Sony non-DVD CD/SACD 5-disc changer coming....for $149.88

Danny Tse

It's almost here....J&R is taking orders.

Very little detail, like does it have a headphone jack? But it's the basic audio-only CD/SACD player. Last time Sony has something like this, it caused quite a stir.....

Edit: photo from UK website

Danny Tse

According to a post on head-fi.org, this is now available at Best Buy.

AsSiMiLaTeD

It's not in BB out here, checked this weekend...

Early B.

Since this player is not part of Sony's ES line, the sound quality and build quality will likely be typical of mass market audio gear. Nevertheless, it's good to see that Sony is still making CD players. Lately, CD players seemed to be headed for extinction.

dorokusai

Naturally it will be the most cost effective model they can drop into this bracket.

The newer ES line gets alot more build quality, not so much component level quality...until you step up into the hardcore ES line. Op Amp here, Cap there...it doesn't really change until much higher on the scale....source wise. The same DACS and boards are used thru quite a few levels....voila', easy upgrades.

Danny Tse

Just picked one up at my local Best Buy for $150.00. I will update this thread as the machine breaks in. I still have not decided whether this will go into my main system or the bedroom headphone-based system.

amulford

I will update this thread as the machine breaks in.

Please do, I'm wondering about getting into SACD...

Danny Tse

amulford,

I highly recommend SACD, but only if what you listen to is available on the format. You can check sa-cd.net to see what titles are avilable (currently at 2,300 titles worldwide). As for prices, sometimes I pick up SACDs cheaper than picking up the CD versions....especially at Tower.

AsSiMiLaTeD

OK, so what's the scoop on this player? Has anyone had a chance to break this in yet...is it any good?

Danny Tse

I have it. It's breaking in with my bedroom headphone-based system....

The system is basically SCD-CE595 >>> Audioquest G-Snake 1-meter IC >>> Technics SA-GX790 receiver used as headphone amp >>>Grado SR60 headphones

Not the most optimal setup, but until you guys buy me a Musical Fidelity X-Cans headphone amp

I will let you guys know by Monday nite.

BTW, there're bass management and time alignment adjustments build into the player. However, I am not sure whether some form of DSD >>> PCM conversion takes place. Previous Sony SACD-capable players, like my DVP-NS500V, doesn't do any DSD >>> PCM conversion at all.

Danny Tse

OK, breaking in the player with the stereo hybrid of Spandau Ballet's "True".

Damn! This disc sounds excellent in SACD!! Even though the CD layer sounded wonderful to me, the SACD layer takes in up to another level.



Let me try another disc and report back....

Update: Just tried, in 2 channel mode, my imported multi-channel hybrid SACD of Dave Brubeck's "Time Out". The CD layer is actually encoded in HDCD, verified with my computer's Microsoft Media Player, but unmarked on the disc or the packaging....the CE595 is very good with this layer. Despite not able to decode the HDCD info, it's certainly better than any $150.00 dedicated CD player I've heard. Like the Spandau Ballet SACD, the SACD layer performance takes the sound quality up a notch. The music sounded more real, the impact of the drums that much more dynamic, and the piano is just so....there. It's amazing this recording is 50 years old.



Remember, this is just my opinion. The playback is thru the headphone out of a receiver, using Audioquest's almost bottom-of-the-line interconnects, and a pair of $70.00 headphones. I am satisfied with this player after about 2 days of breaking in. If it gets better with more time, then this should one heck of an audio bargain.

If your Best Buy has the unit in stock, try it. You have 30 days to return it.

AsSiMiLaTeD

How is the bass management on this unit?

I would assume there is no DSD > PCM conversion, but did you ever find out for sure? I'm having trouble locating that info online...

Danny Tse

There is the typical bass management -- stereo/multi-channel, subwoofer or not, small/large speaker, etc... -- and time alignment controls.

There is no mention in the owner's manual of whether there's a DSD >> PCM conversion taking place whether bass management is used or not. I don't expect it to be neither. Previous Sony SACD-capable players doesn't do the conversion, and I don't anticipate this unit to be any different.

This player defaults to multi-channel SACD when such is put into it. Since I am only using this player in a 2 channel setup, be it headphones or speakers, this is a minor irritation.

Danny Tse

This is my first changer and I keep finding myself putting one disc only into the player.

I keep thinking to myself....for the same $150.00, I can get a single-disc universal player like the Toshiba.

Hmmmm....

AsSiMiLaTeD

which Toshiba is that?

Danny Tse

The Toshiba 4960 for $149.00 at J&R w/ no shipping.

shack

This is my first changer and I keep finding myself putting one disc only into the player.

Not me....I almost always load the changer up with 3 - 5 CDs when I sit down to listen. The exception is when I get one (1) new CD and I'll put just it in. Even this scenario is unusual for me because I usually buy more than one CD at a time and of course will put them all in the changer as soon as I get get them home (or get them in the mail).

AsSiMiLaTeD

ah, the Toshiba DVD player...

For me, the whole point of the Sony is NOT to have the video circuits and stuff in the player, allowing Sony to spend more on the audio section...

Danny Tse

>>>an update<<<

Over the weekend, I purchased 2 single-layer stereo SACDs....Journey - Greatest Hits and Bangles - Greatest Hits. Basically, music from my youth. Both discs sounded great on the CE595 in SACD. It's a very good player, relatively quiet as a changer, and very easy operation. Even just using the front panel. You can select either SACD/CD or multi-channel/stereo with just 2 buttons (duplicated on the remote) on the front panel; the player will default to multi-channel SACD when a multi-channel hybrid SACD is selected. Surprised my Sony CD player from 1991 will control the CE595. The build quality is very good, much more solid than I anticipated. I would've like to see a headphone jack with its own volume control though.

On HTF, a post has mentioned the new single-disc DVP-NS755V SACD/DVD player has been spotted at Best Buy for $140.00!!

therockman

According to that Best Buy description, there is no disc exchange feature on this changer. That's a real bummer!!! And frequency response is only 5-50,000 hz, that's not too good.

dorokusai

Originally posted by therockman
According to that Best Buy description, there is no disc exchange feature on this changer. That's a real bummer!!! And frequency response is only 5-50,000 hz, that's not too good.

Let me know what that frequency range sounds like when you grow your bat ears.

I would be very suprised if it doesn't have the exchange feature, as they typically do. I wouldn't call any description from 'Best Buy' perfect or in depth.

The link is for the thread component, not the DVD version.

therockman

Originally posted by dorokusai
Let me know what that frequency range sounds like when you grow your bat ears.

I would be very suprised if it doesn't have the exchange feature, as they typically do. I wouldn't call any description from 'Best Buy' perfect or in depth.

The link is for the thread component, not the DVD version.

Of course I will never hear it, but my cheap Sony SACD player that I am running right now (Sony DVP-NS755V) has a rated frequency response of 2-100,000 hz, -3 db +1 db. That is the industry standard for DSD recording technology.

dorokusai

Originally posted by therockman
Of course I will never hear it, but my cheap Sony SACD player that I am running right now (Sony DVP-NS755V) has a rated frequency response of 2-100,000 hz, -3 db +1 db. That is the industry standard for DSD recording technology.

I realize that, but it's a ridiculous figure IMO. Industry definition to support the "better" part of why one should buy it. You'll get no argument from me concerning the benefits, I love SACD, but I don't get aroused when I see all the technical garbage. My point is that it could be -50hz - 1,000,000khz, and it doesn't make a bit of difference to an ear. It's the work of all the particulars in between.

I recall reading some ancient articles about the amazing, groundbreaking and truly advanced BETA technology, and while it was better....we all know what happened there. SACD and DVD-A is still niche market media for the motivated audio enthusiast.

therockman

Originally posted by dorokusai
I realize that, but it's a ridiculous figure IMO. Industry definition to support the "better" part of why one should buy it. You'll get no argument from me concerning the benefits, I love SACD, but I don't get aroused when I see all the technical garbage. My point is that it could be -50hz - 1,000,000khz, and it doesn't make a bit of difference to an ear. It's the work of all the particulars in between.

I recall reading some ancient articles about the amazing, groundbreaking and truly advanced BETA technology, and while it was better....we all know what happened there. SACD and DVD-A is still niche market media for the motivated audio enthusiast.

You are absolutelt right, but I do wish that there was more industry support for these high resolution formats. I really don't mind that they are niche, if there were just more killer titles available.

dorokusai

I feel your pain. That's what bothers me the most is the support of music that I listen to....not old people like F1Nut I know that licensing and money gets in the way of most of the good stuff, it just gets old.

When I see the Heavy Metal movie soundtrack on SACD....I know we have arrived

ninerbj

Funny you should mention Heavy Metal....I just purchased the Superbit DVD today!:D

dorokusai

TheGrayGhost

Originally posted by therockman
According to that Best Buy description, there is no disc exchange feature on this changer. That's a real bummer!!! And frequency response is only 5-50,000 hz, that's not too good.

The frequency response is in line with SACD specifications.

It is recommended by SACD format book (Scarlet Book) that the filter response at SACD playback is an analog low pass filter with a cut-off frequency of maximum 50kHz and a slope minimum of 30dB/Oct.

therockman

Originally posted by TheGrayGhost
The frequency response is in line with SACD specifications.

It is recommended by SACD format book (Scarlet Book) that the filter response at SACD playback is an analog low pass filter with a cut-off frequency of maximum 50kHz and a slope minimum of 30dB/Oct.

I am familiar with the scarlet book spec's, but DSD is designed to have a frequency response of 1-100,000 hz. My Sony being a cheap model, has an analog filter that begins shaping the ultra-sonic sound to a max -130 db beginning at 100,000 hz. I am aware that some more expensive Sony's have a user selectable filter that can be switched between 50,000 hz and 100,000hz, the 50,000 hz filter gently sloping to -30 db @ 100,000 hz then sharply increasing the slope untill full filtration of -130 db's occurs at 110,000 hz. My cheap Sony has an analog filter that shapes the ultrasonic noise through a very sharp curve of -0 db @100,000, -55 db @105,000 hz and reaches full filtration of -130 db @ 110,000. Maybe not the best set-up, but with natural musical timbre occuring up to at least 80,000 hz, I would not want my filter to begin shaping the ultra-sonic noise at 50,000 hz. The natural timbre of a flute or a violin can be prevalent at the triple overtone frequency of 3X 17,000 hz, and the quadruple overtone of 4 X 17,000 hz. Quite a lot of musical information up there in upper register.

setzer808

Anyone have any more info/reviews of this unit? It sounds like a bargain. I think I may pick one up after work tomorrow and give it a run...unless someone has some opposing reasons. If the money that is not spent on DVD/video parts is spent where it counts, this could indeed be a nice unit.

madmax

I am going to wait for the unit with a 0-10Ghz frequency response to come out.
madmax