SACD Audio Equipment

The Sony 9000ES is a great value. See my post to Ampman66.

What is the retail on the new Pioneer DVAX-10?? Anyone know?

Based on your other components I think a good fit would be the Marantz SA-1 player. Though it's a bit expensive I think it clearly beats out the SCD-1 and 777ES on both redbook and SACD playback. It's a pretty impressive unit.

The Pioneer DVAX-10 is $6000. You should be able to get it for $3800 or so. If you want ONE unit that will play everything except multi-channel SACD (It does play 2 channel SACD), then the Pioneer is the first chioce. I own both the Sony 9000ES & DVAX-10 and there is no comparison, the redbook cd on the DVAX-10 is much better than the Sony.
It should be better, the transport is much better isolated, the entire chassis is wrapped in copper, the cd drawer mechanism has a double air lock seal, and there are other features that further enhance the performance...and one more item I forgot to mention...It upsamples standard 16/44.1 to 24/96 and may (I'm trying to get an answer from Pioneer on this) upsample to 24/192. The SACD section still sounds better than upsampled redbook cd, but not by a large amount.

I believe the 9000 ES is the best value. I own the SCD-1 and continue to be extremely pleased (2 years). I would look into the Pioneer DVAX-10. I know nothing about it, but if Darrell is correct that may be the state-of-the art today in affordable units. The Marantz is fine, but I think over priced for what you get.
My opinion is the same today as it was when I first baught my unit. Get in now, enjoy the upgrade in music and wait for the next generation. To not get in is wrong in my opinion, too much gained and little risked. In the next few years some great players with more to offer will come out, and I'll be there to buy, but today I'm loving the music and building a library. Yes the selection is limited, so what! The redbook is better than I had with similiar priced standard players and I have SACD, I can hardly go wrong. That is why I believe the 9000ES is the best value. Offers all thats avalible at a great price and gets you in and enjoying the benifits of the new tech.