8.5 users should check out X3 if they aren't interested in ProChannel. At $49 it's cheaper than Reaper.
 
Sonar has come along way since 8.5 and X3 is not crippled. If you have Melodyne you can even take advantage of the ARA tech.
 
 
 
 

By far this upgrade was the quickest I ever got on board, does feel like more of a bad-ass Sonar

I am also very happy with X3 ... It feels like arriving home, in some (good) way :)

ditto!!!

X3 gave me all the features I wanted and some more. Really appreciate the color customization which made tracking and mixing much easier and FUN. This was the only feature that had me consider Protools, not anymore :)
Oh, and converting audio tracks to midi, sweet...

Andrew Rossa [Cakewalk]
...
More good stuff to come soon! 

Can't wait to see what that might be.  BTW, I've been a loyal SONAR user/Cakewalk customer since SONAR 3.  That's over six decades... just kidding.  (Okay, so I am not one of those old fogie Pro Audio owners.)  But I have been here ever since and am not planning to split.
 
Thank you, Cakewalk!
 
Kind regards,
 
Living Room Rocker

Well, glad you are back in the fold but technically I would question the "loyal" tag since you ran off and left us :)

I too have been a loyal SONAR user, since SONAR 2. It's just that I neglected upgrading to v3-v8.5 (can I still call myself a loyal user? )

Agreed, even though I have had a few small issues, X3 has been my favorite release so far.

I have been a loyal user since Cakewalk for DOS 4. Do I get a prize? ;)
 
X3 has been great for me here.