Sony 9000 ES SACD output stage cold

Sorry! I have a 777, and the post is about a 9000. Probably similar sound however.

There is a new review at Audioreview.com in which the owner has had two different units (from his dealer) with varying DVD picture quality. It could be a QC problem with the SACD. I have read different takes on the standard CD playback quality of this player, but everyone seems to agree that the SACD playback is very nice.

I think that if the Sony's (9000ES) analog output stages could be upgraded it might help the sound quite a bit. I know that the MSB output stages are somewhat "tweeked" and I'm sure that's why many who use the Sony as a transport with their MSB are happier with that sound quality than they are with the sound of sacd through Sony's SACD analog outputs. Does anyone else use an external dac with the Sony and also find that the SACD sound isn't as good as what they get using an external dac on reg. CD playback????????

Darrell, I believe that Stan Warren does an extensive mod for this player. Simontju was having it done to his player, but I haven't seen any posts from him on the results, or if it's back yet. I think that Great Northern Sound is or at some point will be doing them as well. Jerry Ozment bypassed the output of my 777ES and attached the Audio Logic's tubed analog stage to the unit, with a separate power supply, with outstanding results, but I don't think he's doing that anymore (wouldn't hurt to call him, though). Let's face it, the output stage of the Sonys, except perhaps the SCD-1, is built to a price point, certainly not to perfectionist audiophile standards, and a well-designed outboard DAC with its own power supply should be able to outperform it handily on Redbook CDs. But for its price and compared to similar one-box players, from the posts I've been seeing, it's not bad, and you get a DVD player and SACD as well.

I have the Sony 333ES (similar audio to the 9000). Neither Sony play is a state of the art 44.1 CD player. I would rate the 333ES as a good player. It does nothing really wrong and gets most of what is on the disc to sound like music. At an $800 street price it's a reasonable value. SACDs thru the 333ES are a whole other game. They sound superb. In fact, they sound better than any digital playback I have ever heard. I'll qualify the last statement by admitting that I only have direct experience with sub $5k digital. I only have 10 SACD discs and there is a variation in sound quality, but the best (T. Monk - Straigt, No Chaser) is fully comparable to my analog rig (RPM/Benz/Rowland). What's amazing is that this sound quality is coming from a mass produced $1,200 MSRP unit. Imagine what would be possible with a full "audiophile" design? SACD is still in its infancy, but most who have heard it think it's a beautiful baby.