Craig Rosenthal
Agent
- Joined
- Aug 12, 1999
- Messages
- 28
Here are some more early impressions regarding the audio...
Redbook CD - multi-way comparison between:
- Sony NS755V via analog stereo outputs, and as transport via coaxial digital output to Denon AVR-3200 receiver, and
- Sony 333ES 300-disc CD changer via analog stereo outputs.
Analog inputs were standard stereo L/R RCA jacks, as I wanted to avoid the DVD players crossover - I felt the difference between the 120hz for the DVD player and the 80hz in my Denon could bias the results. I compared by switching receiver inputs using my remote control.
Listening material was (1) a compilation disc of rock, jazz and some classical music, and (2) the CD layer of Telarcs 1812 Overture SACD. The same tracks were played concurrently on both players, with a few second lag to facilitate comparison.
First off, I wanted to compare my Denon receiver's DAC to the DAC in the Sony ES CD changer, since I don't think that I've ever tried this. While there were a few very subtle differences that could occasionally be heard, I would rate these two as very comprable. In a blind test, I doubt that I could identify which was which with any level of statistical significance. With this out of the way, I eliminated the receiver from the test, and focused on the internal DACs of the 755 vs. the Sony ES changer.
Here the differences were more pronounced, but still somewhat subtle. The Sony ES CD changer had a more open, fuller sound; individual instruments were cleaner and more well defined. The DVD player sounded slightly less three-dimensional, with less spaciousness on the mids/highs. As I expected, the differences were far less noticeable on the rock music, and a little more noticeable on classical music. The differences here were definitely discernable, and I feel that I probably could tell these components apart in a blind test with over 80% accuracy if both were playing the same exact music at the same time.
Don't get me wrong - the differences here aren't night and day (like when I compared the DAC on my old Toshiba DVD player to one in my receiver - that was a huge difference). These differences are subtle degrees of openness, clarity and detail.
Disclaimer: if you believe the urban legend that the DSD downconversion to PCM intentionally degrades the CD signal, don't bother to read the following:
Since I had a CD-RW with the CD layer of the 1812 Overture loaded in the CD changer, I figured I would go for broke:
I restarted both players, but this time with the DVD player playing the Stereo SACD layer. When I compared the two, I heard exactly what I expected to hear... the SACD layer's sound was clearly superior. It was far more open, far more detailed, and far smoother. It just sounded more like music.
I eagerly await other people's opinions; hopefully some more players will arrive later this week. While I still have about 3 weeks to decide if I want to keep this player, unless someone comes up with something pretty bad, I'm going to hang onto this one.
Craig
Redbook CD - multi-way comparison between:
- Sony NS755V via analog stereo outputs, and as transport via coaxial digital output to Denon AVR-3200 receiver, and
- Sony 333ES 300-disc CD changer via analog stereo outputs.
Analog inputs were standard stereo L/R RCA jacks, as I wanted to avoid the DVD players crossover - I felt the difference between the 120hz for the DVD player and the 80hz in my Denon could bias the results. I compared by switching receiver inputs using my remote control.
Listening material was (1) a compilation disc of rock, jazz and some classical music, and (2) the CD layer of Telarcs 1812 Overture SACD. The same tracks were played concurrently on both players, with a few second lag to facilitate comparison.
First off, I wanted to compare my Denon receiver's DAC to the DAC in the Sony ES CD changer, since I don't think that I've ever tried this. While there were a few very subtle differences that could occasionally be heard, I would rate these two as very comprable. In a blind test, I doubt that I could identify which was which with any level of statistical significance. With this out of the way, I eliminated the receiver from the test, and focused on the internal DACs of the 755 vs. the Sony ES changer.
Here the differences were more pronounced, but still somewhat subtle. The Sony ES CD changer had a more open, fuller sound; individual instruments were cleaner and more well defined. The DVD player sounded slightly less three-dimensional, with less spaciousness on the mids/highs. As I expected, the differences were far less noticeable on the rock music, and a little more noticeable on classical music. The differences here were definitely discernable, and I feel that I probably could tell these components apart in a blind test with over 80% accuracy if both were playing the same exact music at the same time.
Don't get me wrong - the differences here aren't night and day (like when I compared the DAC on my old Toshiba DVD player to one in my receiver - that was a huge difference). These differences are subtle degrees of openness, clarity and detail.
Disclaimer: if you believe the urban legend that the DSD downconversion to PCM intentionally degrades the CD signal, don't bother to read the following:
Since I had a CD-RW with the CD layer of the 1812 Overture loaded in the CD changer, I figured I would go for broke:
I restarted both players, but this time with the DVD player playing the Stereo SACD layer. When I compared the two, I heard exactly what I expected to hear... the SACD layer's sound was clearly superior. It was far more open, far more detailed, and far smoother. It just sounded more like music.
I eagerly await other people's opinions; hopefully some more players will arrive later this week. While I still have about 3 weeks to decide if I want to keep this player, unless someone comes up with something pretty bad, I'm going to hang onto this one.
Craig
