I'm.usually disappointed with the build quality of Blu-ray players, when compared to hifi CD players: the latter always seem built to last, whereas the former always seem to be designed with a short lifecycle in mind. What's the build of the X800 like?
Then you will probably be similarly disappointed with the build quality of the X800M2. I have never owned a HiFi CD player, though I have seen photos of several such. All of the few CD players I have owned in the 1980s and 1990s have been the upper end of mass market players, priced around $250 to $350. They have usually lasted around 4 to 8 years of medium usage. The X800M2 build quality, judged on externals and mechanical operation, is on par with those players I owned, and is a significant step above (and heftier than) the current flock of flimsy Blu-ray players. Similar trend in internal CD and Blu-ray drives in computers. The cutthroat competition, the shrinking market, and the blind customer preference for "cheaper" has pressured manufacturers to cut corners and target expendables, as well as exit the player market entirely. I agree with you that the build quality of HiFi CD players seems much better, but then they carry a much higher price tag.
The X800M2 measures about 17 inches wide by 10 in deep by 2 in tall. The top and bottom plates are metal, though the top is matted to make it sound dull and feel thicker than it is. The rest is plastic, including the tray. Subjectively, it feels as if it will last about five to six years of moderate use. I do not plan to open it up to examine the internal build quality and components. It seems the $1000 Panasonic UB9000 has excellent top-of-the-line mechanical build quality, certainly superior to the X800M2 and the UB820. Although if you read the ASR review thread on it, you will find knowledgeable people nitpicking the UB9000's build quality and component choice, as compared with the best CD and DVD players of the past. Given the ongoing demise of the optical disc format, I would rather stockpile a couple of decent new players in the $200-$400 bracket, instead of spending up to get a much more expensive longer-lasting player with better build quality but still being a single-point failure risk with dubious future manufacturer support.
