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Hi-Rez Highway: REVIEW: Sony SCD-XB940AW-S CD Player/Recorder by Joel_Waterman

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REVIEW: Sony SCD-XB940AW-S CD Player/Recorder

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Model: SCD-XB940AW-S
Category: CD Player/Recorder
Suggested Retail Price: $
Description: The Allen Wright (VSE) modified SCD-XB940QS
Manufacturer URL: Sony
Model Picture: View

Review by Joel_Waterman ( A ) on March 31, 2002 at 07:18:12
IP Address: 212.198.0.93
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This is a follow-on from my initial impressions on the Allen Wright modified Sony XB940QS two channel CD/SACD player posted to the Hi Rez forum earlier. I have been listening to the new player almost every day for a week and I feel I have sufficient information to report back to you. This post contains some overall listening impressions on CD and SACD, plus a more detailed overview of how the modifications compare to my reference digital front-end and the player's own stock performance.

Overall Listening Impressions

The modified player sounds very liquid and detailed at the same time. My usual companion - listening fatigue - was pleasantly absent. Soundstaging and instrument separation are aspects which were greatly improved in comparison to what I am used to. Another important aspect for me is that because of the resolving power of this player listening to music at lower volumes is more enjoyable than before.

In previous reviews I have gone on record with observations of a number of discs. It made sense in my opinion to revisit these discs, compare my notes and see what the differences are with the modified player. Pink Floyd 'Us And Them' on DSOTM (20th ann. edition CD) has always left me wishing for a better rendition since I felt that my digital front-end basically made a mess of it. The modified player performed best so far with absolutely no hint of distortion in the chorus, great resolution and I felt no need to turn the volume down.

Another track that keeps puzzling me is Pat Barber's 'Touch of Trash' on her CD "Companion". I often use this track as a treble/sibilance test. The notes of my Audio Note review (See link below) mention 'best I have heard this track in my room so far, but still some harshness'. When I tried it in the modified XB940 the spatial presentation was awesome and PB's voice sounded more defined and natural than I can remember. The sibilance issue was still there at times, but not so predominant any more. I am wondering now whether it's my speakers or whether it is just a question of the recording.

A Dire Straits track I know well is 'The Man's Too Strong' from their "Brothers In Arms" CD (remastered version). The modified player performed best here once again. The man's so real....and I literally mean that. On the intro a man playing the guitar was in my room. I've never heard this track reproduced so well. Great decay of notes into space on the symphonic passages. The player had no trouble deciphering the various elements of the symphonic parts. This is a consistent trait I might add.

In my original XB940 review (See link below) I complained about harsh treble on Toru Takemitsu's SACD "How Slow The Wind", especially on the first track. When I tried it on the modified XB940 the sense of space and instrument separation was a new experience for me, but I still heard some harsh notes. Room acoustics played a role here because I could hear some high notes reverberate and distort in my mostly untreated listening room (even at moderate volume).

Exploring Increasing Resolution

Obviously my observations are based on what I hear in my system and room, and as usual your mileage may vary, but if I were considering this modified player I would like to see the following comparison. It's up to you to judge my credibility and what value you would like to attach to my
judgement.

I wanted to use a high quality hybrid recording (CD and SACD layer) so that I could start with my old CD player/DAC combo and seamlessly move to the Sony CD and SACD section without changing the disc. I chose a DSD recorded disc from Telarc, John Pizzarelli's "Kisses in the Rain". A disc by the way you'd never find on Keith Richard's Top Ten :-), but I'm digressing. I also used the single Sony SACD "Couldn't Stand The Weather" by Stevie Ray Vaughn to seek out more differences between stock and modified SACD playback. I added steps 7 and 8 with the same SRV CD version just for the fun of it because it highlighted how large a step ahead SACD is.

The steps you see below expose differences every time. What I did was a number of quick (about 2.5 minutes per track) switches going from step 1 to 6. I did this over a two day period, repeating steps the following day. Furthermore I homed in on comparing two steps at the time with different discs and re-reading my notes to see whether I heard correctly, or whether more refinement was necessary. Levels were more or less matched using my Radio Shack SLM.

My reference is a Harmon Kardon CD player, an MSB DAC (a Link III "Full Nelson") and its separate P1000 Power Supply, plus a Monarchy 24/96 DIP Mk2 and cables are by Cardas and HiFi Cables & Cie (for details see Inmate Systems). The abbreviation "HK/MSB/DIP" refers to this front-end. Allen Wright's modification adds a set of analog outputs to the Sony player and because he leaves the original signal path and outputs in tact it comparison was made easy.

Step 1) 16/44 CD mode on HK/MSB/DIP
Good sounding CD layer on the Telarc hybrid disc but a little harsh in the overtones, especially heard on Piano. Voice has some harshness in the upper registers/treble region.

Step 2) 24/96 CD mode on HK/MSB/DIP
Upsampling gives more depth and more body but tonally it's not that different and it needs an experienced listener to spot the difference. As an aside this confirms my disappointment with this upsampling DAC. My expectations were higher for this technology, especially as upsampling has been marked as 'the silver/magic bullet' by some reviewers. I've never experienced it like that with the MSB in my system. The DIP made an important difference - but the overall combination never delivered on my expectations.

Step 3) CD on stock XB940
Compares well with 24/96 but sounds a little darker and somewhat dry. Quite pleasant and better than 16/44 in the configuration used in 1) - which is a surprise IMO. It means that a well burnt-in Sony XB940 can come close to a $1400 outboard DAC solution.

Step 4) CD on modified XB940
More space and instrument separation is the immediately apparent difference. More relaxed sound without loosing detail. Voice has more body attached to it and the acoustic bass sounds like one. Piano has lost the harshness apparent in previous modes.

Step 5) SACD on stock XB940
Better spaced presentation and louder at the same volume setting versus previous modes. Voice has body attached to it. Little more forward in its presentation with even more detail to be heard. Can still sound a little hard sometimes. The SACD advantage becomes clear in this mode.

Step 6) SACD on modified XB940
The difference vs 5) is not spectacular but clear and with repeated listening I think it shows a lot more resolution, more depth and a better sense of instrument placement in a defined acoustical space (the extend to which this effect takes place depends on the recording of course) and an even more relaxed (analog?) sound. With quick switching it almost seems as if the image has shifted and the player now correctly re-positions the players in the right spot. Voice stands out better from the band. This sound has lost all of its digital artifacts with the right recording. As I said under 5) the stock SACD playback can still sound a bit hard.


Step 7) SRV CD on modified XB940
The Redbook SRV disc sounds clearly worse than the SACD equivalent. Sound is covered under a proverbial blanket, compared to 5).

Step 8) SRV CD on stock XB940
A BIG step back from 7). Hard, etchy treble, soundstage collapsed and the entire sound seems compressed.


I would like to end this post with a compliment to Allen Wright of VSE. The somewhat analytical review above perhaps hides my enthusiasm for this player. The more I listen to it - on CD and SACD - the more I appreciate it. Allen's clever modifications have delivered in spades and produced a totally different machine than the stock Sony XB940 QS (Quality Standard). Simply put, it's a gem! From now on it replaces my HK/MSB/DIP combination. I have been so bold as to rename the VSE modified machine Sony XB940AW-S for 'Allen Wright's Standard'. It deserves this label on its technical merit alone, but more importantly because it has injected a new dose of enthusiasm for my hobby.


Sources for more info:
- Another inmate's (Dr. Philosophy) review of his VSE modified XB940 (with an interesting comparison to analog):
http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/hirez/messages/66597.html

- Allen Wright's Vacuum State Electronics (VSE), for all info on the modifications, and more:
http://www.vacuumstate.com

- My first impressions on the modified XB940:
http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/hirez/messages/66221.html

- My Audio Note M-One review:
http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/general/messages/183631.html

- My original (stock) Sony XB940QS review:
http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/hirez/messages/45358.html


Product Weakness: None
Product Strengths: Resolution, instrument separation, un-digital reproduction of digital


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: See Inmate Systems
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): See Inmate Systems
Sources (CDP/Turntable): See Inmate Systems
Speakers: See Inmate Systems
Cables/Interconnects: See Inmate Systems
Music Used (Genre/Selections): See Inmate Systems
Room Size (LxWxH): x x
Room Comments/Treatments: See Inmate Systems
Time Period/Length of Audition: See Inmate Systems
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): See Inmate Systems
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




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Topic - REVIEW: Sony SCD-XB940AW-S CD Player/Recorder - Joel_Waterman 07:18:12 03/31/02 ( 3)