I just bought a new Sony SCD-777Es for $1545 including shipping. Using all tube equipment this piece is comparable to both my SFCD-1 and ARC CD2 when playing CD's.As for the sound of SACD's there is no doubt more of the music comes through. It is hard for me to describe the sound but it has more palpability especially in the lower midrange and upper bass. Listening to a cello, much more the note is heard. More of the body of the instrument. There is no "thinness" to the sound at all. Now using a SS(pass aleph 5) amp does not convey this music with the same beauty. System using a 300B SET amp sounds absolutely great. System using Pass amp sounds not much better than a CDp. I highly recommend to those who own tube equipment to listen to a SACD player. A new Sony SCD-777ES can be purchased from Oade.com for $1545 including shipping.By the way, as a Cd player it is almost as good as the Sonic Frontiers and ARC and does not sound thin at all. Jeff
Relief? The New Digital Players
On a digital note is anyone relieved that the preliminary reports on the new digital format/players are not all that favoring IMO? I keep hearing the word "thin" used to describe the sound, both from this site as well as a few dealers that have attended trade shows. I have wanted a second CD source and have been kind of placed on hold in the interim. Thin would not be the way to go with our current system which I do not wish to change, and in which I had planned on using the new player, and the old one in a second system. If the new format does not sound miles better I do not see the industry changing formats anytime soon. How good are the new players? Are they thin sounding as I have heard to date or is there more to it?