Sony's best dedicated cdp before sacd...

But I wouldn't be surprised if their absolute top-of-the-line redbook cdp is the SCD-1.

-IMO

It was the CDP-XA7ES, but it is not as desirable as the CDP-X707ES and CDP-X779ES. The XA7ES has a really cheap and unreliable transport (built around $15 laser pick up) which is not even close to the one found in X707ES/779ES as used also in the top Accuphase CD players/transports. The only other transports to compare are the legendary "swing arm" by Philips and "VRDS" by Teac.

You can forget about "belt driven's" and "stable platters" with confidence.

Regards,
Alex

Interesting point, Stehno!

Heh. XA7Es seems like a pretty damn robust transport to me.

That said, the SCD-1 is better on redbook. I have both.

The JDM-market only top of the line units were the CDP-R10 and DAC (or DAS?)-R10. Transport/DAC, used a clocklink setup. Rather rare, and still commands fairly high $. There was also a lesser -R1 version of the same idea. Both pairs were japan-market only.

-Ed