone MIGHT pry my Rega Planet out of my (still living) hands IF I can get a consensus on which of these Sony SACD players to purchase and possibly to MOD later.

There's all this hubbub (bub) on AA re: the 333es being an older version of the sacd converter, and the 222es and even the 775 (less than $200 now) being better.

There's the 222es, 333es, 555es, 500v, 775, 9000v, 9000es

I'm looking for a player at $800 total cost.

SO, that leaves a modded 333es, modded 555es, totally modded 775 or 500v, and basically a stock 9000v and stock 9000es.

I just want 2 channel cd/sacd, and dvd only for audio purposes, and only if the player is better anyway (even if it didn't have dvd capabilities).

What up?? Modwright isn't doing mods on the cheaper players any more, Tweakaudio may be (haven't heard back just yet).

Let the knowledge flow!
gthirteen

Showing 1 response by nrchy

nrchy's avatar
nrchy
2,124 posts
 
I listened to/auditioned a 333 from a local shop for one weekend. I borrowed a few SACDs which i had on either CD or LP. After the weekend I decided the 333 was not worth owning and wondered if all SACD players were so underwhelming.
Since that weekend I have had the opertunity to listen to the 9000ES and found it to be a much more pleasant experience. I considered buying the 9000ES until I stumbled across a SCD 777ES. My friend who owns the 9000ES set it up in his system and the improvement was so dramtic his girlfriend told him she'd work some overtime to pay for it.
The gist of all of this is; I wouldn't look much lower than the 9000ES, but if you can snag an SCD-777ES you won't be disappointed.
I can't say anything about the mods but the better the original unit the better the modded unit!
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