Unidisk SC vs. VSEI modded Sony for SACD?

The best of my SACDs (my collection of which numbers about 15 so far) totally blows away anything I've heard from the Ikemi, including HDCDs. Even my girlfriend who was skeptical of SACD from the get-go had to admit that there was more air and space between instruments, more natural decay, and overall better dynamics - including microdynamics. Unfortunately not all the SACDs were as amazing and mainly it was the 'Pure DSD' classical SACDs (plus the Police Synchronicity on Sacd) that were truly amazing on the unmodded 9000es.
The difference between redbook andsacd was most pronounced through my stax sr-lambda (later sr-404 stax) electrostatic headphones, but I also noticed the difference using Sennheiser Hd600's with and without the cardas headphone cable upgrade. Even some older remastered recordings, such as the 'quad remastered' Elly Ameling (soprano) series had a much more liquid and organic sound on sacd compared to the same Schubert Lieder pieces performed by Ameling on my Phillips redbook cds.

If you get a chance to audition a 9000es (can't speak for the other sony's), I recommend bringing such disks as the Telarc Classic SACD sampler 2, The Rite of Spring (Paavo Jaervi conducts on Telarc), Brahms violin Sonatas (Csaba and Heisser perform on Praga Digitals label), Brahms' Clarinet Trio and Quintet (Opus 3 Label 'pure DSD' CD 22021), and Martin Pearlman conducting the Boston Baroque's performance of Bach's Orchestral Suites (Telarc Pure DSD). Actually all the classical SACDs I own sound very good and at least as good as anything played back from the Ikemi, but some are more obviously higher-res sounding, so to speak, than others.

The first two disks mentioned above are decidely superior in every way to any redbook CD I've heard on the Ikemi- no need for highly resolving speakers to hear it. I paid $600 for my 9000es at a local dealer, but much better prices (as low as $400-500) can be found online.

If and when I get the 9000es modded, I'll be sure to email you. For the time being I'm focussing on my analog front end (i.e. saving up for a used LP cleaning machine) , since as I mentioned before, I'm fairly content with the sound of SACD on the unmodded 9000es, having several SACDs lying around which are still sealed.

Thanks for the detailed explanation!

However I should stress the point that redbook on the unmodded 9000es is nowhere near as good as on the Ikemi. It has a decent redbook sound, don't get me wrong, but one more expected of a DVD player that retailed for $1500 six years ago. The Ikemi is truly special IMO for presenting redbook with a finesse that, in the right system, makes one question the limitations of 16/44. I agree with all the reviews regarding the Ikemi's refined and extended top end, defined yet slightly lean bass (my preference for classical and jazz), and overall musical presentation. I'll definitely miss that Linn player - even my gf was sad to see it go - but we (I say 'we' because she's an amateur classical musician who over time, long after I gave up trying to get her excitied about audiophile stuff, found that she had unwittingly become a bit of an audiophile nonetheless) feel the VPI Scoutmaster (paid for in full with the proceeds of the Ikemi sale) with the Lyra Helikon cartridge (bought lightly used - a chunk more $$$) and the Ear834p Deluxe phono preamp (ditto) has proved so far to be an excellent sonic upgrade over the Ikemi. Of course there's the problem that the TT won't play Cd's but we're working on that.... Which is where the future plan to mod the Sony comes in...right now I'm trying to forget my moderately sized classical redbook collection, yet know that someday something in the form of a sony mod or outboard redbook DAC may help those discs shine anew. Then there's the slight problem of us not having any loudspeakers, since I sold them to get the phono cartridge -so we're making do with a couple pairs of stax electrostat 'earspeakers' fed by a stax vintage tube amp. Ach..audiotrap

Thanks again for the explanation. When I auditioned the ikemi and Meridian 588, didn't like the linn right away. But after two days of listening I ended up returning the meridian to my dealer. After the linn purchase, I listened to ayre cx7 and wondered if I made the right choice. However, The more I played the linn the more I start to appreciate the ikemi sound. Piano and female voice are articulated very accuratly, and to be honest the bass didnt bother at me at all (I would say it has tight bass as oppose to lean). but, the lower midrange is slightly analytical. I wish it has more brass on some saxophone recordings. and since I also listen to some acid jazz that aren't recorded properly, the lean midrange is somewhat accentuated. These are minor cons, and have no plans to change my ikemi.

Anyway, I have very few classical recordings, but since my gf listens to them alot, I'm starting to appreciate it more. Your positive review of both 9000ES and classical SACDs made me take the plunge. Once I bought a used ES, I'll start building my classical recordings. Maybe you can give me a short recommendation list of which recordings to buy. BTW, I bought a Sarah Chang CD (my first classical purchase in 2 years), and was really amazed at her skill. The music was a bit too hardcore for me though ... (Shostakovich/Prokofiev).
Thanks again...

I listed pretty much all my favorite classical SACDs above (my collection is still small), but of those I would say get the Rite of Spring (Paavo Jaervi conducts, on Telarc), the Brahm violin sonatas mentioned above (performances are stellar, and sound is very good to excellent for sacd), Beethoven Trios (Freddy Kempf Trio, some of the most delicate yet tight phrasing I've heard), and the Telarc Classical SACD sampler 2 (to give you a great taste of 'what's out there').

The unmodded 9000es may not be perfect, but for what it costs used, you can't go wrong, and anyway you;'d always be able to sell it since units in great condition from trustworthy sellers aren't all that easy to find.