Attempting to use an ancient Sony SA-CD player in an era where it aged like milk. (1 Viewer)

[Lord Dalek]

So I bought one of these at the thrift store...

Its a Sony SCD-CE595 which was apparently their "entry level" model in the early-2000s back when the company was seriously pushing the format (which of course laid a goose egg anyway). Now the reason I was interested in it, despite only owning two actual SACD's, is that I want to have a reason to not have to hang on to my UBP-X700 if I were ever to have the opportunity to upgrade to...say...that Panasonic everybody here likes. So naturally having a dedicated SACD player would help greatly in easing out the door.

This brings me to two problems...

A. I don't even know if the laser can still read SACD (it reads standard redbook).

And the biggie...

B. Because Sony was a bunch of CP zealots whose assbackwards decisions in the early 2000s were actually dooming their products, I have no actual way to hook this up to my modern day post HDMI 2.0 receiver and get the full 5.1. Why? Because its exclusively over RCA analog. Oh there's a optical output but it only decodes the standard cd redbook layers.

So my question is this...

Is there a way to convert the five individual RCA outputs for each channel into one orange digital coax? That seems like the only way because Sony made TOSEC useless on this device.

Opinions please, I have 10 days to take it back.

 

[Todd Erwin]

If you want to listen to SACD in 5.1 over HDMI, the simple solution would be to pick up a Sony UBP-X700 or if you also want DVD-Audio, then the UBP-X800M2.

See on Amazon See on Amazon

 

[JohnRice]

If you want to listen to SACD in 5.1 over HDMI, the simple solution would be to pick up a Sony UBP-X700 or if you also want DVD-Audio, then the UBP-X800M2.

See on Amazon See on Amazon

He already has one…

 

[Lord Dalek]

He already has one…

Thank you.

 

[JohnRice]

I guess I don't understand why your bought this very old player, when you already have the X700 which you know works. You're already planning on having two players, and while you could get something for the X700, I'm not sure you would get much for it. Why not keep it if/when you get a Panasonic?

 

[David_B_K]

That Sony was my first SACD player. Fortunately, my Yamaha receiver has the 5.1 analog inputs. Unfortunately, my player died recently and ended up in the trash.

I'd had problems with the player through the years. At one point it no longer would read SACDs, only redbook. I found a post on a forum (AVS?) in which someone gave instructions to reset it and the SACD playback returned. A few months ago I was playing a redbook CD and the player simply stopped playing, like the power was off. I had to take the top off the player to retrieve my CD. Even if it had not died, I knew its days as a SACD player were numbered. When I eventually upgrade to a 4K TV (if my current 1080 TV ever dies), I will need a new receiver and I am not going to look for one with 5.1 analog inputs. I searched for an analog 5.1 to HDMI adapter and never found one. Besides, I play multi-channel SACDs on my two Blu-ray players over HDMI.

I would have kept the player as a redbook CD player if it had not died. I liked having a 5-disc carrousel in case I want to play a multidisc CD like an opera or a Mahler symphony or the Brandenburg Concertos. If that feature appeals to you, the player still has value IMO if you hook it up via its digital optical cable. If I could get one cheap at a thrift store, I would buy it for that purpose.

 

[Scott Merryfield]

B. Because Sony was a bunch of CP zealots whose assbackwards decisions in the early 2000s were actually dooming their products, I have no actual way to hook this up to my modern day post HDMI 2.0 receiver and get the full 5.1. Why? Because its exclusively over RCA analog. Oh there's a optical output but it only decodes the standard cd redbook layers.

HDMI wasn't around when Sony introduced SACD - - same issue with DVD-Audio. Multichannel analog input was the only option for both. I had both a Sony SACD player and Toshiba DVD-A player, and had to use a couple of external analog switch boxes in order to connect both players to the 5.1 channel analog input on the AVR I owned then.

I agree with @JohnRice . If you plan on keeping a player in your system for SACD support, why not just keep your current X700? I have three disc players in my equipment rack - - the Panasonic UB820 you are considering, a Sony X800, and an OPPO DVD player. The latter two support both SACD and DVD-Audio. I own discs in both those formats.

 

[JohnRice]

I'm still confused about what it the condition of each player. You need to indentify the players you're referring to, such as which player isn't working properly.

 

[Lord Dalek]

I'm still confused about what it the condition of each player. You need to indentify the players you're referring to, such as which player isn't working properly.

Wrong thread?

I haven't really had a chance to try the SACD beyond making sure it powers up, ejects, and reads standard redbooks as that's all I have on hand at the moment (not at home)

X700 works fine aside from the usual complaints that Dolby Vision has to be turned on manually and the seamingly seasonal player freeze issue where you have to leave it unplugged for 30 minutes.

 

[JohnRice]

Wrong thread?

I haven't really had a chance to try the SACD beyond making sure it powers up, ejects, and reads standard redbooks as that's all I have on hand at the moment (not at home)

X700 works fine aside from the usual complaints that Dolby Vision has to be turned on manually and the seamingly seasonal player freeze issue where you have to leave it unplugged for 30 minutes.

No. I saw David’s response and thought it was the OP. So I was confused.

 

[Lord Dalek]

Well at the very least it does visually compliment my VSX-D412 in the den (and yes it actually WILL work with that, my room just isn't set up for anything other than stereo).

On another note I have learned it will not respond to my Logitech Harmony at all. Which is a real shame because the remote alone costs more than what I paid for the player itself.

EDIT: Fixed the remote problem, apparently the player was set for "CD2" whereas the Harmony was "CD1". More vintage Sony stupidity.

 

[Dennis Nicholls]

My old rig was a Philips DVD/SACD player through an Outlaw ICBM to a Yamaha receiver. All over individual coax cables. If any component failed I'd be out of luck replacing it today. So a year ago I went with the Sony X700 and an Onkyo receiver that can decode DSD audio over HDMI. Works for me.

A hint on the X700: get some taller adhesive feet to raise up the X700. This allows for better air circulation and avoids what may be heat-induced skipping/freezing.

 

[midvalleyguy]

I still have my two SACD players - Sony DVP-NS700V and Pioneer DV-S733A (gold). Both work fine. As I now have a new Yamaha receiver with HDMI they are no longer needed. Unfortunately no-one is interested having either for free, and I've had no success in selling them, so they'll be going in the trash .

 

[Lord Dalek]

I still have my two SACD players - Sony DVP-NS700V and Pioneer DV-S733A (gold). Both work fine. As I now have a new Yamaha receiver with HDMI they are no longer needed. Unfortunately no-one is interested having either for free, and I've had no success in selling them, so they'll be going in the trash .

Hey I thrifted mine (and that Pioneer too). Better than the trash.

 

[midvalleyguy]

I live in a rural area with very few Thrift stores (called op shops here). None wanted these vintage players. My next step is to try my local Facebook Marketplace, and then the website StereoNet (of which I'm a member). Someone somewhere must be interested in them
.

 

[Clinton McClure]

You can always donate it to Goodwill or Salvation Army or, at the very least, take it to a Best Buy and they will recycle it for free.

 

[Dennis Nicholls]

He's in Australia.