SONY SCD-CE775 More Thoughts....

[audiomixer]

Spent most of the weekend "burning in" and listening to the 775.
Really enjoying the SACD capabilities as well as the Redbook CDs.:D
I am finding it to be "warm" through the analog ports. And I love the way
SACD's sound. Anymore 775 buyers out there with opinions?

[Sckott]

Well worth every penny I paid. Will get me further until I see badder SACD units coming. The scarlet-book SACD might also see changes in the 1st 2-3 years too.

Possibly the best CD player I own in the whole house.

[Todd Fredericks]

I loved the CE775 but I ended up going for the C-555ES (long story/nothing wrong with 775). One strange problem I did find on the 775 was that there was distortion on the 2ch out (going to tube linestage) when the L/R multi outs were connected (going to Yamaha RX 995 HT receiver). Only the 2ch outs had this distorion and not the multi ch outs. I had to disconnect the L/R multi outs to get rid of the distortion. This was really strange because I thought the additional 2ch outs were meant for a set up like this? I haven't connected the multi outs on the 555ES yet. I'll post if I find the same problem. Very strange, anybody else notice this?

Todd

[audiomixer]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Todd Fredericks
[B]I loved the CE775 but I ended up going for the C-555ES (long story/nothing wrong with 775). One strange problem I did find on the 775 was that there was distortion on the 2ch out (going to tube linestage) when the L/R multi outs were connected (going to Yamaha RX 995 HT receiver). Only the 2ch outs had this distorion and not the multi ch outs. I had to disconnect the L/R multi outs to get rid of the distortion. This was really strange because I thought the additional 2ch outs were meant for a set up like this? I haven't connected the multi outs on the 555ES yet. I'll post if I find the same problem. Very strange, anybody else notice this?


No...I haven't noticed any distortion from the 2 ch analog out.
In fact, I mentioned previously, it sounds very warm and
"forgiving" , but with nice detail and transparency...

[Todd Fredericks]

Maybe it was a problem with the unit I had? I saw today on AA that someone else seems to have the same problem with the 775 yet he's doing a long run to his living room from bedroom for multi-ch (yikes), so there may be other user/technical reasons. I was surprised when I noticed the distortion. I'll hook up the mc outs tonight on the C-555ES and see (hear) if the same thing happens (which I hope doesn't)...

Todd

P.S. Thought the red "sea" playback sounded great on the 775...

[audiomixer]

What sort of distortion are you experiencing? High end or low end?
I will keep an "ear" open to see if I notice anything. Did you say you
paid mid-$500 for the 555? I don't see any 775's around Los Angeles
anymore...

[Todd Fredericks]

It was kind of a mid-range distortion (added a veil). I could definately tell the difference with the multi L/R connected or out (which was causing it). Listen to a SACD and pay attention to a vocal or acoustic instrument. Hit pause after listening closely and remove the multi L/R interconnects (with preamp on zero/mute to save an hiccups). Listen carefully, do you hear the music cleaner? I did. Maybe it was just the player I had or maybe not? I want to hook up the multi's ton ight about I'm feeling tired already (too much wine/I'm indulging). Maybe I'll do it tonight or maybe tomorrow. I'm kind of unmotivated and enjoying to some CD-R's Bob Lovely sent me...

Todd

[Todd Fredericks]

Sorry about my last post (too late to edit). Sheesh, too much wine...

Todd

[Todd Fredericks]

Here are some answers from AA to the other person's post I mentioned:


"m-ch F-R/L & 2 ch out connect thru 100 Ohm Rs after 660 Ohm from amp thus they talk to each other, too much load on one = too much load on both
if one load is unpowered, you may be driving diode junctions in its input
the capacitance of a long run dosen't help either" (the guy was running the multi's to his living room/ouch)

"Simulataneous Paralleled outputs of Sony do not have the current capability to drive two loads."

I don't know yet about the C-555Es (too much wine tonight to play with set-up) but I'll try tomorrow night (stay away from wine).

Todd

[Larry Johnson]

I received (i.e. was allowed to purchase) a 775 as a Father's Day gift. This past Friday evening I found the last unit available at any Circuit City in Chicago's far north suburbs. Thanks for the review last week Sckott - you convinced me that now was the time and this was the machine.

In my limited time with it so far I have found SACD's played on it to sound warmer, fuller, and very detailed. And the dynamics are wonderful. Having not ever heard a SACD or SACD player before, I can't tell whether its the SACDs (Time Out and SRV's Texas Flood) or the player, but the result is very impressive, especially for the price ($189). I intend to use the 775 as a SACD player only so cannot comment on its capability's as a CD player. Purchased three more SACDs today (great prices at Tower).

I intend to stay strictly 2-channel. Two questions. Do 5.1 SACDs, especially those labelled "single layer", always include a stereo (or mono, as the case may be) mix? And do SACDs using "Soundstream" recording technology sound noticeably better?

[Kevin Korom]

Larry said "Purchased three more SACDs today (great prices at Tower)."


Sorry to butt in, but where's a Tower records near Libertyville, Larry?

[MikeT]

Do 5.1 SACDs, especially those labelled "single layer", always include a stereo (or mono, as the case may be) mix? And do SACDs using "Soundstream" recording technology sound noticeably better?

All SACDs include a stereo (or mono) mix. Even if a disc includes a MCH mix, there will always be a stereo mix - so no need to worry there.

As far as SACDs using "Soundstream" technology - I assume you are referring to the Telarc SACDs that have been originally recorded with that technology. I would have to say that they do sound somewhat better, but then usually I find that most SACDs sound better than their redbook CD counterparts.

[Richard Feirstein]

Larry, all multi-channel SACD disks have a true stereo mix on the disk as well. I find that the CD performance of my Sony SACD player to be superb, but I usually use the DAC's in my Dennon 3802 receiver. To my ears the 500V's DAC's sound just a good.

Although 5.1 is sometimes a mixed blessing, some of my classical recordings seem to put that function to good use. Also, some avoid the center speaker, usually a good move for serious listening. Kind of Blue, a three track master, uses all three channels in the front, also very effective and true to the source.

[Carl Hoffmann]

Got my CE775 today!!! First off, I think it plays redbook discs very well.
I'm now on my very first SACD (I feel like a virgin again). It's Billy Joel's "The Stranger". The sound has a ton of depth with headphones. Maybe a tad too much echo....don't know? Much more than the original.

Anyway, what really bugs me is that the player goes straight for the multi-channel playback even though I only have a two channel set-up. Anybody else find that more than a little annoying????

[MikeT]

Anyway, what really bugs me is that the player goes straight for the multi-channel playback even though I only have a two channel set-up. Anybody else find that more than a little annoying????

Check your manual. There is a function within the menu set-up on the CE775 that will allow you to change the players default to the 2-ch mix as opposed to the MCH mix when you put in a MCH/2Ch SACD.

It is actually quite simple to do once you see what needs to be done.

That is how I have my CE775 and XA777ES set-up - both now default to the SACD 2-ch mix as opposed to the MCH mix.

[Larry Johnson]

Originally posted by Kevin Korom
Larry said "Purchased three more SACDs today (great prices at Tower)."


Sorry to butt in, but where's a Tower records near Libertyville, Larry?

My office is downtown Chicago. Tower Records is a 3-story store on Wabash near Jackson Blvd. It has a decent selection of SACDs and DVD-A discs, and its prices are, at least temporarily, very good - for non-hybrid SACDs, mostly $15.99 and $17.99.

Also, thanks to all for answering my questions regarding stereo mixes on all discs and "Soundstream". Is Telarc the only label utilizing this?

[Steve Hoffman]

Telarc hasn't used Soundstream for years. I actually liked the sound of it better than the Sony system, but it wasn't practical.

Ah well. Soundstream had a really nice analog sound, as you can tell from the early (1979-82) Telarc recordings.

[ArneW]

Steve wrote:

Ah well. Soundstream had a really nice analog sound as you can tell from the early (1979-82) Telarc recordings

They also made some great recordings for Delos, e.g. Tchaikovsky's Symphony #6 with the Philadelphia Orchestra under Eugene Ormandy (one of his very last recordings, I guess). Just two Schoeps 221B mics fed into the PCM converter without the use of a mixing console. Absolutely exploding brass and stunning strings. This is the way digital recordings should be done! :D

Arne

[Larry Johnson]

Originally posted by Steve Hoffman
Telarc hasn't used Soundstream for years. I actually liked the sound of it better than the Sony system, but it wasn't practical.

Ah well. Soundstream had a really nice analog sound, as you can tell from the early (1979-82) Telarc recordings.

Thanks for the clarification, Steve, and the tip. I'll be on the look-out for those 1979-82 Telarc recordings.

[Dan C]

Originally posted by Steve Hoffman
Telarc hasn't used Soundstream for years. I actually liked the sound of it better than the Sony system, but it wasn't practical.

Ah well. Soundstream had a really nice analog sound, as you can tell from the early (1979-82) Telarc recordings.


Robert Shaw's 'Firebird' is one of my favorites from this era, and it's one of the new SACD reissues.

ArneW mentioned Delos. RCA also made some recordings with the Soundstream system. Their first digital LP used Soundstream and was Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra with Ormandy. The original LP was pressed on red vinyl. Cool.

Also 'Horowitz at the Met'. Look for the CD from the short lived High Performance series.

I just bought a NAD cdp about a year ago. I like it, but maybe I should've held out for a SACD player. Oh well. My old Nak was dead so I had to buy something.
Dan C

[Carl Hoffmann]

Mike T,

Thanks for the tip on changing to the 2 channel default. Phew!!! Sure does help to pick up the manual once in a while. I figured out how to switch off the display as well. Hate watching those numbers tick...tick....tick while I'm listening. I remember most early players never let you switch this off. I would tape a peice of cardboard over the display. I tell you, it's the little things!!! :cool: