Moon Nova or Eclipse?

Okay Sutts. It's nice to know that some are responsive. However, the question you're asking is: (quote)

"All I want to know is how good the new Stargate processor is compared to the Attraction I used to own."

That is something that a dealer should be able to answer for you. If you're looking for an objective opinion, you probably won't get it from the manufacturer. What do you expect to hear? They'll give you the company line. The dealer may even do that, because he's selling them also, but at least he is selling other things.
You MAY get an objective opinion on Audiogon, but the only real way to find out which is better is to listen for yourself.

Agree with Jlamb about "waste of time", dealer really loves money :) My dealer told me that Nova is generally the same circuitry as in Eclipse, but not balanced, and with internal power supply (ok, ok, plastic tray). I run i-5 with Nova about two month... Amazing sound, neutral and crystal clear. Tried Marantz and Linn Genki before - Nova is incomparable better IMHO.
BTW, when I have a question to Costa, usually I have the reply the same day.

Golden Ears- point well taken. Well, all is not lost- Costa finally DID get back to me. The answer was as I suspected- the Attraction is still the sonic champ (superior dacs, etc.), but newer Stargate has more options...

My two cents is that if you can afford the Eclipse (used around $2500.00), you won't be disappointed. In my system, it bested the Wadia 850, Audio Aero Cap mk 2, and most recently, the Krell SACD standard (not sure what Fremer and Valin heard when they reviewed it). The Eclipse does everything right to my ears; expansive, open and detailed soundstage, tonally natural (whatever that means!), taut and tuneful bass, extended highs, blah, blah, blah. Anyways, buy what you can afford and keep what sounds best to you. Good luck!

Mthieme:

I hear you on the dealer's "elitist" point of view. Saying crap like "decent digital" starts at $5K. I've heard very good players at around $2000 and I bet there are cheaper players or DACs that can do wonderful music, for less than that.(Bel Canto DAC2, Perpetual Technologies, etc...)

I'm going to say something controversial here, but I think Audiophiles have done more to alienate people from this hobby than anyone else could do. Some audiophiles are flat out weird, in my opinion. They can listen to music only if its being played by a gazillion dollar system. If its a "real world" system they won't even consider it. As if the gear is more important than the music. Which is why I don't consider myself an audiophile, but a MUSIC LOVER instead.

Hell, I can listen to music on a boombox radio when I'm at the beach or working in the lab...even though I have a decent rig at home. But as I said, I love music more than I do the gear.

Anyway hope you have a lot of luck in your search for a CD Player. I'm in the process of upgrading my source and the Moon Nova is one I'm considering strongly...