Wadia GNSC

To the best of my knowledge, the laser used in the 861 is NLA. 861s have a good record for longevity but they are getting on now.

A more recent Esoteric would be a safer investment. Those equipped with a USB input work well with content streamed from a computer running Roon.

rockband

Go for the 850 GNSC mods. What current Player is fronting your system?

Happy Listening!

Wadia are as dead as the dodo and their spares are almost extinct.

I've still got a GNSC Wadia 781i.

Before buying any CD/SACD player make sure that spare drives and lasers are available.

Even better rip all your CDs to a server/streamer.

 I thought that Wadia had folded shop years ago

Hello,

The Wadia 850 with GNSC mods and the Wadia 861se without mods are both high-quality CD players from Wadia. The GNSC mods on the Wadia 850 are aftermarket modifications that may enhance its performance. It's difficult to provide specific feedback on the comparison without more detailed information or personal experiences from users who have compared the two models. Ultimately, the decision between investing in a player/transport strategy or a newer streamer depends on your preferences and priorities.