Price Paid:  $800.00 from Tokyo

Summary:
This CD player has been my good partner for more than one year. I really like its simple design; quite different from other Japanese mass-products. It is also characterized by the moving turntable/fixed pickup mechanism. The Copernican revolution. The sound is of course excellent.

Answer to the previous reviewer: X3000s have digital filters, but X5000s do not. If you would like to have them, please try a Sony's CDP-MS1 which has more sophisticated (complicated?) ones.

Strengths:
Wide&deep soundstage. Smart design (both body and remote). Build quality. Analogue player-like manner to handle

Weaknesses:
None at this price range

Similar Products Used:
Sony CDP-X3000, DENONs, MF Electra

Price Paid:  $800.00 from Japan

Summary:
I have a question regarding to this CD Player. It seems some of reviewers mentioned there is a digital filter for this CD player. Where is the digital filter switch or button? How to use the digital filter switch? Thanks in advance!

Summary:
Sony CDP-X3000ES, X5000 CD Players have excellent build, appearance and sonic qualities.

I have owned the similiar Sony CDP-X3000ES for several years
which I purchased in Singapore. I only found out recently that it was never available in USA as the X30000ES and the X5000ES were very Japanese limited editions.

The controls on the unit are very basic and minimal in line with most high end audiophile CDP's. All fine controls and adjustments are made witht he comprehensive remote control.

The unit is made from die cast gold anodized aluminium chasis and cover and very atractive.

There are several features quite unique to these 2 units.
1. the DAC was four selectable Digital Filters that change the sound from a very warm/deep to a very high clarity sharp discrete sound. I change filters to suit the type of music from rock, classical and jazz.

2. It is a top loading unit and the physical lazer head is fixed and does not move like in almost all other units. The rotating CD moves back and forth over the lazer head.
All this happens in plan view under a clear lexan panel which always gets a lot of attention.

3. The CD is held / clamped down in place by a heavy stablizer disk placed on top of the CD that is also pulled down by heavy magnets in the drive spindle.

4. Both 2 & 3 above improve the stability of the disk and
reduce the mechanical movement and improve sound quality.

I have run direct comparison tests with the Rega Planet, Cal Labs CL-15 CDP, Sony XA20ES, and many other more hi-end units and prefer the X3000ES sonically over all except the
very hi end refernece units like the Wadia 850 costing many times more.

I value rate this unit 5 stars for its excellent sound / cost ratio and 4 stars compared to 5 star reference units.

Strengths:
Excellent build and sound

Weaknesses:
Plays only 1 CD at a time

Similar Products Used:
CDP-X3000ES

Summary:
A good CD Player which can double up as a transport.

Warm, natural sounding and good soundstage.

Summary:
The X5000 replaced the Theta Data Basic 2/Audio Alchemy DTI 2.0 and DDE 3.0. I couldnt be any happier. Great sound, great look.