Extremly clear sound, wonderful bass response, detailed and build quality is supreme.

Headphone volume button could have a little LED inside (like CDP-X333ES). When not listened for a long period of time, it needs a day or two to get the best of it.

I bought this player from a person in Switzerland that almost never used it, for 600 EUR. The first audition was total disaster: cold metallic sound, dry bass. At the same time I've had Sony CDP-X555ES (2000. model, 1200 EUR) and CDP-320 or something (entry level model) but found NO difference between the cheap one and 779ES. 555ES sounded much much better in every aspect. So I decided to let it play for two days. Then I auditioned it again, and the result was marvelous: warm, rich sound, extremly good bass response, better dynamics and soundstage than 555ES. Details are amazing, when using good amplifier you can hear details that you would miss when using it's headphone socket (although it is the good one). The 555ES had a little softer highs, and a few tones in some songs that 779ES didn't have (555ES uses newer D/A converter). After two weeks of intensive listening, me and my wife decided to keep 779ES, as we have found it slightly better than CDP-X555ES in almost all areas. The build quality is fantastic (weight is 17 kg), with mital buttoln, which was very rare in these days, not to mention today. This machine is almost perfect, and shows how far CD media could go.

Similar Products Used:

Marantz CD74, CD17; Sony CDP-X333ES, CDP-XA555ES, Denon DCD3300

Used this for over 9 years. Still goiing strong and is an excellent transport for my Meridian 566 DAC. Accuphase uses this model as base for its DP65/75 with uprated parts. A great CD transport. Needs to be grounded and a better power cable.

I've only owned, and therefore have only listened extensively to, three CD players, so this review should be that limitation in mind. The other two are a Luxman DZ-111 purchased in the mid- or late-Eighties and a Harmon Karden CD-63SE, purchased as "new old stock" November 1998. Although the Luxman is older technology, in over a decade it has never needed servicing other than a new belt. To me the Marantz was perhaps a bit clearer, but I never experienced that audiophilic sense of satisfaction that one gets from a new component that really and truly improves the sound of one's system. Moreover, the remote conked out about a month after I got the HK -- not a great inconvenience for me, since I don't use it that often.Well, the Luxman cost me about $300 in the late Eighties, the Marantz slightly less in the late Nineties and the Sony, which was manufactured in 1992 or 1993 and which I bought just last week, cost $675 (all amounts in U.S. dollars).
I won't go on a great deal about its sonic qualities, but it really puts the others to shame and considering the price, I suppose it should. Most vivid improvements were extension and clarity of bass, detail, especially in vocals, and "purity" of high frequencies like cymbals, violins, acoustic guitar, etc. While it lacks the deep soundstage that the best analogue (turntable, tonearm, cartridge) can offer, I am beginning to think this is a limitation of the technology itself rather than of this particular model or unit. Having said that, I'm overall very pleased with the X779ES and would strongly recommend it to anyone surveying the used market for a CD player in this price range. Finally, I'll add what is obvious to anyone familiar with the higher end of the Sony ES line: this is an incredibly well-built and, for that matter, attractive machine. Metal, not plastic. I'm still waiting delivery of the box and manual, but the 40 lb. weight and the warmth of the unit when operating suggests both serious resonance shielding and multiple power supplies (separate ones, I guess, for digital and analogue stages). I only assign it four stars because of my lack of experience with CD players.

Well Joel I'll give it the five stars since I've had some experience with cd players. So far I've owned approx. 15 cd players in every category except for the ultra high end(Accuphase or Krell). But that is of no importance since the Sony is the equal to any. I had for about 1 year and I can say it is the best sounding, looking, built cd player that I ever that I had. Rotels, Parasound, Elite, Meridian, you name it, don't come even close. And Joel what you mentioned about lacking warmth, etc., you're right when you say that it is a flaw of the medium. Since a CD player has a 16-bit word this means you only have about 65,000 values/sec to recreate the original waveform. Whereas on a turntable the resolution is infinite(analog) thus sound is smoother(warmer,fuller, whatever you wanna call it).

I have had this CD player for about 9 months now and every time I listen to music I am amazed by its resolution, clarity, bass and treble extentions and magical vocals. This CD player is built like a tank, solid 40 lbs of copper shielding to control resonance. I recently had a chance to audition this CD player which is almost 8 years old technology with the latest SONY XA7ES and the Meridian older model. Basically I could not decide which one was better.
This Sony player could be available in the used market for around $600 which is a great bargain for this great cd player