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Old Sony CD Players
- Thread starter Irwin
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Finding a 302 is like finding a gold coin on the street. Unlikely.
Either of these players will sound just fine. The 190 is a 4x oversampler, the 297 is an 8x oversampler. Both were made in Japan.
The transports might not be as robust as a BU-1 based player, but they are not necessarily "skippers." If you can get either of these at a reasonable price and they do what you want, I'd go ahead.
Either of these players will sound just fine. The 190 is a 4x oversampler, the 297 is an 8x oversampler. Both were made in Japan.
The transports might not be as robust as a BU-1 based player, but they are not necessarily "skippers." If you can get either of these at a reasonable price and they do what you want, I'd go ahead.
SoCal Sam
Lunatic Member
Agreed! I have a 302, 302II, and a 520ES, all with the BU-1. All have super fast search and cue and all can read CD-R's.
The others are notorious for not being able to suppress vibration. Bass will make them skip. I stay away from them.
Michael Powers
Super Member
I'm a current CDP-297 owner...
Bought it new a long time ago. Used it on a test rig for checking out mostly bookshelf speakers, now it's in the bedroom. Never skipped. The largest speakers I ever had in that setup for regular listening were Boston Acoustics HD8's, so maybe that is a factor. There is a detectable servo motor noise that can be heard (from the unit, not from the speakers) between tracks; I can't perceive it while playing even the quietest of music (Harold Budd fan here).
Bought it new a long time ago. Used it on a test rig for checking out mostly bookshelf speakers, now it's in the bedroom. Never skipped. The largest speakers I ever had in that setup for regular listening were Boston Acoustics HD8's, so maybe that is a factor. There is a detectable servo motor noise that can be heard (from the unit, not from the speakers) between tracks; I can't perceive it while playing even the quietest of music (Harold Budd fan here).
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Cogsinister
Super Member
Cogsinister
Super Member
Here are the insides of my X55ES....
Raddek
Member
Nice. I've never seen two transformers in a cd player before 
On a side note, I just took apart my CDP-102 and it's 99% the exact same as my 302ES internally minus the headphone jack. Makes me wonder if some of these players are really different at all. I'll post a picture comparing them at some point, as it's too dark and I'm too tired to get around to it. Oh, what exactly does ES stand for ?
On a side note, I just took apart my CDP-102 and it's 99% the exact same as my 302ES internally minus the headphone jack. Makes me wonder if some of these players are really different at all. I'll post a picture comparing them at some point, as it's too dark and I'm too tired to get around to it. Oh, what exactly does ES stand for ?
Cogsinister
Super Member
Nice. I've never seen two transformers in a cd player before
On a side note, I just took apart my CDP-102 and it's 99% the exact same as my 302ES internally minus the headphone jack. Makes me wonder if some of these players are really different at all. I'll post a picture comparing them at some point, as it's too dark and I'm too tired to get around to it. Oh, what exactly does ES stand for ?
Not sure what ES stands for...Sony used it on there higher end better built stuff....maybe it means "Extra Special"
Raddek
Member
I'm doing a little more research, and ironically came across info saying the 102 pretty much is a 302ES
"The d/a section inside the 302ES is nearly all-Sony, ending with one 16-bit CX-20152. The entire audio board is the same as the one in the little non-ES CDP-102 which was mainly sold within Liberty systems in Japan."
Sooo, pretty much I have the exact same players but different models
"The d/a section inside the 302ES is nearly all-Sony, ending with one 16-bit CX-20152. The entire audio board is the same as the one in the little non-ES CDP-102 which was mainly sold within Liberty systems in Japan."
Sooo, pretty much I have the exact same players but different models
The 102 is almost exactly the same internally as a 302. I don't believe there is any significant difference between the 302/302ES and the 520ES. My service manual (this is from memory, since I'm not near the lab) covers all three in one edition.
A bit of Sony trivia: ES stands for "Elevated Standard."
A bit of Sony trivia: ES stands for "Elevated Standard."
Raddek
Member
Ahh, thanks for the info. I suppose these ES versions are just an upgraded revision with maybe an added or changed component that they saw fit. *shrugs* who knows. I searched everywhere (apparently not) for what ES meant, but couldn't find anything. Thanks for that info too
AV-Man
New Member
Sony ES is Sony's "Elevated Standard" line which was made to rival Pioneer's "Elite" series.
I own both a Sony X202ES (single disc tray) and a Sony CDP-900 (10-disc magazine style) and I can hear a difference between their standard and ES lines.
It's all about personal taste and preference.
I own both a Sony X202ES (single disc tray) and a Sony CDP-900 (10-disc magazine style) and I can hear a difference between their standard and ES lines.
It's all about personal taste and preference.
Stoffie
Sony afficionado
ES in the US was not necessarily ES elsewhere though. I've seen and read about the lowest ES models in the US being only rebadged lower end non ES units.
Generally the lower ES models were higher build quality and better componentry-wise than the non ES, with the two top models really making the difference. (usually with the 5 and 7 monikers)
Generally the lower ES models were higher build quality and better componentry-wise than the non ES, with the two top models really making the difference. (usually with the 5 and 7 monikers)
grandville45
Active Member
How Does A CDP-590 Compare to these?
