Sony SCD-1 or BAT VK-D5 / D5SE

The only way SACD will succeed is to release the SACD or hybrid on the same day that the plain cd is released. There may be 1500 releases, but how many people want old Dylan or Rolling Stones that weren't that well recorded in the first place?

Get SCD-1, if necessary, upgrade it or add one DAC for CD sound. BAT is not cheap either. Many claims their CD sound better SCD-1 actually spend more money on CD player than a used SCD-1. It won't hurt you anything but add good stuff, if your CD player can also play better format, why care SACD is future or not? If you have money to buy a new BAT, why not buy a TEAC DV-50? sound pretty good on CD and SACD. You gain something more than CD only. They are in the same box, you don't need another box right. What's wrong if your player can play SACD? If you have room and $$ try LP too.

I have an SCD-1 that has the superclock II and transport mods. In blind testing about a dozen audiophiles in our local club preferred an unmodified SCD-1 to the Wadia 861 and several other expensive Cd players. The BAT was not in the group tested. All listeners preferred my SCD-1 to the unmodified unit. I paid about $2700 on Audiogon about 8 months for the modified unit and sold my ARC-CD2 because there was a no contest in musicality. It's beautiful to look at and an incredible bargain.

Since you already have BAT products, your system synergy will benefit greatly by incorporating a BAT CD player and using balanced interconnects between all the pieces.

I prefer the non-SE version, the D5, with Amperex 7308 tubes. Superb redbook performance. Don't need SACD...yet!

My 10 year old PS audio transport and dac killed the Sony on Redbook..I since have purchased the Krell DACD Standard which is wonderful in all respects..Tom