Nice interface, substantial build (excellent for price), changer

A bit noisy when loading and switching between discs, but quiet when playing.

Excellent sound out of box, and getting better with break-in. SACDs are incredible, but CD playback is particulary strong. Smooth, grain-free extended sound with lots of speed and detail. Tight and musical bass. In comparison, my previous digital front-end (Marantz CD-48 coaxial digital output to base model MSB Link III) was wooly sounding. Grainy midrange and much more veiled. By the way, it works much better than the Marantz as a transport, but in my opinion, the Sony by itself plays regular CDs significantly better than in conjunction with the MSB. Not only does it play excellent recordings well, but recordings that I found difficult to listen to before sound much better now. Highly recommended if you are looking for a major upgrade and want the convenience of a changer! Be sure to get a discounted price, somewhere between $750 and $800 is a good price.

Similar Products Used:

Marantz CD-48 as transport for base MSB Link DAC III
Sony regular line of CD players
Rega Planet (original edition)
Rotel players from 3-4 yrs ago.
Yamaha - one of their run-of-the mill models.

EXCELLENT BIULD QUALITY

SOMEWHAT NOISY MECHANICS

SACD ES FOR $299, STEREOPHILE CLASS A, WHAT MORE DO I NEED TO SAY? RUN WHILE YOU CAN STILL GET ONE, BECAUSE THEY ARE ALMOST GONE, AT LEAST AT THE GOODGUYS.

Similar Products Used:

SONY CDP 77 ES

which Good Guys sells the unit for $270? I thought it sells for $399?

good product

Warm, Built, SACD, 5 Discs.

No power off on remote.

This is the best digital unit for the money under $1500. Very warm than lay back. A bright and detail speakers will bring out the best of this unit. The harshness of digital is gone, yet very detail. SACD is very smooth and I think the market will catch on once they hear it.

Similar Products Used:

DVD AUDIO,

Dynamic, detailed and smooth, great price and well built

remote too small, buttons hard to find.

My DIY system:

Paramour 3.5 watt SET monoblocks
Foreplay Preamp


I love this unit, plugging it in, I noticed a huge difference right away in just redbook cd playback. Tighter deeper bass, smoother highs, more detail, more air, more dynamic. This was in comparison to the Marantz/MSB combination I was using previously. The sony just kills it in every way. Most important to me was the brightness I experienced with my old setup was now gone. It took me awhile to take all this in, then I really listened to sacd's. Uh oh.

Now, SACD, its more dynamic, more air, more clarity, less foward with more inner detail, I can't enjoy cd's as much anymore, they sound lifeless. I just imagine how good they would sound if they were sacd's. I refuse to buy anymore cd's, there's over a dozen sacd titles I still want.

Build quality is very good, it weighs 30 lbs. It makes a few noises here and there, but who cares, the remote has too many buttons and they are hard to find. I like the fact that you can label cd's, it plays cd-r's and reads discs with text information, plus you can dim the display, which I like. Its easy to use, sounds great and can be had for an excellent price. I recommend the audioquest blues cd and the opus 3 sampler for your first listen in SACD, these are excellent recordings and really show off sacd. This unit is worth its price for just the cd playback alone. SACD just takes it all to another level. Listen to one and see what you've been missing.

I have to give it 5 stars since it really suprised me with its sound quality.

Similar Products Used:

MSB Link

Great sound quality - even with standard CD's!!!
Plays SACD's (hopefully, they'll actually release some interesting music on this format someday!)
Uninterrupted music for hours without changing discs.

Remote mysteriously died a couple of days ago.
Disc changing mechanism is noisy. (Dead quiet while playing discs though.)

The SCD-333ES is one of the most satisfying audio purchases I've ever made. Straight out of the box, this machine sounded great - a big step up from the XA7ES I was previously using or other CD player I've ever owned for that matter. I'm still amazed at the sound quality of this player; perhaps it's gotten better as others claim after the break-in period. At the current going rate of $500 - 600, my advice is to get one before they're gone! (Assuming you're content with two channels of music.) I paid $875 back in January and haven't regretted it one bit.

Similar Products Used:

Sony CDP-XA7ES, X777ES, Rega Planet, Pioneer PD-65, DV-525, HK FL8550, CAL Icon II, McIntosh MCD-7005, Marantz CD-63SE, Rotel RCD-955, Denon DCD-1560, NAD 5000, Yamaha CDX-1110U, PS Audio Superlink, Ultralink, and many others I've forgotten

Superior SACD sound.

Cannot turn off unit with remote. Sound could be brighter for regular CD's. Tray is quite noisy when opening.

I really appreciate the superior SACD sound. I have purchased three SACD recordings through the mail. They are expensive at $22 to $25 each plus shipping. There is an inadequate number of titles available, especially classical recordings. The SACD,s I purchased sound wonderful.

My taste runs to a brighter, clear sound. Playing regular CD's on this unit produces clear but less bright sound. Perhaps it is just me. I would be very interested in other comment.

When the unit is opened for loading and subsequent closing,the tray is rather noisy. Does not affect performance. Do others notice this?

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer equipment.