Hi Anilnediyara and thank you for your question. If I go back to my dCS Verdi LaScala and Elgar Plus combo, which was detailed but sounded lifeless, I borrowed a well run-in Wadia 581se and ran it non-stop for a full week. On a comparison level, the 581se was a little less digital on Red Book CD than the dCS kit, but really left dCS standing on SACD. Wadias algorithms are just phenomenal at interpolating the very fine nuances of sound and, on SACD, I dont think there are any other manufacturers who can beat them. Having said that, when I returned the 581se for a brand new, out-of-the box, 381i, the effect was instantaneous. Real music flowed and just got better and better as the machine became more and more burned-in. What I immediately noticed was the pure detail of individual notes and a very 3-dimentional soundstage which added real solidity and placement to individual players. Every note had its proper attack and decay and I could sense the delicate timbre of each instrument. In all my years (and I am 63), I have never heard anything as beautiful as listening to my old drab CDs taking on new life with new heart, delicacy and detail. Although there was a tad more detail from the 581se on SACD replay, the overall performance of the 381 completely edged it for me. I never had very many SACD discs, but now I do not feel the need to look in that direction at, usually, higher prices than CD. There is one caveat, however, and it is that you do need full bandwith speakers and equipment to really get the very best out of the 381. Having said that, using the same equipment to play a 381, as was used to play some other CDP, there will be a very noticeable difference. A final word of advice: make sure you audition a well run-in 381 for at least 3-4 days (preferably for a week) before you make any decision. I hope this is of some assistance. John.
