What high-end multichannel SACD players are there?

I presume you are looking at MCH analog outs. The alternitive is to get a SACD player with HDMI out and run into a processor. Oppo 93 / 95 will give you both options (MCH analog and HDMI out). For MCH analog there is an upgrade to the Oppo 93 that takes it up a notch. You can google this.

If you want the best MCH analog out, you can go up the foodchain and get the Denon or Marantz (ud9004) Universal player. For HDMI this is non starter though, because unlike the Oppo these players downsample HDMI output.

Other options for SACD with MCH out are Esoteric and Krell.

Keep in mind though that MCH analog is a dead end architecture, and good MCH analog preamp (which make a huge difference) are hard to come by. You can run through the analog bypass of a processor, but depending on quality of hardware you may be better of running digital. Your safest bet is to get an Oppo, allowing you to do both and compare, without breaking the bank.

For HDMI output, the Oppo 93 is equivalent to the 95. If you do not need the Blu Ray, you can get a Sony XA5400. According to Kal marginally better than the Oppo on HDMI out. Oppo converts SACD / DSD at 88/24 PCM. Very expensive (oppo based) Ayre has optimized HDMI - supposedly better than plain vanilla Oppo. I would personally stay away from Oppo based expensive players that are based on the 83 platform (i.e. all of them).

My experience is very consistent with this. I went from HDMI into an Onkyo SSP, which was very good. But then I went MCH analog into the analog bypass of the Onkyo and things got better. Then I upgraded the Onkyo to a dedicated MCH analog preamp, which was the next step up. Then I upgraded my MCH analog source to Marantz ud9004, which was the next level of improvement. To improve on a high grade analog signal path you need a very high grade SSP, which will probably end up costing you more.

The thing missing in this equation is room correction - which could be a big factor.

But bottom line, if you are getting limited room improvement mileage out of your anthem, it could be you are better off going analog than HDMI purely on the basis of sound quality.

If you have 3K to spend and you are willing to go down this path, I would scout out a used (or new discounted) marantz ud9004. Keep in mind, this player has downrezed SACD HDMI, so it is a big commitment to analog.

I would personally test the waters with an Oppo (which is an easy resale), and if you decidede to go analog you can get your upgraded, or get a higher grade MCH analog player like the Marantz.

My recollection is Kal's statement was made in his review of Ayre universal player. He compared the Ayre to both the Xa5400 and a plain vanilla Oppo, but I believe this was a 93, not a 95. However, since the 93 and 95 should be identical, this should make no difference. Look up the ayre review online and you'll find out.