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Hi-Rez Highway: REVIEW: Sony SCD555ES (US) CD Player/Recorder by Craig T

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REVIEW: Sony SCD555ES (US) CD Player/Recorder

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Model: SCD555ES (US)
Category: CD Player/Recorder
Suggested Retail Price: $1200.00
Description: 5 disc SACD/CD changer
Manufacturer URL: Sony
Manufacturer URL: Sony

Review by Craig T ( A ) on February 14, 2002 at 13:21:51
IP Address: 66.32.197.9
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THIS IS A REVIEW OF THE OADE BROTHERS MODIFIED SCD555ES. (Oade.com)

First, let me say that I did not have the opportunity to hear an unmodified or stock 555es. I would love to but I don’t have access to one right now. According to Doug Oade, the modder, the modifications were created through testing and tuning by ear. What he told me is that he used the XA777es as a reference and swapped analog parts with better ones in the 555es with the goal of making it sound as close to the 777es as possible. After many e-mails with him about the mods, it became clear to me that he is not necessarily a parts head. He decided on parts strictly based upon listening. The way it should be IMHO. Some people may say the “x” cap sounds better than “y” cap, etc.. To me I could care less as long as the final component sounds great. I would not second-guess Steve McCormack’s choice of parts in my beloved DNA .5. I trust him as a designer and therefore trust his ears. After corresponding with Doug Oade and his brother Jim about the mods I decided to take a chance and trust his ears. I am SO glad I did! There are many posts discussing the build quality of the 555es so I won’t repeat them. It is indeed built like a tank and the mods do nothing to change that fact. I was originally skeptical of the 5 disc changer thing but I now love it. Very convenient but not terribly purist.

The listening.

The 555es sounded great on SACD right out of the box. It sounded good on CD too but there was bit of brightness that was not present on my previous digital rig (Assmeblage DAC 2.7 Platinum – Modified DV333 with illuminations DV 75 digital cable). Having read numerous posts about a notoriously long burn in period I began the long break-in process. I have never noticed such a dramatic change in a component with burn in. No, it is not because my ears got used to it. I was either not in the room or ran signal without the amp on. With about 200 hours on both SACD and CD any brightness is gone and bass is tighter and more defined. The main signature to SACD playback on the 555es is that of openness. The front to back depth I usually only hear in vinyl really amazes me. In fact I compared the excellent “Friday Night In San Francisco” SACD with my old but lovingly cared for LP of the same recording. WOW. I almost hate to admit this but I actually liked the SACD better. Granted my LP is 20 years old, I have had it since its release in about 1981. But everything I love about the LP, depth, warmth, and the physical presence of the venue’s ambient tones was there but with increased dynamics energy and impact, particularly in the attacks on the guitar strings. Soundstage width and vocal presence are outstanding on SACD especially in recordings like Chris Whitley, "Perfect Day," James Taylor, "Hourglass," and Ma, Meyer and O'Connor, "Appalachian Journey"

The characteristics of SACD are also reproduced, to a lesser extent, in CD. Disks that are well recorded take on more of an open and relaxed tone without digital harshness. I can listen at levels that are un-neighborly without the fatigue I would get with the 2.7-dv333 combo. Perhaps this is due not only to a reduction in digital glare but also to a lowered noise floor. Nickel Creek’s first release “Nickel Creek” is an impeccably recorded CD of nearly virtuoso playing from these young bluegrass players. In the Oade modded 555es it takes on more SACD characteristics that most other CDs do. The vocal layering on the 3rd track “Out of the Woods” is remarkable. Even less well-recorded CDs are treated to the benefits of the 555es but to a lesser degree. Brightness and glare is largely gone on most recordings.

So, did Doug Oade succeed in making the 555es sound like the XA777es? I don’t know. I have not heard the 777es. However, I would be surprised if he did given the price difference between the machines. The modded 555es from Oade is $975 delivered ($775 for the 555es + $175 for the mod + $25 shipping) The 777es I think is $2000. Even Doug told me that the modded 555es is not as good as the 777es. I dig his honesty and now definitely trust his ears. Would I recommend this unit with the mods? You betcha. Even if you don’t want to get into SACD or multi-channel, it is a killer CD only player for under $1000. It just plays the music and it does so wonderfully. What more could you ask for?


Product Weakness: Long break-in period (200 hrs and counting)
Product Strengths: Effortless open sound with a deep wide soundstage and no digital harshness. Great on CD too.


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: McCormack DNA .5 (100w/ch)
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Creek OBH-12 passive pre
Sources (CDP/Turntable): 555es & Rega Planar 3
Speakers: Martin Logan Aerius i
Cables/Interconnects: Magnan Signature spaker cable and Magnan Type Vi interconnects
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Jazz, Folk, Blues, Rock, Classical
Room Size (LxWxH): 16 x 24 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments: None
Time Period/Length of Audition: 2 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): 2 Gutwire G clef power cords & PS audio juice bar
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




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Topic - REVIEW: Sony SCD555ES (US) CD Player/Recorder - Craig T 13:21:51 02/14/02 ( 6)