This unit was auditioned and purchased primarily for the SACD playback capability, and the belief that at the "street" pricepoint it would provide reasonable CD playback performance. The SACD performance was very much as expected, and though dependent on the quality of source material and mastering, exhibited a very high level of definition, inner detail, and dynamics, with far fewer of the shortcomings common to CD playback.
What I wasn't expecting was the CD performance, particularly in reference to the early Sony XA7ES, one of their previous top of the line units, which also uses a current pulse converter. The SCD777ES, like the SCD-1, includes variable filter coefficients for CD playback. After experimenting wtih both listening tests and measurements (out of band noise rejection, phase linearity, square wave behavior), I settled on the DF3 filter mode as the preferred filter option. Many previously problematical CD's acquired significantly greater harmonic naturalness all through the spectrum, and a generally more coherent and lifelike tonality. This includes bass guitar sounding more like bass GUITAR, not a synthesizer, and a more realistic reproduction of brass and cymbals, particularly high level cymbal crashes, as well as ride cymbal tone. Piano is another intrument well reproduced by this player, using the DF3 mode. Many CD's which were irredemably hot and hashy are still "hot" (that is, the cymbals are loud) but are much clearer and more natural.
There have been a host of CD remasters released in the rock world in the last 18 months, including extensive portions of Joni Mitchell's releases, the Eagles "Hotel California", much of the Yes's releases, Mahvishnu Orchestra, and more. All were welcome on the Sony XA7ES CD player, and represented sound much closer to the original LP. The SCD777ES takes it most of the rest of the way there in many cases. This is a very welcome development for older releases.
The previously reported complaints about slow load times and track searches are quite valid, but tend to pale in signficance when revisiting many familiar CD's and finding a new level of musical integrity; even when working at the computer while listening, and finding myself drawn out of my work because of hearing something previously familiar, and now notably more lifelike.
Build quality is impeccable, and I suspect the mechanical solidity contributes to the performance of the transport, as well as isolation from acoustically born disturbances for the electornics.
I have worked a few years in small studios, and have also done live classical recording, so I have some familiarity with what live mic feeds sound like. The SCD777ES does offer a closer approximation to that than any other one piece playback unit I have auditioned in it's price range, and I can readily recommend putting it on your audition list before spending your hard earned (or easily earned!) dollars.
Product Weaknesses:
No future SACD multi-channel capability
No SACD digital output
Slow loading and track access
Heavy- 58 lb.- a hernia maker of a CD player
Some users report long burn-in to best sound- this may be psycho acoustic adjustment
Sony name may result in mediocre resale value
Product Strengths:
Very good playback with SACD
Well above average playback with CD at this pricepoint- especially with DF3
Very high build quality for this or any pricepoint
High acoustic and mechanical isolation - see product weakness #4!
Gool transport for external DAC if you're so inclined, considering SPDIF limitations.
Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: Sony TAN9000ES, custom MOSFET amplifiers, Denon monoblocks
Preamplifier: Marchand PR41 Passive Pream
Speakers: DIY X-1 SLAMM clones
Cables: custom DIY
Music Used: classical, acoustic jazz, fusion jazz, big band, pop, both CD and SACD.
Patricia Barber, "Companion";
Jacque Loussier Trio, "Play Bach";
Emily Remmler, "This is me"
Yo Yo Ma, "Appalachia"
Yo Yo Ma, "Solo"
McLaughlin, DiMeola, DeLucia; "Friday Night in Sanfrancisco";
Sarah MacLachlan; "Solace"
Orff, "Carmina Burana"
Stravinsky, "Rite of Spring"
Weather Report, "Heavy Weather"
Hooters, "Nervous Night"
Dire Straits, "Telegraph Road"
Water Lily Acoustics, Nature's Realm / Liszt / Dvorak / Wolfgang Sawallisch / The Philadelphia Orchestra, various selections (tube preamp/tape machine recording).
Numerous others, including Oregon, Acoustic Alchemy, Modern Jazz Quartet, Fourplay, The Yellow Jackets, Arvo Part, Laurie Anderson, Andreas Vollenweider, Miles Davis, Beth Neilson Chapman, Joni Mitchell, Jack DeJohnette, etc.
Room Size (LxWxH): 28 x 18 x 9-12
Room Treatments: Custom DIY, and RPG Acoustics
Earth First!
_______________________________
We'll screw up the other planets later....
What I wasn't expecting was the CD performance, particularly in reference to the early Sony XA7ES, one of their previous top of the line units, which also uses a current pulse converter. The SCD777ES, like the SCD-1, includes variable filter coefficients for CD playback. After experimenting wtih both listening tests and measurements (out of band noise rejection, phase linearity, square wave behavior), I settled on the DF3 filter mode as the preferred filter option. Many previously problematical CD's acquired significantly greater harmonic naturalness all through the spectrum, and a generally more coherent and lifelike tonality. This includes bass guitar sounding more like bass GUITAR, not a synthesizer, and a more realistic reproduction of brass and cymbals, particularly high level cymbal crashes, as well as ride cymbal tone. Piano is another intrument well reproduced by this player, using the DF3 mode. Many CD's which were irredemably hot and hashy are still "hot" (that is, the cymbals are loud) but are much clearer and more natural.
There have been a host of CD remasters released in the rock world in the last 18 months, including extensive portions of Joni Mitchell's releases, the Eagles "Hotel California", much of the Yes's releases, Mahvishnu Orchestra, and more. All were welcome on the Sony XA7ES CD player, and represented sound much closer to the original LP. The SCD777ES takes it most of the rest of the way there in many cases. This is a very welcome development for older releases.
The previously reported complaints about slow load times and track searches are quite valid, but tend to pale in signficance when revisiting many familiar CD's and finding a new level of musical integrity; even when working at the computer while listening, and finding myself drawn out of my work because of hearing something previously familiar, and now notably more lifelike.
Build quality is impeccable, and I suspect the mechanical solidity contributes to the performance of the transport, as well as isolation from acoustically born disturbances for the electornics.
I have worked a few years in small studios, and have also done live classical recording, so I have some familiarity with what live mic feeds sound like. The SCD777ES does offer a closer approximation to that than any other one piece playback unit I have auditioned in it's price range, and I can readily recommend putting it on your audition list before spending your hard earned (or easily earned!) dollars.
Product Weaknesses:
No future SACD multi-channel capability
No SACD digital output
Slow loading and track access
Heavy- 58 lb.- a hernia maker of a CD player
Some users report long burn-in to best sound- this may be psycho acoustic adjustment
Sony name may result in mediocre resale value
Product Strengths:
Very good playback with SACD
Well above average playback with CD at this pricepoint- especially with DF3
Very high build quality for this or any pricepoint
High acoustic and mechanical isolation - see product weakness #4!
Gool transport for external DAC if you're so inclined, considering SPDIF limitations.
Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: Sony TAN9000ES, custom MOSFET amplifiers, Denon monoblocks
Preamplifier: Marchand PR41 Passive Pream
Speakers: DIY X-1 SLAMM clones
Cables: custom DIY
Music Used: classical, acoustic jazz, fusion jazz, big band, pop, both CD and SACD.
Patricia Barber, "Companion";
Jacque Loussier Trio, "Play Bach";
Emily Remmler, "This is me"
Yo Yo Ma, "Appalachia"
Yo Yo Ma, "Solo"
McLaughlin, DiMeola, DeLucia; "Friday Night in Sanfrancisco";
Sarah MacLachlan; "Solace"
Orff, "Carmina Burana"
Stravinsky, "Rite of Spring"
Weather Report, "Heavy Weather"
Hooters, "Nervous Night"
Dire Straits, "Telegraph Road"
Water Lily Acoustics, Nature's Realm / Liszt / Dvorak / Wolfgang Sawallisch / The Philadelphia Orchestra, various selections (tube preamp/tape machine recording).
Numerous others, including Oregon, Acoustic Alchemy, Modern Jazz Quartet, Fourplay, The Yellow Jackets, Arvo Part, Laurie Anderson, Andreas Vollenweider, Miles Davis, Beth Neilson Chapman, Joni Mitchell, Jack DeJohnette, etc.
Room Size (LxWxH): 28 x 18 x 9-12
Room Treatments: Custom DIY, and RPG Acoustics
Earth First!
_______________________________
We'll screw up the other planets later....
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