Is Sony SCD-1 still worth to possess?


Looking for SACD player:
(1)Marantz sa-14
(2)Sony SCD-1
(3)Sony XA-777ES
Which one to choose?
Is Sony SCD-1 still worth to possess?
Need suggestion please
Thank you
sylinnian
Unless you want multichannel disc decoding capabilities (then get the XA-777ES), the SCD-1 is well worth getting. I agree with JD and John, stock it's on a level playing field with the Wadia 850 class of player and with a top quality analog stage, power supply and clock mod (I had a tube output stage mod done for me by Jerry Ozment of Audio Logic a couple of years ago on my 777ES, which he unfortunately doesn't do anymore) it can compete with the absolute best players/transport-DAC combos available on redbook and you get SACD playback as well that will knock your socks off. While the Marantz unit is apparently good sounding, I seem to recall reading about a lot of QC problems with these units compared to the SCD-1s.
When Sony introduces a new product, the first is the greatest. All others that follow will never compare. They just whittle away at the technology until the masses all have one. So yes, the SCD-1 is a keeper.
All the responses iron my heart to die for a SCD-1.Can somesoby show the website address for modification?
Thank you
The Sony is good, but the SA-14 is superior. It has a true balanced circuit and uses newer generation DACs. Unless you need multichannel, then I would seriously consider the new multichannel Marantz. Here is what an insider at Sony told me:
#2: Only the SCD-1 has balanced outputs but it sounds better, it was actually
designed, to be played through the unbalanced outputs, the RCA outputs.

YMMV. IMHO.
Richard Kern can be found at www.audiomod.com
Dan Wright is at www.modwright.com.

Both guys do audiocom (an english company that makes the upgrades) installs, and some additional specialty stuff.

I've met both of these guys and had both of their players stomped my stock scd-1 into the ground in direct A to B tests in my system. The mods work and they are not subtle improvements. I recommend both of them equally as people whom I would trust to do the work. They are both very professional (and smart [yikes!]) people.

My player already had some kern mods done to it when I bought it, so having Richard continue with more upgrades made the most sense.

I'm listening to Art Pepper's 'the way it was' on my hot-rod scd-1 now! Superbe et Sublime! Thanks Art! Thanks Richard!