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Quality of Sony SACD players as CD transports

To those who've used high quality redbook CD transports:

What do you think of the Sony SACD players as redbook transports going into an external DAC? I am thinking about the SCD-1, XA777ES and DVP-9000SE models.

Are these units, used for their digital out, in the same league as $3000-4000 transports like, say, the Levinson 37?

Thanks for the comments.
128x128turnaround
dopogue
1,773 posts
 
I've had a variety of DACs but I can't imagine adding one to my Sony XA777ES for Redbook playback. It's that good.
czbbcl's avatar
czbbcl
1,752 posts
 
I would just buy the scd-1 while you still can and enjoy it. It is outstanding for both redbook and sacd.
hughes12's avatar
hughes12
25 posts
 
I have the SCD-1 and thought that I needed an external DAC. I purchased the Musical Fidelity A3-24. To tell you the truth, there was not an audible difference. The SCD-1 is great for redbook.
thsalmon
348 posts
 
I have used several different Sony players as transports with excellent results. Currently the XA-777ES is is my system, but I previously had a Dan Wright modified SCD-333ES. I think either could compete with dedicated transports costing far more. I view the Sony SACD players as excellent transports with SACD playback as a bonus. The XA-777ES with the Chord DAC 64 is a big step up from the Sony's redbook playback alone, although the XA-777ES is an excellent redbook CD player. I'd only get an SCD-1 if you have to have extremely slow track access and inferior DACs in comparison to the XA-777ES.
turnaround's avatar
turnaround OP
52 posts
 
Have you compared the SCD-1 against the XA777ES as transport (into external DAC)?
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