I have the XA-777es, It is a fantastic sacd player and a good redbook player. I think the CD-2 may be the winner of the two on redbook cd's. I am happy with mine though and plan on keeping it for a long while, I've had it for a year now and have had 0 problems. It sounds it's best when you run it in two channel direct mode through it's two channel analog outs for two channel and use it's multichannel outs for multichannel only. I use mine with a passive pre (Bent audio TVC-102) for all two channel listening. On the other hand, I have never listened to the CD-2 and only know of it's sound by what I have read.
Going from an ARC CD-2 to Sony XA-777 ?
I presently have an ARC CD-2 that I'm considering upgrading. Does it make sense to go to a SACD player? Will the Sony sacrifice redbook playback? I presently own 700+ CDs that I would NOT replace, but I have begun purchasing hybrid SACDs where available for new titles. My system utilizes an ARC Ref 2 and BAT VK-60s, but it also includes a Classe 75 that has 5.1 inputs and a Classe 150 that I use bridged for the center and rear channels for a multi-channel SACD. There is also an REL Stadium III that is presently in both the 2 and multi-channel setups. What I would plan to do is run the stereo outputs into the ARC and the 5.1 into the Classe. In both cases the ARC Ref 2 amplifies the main speaker signals.