Sony ES CD Player Shootout

[minkybut]

I want to upgrade my CD player which is an old Yamaha CDC 665 changer. It has been, still is a good player but I want a single tray with direct track access from the front panel. I'm looking at three vintage Sony ES models, the CDP-520ES, CDP-X33ES and the CDP-X55ES. Which one is the better CD player?

 

[scott1019]

X55ES... 520ES will sound interesting though..

 

[minkybut]

Is the CDP-X33ES a great cd player?

 

[luxmaster]

Is the CDP-X33ES a great cd player?

I own a x33es. It is a fantastic CD play. Very clear. You will be impressed. It also has a very smooth transport. It will play any CD you put in it. It came out circa 1990

 

[SoCal Sam]

The X55ES is a dual transformer design, one for Digital section and the other for Audio. This gives superior separation over single transformer designs like the X33ES and 520ES. The other two are very good players. The 520ES has the BU-1 transport which has wire pulleys for the tray and no rubber belts. If you can step up to the X77ES, you will get dual transformers and dual DAC chips.

 

[vincei]

The CDP-X55ES was the first new ES piece I bought in 1990. I was so impressed at the time, I went a head and collected ES for many years after. I had in the collection, a CDP-X55ES, CDP-C79ES, CDP-X339ES, CDP-X77ES, all were great, but that X77ES was fantastic!