As an aside to the post from infinity_audio, I have compared a stock MSB 3 using a Sony 779 ES transport (one of the last battleship-like transports Sony made before SACD)to a Linn Genki and it was neck and neck, so perhaps this is the general price range of CDP to compare this dac? Equipment was Bryston 3BST/BP25>N805>Kimber. The MSB also greatly improves the CD section of a Linn Classik. It's nice to have a one box player, however for the price of a MSB on the used market you can't go wrong with even adding it to a basic DVD player for decent redbook sound at a fraction of the cost of a comparable CDP. I'm waiting for a price drop on the current 777ES before I sell my MSB.
philips sacd 1000 as a redbook player
taken at the $399 price, if the sacd 1000 was only a redbook cd player what price range ( cd players) would it compete against? and what highly regarded players would it best?