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Onkyo C-S5VL stereo SACD player

71.190.145.244
Posted on July 25, 2009 at 09:47:16
bullethead
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Posts: 329
Location: New York
Joined: June 15, 2009
Contributor
  Since: July 26, 2009

Just recently found out about Onkyo's C-S5VL. It's a two channel SACD player for around $600. It was recently made available in the United States. I picked one up, I'll report back my findings.

RE: Onkyo C-S5VL stereo SACD player, posted on November 1, 2009 at 01:10:10
Sunya
Audiophile

Posts: 386
Joined: July 11, 2007
 How does it fairs against your Bel Canto DAC3?

RE: Onkyo C-S5VL stereo SACD player, posted on October 31, 2009 at 08:49:51
hifi-ames
Audiophile

Posts: 2
Location: Midwest
Joined: October 31, 2009
Any further thoughts on this unit? It looks like it has some potential.

RE: Onkyo C-S5VL stereo SACD player, posted on July 29, 2009 at 18:18:37
Spendor Harbeth
Audiophile

Posts: 601
Location: Left Coast
Joined: May 15, 2009
 looks very cool.

questions...op amps? and does convert DSD to PCM like the Oppo player?

how is the build quality? Thanks~!

RE: Onkyo C-S5VL stereo SACD player, posted on October 29, 2009 at 19:22:53
jzpchen
 I bought one as well. It sounded well. I noticed the volume is quite a bit lower than other CD players that I have. I wonder if that is the case for yours.

RE: Onkyo C-S5VL stereo SACD player, posted on July 29, 2009 at 18:21:11
Spendor Harbeth
Audiophile

Posts: 601
Location: Left Coast
Joined: May 15, 2009
 ...oh, one additional...made in china, or japan?

RE: Onkyo C-S5VL stereo SACD player, posted on August 1, 2009 at 05:56:23
bullethead
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Posts: 329
Location: New York
Joined: June 15, 2009
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  Since: July 26, 2009
 It's made in Malaysia.

In terms of the op amps I really am not that into the SACD scene to understand what that is, if you could explain, I know it has DSD direct mode (have to figure that out). The player's digital outs obviously are PCM if that's what you mean. The manual says to turn off the digital outs when using the analogue outputs because otherwise the sound gets converted to low resolution. I stick with the RCA outs and keep the digital out button off. Really sound is great.

RE: Onkyo C-S5VL stereo SACD player, posted on August 1, 2009 at 08:25:33
Spendor Harbeth
Audiophile

Posts: 601
Location: Left Coast
Joined: May 15, 2009
 Thanks for answers. Id love to know what that DSD Direct mode is.

Op Amps, or Operation Amps are generally seen in cheaper cd players, they are considered lower grade than a dedicated analog output stage. But it mus be said that some op amp based players sound great.

And its very possible, unlike the Oppo, it does not convert DSD to PCM before outputing from the RCA jacks.

I guess there is no way it will cost $499 unless made in asia.

RE: Onkyo C-S5VL stereo SACD player, posted on August 1, 2009 at 09:43:18
bullethead
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Posts: 329
Location: New York
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  Since: July 26, 2009
 As far as I understand there is better sound when turning off the digital outputs (the manual stated in SACD mode there is full bandwidth of the medium, in digital output mode it's 16bit 44.1) so it's probably a hybrid of some sort.

I know it uses the $3 Wolfson WM8742 D/A converter if that helps clear up anything about this unit let me know. That chip has DSD bit-stream support as I've read. I believe they've enabled that feature when the digital out is disabled.

As far as Maylasia I am a fan of that region, I have a Sony XBR 40" LCD which is made there as well and I've found quality out of Maylasia to be excellent. I believe they use the parts which are specified in the design, and they don't replace the intended parts with substandard parts just to make an extra 20 cents.

RE: Onkyo C-S5VL stereo SACD player, posted on September 29, 2009 at 12:06:02
jzpchen
 I am not certain what the $3 WM8742 comment refers to. I checked at mouser.com, this chip costs a bit more than (Cirrus Logic) CS4398. CS4398 is used in $2600 Bryston BCD-1 positively reviewed by Stereophile. I also checked other discussion regarding DAC chips: CS, AD, and BB. It appears to me WM8742 is a high end chip. Am I off base here?

RE: Onkyo C-S5VL stereo SACD player, posted on August 1, 2009 at 09:49:00
Spendor Harbeth
Audiophile

Posts: 601
Location: Left Coast
Joined: May 15, 2009
 Yes, SACD cannot be output via any digital jacks except for HDMI, and that goes for ANY player.

But it seems that it does not convert to PCM thru analog jacks, which is a good thing.

You may have convinced me to try one. All in all it seems they covered alot of bases.

RE: Onkyo C-S5VL stereo SACD player, posted on July 26, 2009 at 12:07:01
Ben Van Dyk
Audiophile

Posts: 661
Location: idaho
Joined: February 9, 2006
 I have the silver onkyo 6 disc 802 player.1t has 10 analog outs.plays dvd audio as well.does 2 chammel sacds with more speaker playback with the dsp on receiver.I like it better than my oppo.it cannot dsp 2 channel.
dvd audio & multichannel sacds rule
Black or Silver?, posted on July 25, 2009 at 15:35:49
zomax
Audiophile

Posts: 123
Location: NYC
Joined: May 5, 2006
 I'm definitely interested in this player as well to replace my Sony STR-ES2000 (which no longer reads hybrids) and to go with my Onkyo A-9555 amp. All my other components are silver though, and all I've seen so far for the C-S5VL on-line in the u.s. (amazon, j&r) is black.

black, posted on July 25, 2009 at 16:20:45
bullethead
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  Since: July 26, 2009
 The black one was the only one I found.

RE: Onkyo C-S5VL stereo SACD player, posted on July 25, 2009 at 12:55:41
jalyra
Audiophile

Posts: 51
Joined: September 30, 2008
 I'll be looking forward for your comments on this unit. I have an Onkyo Universal player (DV-SP800) and it's been working flawlessly for almost 5 years, there is not a single disc (SACD, CD or DVD) this player has refused to play. My only concern with my unit is that it is becoming old and I think the new DSPs can sound a bit better, and the universal is not really good playing CDs.

I wonder how the C-S5VL compare to the DX-7555 (at least in CDs) it seems this new player is better quality than the 7555, although the 7555 looks more sturdy and it has received some pretty good reviews.

so far so good, posted on July 28, 2009 at 16:44:05
bullethead
Audiophile

Posts: 329
Location: New York
Joined: June 15, 2009
Contributor
  Since: July 26, 2009
 I am listening to the player now, playing a SACD. Sound is really good out of the box, I would recommend this player for anyone looking for a sub $500 sacd player (got this one for $499).

The faceplate is thin aluminum, really slim in height (not too slim but slimmer than some cd players). Build quality seems up to par with the cost nowadays, it seems they paid more attention to the electronics and transport than they did the looks, still a nice sleek unit however.

Stereo imaging is great, detail is there, air is definitely there as is the delicacy of SACD which we're used to.

Compared to my now retired NAD M5, I would say it sounds the same to me, maybe just a tad darker.

Thanks- I'll be interested in your impressions--NT, posted on July 25, 2009 at 11:54:49
lancelot
Audiophile

Posts: 1232
Joined: March 23, 2001
 NT

a couple of concerns, posted on October 28, 2009 at 06:35:39
JE
 Onkyo C-S5VL

I am interested in this product but with two concerns based on reading the manual that can be down loaded from Onkyo download center website (under CD, not CD player). First, it seems that you have to manually push the power button on the player to turn it on or off, i.e. you can not use the remote to turn it on or off (standby). Second, the player does not seem to offer the "direct" mode, i.e. without filtering or "manipulating" the PCM signal, for listening regular CD, whereas it does for SACD. This is related to the setup of PCM filter and of DSD filter parts of the manual, and appears to be difficult to understand.

RE: a couple of concerns, posted on October 28, 2009 at 13:06:32
jzpchen
 There is an Onkyo link to turn on and off the system. I am not sure if that is in some way standard. You need to look into onkyo system in general.
For digital filters for CD, you must have one. Unless you are contemplating an off-board digital filter, the question seems out of place. The filter 3 is so called brickwall filter. That is intended for Redbook compatibility as far as filter design is concerned. May be that is the one you are looking for. CD is different from DSD. For CD, there is always a filter. It is combination of digital and analog. This may just be terminology issue.

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