used sony or modified music hall

The Sony C5555ES 5 disc changer was being sold new for $600 not long ago. This changer plays both cds and sacd's (both 2 and 5 ch). I haven't heard the Music Hall, but the Sony wasn't bad sounding. Also is a decent transport for an external dac.

I actually own both a SONY SCD C555ES SACD changer (in my main system) and a Music Hall CD25 (unmodified; bedroom system). They both have very good build quality (although the SONY is positively tank-like) ... both are very good at redbook CD playback ... they both sound warm, musical, and detailed. The Music Hall gives you HDCD playback; the SONY gives you SACD playback. If you can pick up the SONY new for $600 ... go for it, it is a $1800 list unit. You would not be going wrong with the Music Hall either. Since this is all system dependent, what amp & speakers are you using? Regards, Rich

Rarl
Thanks for the reply. Amplifier is Jolida 1501
tubed-hybrid, 100 WPC, with Magnaplaner 1.6QR. My Music Hall
is modified which included upgraded op amps. It does sound fantastic but I question the build quality. As for the Sony
I am leaning more toward models 7X ESD, 707ES or 777ES.
I am not interested in multi-play or SACD. My concern with the Sony is their age, technology wise. Can a machine
designed in the early 1990s with a $3000 retail keep up
todays newest designs. I am very intrigued with the bulid quality of the older ES models, but do not want to give up the sound I have now. Rich

I currently own a 608esd, x7esd, and a 779es, and all are very reliable. The 608 I purchased new and it has over 7000 hrs on it with no repairs and it functions flawlessly. The other two players I purchased used and the x7 had an inoperative drawer and a dirty headphone jack when received. The repairs ran about $115.00 which wasn't too bad. As far as sound quality, I prefer the x7 and the 608 over the 779. Any of these players will kill my Cambridge d500se which I purchased because it was light weight and "use of" requires it to be moved about and the Sony's are to heavy and bulky. I use the x7 as an alternate source in my main system with a Linn Karik/Numeric and yes it's not quite as good as the Linn but it does have a different sound that is still pleasing and it will play cd's that for some reason the Linn rejects. So, to answer your question, I would recommend the used Sony es players.

On one hand, if the modified Music Hall sounds fantastic and your only concern (theoretical) is build quality ... I would say don't change a thing. I use my Music Hall with a vintage Marantz 2216B receiver and Acoustic Research 15 speakers (placed on top of an armoire, no less) and I love its sound. The only tweak to the Music Hall was I replaced its power cord with a Cardas Twinlink (btw, Signal Cable interconnects). I actually prefer the Music Hall to a Pioneer PD65 that I use in a secondary TV room system. Its build quality seems to be heavy duty enough ... said differently, I have not read anything negative about the Music Hall's build quality. The SONY SCD 555 ES is just a different animal in terms of ruggedness. As I understand its build design and the SONY website does/did a better of explaining this, it is actually two separate mini tank units joined together to make one mother tank of a unit. The only complaint that I have read about the SONY is the occasional failure of the sled motor ... but this does not seem to be a prevalent problem. I have the SONY paired with better components (Musical Fidelity A3 amplifier; Acoustic Research 302 classic series Speakers), so the system sounds better (smoother; more detailed). If you can pick up an older, new stock or well cared for SONY SACD ES reasonably priced ... do it, because they are great machines. Otherwise, I would be tempted to stay with the Music Hall ... given how satisfied you are with it. You have it paired with some really nice and well regarded/performing equipment. Regards, Rich