I regret to buy this CD player. I bought this machine when I went to japan for my vacation. It sounds too bright, the low range is boom. I owned many good CD player before like Sony 55ES and VRDS9. They sound much comfortable than PioneerI changed the Harmonic Technology AC cable with the original one. The brightness and the booming sound were reduced. But it still sounded mechnical. I changed the stable platter mat. with BERYL mat. It sounded warmer. But the sound was machanical. Finally I changed the Interconnect cables with Silver Audio ones(it costs $750US). Wow it became two different CD player. The sound is now warm and detail. The bass is still a little bit excessive.
In short, this is a extreme detail CD player. It forfeits the musical sound with high to low frequency extension.It's transient response is mediocre.This is a money pit! I suggest potential buyers should consider Teac VRDS25 or it's higher models first because they are musical and give good enough details and transient response. Or they can save thousand bucks for a VRDS 9. It is a very good CD player. It never sounds harsh, it's middle range is rich and musical. It does not trade off details and transient like cheap Jacked Marantz. Don't attempt to add a DAC to this Pioneer, It will be a waste because it may not sound better than the original DAC.(Cause I did, I found I put money in a wrong way!)