Sony 9000es v. Phillips 963SA - anyone compared?

Dweller,

SO the Phillips bests the Sony on Redbook, what about SACD?

For what it's worth, I got the Philips DVD 963SA from J&R music world for $370 shipped three months ago!!! It's redbook is pretty good, very smooth, but no where near the dynamics of my Linn Ikemi, but for the money, probably unbeatable. Krelldog is waiting for the mods on his, and I'm waiting to hear what he thinks. I personally have a problem paying $800-1200 for mods to a player that only cost $370, but who knows, it might be worth it.

As far as a DVD player goes, it does quite well, I don't have enough SACD to comment, but for the $370 I paid, I can't imagine doing better! that is without paying several times the price............

People, what are you talking about???
SONY 9000ES "is very good with SACD" ??? "has excellent reliability" how come mine 9000ES as SACD player sounds worse then my old Arcam 6 CD Player (bought in London for 300GBP), how come mine SONY broke after 2 months ??? After reading Odes to Sony now and then I have started to think that my wife and me are unlucky persons additionally deaf. But I have found, first time in my life in last TAS that SONY SACD players are sonically inferiors to good CD players.

I'm going to subscribe to this magazine because it is what I'm hearing.

More details about 9000ES in http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ddgtl&1053858815&openflup&18&4#18

Sorlowski

I read your post here on AgoN when it was originally posted, and believe it or not, I actually remember your post on Audio Review.

Honestly, I've had my problems with Sony, the corporation, and their customer "service" if that's what they call it.

But, the sound of the 9000ES on SACD (well recorded ones) is incredible.

I, too, prefer the sound of my old CD player to the CD playback of the 9000ES (I have a 4 year old Rega Planet)
But, one one hand, the Sony needs many hours to break in (try comparing it to another new CD player!) and on the other hand, I think I'll always like the sound of the Rega.

I'm truly sorry that you had a bad experience.
Tell us, have you found a new CD player that you prefer?
I am HOPING that the guys at Rega develop a SACD player.

Gthirteen: I give the nod to Sony for SACD. Haven't really used the 963 for SACD or DVD (gee!) -am totally happy with the 9000ES for these functions. The Philips (i.e., upsampling) gives timbres and textures much more "identity" than regular playback. Dynamics are very good also.
I'm very excited about acquiring a "full Monty" unit (e.g. Arcam) down the road. Does digital finally sound like music?