What is the best two channel SACD player for $1500

I am not sure how much you can improve the SACD performance of the SONY C555ES. At the time of its release (2000), its SACD performance was rated an A+ by Stereophile.

Is your concern more about owning an aging SACD player that has reported problems with some of its moving parts and seems to be only repairable at SONY's Laredo facility? It's a legitimate concern ... I have the same one, as my SONY C555ES is now 8 years old.

What I did was to purchase a redbook CD player for most of my cd playing and to just use the SONY for SACD playing. In addition to my SONY, I own a Rega Apollo CD player and a Musical Fidelity CD Pre 24 (preamp/ cd player combo) that I rotate between two of my systems. The other equipment is a Prima Luna Prologue 5 tube amplifier and Opera Platea floorstanders.

When the SONY finally does go, I don't know if I will replace it with another SACD player. I own 300 or so SACD discs, but only a dozen or so SACD only discs. Yeah, there are differences between redbook and SACD, but not at a level that I get too worked up about.

For my $1500, I would look to purchase the best redbook player that you can that would work with your equipment ... Rega Apolllo, Cambridge Audio 840, Musical Fidelity A.5, or Naim.

Best regards,

Rich

For $60 you need to buy a refurb sony 595 from sonystyle. A long term warranty from them will cost $20. If when you get it, listen. If okay keep it, if not call them and they will pick it up and refund your money. In any event, the unit sounds great, assuming you get one that really works. I have one, an a 777es. Sound is about equal. The chips in the 595 are in fact those that were used in the 555. enjoy. be $1420 richer.

The SONY C555ES was Stereophile Class A, not A+, iirc. The 777 and 9000 were A+ and the 5400 should be up there.

Kal

Mofi just buy an C5xe. Jump in and get wet!

Theo...so, you are going to sell me your's for $1099.00? That's what the Sony is going for.