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Hi,
I'm considering buying sony scd-xa9000es. Many online retailers offer it for $1800, far lower than original $3000. It looks like a steal, but I would appreciate hearing any opinions. My other choice is music hall maverick sacd for $1500. Thanks.
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nutcracker said:
Hi,
I'm considering buying sony scd-xa9000es. Many online retailers offer it for $1800, far lower than original $3000. It looks like a steal, but I would appreciate hearing any opinions. My other choice is music hall maverick sacd for $1500. Thanks.
Nutcracker,
There is a modder, who appears on AA, who worked for Sony for 8 years. He claims, although a good player and fine for modding, that no Sony after the famous SCD-1 has a "reliable transport" :-( They go bad after awhile. I have three Sony's and my modded 555ES is on its way down. This same modder refuses to mod any of their players for this same reason. I would suggest a modded Denon 3910(more money) or modding a Denon 2910 for less than $1500 to your door. There are 5 to 10 very good modders. No stock machine will come close to any of their products!
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Post by csuzor June 14, 2005 (3 of 5)
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pmrodier said:
Nutcracker,
There is a modder, who appears on AA, who worked for Sony for 8 years. He claims, although a good player and fine for modding, that no Sony after the famous SCD-1 has a "reliable transport" :-( They go bad after awhile. I have three Sony's and my modded 555ES is on its way down. This same modder refuses to mod any of their players for this same reason. I would suggest a modded Denon 3910(more money) or modding a Denon 2910 for less than $1500 to your door. There are 5 to 10 very good modders. No stock machine will come close to any of their products!
This is an annoying trend in the industry, imho. A newcomer, or someone wanting to get better sacd sound than the typical entry level machine (like my Denon-2200), just doesn't know what to do next.
I have been looking at these high-end Sony models, convinced that it would be better than a universal player like the Denon models, but your post scares me. I personally think it is risky, buying an already expensive player, then shipping it somewhere around the world for more expensive mods... or buying a modded player from what appears to be a 1-man shop on the other side of the world.
I enquired about modding my 2200, and it could be done for $600 for stereo or $900 for 3-channels... that is more than I paid for it, and what risks would I be taking?
Can someone just suggest what standard mch player is worth buying at different price points, without modifications?
Thanks
Christophe
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Post by onebit June 14, 2005 (4 of 5)
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csuzor said:
This is an annoying trend in the industry, imho. A newcomer, or someone wanting to get better sacd sound than the typical entry level machine (like my Denon-2200), just doesn't know what to do next.
I have been looking at these high-end Sony models, convinced that it would be better than a universal player like the Denon models, but your post scares me. I personally think it is risky, buying an already expensive player, then shipping it somewhere around the world for more expensive mods... or buying a modded player from what appears to be a 1-man shop on the other side of the world.
I enquired about modding my 2200, and it could be done for $600 for stereo or $900 for 3-channels... that is more than I paid for it, and what risks would I be taking?
Can someone just suggest what standard mch player is worth buying at different price points, without modifications?
Thanks
Christophe
I too, faced the same dilemma. I wanted a universal player that also was a good redbook player. I could spend 10,000 CDN on a good (but unproven) universal player (Moon Orbiter for example), or I could spend 4,500 CDN for a new 3910 with all channels modded, clock upgrade etc.
Since I have had great experience with Denon in the past, and I liked the ergonomics and style of the player, the choice was relatively easy. I was lucky enough to be able to drive to the one-man shop (actually a few men), so this made things convenient.
It also meant that if I had a problem with the unit, that I could easily return it for service. This would be my biggest concern - in the event of a problem, the turn-around time could be long - especially considering the customs/duties issues that arise.
Although I know that there are many satisfied owners of modded players out there, the initial trust involved is substantial. I probably wouldn't have done this if the modification service hadn't been local to me.
It also might make sense to buy the player from the modder - in my case, an authorized Denon dealer. That way, you don't have to wait for your player to return. They can also do warranty work in the event of a problem.
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nutcracker said:
Hi,
I'm considering buying sony scd-xa9000es. Many online retailers offer it for $1800, far lower than original $3000. It looks like a steal, but I would appreciate hearing any opinions. My other choice is music hall maverick sacd for $1500. Thanks.
Sony SACD players are very good. The best one for the price is the 790 (around 400 to 450$).
Definitely a must to play SACD. I have it since 2 years now and this is clearly a top performer.
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