At $2K for a new SACD player is the XA-777ES....


still the "big dog"???

Past machines included a stock 333ES that I had "Kerned" but sold it in favor of a SACD-1000 on the premise that Meitner was going to introduce a 2 channel DAC (which he did but coupled with the Switchman preamp) that ended up being way out of my budget. Don't need multi-channel nor DVD nor DVD-A so the newer universal players are bringing more to the table than I desire or am willing to pay for. Don't really want to consider used gear. It has to travel a long way to my home and I'd like to minimize the risk of out of pocket repairs or insurance fights with carriers.

At the $2K pricepoint are there any proven contenders that offer as much as the XA-777ES (I realize its m/c but as it parallels its dac on 2 ch so thats ok) interms of excellent SACD and really good redbook????
rgd
At the $2000 mark, I'm not sure that there is much real competition for the XA-777ES. Other players in the same price category seem to be cheaply made by comparison. I found the SACD performance to be excellent, on a par with the SCD-1, and you might be able to find a used SCD-1 for not much more than a new XA-777ES. On redbook, the XA-777ES has a smoother, warmer and more laid back character, while the SCD-1 has a brighter (occasionally strident) tonal balance. As a pure CD transport, I expect either would be excellent, but the SCD-1's disk loading and track access times are painfully slow. I previously owned a Modwright SCD-333ES, but I never had the opportunity to compare the 333 to the 777. Dan does great work,and modding an XA-777ES might be a good one box solution. I personally found an XA-777ES combined with an outboard Chord DAC 64 to have great results for SACD and redbook. I am also waiting for a Modwright Universal Truth DV-47a to arrive, and it might be yet another player to consider, even if you don't want DVD-A. As for the Xindak, I have no personal experience. It may be a great player. However from an ethical standpoint, I have problems buying products from totalitarian states that use slave or prisoner labor to produce commercial goods. Just my two cents.
"Rgd":

For about $2,000.00 for a new SACD Player???

Well...... I would go about this two ways.

(01). Meridian 506.24 (used)* + Sony DVP-NS755V (for SACD playback)(new) -- $1,000.00* + $200.00 = $1,200.00.

OR

(02). Philips DVD963SA** + MSB Nelson Link III + MSB P1000 Power Base Power Supply -- $500.00** + $1,000.00 + $400.00 = $1,900.00.

OR FOR THAT MATTER STILL...... WHY NOT GO WITH THIS "ENTICING" THIRD OPTION?!?!?!

(03). Meridian 506.24* + Philips DVD963SA -- $1,000.00* + $500.00 = $1,500.00.

* means that I would seek out a used Meridian 506.24 instead of vouching for a new Meridian 507, as after hearing the 507 recently, and recalling what the older 506.24 sounded like, I would've liked and preferred the smoother, more liquid, more analog sounding Meridian 506.24 over the brighter and harder sounding Meridian 507.

** means that THAT is what the price of the Philips DVD963SA would be at retail. I would shop around and try to find me a good deal on one when it was time for me to buy one. I would have the player modded later on and have a super clock installed inside the transport.

--Charles--
Used Meridian equipment can be problematic and IS expensive to service. Make sure you are not buying someone else's headache. IMHIO.
If you buy an inexpensive Sony (not ES) buy the extended warranty (BestBuy, etc.) They have an MTBF of one day after the manu's warranty expires.