I also suggest that you contact J&R Music World. I just bought a SCD-333ES from them and they are blowing them out for $600 which is half price. If you are interested in 2 channel as I am then this is by far your best bet. Their new machines are all multichannel and the 555ES which is basicly a multichannel version of the 333ES will set you back $1500. BTW, I bought a 777ES from J&R a year ago for $1800 and just sold it for what I paid. I am very happy with the 333ES and with a Perpetual Tech front end is far superior sounding to the 777ES and much more convienient to use. Also, doesn't take forever to load a disc. The 777ES is I'm sure a better transport but with all of the reclocking and upsampling the differences are marginal. Also, Modwright will upgrade the 333ES for around $350 so for less than a grand you can have something very close to SOTA and convience too!
Disappointed in SACD player
Well, there I was yesterday. At the chain store who Sony has designated as their retail point of attack for SACD in the Philadelphia, PA region. Tweeter, formerly known as Bryn Mawr Stereo and Video. Formerly, Bryn Mawr Stereo(but we all know what happened there). Since my recent misfortunes with CD players, I was considering a jump to a Sony SACD player. One thing about Sony, their stuff is reliable. I found one player, the 5 disc changer. It was hooked up in a HT setup. Not even prominently. There was also another CD player in this system, along with a DVD-V player. As no salesman came into the room, I didn't pursue. I found no other player in the store. Finally, when we were looking at tv's, someone asked us if we needed help. I asked about SACD, and was told two players were on display. I asked to see the one that I didn't see. I was taken to a wall of DVD players, and sure enough, the ES9000 was there. Not hooked up, sitting there like all of the other DVD players. And in fact, THAT IS HOW THIS STORE IS MARKETING IT. As a DVD player! The guy gave me the big spiel on it, from a DVD perspective. 12 bit scan, instead of 10, etc., etc., etc. All of which is meaningless to me. I am not a HT or DVD guy. I spend my time on two channel audio. The guy left me less interested in the player than when I came in. They could not even find any SACD material in the entire store. Not even a sampler. I came in wanting to be impressed, wanting to leave with the desire to buy an SACD player. Needless to say, I probably won't be buying very soon. Wasn't this supposed to be Sony's summer of all out SACD offensive? Players starting at $350(which still will probably come), creating interest with the general public and lifting the new format to something beyond the niche of the lunatic fringe. As it is now, it is not even as recognizable as DAT, and miles behind MD(which was very prominent in the store). Both of which are monumental flops in the words of Sony.