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Vintage Audio Classic never goes out of Style |
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#1
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Any Sony ES Fans? Thoughts on Sony CDP-555ESD?
Recently just snagged this cd player and i am curious of its history. Does anyone have any experience with it? Any Sony ES fans?
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#2
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Forgot to mention I've never had a cd player that is built like a tank. Also has these neat looking transformers in the back.
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#3
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Eduardo.......The Sony CDP-555ESD was manufactured in 1986. This makes it nearly a 3 decade old CD player. It was considered a high-end player and was Sony's first CD player that had digital output. That is what the D in the 555ESD stood for. It is a dinosaur by todays standards of digital audio performance. In 1987 the MSRP was $1500.00.
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Dan STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital cable, Sonos Connect, PurePower 2000, Stillpoints, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Wireworld, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable, Micro Seiki DD40, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, Nakamichi BX-300, Sony 60ES DAT, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Sonos Connect, Stillpoints, Wireworld, Kimber, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113 VINTAGE - McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, Sony DTC-59ES DAT, McIntosh 4300V, JBL 4312A Last edited by jdandy; 07-05-2014 at 12:56 PM. |
#4
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Quote:
Best, Eduardo. |
#5
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I have a 1984 ReVox CD player that recently had its D-A converter die.
I know it isn't worth trying to find a replacement part. . . . or is it? Last edited by GaryProtein; 07-05-2014 at 11:44 PM. |
#6
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Checking with my friendly inflation calculator . . . the cost of that excellent CD player today, adjusted for inflation would be . . . $3,141.29
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.... I have a record player and a cd player and some other stuff that sounds pretty good. MAIN SYSTEM: . . . Audio Physic Caldera III Loudspeakers, Spectral DMC 30SL Preamp, Spectral DMA 250 Amp, Spectral/MIT interconnects and speaker cable, Basis Debut V Vacuum turntable, Walker Precision Speed Controller, Graham tonearm, [B]Koetsu Rosewood or Grado Statement 1 Cartridges, PASS - X-ono Phono Stage, Esoteric K03 CD/SACD Player, Lexicon RT-20 Universal Player, Exact Power EP-15A & SP-15A power regeneration and conditioning devices. Symposium Acoustics Svelte pads & RollerBlock Jr's under speakers. ASC Tube Traps, Arcici Suspense Rack System, OPPO and Cambridge Streaming Devices. DOWNSTAIRS SYSTEM: . . . Sonus Faber Guarneri Memento Speakers, JL Audio F112 Sub, McIntosh MA7000 Integrated Amp, McIntosh MVP871 Universal Disc Player, OPPO BDP-105 Blu-Ray Player, VPI Scoutmaster with periphery ring clamp, VPI SDS Motor Drive, Koetsu Pro IV, or Clearaudio Discovery Cartridges, Mark Levinson No. 25s phono stage, Wadia 170i Transport with a Meridian Bitstream 203 DAC, VPI HW-17 Pro Record Cleaning Machine, Five Richard Gray RGPC 400 devices scattered around the two systems, Arcici Suspense Rack System, Discovery Essence and Essential Cables, 14,000 ± LPs . |
#7
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With regard to CD player pricing, if I recall, in 1987, a cheap component CD player was still $500. Now, even with inflation you can get one for under $100.
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#8
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My brother has a quite similar Sony, but my memory is that it is a 702 or 705. Think it may be a generation older with no digital outs. While old (a dinosaur?) by today's standards, they still provide excellent sound to my ears and were definitely state-of-the-art at the time. Sony was the primary developer (along with Philips) of the CD. The problem with them is that the lasers used in all CDPs of any sort are a wear item. And you will be hard put to find one if yours goes. That and the fact that they are mechanical and mechanical things wear out/break. Good luck with it.
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Glenn... Canton Reference 9 Clearaudio SM Pro Focal Bathys JLA 10" Dominion Kuzma Stabi S w/MC & MM Magnepan 1,7i McIntosh MA8950 & MR88 Oppo 203 Roon Nucleus Rose Hifi RS150B Shunyata Gemini-4 Sony ST-A6B, TA-F6B, ST-J75 & PS-X75 Sorane SA1.2 & TA-1L Stillpoints LP1v2 WW Pt, Au & Ag |
#9
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Strong bass, good dynamic/resolution, nicely balanced, ok mid, albeit a tad bit harsh on top--perhaps part of problem was also due to mostly poor/anemic recordings of those early digital years. I 'tamed' said problem using mellower cabling and amps (tube EL34s/SS class-A). Always reliable and worked flawlessly throughout its duty. However, optical assembly tends to weakened/needs to be replaced within 3-5yrs of use. For that, you better check parts availability prior as I've found it to be scarcer by day. My later experience using the dCS Verdi transport (same opt.assy.), as of couple of years ago, sourcing an original Sony factory sealed NOS unit is a pain. Alternatively, buying from e-bay is cheap, only about $50 a pop (HK/China origin), unfortunately out of five ordered--only one worked OK, and even then, that only lasted me less than two years--good enough actually considering its cost, but hated the hassle. |
#10
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I had one and loved it. As I recall, it was one of the few that could access index points...remember those? I absolutely love my current 5400ES--I would love it even more if it had a faster fast forward speed, but that's a small niggle.
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