Well, yep the SACD's I have are easily distinguishable from my CDs, but thats hardly DBT

There have been numerous reviews of modded SCD-1 and in all cases I have read the reviewer places it (after mods) as almost equal to anything out there at the time, but I havent read any written since the Krell SACD Standard, Tri-Vista and Accuphase DP 85 were brought to market.  My plan is to (eventually) get the SCD-1 *properly* modded  and then "take it on the road" to pit it against the big boys. 

Until then I cant provide any meaningful views on how it compares to these *names* but nevertheless I do suggest you give one a whirl as it might (and I say might) hold its own.  I would love to establish whether this is the case myself.

If it does then its a feckin bargain especially a 777ES at 900 GBP (note the 777 doesnt have balanced sockets and *only* has four feet (the SCD-1 needs five as its weighs 32 kilos ).  Then its down to whether you can live with a sony branded machine.