Cheap Sony SACD players: best STOCK/MODified

I own a modded 333ES and can attest that mods do offer a significant upgrade to the stock units - but its my impression that the redbook presentation realized larger benefits than the SACD section.

In your price zone you could get one of Matt's (SACDmods.com) completed units and have money left over for some software. I believe the 222ES can now be bought for under $400 which would leave money for mods. Not sure what the 555ES is now going for but I'm not sure you can buy one a get the mods done within your budget but I guess there is no harm in inquiring with Stan or Ric.

A local chap just took delivery of a modded 775 from Matt Anker so we are trying to set-up a show-down between my "Kerned" 333ES, his machine and a stock 555ES. Unfortunately, all of our respective systems are not functioning so who knows when we'll get out shit together...

It would be my advice to get a multi-channel machine even if you are a 2 channel guy as there are reported problems with 2 channel players playing multi-channel discs.

G13 - Yes to your 1st statement. All sacd discs that are noted as multi-channel also have a 2 channel layer so one can play it on a 2 channel player. The problem arises when a 2 channel player begins to negotiate its way onto the multi-channel layer (which its not supposed to do) and a loud "white noise" appears.

With fingers crossed I advise this has not yet happened to my 333ES player although I only have 2 multi-channel SACD discs at the present time...

Trich727 - I've heard a stock 9000ES and while I'd give it a the edge in stock form vs my previous stock 333ES, after the 333ES was modded it seriously trounced the stock 9000ES. Now modded vs modded may be an entirely different story...