I am quite sure the Bow ZZ-Eight would beat either of the two CD players you mention. I have borrowed one for the last week and it is an outstanding performer. It is no wonder that it has the reputation as one of the finest single box players available. It has midrange to die for, a thunderous low end, and the highs are well detailed without being overly bright. Everything is presented with great impact and immediacy. Sometimes, on some recordings, cymbals can get a little tizzy for my taste, but it has raised the level of my system a good 15-20% and will be hard to give back. My impression after hearing the Sony and the EMC is that neither compete as Redbook or HDCD CD players in this very lofty atmosphere. Of course, the only one which I have had for an extended length of time in my system is the Bow ZZ-Eight.
