I don't have any experience with that Sony unit, but as many others have pointed out, and as I've noticed on others' systems, SACD players in that price range may do an OK job of playing SACD's, but generally do a pretty lousy job of playing standard "redbook" CD's.

That was the primary factor that made me zero in on the Marantz SA-8001. It is a superb SACD player (in 2-channel mode only - no multi-channel capability), but is also an outstanding CD player as well. It is a product that legitimately earns the "audiophile" label. It didn't earn a Stereophile "Class-A" Recommendation for nothing!

I'd save up my money and go for the Marantz.