DAC or Upgraded Analogue in SACD units?

Just to offer a contrarian view -- one of the truly nice features of the Sony ES line is the 5 year warranty. In addition to voiding the warranty, any of the above mod may negatively effect the resale value of your unit. I use the 333ES machine with a MSB Platinum DAC, total cost under $3,800. More expensive than the modded 777ES, but better sound quality (at least for Redbook CD) and flexibility.

Kenl, I was only referring to the CD playback, not SACD, which is a different ballgame. Sorry for the confusion. You should listen to both the Wadia and Sony units if you can, they each have their own strengths and weaknesses, but on the whole I felt they were of similar value. Onhwy61's post is well worth emphasizing, I mentioned it briefly but it is a significant consideration.

onhwy61: I cannot understand logic of people who upgrade only part of front end i.e. CD via extrenal DAC vs entire front end SACD+CD together. If I to put my limited resources I would go 2nd way, which I did (mod by Stan Warren for $250 plus fantastic filter "triphazer" plus few more thing BUT for both). Other think, not every one has $3.8k for hi-prices Red Book DAC's, If I would have them I would put to better front end (today, Marantz, SA-1 which seems to me is somewhat better then SCD-1 in SACD mode and substantially better in CD mod - at least according to posts). Again you don't have to mod and void warranty if you don't wish to do it but there are many ways to improve the system sound.

I don't view onhwy61's post as contrarian, since the warranty and resale issues need to be considered carefully, and any decision to mod equipment requires a certain comfort level. So you've raised an important point. In my case, the 777 is a long-term purchase that will likely wind up in my secondary system some years hence. Beyond that, the decision to do strictly a parts upgrade rather than a circuit mod simplifies the task of a qualified tech with access to a Sony tech manual in the event that something goes haywire. But you're right: having a unit like this modded in any fashion is _not_ for the faint of heart.

A used or new 777 is way over $2000 now, plus mod is way over 2500 and the lose of warranty! u do the math. Better get a SCD-1, isn't it?

SCD-1 can offer a first class redbook CD sound already but could be "better" in really subtle way, which some people may say "different"

I heard people say SCD-1's Redbook sound can match AR CD2.