The 8260 is not nearly as bad as some here seem to think it is. Given its price, a lot of people are putting it into systems that are - shall we say - typical of that price range. The components downstream are compromising the sound of the 8260.
In 2005, I had the use of a friend's 8260 for several weeks on loan while he was looking for an all-new upgraded system. I then sold it for him on an audio website. I had it installed in a system that was way above its pricep oint, and it sounded far better than I had expected. I'm used to listening to CD players worth 8,000.00 and up, and I can say that the 8260 did not send me running out of the room. It did not do anything unpleasant, it was very good in SACD and better in redbook than many of the mutli-players (and mod'ed players) that everybody drools over around these parts.
It was a 2002 player, the same batch that a lot of people complained had disc reading errors. It had worked perfectly for the owner, and it worked pefectly for me. Although there may have been some bad ones, I am convinced that many of the complainers had not read the manual, specifically how to load a CD. If you just drop a disc in and press the drawer close or Play button, you've screwed-up! You have to tell the 8260 what format and/or layer you want to listen-to, be it SACD Multi, SACD Stereo or CD. When you push the appropriate button, the drawer closes and plays without a hitch. I think this is preferable to a player that defaults to a particular layer. (like going to multi when you only have a two channel system!!)
The 8260 is a great value at Retail, and a "steal" at used prices. Consider that the same model has been around now for what - four years? That says something about its popularity and quality, in a business where companies routinely change their models every year!
