Upgrade from Sony XA9000ES

Thanks Bigtee and I agree about the inherent weakness in CD playback. I'm using a very quiet Spectral/MIT system and it allows one to hear the limitations of the Sony-as great a machine as it is. I would like even more refinement, detail and dynamics. The 860 is quite old. Are you sure it's equal to the Sony?

Bigtee, I presently have the XA900ES for CD and SACD and a Lexicon RT 20 in the system for CD and DVD-A and movies.
I use balanced power for all, separate for the front end and the amp, as well as good isolation & conditioning for each digital piece. Friends all hear the differences between the RT20 and the Sony the same, and all can hear what I'm hearing. (My listening evaluators are women and young men as their hearing is supposedly at its best.) Because the 20 & 9000 are different I don't think what we are hearing is elsewhere in the system.
You mentioned the Sony is not the last word for CD.
You have exeptional exposure to different units.
Could you advise how the XA9000ES compared to the c5xe and the 861 for CD play?
Have you ever heard the RT20? We find it 'surprisingly' good for CD. Very dynamic.

Bigtee, I presently have the XA900ES for CD and SACD and a Lexicon RT 20 in the system for CD and DVD-A and movies.
I use balanced power for all, separate for the front end and the amp, as well as good isolation & conditioning for each digital piece. Friends all hear the differences between the RT20 and the Sony the same, and all can hear what I'm hearing. (My listening evaluators are women and young men as their hearing is supposedly at its best.) Because the 20 & 9000 are different I don't think what we are hearing is elsewhere in the system.
You mentioned the Sony is not the last word for CD.
You have exeptional exposure to different units.
Could you advise how the XA9000ES compared to the c5xe and the 861 for CD play?
Have you ever heard the RT20? We find it 'surprisingly' good for CD, for a DVD player. Very dynamic.