Just bought a SACD player

[Pawnmower]

I'm not a big audiophile guy. I like stuff to sound good, but I can't really afford to make it my life. Today I went into Best Buy to get a new cd player, and noticed a Sony SACD player for only $20 more. So for $150 I picked it up. I have less then 30 SACD discs (the Dylan box, Derek & the Dominos, 2 Kinks, some Rolling Stones, etc.) I'm playing "Blood on the Tracks" now. It sounds good, but I'm not sure what extra I should be looking for. Awesome deal, though. At only $20 more, it was a no brainer. Sony SCD-CE595

Andrew

[Surfin Jesus]

I have a love/hate/tolerate relationship with sony audio products myself (love them because they're cheap, hate them because they soon break, tolerate them because I can fix them myself)

so which model is it? does it downsample like the oppo?

** EDIT **

oops! just noticed you provided the info at the end

[PMC7027]

Do any Sony SACD players downsample to PCM?

[kurtphyre]

Do you still have to hook SACD players up using 5 different RCA cables? Or can they now transfer the 5.1 sound through a fiber optic or coaxial cable? The reason I've never got one is because my receiver doesn't have hookups for 5 RCA cables. Also, are SACD's 5.0 or 5.1?

[KeithH]

Andrew, congrats. on your purchase. I was not aware that Best Buy still sold the 'CE595. You did well, as it's a good value.

You still have to use the analog outputs on Sony players for stereo and surround-sound SACD. SACD is a 5.1 format, and most surround tracks on SACDs are mixed in 5.1. However, some could be mixed differently.

[jmrife]

Do you still have to hook SACD players up using 5 different RCA cables? Or can they now transfer the 5.1 sound through a fiber optic or coaxial cable? The reason I've never got one is because my receiver doesn't have hookups for 5 RCA cables. Also, are SACD's 5.0 or 5.1?


Very few players (Denon, for example through the Denon Link [Cat 5, I think]to a comparable Denon receiver) can pass 5.1 SACD or DVD-A through a single cable.

Have to say, mine rocks. Much better than analogue.

[CraigVC]

does it downsample like the oppo?


Are you asking if the Sony SACD player converts DSD to PCM? I'm pretty sure even the cheapest Sony SACD players keep native DSD, since Sony was one of the primary champions of the DSD format back in the day.

Then again, the way Sony seems to have all but abandoned SACD/DSD on the software side, so it wouldn't surprise me if they started converting DSD to PCM on the hardware side. However, I've never heard of that happening with a Sony player yet.

I would be curious if someone has specific information about this particular model, though.


It sounds good, but I'm not sure what extra I should be looking for.

I've found the sonic improvement of SACD to be "subtle." That's not to be confused with "insignificant" or "almost inaudible." It just means that the improvements aren't going to be "night and day" to most ears. For myself, I found that the soundstage became more well-defined with SACD, compared to CD, so that various instruments were easier to pinpoint and focus on in the mix. Also the bass frequencies were noticeably better-defined and realistic, and the midrange (vocals, etc.) sounds are more lifelike (that hard-to-describe "extra something") than any CD playback I've heard.

However, I also found that upgrading my CD player to one with high-quality upsampling (my current Denon upsamples redbook CD from 44.1/16 to 192/24) has improved redbook CD playback significantly, to the point where the SACD improvements are more subtle than ever in comparison.

In my experience, therefore, those moving from a modest CD player to an inexpensive SACD player are likely to notice more significant improvements than those who already have a high-quality CD player. (A highly debatable statement, I realize!)

Craig(VC).

[CraigVC]

You still have to use the analog outputs on Sony players for stereo and surround-sound SACD. SACD is a 5.1 format, and most surround tracks on SACDs are mixed in 5.1. However, some could be mixed differently.

One notable SACD series that is mixed in a format other than 5.1 is the RCA Living Stereo classical music SACD series, which offers 2.0 redbook CD, 2.0 stereo SACD, and 3.0 multichannel SACD (on most titles in the series).

In other words, many RCA Living Stereo SACDs have a program that uses left-right stereo speakers as well as your center-channel speaker.

I'm so thrilled with soundstage of the 2-channel programs, though, that I never bother to switch it to the 3.0 programs. ;)

Craig(VC).

[Surfin Jesus]

....I was not aware that Best Buy still sold the 'CE595....it's a good value....

for anyone else interested, J&R lists it for $119.99 (http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=3986714) ($134.79 with UPS ground shipping)

[soundboy]

And for $80.00 (with free shipping until Thursday), you can pick up a refurbished 595 directly from Sony....

Refurbished Sony SCD-CE595 SACD/CD changer for $80.00 shipped (http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/_wbrtarget=_blank_INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=SCDCE595%2fBSTOCK&Dept=audio&CategoryName=pa_outlet_PortableAudioPlay ersII)

15 page thread at head-fi.org on refurbished Sony SCD-CE595 (http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=165371)

[kurtphyre]

And for $80.00 (with free shipping until Thursday), you can pick up a refurbished 595 directly from Sony....

Refurbished Sony SCD-CE595 SACD/CD changer for $80.00 shipped (http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/_wbrtarget=_blank_INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=SCDCE595%2fBSTOCK&Dept=audio&CategoryName=pa_outlet_PortableAudioPlay ersII)

15 page thread at head-fi.org on refurbished Sony SCD-CE595 (http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=165371)
Would this give me an upgrade in sound quality for regular CD playback? I'm currently using a Sony DVP-NS75H upconverting DVD player. Is this a better player in this price range for regular CD playback? I don't own any SACDs.

Also how would I hook this up to my Onkyo receiver? The back of my receiver only has stereo RCA inputs, fiber optic, and coaxial.

[audiomixer]

I have the 775. The drawer is beginning to get a bit tired, so I just ordered this one. What A Deal!

[kurtphyre]

What's the best redbook CD player for under $100? Which has the best DAC?

[soundboy]

Would this give me an upgrade in sound quality for regular CD playback? I'm currently using a Sony DVP-NS75H upconverting DVD player. Is this a better player in this price range for regular CD playback? I don't own any SACDs.

Also how would I hook this up to my Onkyo receiver? The back of my receiver only has stereo RCA inputs, fiber optic, and coaxial.

The 595 is more than decent for regular CD.

The 595 can be connected to your receiver using its analog RCA outputs or the fiber optic output. Remember, SACD can only be output through the 595's analog outputs.

The 595 will more than keep up with the Oppo 970....and in its refurbished form, almost 50% of Oppo's price.

[ubsman]

And for $80.00 (with free shipping until Thursday), you can pick up a refurbished 595 directly from Sony....

What a sad website that has turned into No pre-amps, No amps, just cheap-o receivers.

[kurtphyre]

The 595 is more than decent for regular CD.

The 595 can be connected to your receiver using its analog RCA outputs or the fiber optic output. Remember, SACD can only be output through the 595's analog outputs.

The 595 will more than keep up with the Oppo 970....and in its refurbished form, almost 50% of Oppo's price.
Thanks for the info. I guess what I'm asking is: Is their a better redbook CD player for under $80? The SACD is a perk I guess. I have zero SACDs so I'd only be using it for redbook CDs.

[soundboy]

What a sad website that has turned into No pre-amps, No amps, just cheap-o receivers.

That can also be said for almost all mainstream Japanese audio manufacturers.

[bru87tr]

if its the player I am thinking of, that player is a decent player for the money and hear redbook cd playback is quite good.

[kurtphyre]

I'm not a big audiophile guy. I like stuff to sound good, but I can't really afford to make it my life. Today I went into Best Buy to get a new cd player, and noticed a Sony SACD player for only $20 more. So for $150 I picked it up. I have less then 30 SACD discs (the Dylan box, Derek & the Dominos, 2 Kinks, some Rolling Stones, etc.) I'm playing "Blood on the Tracks" now. It sounds good, but I'm not sure what extra I should be looking for. Awesome deal, though. At only $20 more, it was a no brainer. Sony SCD-CE595

Andrew
What do you think so far? How's the redbook sound quality? I just ordered a refurb from Sony. $84.77 after tax.

[leopoldstotch]

What do you think so far? How's the redbook sound quality? I just ordered a refurb from Sony. $84.77 after tax.

I have this SACD player and I like for SACD only the redbook is so-so but then again I am comparing it to my NAD C542. Fogged.Zep you are not going to find any good redbook players for under $80 . Unfortunately for good rebook placyback you are going to have to spend some money. My suggestion would be for you to save up some cash and buy a good redbook player like the one I have which I picked up for $350 and I had to save for it and it was well worth it!

[LesPaul666]

For $80 bucks you can't beat it. It has the true DSD converter, as well.

[LesPaul666]

http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0205/sonyscdce595.htm

a nice little review.

[Metoo]

Do you still have to hook SACD players up using 5 different RCA cables? Or can they now transfer the 5.1 sound through a fiber optic or coaxial cable? The reason I've never got one is because my receiver doesn't have hookups for 5 RCA cables. Also, are SACD's 5.0 or 5.1?
SACD players can be hooked up to an amp via 2 RCA connectors or 6 RCA connectors. In the first case you'll only have stereo playback, in the second case you'll be able to choose between surround and stereo playback (usually in the set up menu for all the cases involved).

SACDs can be stereo, 5.1, 5.0, 4.0, or 3.0. It depends on the title.

[Metoo]

I'm so thrilled with soundstage of the 2-channel programs, though, that I never bother to switch it to the 3.0 programs. ;)

Craig, you'll get a better soundstage with 3.0.

[Metoo]

Would this give me an upgrade in sound quality for regular CD playback? I'm currently using a Sony DVP-NS75H upconverting DVD player. Is this a better player in this price range for regular CD playback? I don't own any SACDs.

Also how would I hook this up to my Onkyo receiver? The back of my receiver only has stereo RCA inputs, fiber optic, and coaxial.
Fiber optic or coaxial will let you listen to 96/24 DVD-Vs like the Neil Young titles or the DVD-V side of the Classic Records Alan Parsons HDADs. These are good ways to check out if you'll like HiRez stereo playback. Or you can record stereo backups of your SACDs and burn them to 96/24 DVD-Vs and listen to them through these connections. :)

For HiRez (SACD and/or DVD-Audio) you'd have to go stereo given your amp connections.