Sony ES/ESD Opinions

[Ninanina]

I'd have thought you might have looked at Naim CD players Bev.

Well that's the other ones I have in mind but forgot to mention it Geoff, however I have no idea how they might stack up against one of the Sony's..

[Ninanina]

I am trying to work out the Sony hierarchy on their cd players

Does anyone know if a CDP-XA5ES is much the same as a CDP-XA50ES or is the 50 considered above the 5 and where would the CDP-X555ES fit in ?

Any help much appreciated

[karma67]

if you near brighton at any point your welcome to hear mine

[karma67]

have you looked on the vintage knob web site? they have a lot of sony es gear listed

[Ninanina]

have you looked on the vintage knob web site? they have a lot of sony es gear listed

Hi Jamie
Thank you so much for the offer, much appreciated

Does your 555ES have the puck? and do you know where it sits within the Sony range?

[karma67]

no it hasn't got the puck,i think its the second to top model of its period.

[karma67]

copied from another site,

Sony's own CXD2552, this is a multi-output dual differential bitstream DAC. It's one of the best voltage output bitstream DACs ever made, and surpassed only by it's cussessor, the CXD2562, albeit not by much.
It offers true 20-bit dynamic range and low noise as well as good jitter rejection. Sony's first SACD player actually sued the CXD2562 for CD playback, so this basic architecture was used up to the late 90's.
The difital filter in front of the DAC is again Sony's own design. This is what changed from the predecessor, X55ES, then (with the change of DAC chips) well into the XA range years later. The basic DAC structure remained the same. By today's standards the digital filter remains decent, and the DAC is still top-notch. Unlike other offerings of that kind it operates on a higher frequency alowing simplified output filter design.

The X555, 333, 777 share the same basic transport. The 777 adds a few bits of mechanical stabilization but it's really the same. It's the last instance of Sony's legendary linear motor aluminium base drive - the only rotating part in it is the spindle motor, it has no gears at all, and really only two moving parts, which is the reason for it being so reliable, and why X777 (also 779, 707) fetsh high prices, even if they are only used as transports.

The basic structure of the lineup goes like this:
3xx has the same laser, DAC (single) and mechanism, and a single transformer for the power supply (but with separated secondaries for analog and digital). These units tend to be really good sounding and in some cases even surpass the 5xx from the same lineup. They are also very tweakable, and generally top-notch for the price.
5xx usually has dual power transformers and supplies, and a more complex analog output but the transport and DAC scheme remain the same.
7xx are the units where all stops have been taken out. It only takes a look under the hood to recognise that. They have dual power transformers, ultiple power supplies, dual DACs running in balanced mode, usually there are also balanced outputs - and at some time or other they were ALL reference machines for at least one, and often many test setups you could see in the HiFi press. Because of this, it's very hard to surpass them even today.

Later units after the X707 (the XA range) already saw signs of penny saving. They are by no means bad units, quite the oposite, but gone are the discrete regulators, copper chasis in lower parts of the range, havy vibration-proof transformers (newer units use smaller R-cores), etc. Still, LOTS of bang for the buck.

[Macca]

This is the ES player that uses the fixed mech with the puck:

http://www.thevintageknob.org/sony-CDP-XA7ES.html

Might be a bit spendy.

This is the QS version (930QS) I have which you can get for about a ton, less if you drop on:

https://www.bing.com/images/search?v...x=0&ajaxhist=0

[struth]

Sony CDP-XA20ES uses a puck too

[Ninanina]

This is the ES player that uses the fixed mech with the puck:

http://www.thevintageknob.org/sony-CDP-XA7ES.html

Might be a bit spendy.

This is the QS version (930QS) I have which you can get for about a ton, less if you drop on:

https://www.bing.com/images/search?v...x=0&ajaxhist=0

Great thanks Martin I hadn't noted the QS range but have no idea if it's the equal to the ES/ESD range it just looks to be more moden looking and a lot cheaper as well