Sony ES CD players.

[istari_knight]

Thanks for the further input chaps - looks like I've just scored myself a very clean X303ES for not a lot of cash, and the seller lives locally.

Another big black box to sit upon le shelf.

Had one of those, ideal starting point to see how you get on with them Good ergonomics & the TOC/track access speed makes most other players seem broken.

Would be very interested to hear how it compares to the D3

[Gromit]

Will let you know how it goes James.

As for the little D3, the CA DacMagic hasn't had a lot of use this last week or so. Whilst the Fiio is not better (or at least not by a huge margin overall) it's causing my to pinch myself at how bloody good it is...for less than 30 quid.

[hoopsontoast]

Sweet

[pjdowns]

Hi Gromit,

I had a CDP-339ES prior to getting my current CD player and I have to say it was really good - I took a long time to upgrade because I couldn't find anything sub £1000 to match it (the Sony cost only £400 new) and ended up buying my Naim CDI second hand...

I believe they made a 559 and 779ES and these were also rated highly at the time.

The 337ES which was it's predecessor wasn't in the same league unfortunately.

I was planning on keeping mine for a second system but unfortunately something failed which resulted in the tray staying open all of the time - i tried to get Sony to repair it but they weren't interested so reluctantly it had to go and visit Hifi heaven!

Paul.

[dowser]

Hi Gromit,

I had a CDP-339ES prior to getting my current CD player and I have to say it was really good - I took a long time to upgrade because I couldn't find anything sub £1000 to match it (the Sony cost only £400 new) and ended up buying my Naim CDI second hand...

I believe they made a 559 and 779ES and these were also rated highly at the time.

The 337ES which was it's predecessor wasn't in the same league unfortunately.

I was planning on keeping mine for a second system but unfortunately something failed which resulted in the tray staying open all of the time - i tried to get Sony to repair it but they weren't interested so reluctantly it had to go and visit Hifi heaven!

Paul.

Shame - the laser unit would have been worth a fair bit keeping other ES machines higher up the range alive.

I'd have ripped ur arm off for it 4 or 5 years ago (ended buying a 339 to get my 707 going)

Richard

[Gromit]

Here it is...and apologies for the totally dreadful photo:



Built like a brick outhouse - weighs nearly as much as the amp.

[Marco]

Nice... How's it sounding, Richard?

Marco.

[Gromit]

Nice... How's it sounding, Richard?

Marco.

Really good Marco (Jeez that was some description!).

Seriously though, it's a big-sounding player, fairly full at the bottom and quite 'undigital' if that makes sense? I don't believe in describing things as 'analogue' as stuff either sounds right or it doesn't but digital nasties ie glassy top end, 'hash' etc are where I think we can be a little bit more objective (oops the 'O' word crept in). Ashkenazy's Steinway (Rachmaninov Etudes-Tableaux) sounds full and rich with lots of body resonance and musical direction/momentum. Lush, romantic, exciting. As Rachmaninov should be.

Haven't plugged it into either the Dacmagic or the little Fiio D3 yet but will get round to it when I've the time. Just intend spending a few days now with my new player as Mr Sony intended. Admittedly it's not in the higher echelons of Sony ES-dom but it's a lovely thing to have sat on the shelf with its matching amp and tuner. Little touches like the (metal) CD tray moves in and out with hardly a noise of resonant mechanics within.

For 80 quid I'm not complaining.

[vinylspinner]

£80, nice, bargain, just enjoy.

regards

Nigel

[nat8808]

I've a 552ESD, 555esd and a 337ESD.

The 5s are in the top range of the time and the 3 second from top of the time. This is European numbering anyway.

The 5s have fantastic build quality I must say - the 552ESD is my favourite in that sense.

However, the 337 is the only one that actually works - I bought it to see if I could Lampizate it (NOS and valve output stage) but saw them selling at twice what I bought it for so never touched it, intending to put on eBay. Then I found a the 555 needing repair for £80 instead - has a dead pick-up (suspect laser power supply caps - will recap everything at some point) The 552 doesn't want to read discs but only cost me £10.