Sony 9000ES service

My Sony 9000ES had become very unreliable about playing the SACD layer, most often balking. I sent the unit to Sony Laredo for service, and got it back yesterday. It suffered no dings or blemishes, and it seems to work flawlessly. I had forgotten how elegant this unit is, much more so than my 9100ES. Could it actually sound better than it did before the problems, or is it just my imagination?

Now if I can only find the remote; I know I put it somewhere where it would be safe.

db