Wadia 861 versus 861se versus new SACD player

[JeffreyNYC]

I have a dedicated two-channel music system. It includes a Wadia 861 driven direct by a AR VT-200 tube amp (original version), and North Creek ribbon Manifest speakers. I am currently setting up a totally separate HT system (probably Lexicon based). I have a CD library of about 1500 CDs, and so don't really want to turn to vinyl or bother with SACDs since I am content driven, and most stuff I want to hear is out on standard CD.

One: is the se upgrade on the Wadia a big deal? Two: Northern Sound also does a modification on the Wadia. Any experiences there? Three: just to check my assumptions above, does anyone have experience with SACDs compared to the same performance on plain old CDs run through a higher-end CD player?

Thanks - Jeffrey

[BobDole]

A well mastered SACD does sound, IMO, considerably better than its redbook counterpart. That being said, redbook performace can also be excellent. Of course, much depends on how well the disc is mastered. Some SACDs and/or DVD-As are awful. I feel similar to you about content - I have 600 cds and 15 SACDs. There are some exceptionally well-done redbook cds out there, including chesky, XRCD, etc.

[rich wu]

Jeff,

I have the Wadia 861 SE and had the 861B. I did a side by side comparison and the SE is very slightly better but I am not sure it's worth the $$. Wadia has discontinued the SE version. It's possible that TEAC does not make the VDRS transport anymore. Wadia has introduced a new line of SACD/CD players.