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Sony Shootout - XA9000ES vs DVP 9000ES vs CDP 7ES

165.21.154.111

Posted by Suspended Animation on February 2, 2008 at 05:35:14

In my recent search for a CD player, I benefited from the experience of fellow inmates and would like to contribute something in return.

I’ve been a fan of Sony CD players ever since I bought the beautiful X3000. Thereafter, I snapped up a Sony XA7ES before buying a DVP S9000ES (universal) and upgrading to the SCD XA9000ES. Sony players always feature captivating aesthetics and excellent engineering.

Background of SCD XA9000ES
The SCD XA9000ES is an evolutionary development of the SCD XA777ES. Both share identical transports, DACs and the layout of the components within the chassis is almost identical. However, both players use different R-core transformers and board on top of the transport is different (possibly because of the presence of iLink in the 9000). In terms of sound, someone who owned both players mentioned that the 9000ES had a slight stereo performance benefit over the older player. He stated that the 9000ES has a “more focused soundstage” and that “vocals seemed more locked in the centre of the mix with greater clarity and smoothness.”

Background of the Sony CDP XA7ES
This was Sony’s flagship CD player prior to the introduction of the SCD 1. This player is considered is very highly regarded, possibly because of its use of the novel top-loading fixed lens design. This has led many to believe that the 7ES – together with the SCD 1 and SCD 777ES – is an excellent transport.

However, I am inclined to believe that the top-loading fixed lens design was chosen more for marketing reasons than technical considerations. Surprisingly, the DVP 9000ES, which features a conventional linear tracking moving laser lens, was a far superior transport that the 7ES (more on this later)

Background of the DVP 9000ES
The author of a review on the internet stated that his friend, who was a VP in Sony, stated that the DVP 9000ES was actually developed as a mid-range SACD player to cater to those who wanted an SACD player for 1000USD; in essence, it is a scaled-down SCD 777ES. However, Sony realized that it lacked a high-end DVD player and decided to add video capabilities to player under development. Despite its audiophile origins, the player was marketed as a DVD player because of marketing reasons. According to the VP, the sound of the DVP 9000ES is 70-80% that of the SCD 777ES in redbook.

This review is borne out by an examination of the internals of the player. Unlike its successors (DVP 999ES, 9100ES), the 9000ES has a dedicated audio power supply and audio board. The audio power supply features three dedicated power supplies to different parts of the audio board and has three huge Nichicon caps like those found on the SCD 777ES.

DVP 9000ES – the sound of SCD 1/SCD 777ES
In terms of sound quality, the order is SCD XA9000ES > XA 7ES > DVP 9000ES; however, this cannot be taken at face value because all players have somewhat different presentations.

Like the Sony SCD 1/SCD 777ES, the tonal balance of the DVP 9000ES is best described as neutral. The balance is flat from bass all the way to treble, giving a very honest sounding player. Compared to the other players, this player had excellent timing, transients and attack. It was vibrant and energetic and I really enjoyed pop and rock on this player. While the player may sound harsh is a system already leaning towards brightness, I found that it was pretty balanced and consistent.

However, the usual trade-off for neutrality is musicality. Switching over to vocal, I found that the vocals of the DVP 9000ES could be edgy, with neither the body and projection of the 7ES nor the effortless refinement of the SCD 9000ES. In complex periods of music, the player lost track of the music and vocals became compressed.

In the final analysis, these observations about the DVP 9000ES are a function of its tonal balance – necessary trade-offs to attain neutrality (which come may find to be too clinical). That said, the DVP 9000ES is still not in the same league as the other players; the other players were more refined, were quieter, had deeper bass extension and more finesse. But the DVD player simply represents the best value – it can be bought for a ¼ of the price of the other players and features DVD playback as well.

XA7ES – the sound of XA5ES/XA50ES/XA555ES
If the SCD XA9000ES represents musicality (think vocal) and the DVP 9000ES represents neutrality (think pop and rock), the 7ES represents the middle path. Compared to the other players, the 7ES is notable for sounding big, authoritative and dynamic. The vocals are slightly highlighted, adding weight to the vocals and giving excellent vocal projection. There is also a slight emphasis on the mid-bass, making the player dynamic and big sounding.

Though enjoyable, a comparison with the SCD XA9000ES highlighted its flaws. The treble sounded slightly edgy and rough (compared to the 9000ES’ highs which were sweet and refined) and the vocals sounded compressed with a certain hardness and glassiness in the upper-mid. As mentioned by those who have upgraded to higher-end players, the Achilles heel of the 7ES is its vocal. By the highest standards, the vocals can seem hard, unnatural and unrefined.

XA9000ES – the sound of XA777ES
The SCD XA9000ES was the most musical and best sounding CD player of the entire group. Compared to the other players, the SCD 9000ES is notable for its refinement, quiet background and harmonic richness. While the DVP 9000ES struggled with more complex pieces of music, the SCD 9000ES handled the complexity with aplomb and always sounded as if it was in control.

Due to its sweet mid-range and refined treble, the SCD XA9000ES is best when playing vocal. I really enjoyed the player’s take on Andy Williams and Frank Sinatra. The player made the vocals of the 7ES sound rough and compressed. Moreover, the player had a quieter background and deeper bass than the 7ES. However, it is a touch less dynamic, rhythmic and authoritative as compared to the 7ES. Overall, I would say that SCD XA9000 is about 30% better than the 7ES.

When listening to the SCD 9000ES, you’re immediately struck by the smooth-sounding top end. While this gives a relaxed view which slowly draws you into the music as opposed to the other players with more upfront presentations, others may prefer the other players for their more upfront presentation. I suppose this is why some prefer the DVP 9000ES/SCD 1/SCD 777ES over the XA777ES/9000ES while others differ.

Transport for Arcam Black Box DAC
When all three players were hooked up to an Arcam Black Box 500 DAC, the DVP 9000ES was miles ahead of the other two players. While the DVP 9000ES provided a very balanced and neutral digital output with a dead silent background, the digital outputs of the 7ES and SCD 9000ES appeared to be mere afterthoughts; the outputs had an open sound centered around vocals due to limited treble and bass extension. The digital outputs of the 7ES and SCD 9000Es were also significantly noisier than that of the DVP 9000ES.

These observations are in line with the Stereophile review of the SCD 777ES in which the reviewer stated that it was one of the most neutral transports he has heard. Indeed, many are using the DVP 7000 and DVP 7700 as transports for their mid-range DACs. The DVP 9000ES is one of the best transports that I have heard.

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