dCS Puccini vs EMM labs XSD1

Buy the Weiss Medea, it betters the puccini (IMHO) and probalby the XSD1 as well.

I have had the oportunity to compare the XSD1 to the Puccini with clock:

Redbook: in Brahms Symphony nr'1 Chicago / Barenboim

XSD1 : the lower frequencies, Cello & double bass are probably a little better defined, it's generally a darker sound than the Puccini ... much better than the former Emm Lab

SACD: Mahler 1 Tonhalle / Zinman

Puccini clearly wins, placement and outline of the musicians on the stage, better definition.

I must admitt I don't know if the EMM Lab was already burned in ...

ime, the Puccini falls noticeably short compared to the XDS1 on RBCD (no opinion on SACD as that's irrelevant to me - software selection too limited).

Also, make sure you are using the 102_002 firmware (November 2009) on the XDS1 as anything before that isn't a good indication of what the XDS1 can do.

In the Stereophile review of the Puccini this month, in a direct comparison to the Ayre C-5xe with the MP filter, it was said that there was no detectable diffence in sound quality between the two players.
Any comments on this? I might consider an Ayre CD player for my SACD's now, since it is about have the cost of the Puccini.