Summary:
i bought it without hearing it. this was an upgrade from pioneer 505 cd player . huge improvement . depth of sound, spread of sound and in particular bass slam . my speakers are a bit bass light (magneplanar mg2 ) but the bass is now good . i was staggered at the improvement .sound is less synthetic and is now probbly better than my analogue set up ( pink triangle, rega 300, at oc7 and music fidelity phono smp)

Summary:
Other Equipment :- Copland CSA-14
- Martin Logan Aerius i
- Nordost Red Dawn interconnect
- Symo LS5 speaker cable
- Audioquest BigFeet for CDA-277
- Kimber Acoustic power conditioner

I read bad reviews of this CD-player's big brother the CDA-288
in Stereophile. Altough I never heard the CDA-288 so that I
can't compare it with CDA-277, I still rated this CDA-277 highly.

CDA-277 is a very detailed player. I compare CDA-277 with 2
other system (CEC belt driver transport + Theta DAC, the other
player I forget) and it is just right, in the middle, for me.
The CEC and Theta sound to bright & Harsh for me and the other
player sound to soft. Altough this is may due to the CDA-277 is
a perfect match for the integrated Copland CSA-14, I recommend
you to audition it. After all, we buy the equipment for our
own ears and let them be the judge.

This player may sound too soft for you and it is definetely
sounded European.