I got my SCD-XA777ES Player....it's mind warping (1 Viewer)

[RicP]

This is just an initial impression after only 10 or so hours of playback but...In the name of all that is Good and Mighty...
This is the best CD/SACD player I have ever heard under $6,000.
Multi-Channel SACD is simply a bonus.
Every one of my SACD's has a brand new life. I'm still deciding on the redbook side...I have a PerpTech modded P-3A DAC which has been just amazing, and on a few CD's I'm thinking the XA777ES comes very very close to besting it.
Even if it doesn't, the fact that it is light years ahead of the 333ES as a transport, which is what I was using to fed the PerpTech DAC before makes the CD's that much better.
So the 333ES is off to the Bedroom to replace a CA7ES carousel Redbook-only player.
I am just marveling at the sheer awesomeness of this machine. It is better than the 777ES from what I can remmeber and I didn't have enough time with the SCD-1 to really make a fair comparison.
I'll report more after I have at least 100 hours on it.

 

[Bhagi Katbamna]

Stereophile just rated this player very highly(for what it's worth).

 

[KeithH]

Good deal, Ric. I was wondering what would become of the 'C333ES. Do you think you will miss the convenience of a changer? Of course, I know the 'XA777ES is better than the 'C333ES.

 

[Adarsh Daswani]

Hey Ric--

Glad to hear you're enjoying the CD player. I noticed that you use a Perpetual Technologies P-3A DAC. The modded versions are popping up on the used market at great prices, and I wanted to get your input on the unit. I listen to a lot of two-channel music using my Toshiba 3750 DVD player as a transport feeding the digital input on my Yamaha DSP-A1. I also have a lot of MP3's that I've ripped from various CD's...most of them are around 192kbps.

I'm looking at a modified MSB Link III or the Perpetual unit. Any thoughts?

-A.

 

[Joe Cole]

Ric,

At the risk of being too nosey, where did you buy it and how much?

This unit has my eye, if and when Krell upgrades my HTS for analog through put.

 

[RicP]

Quote:

I got it from Oade Bros. I can't give out the price but give them a call, they'll give you a great deal. www.oade.com
I LOVE this player!

 

[KeithH]

Ric, I know that Oade Bros. has been selling the 'XA777ES for $2000. That's been common knowledge for awhile. Could you have possibly done significantly better than that?
As for the changer, I honestly don't use my carousels in shuffle mode very often. However, I do like being able to load five discs and change them while being parked on the couch. For shuffle mode, I use megachangers.
It's kind of nice having a 'C333ES in a second system, isn't it. A stock 'C333ES would be a big step up from the 'CA7ES, so I am sure you are in heaven in both systems now.
Let me guess. You are already looking to contact Dan Wright, Richard Kern, and Ric Schultz about mods for the 'XA777ES.

 

[PomingF]

AD, I've had the mod P-3A/P-1A system feeding off my Planet digital for a while & I can tell you it's well worth the admission. PT should have the P-5A out soon and with it's 192 upsampling things would only get better.
I am still holding out on SACD/DVD-A just 'cause I don't feel like giving in to the format war but with Stereophile's recent review... In case it happens, it will probably be the 777 plus a DVD-A player feeding into the Sony TA-P9000 preamp.
PF

 

[RicP]

Let me guess. You are already looking to contact Dan Wright, Richard Kern, and Ric Schultz about mods for the 'XA777ES

LOL! Nah, I'll give at least a good month first
Actually I am anxious to see and hear Dan's new XA777ES mods. He's going to debut them at CES.

 

[John Tillman]

Good luck with your new player. Looks like a fine machine.

 

[Michael D]

Where are the modded P3As popping up on the used market at great prices??? Anyone have a link to one??

 

[RicP]

Just one more thing I noticed about this player is that it is totally whisper quiet. The drawer mechanism, the clamping, everything...it's virtually silent. Quite a change from the sometimes clanky changer in the 333ES.