I am asking as I am seriously considering deleting everything Bandlab and Platinum (well Bandlab won't run - that's another issue) and I'm still not sure where it is all going. I have all the installation files plus additional software libraries, so having the resources already is no issue.
 
I just want to gauge opinions on what is the most stable and complete version Sonar pre Bandlab and Platinum (subscription model)
 
Thanks

My X3 e was pretty good over all. I mostly would get random freeze ups after saving and trying to close a project. Very rare that it happened and it was always a project with a 32 bit plug in. 
I also found that free version of Home Studio was very solid. Don't think that deal is still around, there was a link in the deals forum but that was last Dec. 
Defiantly to avoid any before that until you get back to 8.5 which was also a very stable version. 
The first X versions were noted as having many issues and these forms were alive with a lot of complaints back then. 

Here found it http://forum.cakewalk.com/Free-copy-of-Home-Studio-m3718860.aspx
 
Seems to work still but it told me I had already downloaded it, so I think it will work for anyone who didn;t grab it yet. 

If you step too far backward, some free plugins are locked to Platinum, so you will lose them. If you go before X3, you will also lose ARA and VST3 support. Another "break point" was when Aux Tracks/Patch Points were introduced... and cwps containing those cannot be opened by any SONAR prior to their introduction (and I forget which version that was).
 
For Platinum versions, I stopped after the first year and still have Manchester 2 installed. A lot of the meat that came with Platinum was in that version and was stable for me.
 
Out of curiosity, why consider backing out prior to SPLAT?

Splat works fine for me...very few issues. For the most part, its stuff I do, like using my graphics tablet and accidentally making it scroll ad- infinitum. I couldn't actually tell you when my last proper crash was.

8.5 if "stable" is the primary criterion, X3 if "complete" is. However, 8.5 will run many of the external components that were included with later versions, such as the SI instruments.
 
The biggest loss vs. current features would be ARA. But ARA is more about convenience and ease of use than actually defining what you can or cannot do. I was using Melodyne long before ARA. It was just more of a hassle. 
 
You'd also lose VST3 support, but that's trivial. Outside of the Steinberg/Yamaha microcosm, there are almost no third-party plugins that are exclusively VST3. Then there's ProChannel, but again that doesn't cost you any capabilities. Somehow, we all managed to EQ and compress stuff just fine pre-ProChannel.
 
Personally, despite having been a longtime 8.5 holdout who skipped over the entire X series, I'd never go back. CbB has 99.999% of every past feature I've ever cared about.  I'd be curious to know why CbB doesn't work for you.

8.5

8.5.3.
 
If I were you I'd save an image file of your C drive using Macrium Free and then try reinstalling your OS from scratch using the install CD. You can create your own install Win 10 CD. CbB is the most stable version of all for me.
 
This seems drastic. A solution may not be as far off as you think. I wish you luck
 

I was a long holdout on 8.5 as the forum here seemed to be alive with issues when X1 and then X2 were alive.
I bought a Roland Keyboard that came with X1 LE and never really liked it or used it, but then they sent me a upgrade deal for X3 studio for only $99 so I grabbed it and found it was now a stable version of Cakewalk and have never gone back to 8.5 since.  
One deal leads to another and I then grabbed Professional and later Splat and now very happy with CbB.
 
As said there are new features that I could never be without now.
Defiantly addicted to the simplicity of using Pro Channel for basic channel strip tasks.
Defiantly could not live without being able to convert a Audio Bass track into MIDI.
Don't use it much but Drum Replacer was also an asset for me. 
The new way Piano roll works and all those pretty colours too.
I think starting around Spring this year I have never had any weirdness or crashes using what ever the latest version is. I've even returned to using a few 32 bit VST's without issue now.
I do think the focus has been on making Cakewalk stable and they seem to be getting this right ( finally).

Thanks guys for all the answers...the current version, for me and my system, is glitchy takes about 189 seconds to load (and that's a totally blank project) - constantly drops audio, on occasion has "jittery" MIDI among other things, nothing catastrophic, but added together make it a bit annoying. And no the latest thing with the Bandlab Assistant refusing to operate correctly, ergo no updates - it got me thinking that I might be better off just going back to the best version prior to Bandlab taking over.
 
I'll have a think on it again, as it would be a retrograde step but maybe, juts maybe it will be more reliable....again thanks for the input.