to SACD or not

I tried both the Ayre DX5 and the C5 , and found the C5 much better on CD and SACD , so did the audio buds . I sent the DX back and purchased the C5 . The usb port and Blueray option would have been great , but I could not sacrifice sound quality for options . I was very disappointed , I had made up my mind on the DX .

Thanks so far everyone for the thoughts. Verneal if you look at my system you'll see a sota sapphire deck which I enjoy very much and thank you I clearly understand what your getting at.

Thing is, Virtually all of the listening that takes place here is when i'm relaxing after work and usually like to let the "disk" repeat a few times or so before scanning for another title. My SACD collection is getting bigger and would look at it as a plus at the very least for all the redbook cd's to sound better as well.

While were discussing, Does anyone think that I'd be better off saving 5k and going with a BAT which is built like an army tank and may bring better synergy with the amp I use? I realize it's not SACD but am curious as it's only been the Rotel cd player ever in the system so far.

Again I'm very appreciative for all the advice folks

Velocityofhue - If you are considering a non-SACD player in the $5K to $10K range, I recommend you consider the ARC CD8. I have the CD7, the Ayre 5xeMP, the Mcintosh MCD500, and the Marantz SA11S2. Each is in its own system and chosen for various reasons. The CD7 is much better than the others for redbook CD, and I have heard the CD8 enough at my dealer's home to know that it is superior to the CD7. The Ayre is maybe about 85 percent as good as the CD7 for redbook.

Good hunting!

Tmsorosk,

Wow, your listening experience is radically different from mine with C-5 & DX-5. My DX made my C-5 sound thin and less real in my system. I do think that the DX sounds a bit more like the old D-1 in that it is smoother and less forward than the C-5, so I can understand that some would prefer the way the C-5 presents the music.

Ed

Hello Ed ... Saw your system link , ( very nice ) . I noticed your using W.A. Sophia's , I like them very much . but thought they had a slightly forward sound . I'm using Revel Salon 1's , that Iv'e always felt could have a slightly recessed sound , Careful component matching was always important to make them shine . This may explain our different feelings about the two great Ayre players . I probably sounded overly critical of the DX . I noticed your using the Lamm 1.2 . they are one of the amps i'm thinking of upgrading too. I started a tread about them and the replies seem to recommend the 2.2's for my speakers , what do you think .