Geez me too, somewhat...
I just took delivery of a used 555ES that I can't play until my new amp comes in a few weeks and I'm glad I didn't release my CI Dac yet anticipating that the stock 555ES redbook may be something like my original 333ES was (which I had "Kerned").
I can say that after Richard modded my 333ES the redbook jumped substantially forward in musicality (hackneyed term I know). The SACD section was better but not like the redbook was. Based on that experience I am prepared to leave my 555ES stock for SACD and use it for a transport for my DAC (which I dearly love at its pricepoint).
Maintains the Sony ES warranty, gives me what I am hoping for is pretty good SACD (based on stock 333ES sacd in my past) and gives me a good bang for the buck - not nearly the best mind you but enough for now (or until I talk myself into sending it back to Oregon...)
I just took delivery of a used 555ES that I can't play until my new amp comes in a few weeks and I'm glad I didn't release my CI Dac yet anticipating that the stock 555ES redbook may be something like my original 333ES was (which I had "Kerned").
I can say that after Richard modded my 333ES the redbook jumped substantially forward in musicality (hackneyed term I know). The SACD section was better but not like the redbook was. Based on that experience I am prepared to leave my 555ES stock for SACD and use it for a transport for my DAC (which I dearly love at its pricepoint).
Maintains the Sony ES warranty, gives me what I am hoping for is pretty good SACD (based on stock 333ES sacd in my past) and gives me a good bang for the buck - not nearly the best mind you but enough for now (or until I talk myself into sending it back to Oregon...)