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Why is Sony Digital sound more like vinyl?

I have had Levinson, BAT, ARC, Wadia, Meridian, Denon etc...players..and the top ones, yet when I purchased a Sony scd-XA777Es I was touched in a way none of the others could! The one thing in common with the other gear was Burr Brown DAC's. Also, I have come to believe that RCA (single ended)connections are more musical. Most of my gear has been balanced...when I went all single ended...ah!!!...music like when audio was new!! Lastly, I have found that if CD playback levels on a preamp rise quikly with low volume settings...musicality and low level detail is lost. Perhaps others out there in Audiogon land have pondered my musings...or maybe I've got way to much time on my hands!!
128x128dave_b
dave_b's avatar
dave_b OP
3,159 posts
 
"It's only the intellectualy lost who ever argue", would be yet another quip from the same source. Applies to this situation, don't you think ? In another time and another thread, we might have been friends. If we could only listen to each others systems over a drink ...Ah! That would be interesting.
phasecorrect's avatar
phasecorrect
2,013 posts
 
Dave...to return to your original thread...I have always been impressed with the sound of Sony digital...very laid back and musical... maybe not as "exciting" as some but hey...even their budget players are very good...ofcourse "hi-enders" who seek more esoteric brands and relish at every opportunity to bash Mega-Sony will disagree...but that is the state of audio...it is subjective as it gets...
sean
6,231 posts
 
Audioengr: I don't doubt that a faster and cleaner input signal would help any DAC. As i mentioned though, i bought my transport as it came factory stock with a "super-clock", extra regulation circuitry, AC line filtering, etc... Sean
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dave_b's avatar
dave_b OP
3,159 posts
 
Dear Phasecorrect...I think it speaks volumes when a musician like Jdaniel seems to understand what I'm saying. He doesn't get defensive because he has no ax to grind or any deep seated psychological need to justify his rig!
aroc
760 posts
 
I only have a lowly sony, the scd-xe670, the single-disc version of the ($400 list/$200 street) scd-ce775 sacd/cd carousel. I've read that most of the sony's share the same "house sound." My impressions echo those of Jdaniel. I found mine "OK" over all.

It is laid back, sort of recessed and muddy. It's most noticable on redbook CDs of classical music. Much so much so on other types of music - acoustic and electronic - IMO. And especially when A/B'ing it again my EVS Millennium DAC or Panasonic RP82 DVDA player. Truth be told, except for classical SACDs, I much prefer listening to redbook on EVS or the panasonic. The bass on the Sony (xe670) is also softer and less tuneful and taunt that compared to my other players.

But given the (what I'm calling) Sony house sound,I could see how someone could prefer it and call it more like vinyl. It's just too recessed and colored (muddy?) for me. Again this was the Xe670, I'm not sure how much of this extrapolates to it's bigger ES brethern. YMMV. My $0.02
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