Sony ES777 SACD vs EMC-1


I recently bought a Sony ES777 SACD player which has about 250-300 hours on it. The friend I bought it from just bought an Electrocompaniet EMC-1 CD player. He tells me that it's the best he's ever heard, and probably better sounding than the Sony. Of course he didn't hear the Sony fully broken in.

I was wondering if anyone has auditioned both of these machines, and if so, what differences they detected? Do you have a preference for one over the other?

While I really like my ES777, there always seems to be a better machine on the horizon, doesn't there?

Looking for opinions and guidance. Thanks, guys.

Ken
kenl
I own a Sony mod'777ES and I had a chance auditioning the EMC1 at a local tube store. I wished I hadn't bought the Sony!
Interesting replies. I'd like to ask Ljgj and Tomp what it is about the EMC-1 that you prefer? And am I correct in assuming that you not only prefer it on redbook CD's, but actually prefer it over the Sony's SACD performance?

I'm not sure that's what you meant. If it is, WOW, that's really saying something!
I used to have the Sony 777ES myself for 6 months also more than a year ago before I sold it and bought an EMC-1. To me the stock Sony's redbook capability didn't even come close to the EMC-1's performance in this area. The SACD is another story, I have the 9000ES for that now.
I think that SACD is very good but so limited in selections and the Sony as good as it is on regular CD's does not do what the Electrocompaniet can do and that is even closer to the good SACD sound on a good SACD disc. As Mark Levinson says some of the SACD's are no more than expensive CD's with no better sound - I own about 35 SACD's thus is why I bought the 799 (use to be 1199) 5 disc changer to still keep some of the benfits of SACD. Th EMC is a top loader and so easy to use when recording and operates so much smoother than the Sony. It is hard to go wrong with the EMC as a one piece unit and even upgrading DACS as a tranport it is first class. I have listened to higher priced units that sound as good and even not as good so why pay more?