Is Sony's SCD-777ES still the way to go?

Just wondering. I heard one the other day, and it KNOCKED my socks off! Then I started thinking. . . The thing is 3+ years old now. There HAS to be something better out there for the $1500 range.

What about their new players? I heard a 333ES, and was wholeheartedly UNIMPRESSED, and it had $1000 worth of MODS! So. . . Is the 777 still the way to go?

Or. . . I know that I really like the Northstar 24/192 combo a LOT. But it doesn't give me SACD.

What would you guys do?