Glad you're happy, but I think these players were not very good sounding at all. I had a mid-90's one of these and it was bright & thin with an irritating, pointed upper midrange and lower treble. Imaging was a mess. I tried the player direct, as you suggest, and it sounded even worse. Might be good as a transport, but definitely not as a one-piece player.
Review: Sony CDP-X777ES CD Player
Category: Digital
Beautiful piece of hardware. Well built, heavy and made to last. The date stamp on my unit reads Sept.1991. I change components often and I can say that this Sony has one of the most enjoyable sounds I've ever heard. The sound has character. It brings out that true "live" feeling in the music whereas most other CD players, no matter how good they are, don't even come close. It extracts tons of bass from every track and due to it's massive twin power supplies, sends out a strong signal that can make a good power amp really boogie. The best way to listen to this unit is to connect it directly to a power amp (yes it has variable outputs). I tried using the XLR outs and then the fixed RCA outs through good preamps, but the best sound always came through the variable outputs, straight to the power amp.
Recently a friend convinced me to sell the 777es unit and try more exotic, newer cd players. All I can say is that nothing compares to the pleasure of listening to this player. I've sold all the so called exotics and just completed a deal to get a champagne color Sony CDP-X779es, the same as the 777es except made in 1992. I can't wait to hook up the 779es and enjoy music again. It will be a very long time before I sell that baby. No matter what other CD players I get I will always keep the Sony. There's nothing like it.
Associated gear
Linar 250W/Ch power amp
B&W DM3000 3 way Speakers
Nordost Red Dawn 1m RCA interconnects
Nordost Blue Heaven 3m spkr cables
Tice Audio Elite 4 line conditioner
Custom made Power cables
Similar products
Cary 303/100
Sony DVP9000ES
Beautiful piece of hardware. Well built, heavy and made to last. The date stamp on my unit reads Sept.1991. I change components often and I can say that this Sony has one of the most enjoyable sounds I've ever heard. The sound has character. It brings out that true "live" feeling in the music whereas most other CD players, no matter how good they are, don't even come close. It extracts tons of bass from every track and due to it's massive twin power supplies, sends out a strong signal that can make a good power amp really boogie. The best way to listen to this unit is to connect it directly to a power amp (yes it has variable outputs). I tried using the XLR outs and then the fixed RCA outs through good preamps, but the best sound always came through the variable outputs, straight to the power amp.
Recently a friend convinced me to sell the 777es unit and try more exotic, newer cd players. All I can say is that nothing compares to the pleasure of listening to this player. I've sold all the so called exotics and just completed a deal to get a champagne color Sony CDP-X779es, the same as the 777es except made in 1992. I can't wait to hook up the 779es and enjoy music again. It will be a very long time before I sell that baby. No matter what other CD players I get I will always keep the Sony. There's nothing like it.
Associated gear
Linar 250W/Ch power amp
B&W DM3000 3 way Speakers
Nordost Red Dawn 1m RCA interconnects
Nordost Blue Heaven 3m spkr cables
Tice Audio Elite 4 line conditioner
Custom made Power cables
Similar products
Cary 303/100
Sony DVP9000ES
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