Sony XA7ES is this still a top notch player?

Rock fool, everything with mechanical parts will, sooner or later, need some repairs. Amps hardly use mechanical parts, so will age better, but one of the first things to go are the mechanical volume pot's. As for speakers, chances are the unit's itself will dry out. And for cd-players: the transport is vulnerable, as is the lens from the laser and the laser unit itself. But it depends on the way the player is used: has it played a lot? Was the owner a smoker (that might pollute the lens)? So it could be a risk buying an older player, but then again, you can save a lot of money. IMHO I would listen (if possible), and if it sounds OK, I would take the risk.

PS Phase is right, the Rotel is a cracking player.....

Satch-Thanks for your response.
I have some 14 year old Thiels that I took to the Thiel factory last year for a physical and they tested as good as new.
No sign at all of the surrounds drying out.
The caps and resistors are still fine also.

My first CD player,a cheap $89 Sharp I bought in 1988 is still going strong.My nephew has had it for at least 10 years and uses it constantly.
This past summer I bought my daughter a Technics CD player at a yard sale and it is very quiet and functions 100%. This massive player must be circa late 80's or older.
Lots of vintage preamps,tuners,turntables out there also trouble free.I wouldnt consider the Sony player exactly vintage either.
I would hope a semi-modern or built today $$CD player would last as long as the $89 Sharp I bought in '88.
Sure,it may be a risk buying a 8 year old CD player.Its possible to get a lemon or a abused player but I trust AudiogoN members with excellent feedback.
Im sure not going to be stocking up on replacement parts prior to buying one,if I do.

Fool?

Despite your name, I'm don't think you're a fool :). As I wrote, I would probably buy an older player as well, and no, I wouldn't buy a pile of replacement parts either.
Actually I use a cheap sony, which is some 10 years old, in my secondary system, and apart from cleaning the lens a couple of years ago, it works brilliantly. So I imagine a much better Sony would last much longer.....

I have the same question six years later. Would the XA7ES still be considered good? Would it hold up against newer universal players?

Mark