Hi-Rez Highway: REVIEW: Vacuum State Electronics VSE Level V -- Sony DVP-S9000ES CD Player/Recorder by Willie The Squid New high resolution SACD releases, players and technology.

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Model:	VSE Level V -- Sony DVP-S9000ES
Category:	CD Player/Recorder
Suggested Retail Price:	$1,000
Description:	Implementation by Jim Ellis / Sonic Perfectionists
Manufacturer URL:	Vacuum State Electronics
Model Picture:	View

Review by Willie The Squid ( A ) on October 21, 2006 at 19:23:54 IP Address: 71.231.146.21

Add Your Review for the VSE Level V -- Sony DVP-S9000ES

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In January, 2005 I wrote a review about a Sony DVP-9000ES with mods by Vacuum State Electronics (Allen Wright’s company), implemented by Warren Gregoire. The modification done at that time was called the VSE Level IV. That January 2005 review was a rave. I did not believe that further improvements were likely to be very significant. I was wrong.

Approximately a year ago, I was able to land an excellent condition NAIM CDS and CDSPS (power supply). This was NAIM’s flagship CD player back in the early 90’s. I believe it cost almost $9,000 new. It was / is a killer redbook CD player. Not a few audio types are of the opinion that the original NAIM CDS is the best they ever did, from a musicality perspective. Very analog sounding, it was more fun than the CDSII. (Now, I only heard the CDSII in retail settings, and found it quite good and perhaps “more accurate” but I never got excited or wanted to take the unit home. Further up the chain, the CDS III has many detractors and many admirers. The new CDS 555 is so over the top pricewise, it’s in another universe.) My own experience has been that the original NAIM CDS is the audio equivalent of watching a Technicolor movie. It wasn’t perfectly neutral, but it was an absolute blast and always held my attention. It had great verve; and especially, had fantastic PRAT, something for which NAIM players are renown.

I found that I was rarely listening to my Sony after the NAIM CDS arrived. The VSE Level IV Sony DVP-9000ES just didn’t have equivalent life or excitement compared to the NAIM CDS – and it didn’t matter if I was listening SACD or redbook. But the Sony did have some audio characteristics that I very much favored. I was keeping my eye on the Vacuum State web site, hoping for continued improvements. Then came notice of the VSE Level V mods. The Vacuum State web site states: The new Level 5 Reference Clock Module provides a rock stable clock signal that insures the rest of the player is as jitter free as possible…with sonic improvements…beyond anything we expected.

A couple of months ago I had a Vacuum State installation expert, Jim Ellis at Sonic Perfectionists in Kirkland, Washington (http://www.sonicperfectionists.com/) implement the VSE Level V upgrades. In addition, Jim implemented several ideas of his own. He is tentatively calling these enhancements his "Breath of Life" mod, because of the manner in which they enhance the sound of the VSE Level 5 Sony units. We talked about these added mods at some length. Interestingly, due to the way that some of these improvements were implemented, it was possible for him to bypass one aspect of his "Breath of Life" mods, so that I could clearly contrast some of the improvements made by his own special mods, over and above the "stock" VSE Level V upgrades. The resulting improvements to fidelity and musicality (especially in terms of PRAT) were truly remarkable.

Jim was purposely vague in his description of the "Breath of Life" mods. Apparently they consist of some very minor alterations to VSE’s filtering circuitry, combined with a number of very specific grounding changes which are designed to maximally isolate the VSE board from common-mode noise inside of the Sony chassis. Lastly, Jim adds some additional power-supply filtering of his own.

What I do know for sure is that the unit sounds just incredible. This has been the most impressive upgrade to my DVP-9000ES yet. The unit is so markedly improved, in all important ways, that the NAIM CDS was put to the market almost immediately. (The NAIM CDS continues in high demand; I sold it for more than I paid for that unit.)

So what are the differences in the VSE Level V and “Breath of Life” mods over the earlier Level IV?

1. The most notable difference is the PRAT factor. This CD / SACD player has fantastic “toe-tapping” energy. Speed, precision, control and weight are all mightedly improved over VSE Level IV. (Jim Ellis is of the opinion that the PRAT improvement is about 80% due to the “breath of life” mods, and about 20% due to the new clock.)

2. The entire musical presentation is better balanced: front to back, side to side, & top to bottom. Moreover, the presentation is also “bigger.”

3. Downward dynamic range is improved still further. I can hear deeper into the sound recording. There is greater transparency and the unit is now dead quiet.

4. Lawyering is more discernable; no glassiness.

5. Bad recordings / masterings sound worse; one really hears the “badness.”

6. Good recordings / masterings sound better.

7. Excellent recordings / masterings sound just incredible.

8. The improvements are across the board – they are as striking with redbook CDs as they are with SACDs.

9. Overall impression is that good redbook CDs sound better / more involving with these Level V mods as SACDs sounded with the Level IV mod. Since over 90% of my digital library is RBCD, much of which will never be mastered into SACD consumer format, this is an important consideration.

Bottom line is that this is decidedly the best digital source that I have heard. Disc after disc I’m drawn into the performace. Disc after disc, I’m shaking my head in astonishment and gratitude. Now that’s great news for an old audiofool like me.

WTS says: “Over the Top! Check it Out!”

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Product Weakness:	See Review
Product Strengths:	See Review

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Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Avondale 260z
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Naim 202 / Avondale APX2
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Roksan Xerxes X; Rega 900; Shelter 501 MKII
Speakers:	Tannoy System DMT15 MKII
Cables/Interconnects:	Good
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	All
Room Size (LxWxH):	18 x 15 x 10
Room Comments/Treatments:	Works
Time Period/Length of Audition:	Two Months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Yes
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

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