all around bang for the buck. Handles CD CDR/W, SACD in stereo and Multi-channel. Low price in the present. Ability to program tracks, random play, change out discs while one plays, and CD text.

The Sound It's only slightly better than most stand alone 99 dollar CD players or DVD/CD players. I gushed a tad more back in 2001, but I hadn't yet owned a Sony ES SACD player. This entry level stand alone SACD player is a great introduction to surround sound SACD, but in NO WAY reveals what CD and SACD have to offer where sound quality is concerned. The sound is good but lacks a good bottom end, mid-range is okay, and the high end is crunchy and frail when compared to better (more expensive) machines. This machine now runs less than half the original price (if you can find it). For 50 to 110 dollars on ebay, it's not a bad deal. It's a good start, but for a more true sound of what CD and SACD have to offer, skip this machine and pick up a Sony ES changer, specifically the C222ES. It runs from the low 200s to about 300 dollars used. For a bit more a C555ES is even better. For SACD music reviews, please visit me at http://www.epinions.com/user-sslabs

Originally written for epinions.com Aug 2001 http://www.epinions.com/user-sslabs The front panel This is the first non ES (elevated standard) Sony SACD player. Looking at this player it would appear that Sony simply grabbed the top model in their regular line (CDP-CE545) and added the SACD components into the existing chassis. If the two were put side by side, only tiny differences could be detected immediately. On the front panel, the differences are minor. On the lower right there is a 1/4” gold plated headphone jack and a volume control. And at the rear This is where even the non-technical person can see there’s something brewing. a couple of cons The power cord is non-detachable, and all of the RCA jacks are the standard nickel type rather than gold plated. This is an entry level product so I’m not surprised. There is one digital optical output, one 2 channel RCA (left & right) set and one RCA six channel (5.1) as well. And right off the bat I had all three of these outputs put to good use. I have the analog six channel going directly into my receiver’s corresponding input. For the best quality sound, all of the sound manipulation capabilities, computer chips and other various bells and whistles are totally bypassed when connected through the six channel set. The second reason is my tape loop monitor function on the receiver. I also use this for analog recordings going into my CD recorder. PC users do not have to deal with SCMS, a system that prevents a digital copy of a copy. Thank goodness Sony included this extra set of RCA jacks, had they not, I would have a large bald spot on my head right about now. There is also one A1II jack, a proprietary link system to connect Sony products together. Sony claims that this is backward compatible with their earlier incarnation A1I. I cannot report on this because I have no use for this feature. The cable is not supplied, but this monaural cable can be picked up at any Radio Shack for a few dollars. Features The most important feature here is the bass management capability. DVD-A and SACD only output their high resolution sound through analog outputs. Virtually every receiver ever made with multi-channel inputs has no means of manipulating that sound. For those of you with those micro satellite surround speakers Sony’s got you covered . All of my speakers are capable of handling the full spectrum of sound, but this is very important for those with a different set-up. Sony decided to include bass management on the player side to handle this issue. I counted seven different configurations and this should easily cover 99 percent of what exists out there. For example, for those of you with five tiny cubes (left, right, center and both rears) and one sub-woofer, there is a setting just for you. On the front display, this is represented as 5 small +SW (sub-woofer). If you have large speakers up front, but midgets in the back, no problem. There are settings for those that do and do not have a sub-woofer. There are even two settings for those that have yet to buy a center channel speaker. Very cool.

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At the time, my old Sony CDP Ce545, Philps CDR870

Wonderful SACD playback. Very live and dimensional.

A little sharp and light as a CD player. Lacks Sony's 'soft' filter for Cd playback, common to other Sony disk spinners.

This model has been discontinued, but I found a display model at a lacal Best Buy. The sign said 169.99, but because it was a display, I got mine with a four year protection plan, sans manual and box, for 130 bucks out the door. I had a Sony DVP-NS755V as well, that I decided to try out, which was alright, but in comparison, the 5 disk spinner made SACD's sound more dimensional, more dynamic, with less digital haze, and clearer realism. The combo SACD/DVD Sony wasn't bad. It's just that the 5 disk 775 was better in almost every way. Oddly, as a CD player, I was torn. The 5 disk Sony ce775 is obviously more dynamic and more dimensional than it's DVD playing cousin, but the DVD player, especially with the help of it's 'soft' digital filter setting, made casual music listening more tonally pleasant, taking the hard edge off transients, smoothing out the sound. The 5 disk player, by comparison, is sharper, more attention grabbing, which can be a problem for my NHT speakers, with their cool and unforgivingly neutral personality. Though, it is more musical, and imaging and soundstaging from the 5 disk player is far more convincing than anything the ns755v could muster. Like me, I'm sure there are plenty of budget minded audio enthusiasts out there who have limited their decision between these two players, for the SACD playback. As an all in one player, the ns755v is very nice. As a dedicated SACD player, the 5 disk ce755 is superior, and the difference is easily noticable. As a CD player, my audiophilic mind tells me that the 5 disk ce775 is more musical, has better dynamics, but my heart misses the smooth sound of the ns755v, even if that smoothness canem at the cost of realism and dimensionality. In the end, I returned the DVD/SACD player, and stuck with the 5 disk changer. If I didn't already have a DVD player I was happy with, I would have kept the ns755v. What I really wanted, was a good budget SACD player, and the ce775 offers the promise of that format much more convincingly. Within the next couple of months, I'll have the player modified, when I have the extra cash, and I'll report the differences once I've had a chance to live with them for a while.

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sony dvp-ns755v dvd/sacd player

cheap

redbook CD playback

SACD sounds great, on the cheap. If you're curious and can find this machine (it's discontinued), it's a good alternative. Redbook CD playback is not so great. Edgy treble, poor soundstaging and generally weak performance.

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Musical Fidelity E624, Rotel RCD 965-BX, Jolida CD603 tube CD.

SACD and redbook performance. Open soundstage and clarity/detail

Needs time to break in. (at least 100 hours) A little scratchy in the upper ranges, but will get better as time goes by.

This CD Player has to be the bargain of the year at it's current clearance prices (have been found for as low as $99 open box). The SACD performance is simply great and as for regular CD's it does its job very well. It will compete with any CD player in the less than $300 range with much ease.

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Marantz cc3000, HK8380 and ONKYO-380 and Sony 222es

Audio nirvana @ $600

Noisy loading

I purchased this player directly from Matthew Anker @ SACDMODS. It was set up with the multichannel mods. My system: Sony SCD CE775 Outlaw Audio PCA interconnects (3 prs) Arcam AVR200 Audioquest CV4 speaker cables fronts:Sonus Faber Concertino Homes center:Sonus Faber Solo Home sub:Monitor Audio ASW110 connected w/Audioquest Copperheads surrounds:Polk f/x300i (dipole/bipole) This modded player is extraordinary on Redbook CD's but on multi-channel SACD's the playback quality achieved is simply state of the art. The Sony provided Burr-Brown onboard DAC's, coupled w/ the cleanups that were done to the signal path by Matthew have obviated the need for an outboard DAC. The sweetness in the treble range coupled w/ the extension in bass must be heard to be appreciated. James Taylor's Hourglass and Miles Davis' masterpiece Kind of Blue are on multichannel SACD and were my first SACD purchases. I highly recommend these recordings and praise this player and the joy it has provided me. Sony has discontinued this player, but if you can find a used one and send it to sacdmds.com for the upgrades you too will be rewarded.

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Arcam CD 92

Great price and great sound. Rivals analogue.

None at this price.

I was in themarket for a DVD player, budget model for the time being to get a feel for the format. I am already an owner of the Sony 333ES. I tried out the Toshiba 4800 and the JVC F90. Sadly they were horrible sounding players. The Toshiba was decent with movies but had flat one dimensional sounding 2 channel sound. Couldnt believe that a DVD audio witha dedicated stereo track would sound like it did. The JVC was worse. Anyway disapointed I went and picked up teh Sony 775 postponing the DVD-Audio player for the time being. Run in a secondary system (Dynaco ST70 rebuilt with Ned's Triode upgrade) this thing is beautiful. SACD's and redbook cd's are wonderful. Maybe the guy below is right, but under $200 and SACDs that cost me about $16-20 rather than $20-25 I have to say SACD wins hands down. At least I dont have to play around with the TV to set up a 2 channel playback. I so want DVD audio to work, but its to fussy and has too many formats on one disk. Maybe one day. For now, Sony and SACD rules.

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Toshiba 4800 JVC F90 Sony 333ES plus many more

Incredible SACD smooth sound Multi-channel capable Cheap Good redbook 5 CD player Dislays names of albums and songs Can turn off the display No listner fatigue :-)

SACD may not survive Noisy changing disks No much at this price :-)

Well, I feel like I stole this thing from the Good Guys :-) It is such a wonderful SACD player, really really nice. Redbook playback is very good but the player really shines on SACD. While there are limited titles, they do sound excellent. So far, the Weather Report Heavy Weather 2 Channel SACD makes my stereo sound better than it ever has. The sound stage extends way past the speaker edges and creates incredible imaging. The other 10 SACDs I purchased are good, very smooth, no listner fatigue (I used to get this on my previous player), but they don't really seem to stretch the limits of the medium. FYI - I'm only using the player in 2 channel stereo so multi- channel SACDs are down mixed by the player into 2 full range speakers.

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Sony CDP-700 (old 5 disc mid-level changer) Setup: Luxman L5 Preamp Sony TA-N 55ES KEF 104/2 12/14 gauge stranded speaker wire "Normal" gold plated interconnects Power cord: yes

price. Also, I've read that it uses "nice" Elna and Nichicon Gold caps inside. But I was afraid to remove the tray though, so I couldn't get a good look at the capacitors...

heat--it could use a bigger heatsink if only it wasn't so cramped inside. One of the cd spaces next to the activated one rests over the hot spot, so you might not want to leave a cdrw there while the unit is powered for long periods of time.

Before purchasing this unit, I read its reviews by the audiophile press and users. A common theme was that the CE775 offered great SACD playback but less than average CD playback. I'd have to say it all depends upon your point of reference. For me, my reference source has been computer soundcards. Such as a Creative Live and an Maudio Audiophile. After doing A/B between the CE775 and Audiophile, I have to say that those soundcards are quite smeared and flat in comparison to the CE775. Think of the sound of an electric guitar. With those soundcards, the electric guitar would lack its edge and sound blurry compared to how it would sound through the CE775. Now imagine this blur effect applied to every element of a musical recording and you might be able to imagine the difference between a CE775 and one of those soundcards. I didn't realize what I was missing before the CE775--I thought that a decent prosumer soundcard would equal a comparatively priced standalone cd player. Due to the fact that the CE775 is now $200 and comparable in price to prosumer soundcards, I now know that my thesis was incorrect. I encourage computer users like myself to burn their songs to cds and listen using the CE775 rather than their soundcard, if their soundcard is a Live or Audiophile. NAD 312 integrated amplifier, Axiom Millennia M2ti speakers, Pure Silver Sound Integre' jumper cables, Luminous Audio Synchestra interconnects, MC Z1 speaker cables, Sony CE775 SACD player

Very high quality at a very reasonable cost.

Not as heafty as an ES, otherwise none.

Recently I had one of my two 775s modified by SACDmods.com. As reported here and elsewhere the stock 775 is quite a good machine well worth its $399. list due to the quality Burr-Brown processors it contains. However, one of my systems uses Klipschorns and LaScalas which use identical speaker components. One problem with these speakers is that they clearly and dynamically reproduce whatever goes in to them. There hair trigger dynamics tend to make both muddy and boomy bass as well as the metallic edge of digital sound more prominent. The modifications that were made to my 775 dramatically improved the bass and removed any digital edginess from the mids and highs. The mods also clearly improved the playback of standard “redbook” CDs something that is of minimal interest to me because I run the output of all my CD transports through external processing through Perpetual Technologies P1A and Dan Wright modified P3A. These devices convert CDs to close approximation of SACDs at a cost of around $2500. for these excellent Stereophile recommended components. So I have a good standard of comparison. My modified 775 now sounds better on stereo SACDs than my CDs processed through the Perpetual Tech devices, something that wasn’t true of the unmodified 775 (although it was surprisingly good for its cost) However,. CDs through the unmodified 775 didn’t sound good at all when compared to the PT devices. Multichannel SACDs, especially those recorded in DSD now sound exceptional. They now offer a very wide soundstage out from the sides of the front speakers in a Cinemascope fashion. Great for recordings of symphony orchestras as the soundstage extends out beyond the walls of my room and curves inward slightly – jut as a live orchestra would – sounds a lot more like the real thing in size and scope. Of course, smaller groups sound so real that with the lights out you would swear they are in the room with you! Particularly exciting are live recordings like Bucky Pezzareli’s Swing Live! (Chesky) were you are transported to a NYC night club. You are there! I plan to do a side by side comparison with the Sony 555ES and 777ES players (and anything else) if possible. I have heard both these machines in stores and the moded 775 sounds better with my system I think. I am reasonably sure that it sounds better than the 555ES but am less sure about the highly rated and expen

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unmodified 775

Incredible improvement over the stock unit--well worth my money. Enjoy the multichannel sound too!

Not having the drawer open/close on the remote.

This is a review of the CE775 modified by SACDmods.com, not the stock model. There is a very noticeable difference in many aspects of the sound of my Sony SCD-CE775 SACD changer after having the SACDmods.com upgrades installed. These major improvements include: 1. More realistic soundstage. 2. Front to back (depth) perception greatly improved. 3. Better micro-detail. 4. Smoother sound--none of the classic "digital harshness." 5. More bass and dynamic range. 6. Speakers totally disappear into the room. 7. Redbook CD playback incredible along with the SACD stage! Incredible service at a very affordable price. He even took time to explain everything to me in layman''s terms. One happy camper whose cheap SACD player now sounds like a $1500+ unit! His website if you''re interested is: www.SACDmods.com