SCD-1 can be purchased at 2850 new.

If budget is secondary to sound, then SA-1 is definitely the one to get despite that SCD-1 is a better constructed unit. When playing SACDs, the SA-1 sounded more natural and musical but the SCD-1 isn't bad either. However, when playing redbook CDs, the Marantz is much better since it yields a fuller body to the music. By contrast, the SCD-1 sounds much flatter. However, SA-1 is going to be hard to find for under $4K.

anybody?? I plan to buy one SCD-1 in May and use it with a MSB platinum DAC for redbook CDs.

Topkat and Rdr4b, How good is the Cd sound from SA-1?? If it's as good as the very best u have heard, please post your opinions. please compare the sound to other CDP or DAC u've heard. A million Thanks

Steve (Siddh)-had compared the two SACD players for about a month before I made the purchase of the Marantz SA-1 over the Sony SCD-1. i have a personal friend that I do legal work for who's a Sony & Marantz dealer. Both machines were A & B in my system and the Marantz won flat out in head to head performance.
The Marantz regular CD playback is smooth and sweet sounding. Not bright or edgy like I heard in the Sony player. The Marantz SADCD playback is just incredible. It blew my $10K Wadia two piece front end (which I sold already).
Melhsu, I had many different and more expensive digital gear in my day. The Krell MD-10 & 64X. The Levinson 30 & 31 combo. The Wadia latest two piece setup. All very nice and excited when first installed in my system. But this Marantz...blows away the competition. Like I said before this Marantz for a retail of $7500 and average street price is $5500. It's worth every penny and you will definitely not need an outboard dac. I do not work for Marantz, just want to tell the Audiogon members on the good products. Marantz is the best of analogue sound in a digital box.
Happy listening.

Topkat, do you mean your Marantz SA-1 blew away your Wadia on both SACD and CD, or just SACD only ? Please clarify. Thanks.

Yes the Marantz is great, but be aware that it's just been discontinued. May find better prices than the $5500. I'm also not sure how long Sony will be selling the SCD-1. Sony appears to be going multichannel with all their SACD players. First the SCD-777 was discontinued and now I understand the SCD-333 will soon go. In the U.S., that leaves only the SCD-1 and the S9000ES DVD/CD/SACD as Sony's only stereo only SACD player. Soon people will be scrambling for SCD-1s, like they are 777's right now.