Is Sony SCD-1 still worth getting? (1 Viewer)

[Daniel Mai]

With all the new universal player coming out. How does SACD compare to that of SCD-1? or the SCD-XA777ES?

Is SCD-1 still the king of the hill or is it old technology?

I do realized that a stand alone player is likely better than a universal player, but how much better?

Thanks!

 

[KeithH]

Daniel, didn't you ask this question recently? Maybe it was someone else. Anyway, if you can spend the money on the SCD-1 (used) or an 'XA777ES, get one. They are better with CDs and SACDs then the universal players. The '1, 'XA777ES, and original '777ES are all outstanding components. Note that only the 'XA777ES plays multi-channel SACD tracks. Also, Sony has announced the release of an 'XA9000ES to replace the 'XA777ES in Europe. It may very well come out in the US too.

 

[Daniel Mai]

I asked a similar question on another thread that never got answered.

How about the 555ES or 333ES, underneath the 1 and 777ES? How would you rank these in order?

 

[Jagan Seshadri]

Something like the SCD-1 is an engineer's dream. Amazing electrical shielding, layout, components, mechanisms, heft. Featurewise, it is a very simple stereo player, but it would do this very well.

Mind you, a friend of mine got a similarly-made CD player from Sony back in the early 1990s:CDP-X777ES. Sure it's built extremely well (separate analog and digital supplies...wow), but I opted to buy a Panasonic RP-91 DVD/DVD-A/CD player instead of buying that masterful CD machine from my friend. I just couldn't justify the cost of machine that was 'just' a CD player.

-JNS

 

[KeithH]

Daniel, the 'C333ES and 'C555ES are excellent players, but they are not as good as the '1, '777ES, or 'XA777ES. I have both changers, and to my ears, the 'C555ES is a bit better. Now, I use them in my lower-end stereo system. Perhaps if I moved the 'C333ES to my better system, where there is another 'C555ES, I would find the difference to be greater.

 

[Brian Fitterman]

With all the new universal player coming out. How does SACD compare to that of SCD-1? or the SCD-XA777ES?

Its hard to answer that question without knowing what you would have to pay for the SCD-1. It is a really nice 2 channel SACD/CD player. But those are not so hard to come by now. Back then for $5000 it was the king. Now with players from all over the place, it certainly is not worth $5000. Marantz has some nice stand alone SACD multi channel units for $2000 as well that make execellent CD players too.

I certainly would not pay more than $2000 for the player. But that is just my opinion. 2 years ago I paid Tweeter $1400 for their last SCD-777ES player (used - the one right below that one). And that included full warranty. I have since traded it in for other reasons.

If it was me, I think I would tend to lean towards the new top of the line multi channel SACD player for around $2000 from either Sony or Marantz. But again that is just my opinion.