Pioneer PD-D9 Review (CD/SACD Player)

[Roland68]

I do not criticize the technical review! I have it since 2008 and you do not. I just simply do not advice anyone to buy it second hand.

Right, you're right.
I haven't had it since 2008, but only since 2015, and I bought it used back then, like other SACD players, both tried-and-true devices and rare gems, some dating back to 2000. CD players dating back to the mid-80s.

Likewise. I ultimately trust to my ears and you do not. That's democracy.

That's exactly what many people who attended our tests thought.
Their ears were certainly working perfectly, but their eyes and brains were deceiving them.

There are some very scrupulously conducted tests in which the testers thought they were listening to two different devices. In reality, it was always the same device, and a switch was simply flipped on an empty box.
Nevertheless, most of them heard a clear difference with their preferred device.
We conducted similar tests with audiophiles, as well as with measurement technicians and sound engineers. Once as above, and another time, we actually switched the devices, but reversed the order.
Here, too, the significantly "better" sound remained with the preferred device, even though a different device was playing.
The testers were very upset during these tests, but ultimately had to admit that any test in which you know which device is currently running is completely useless for making a statement about sound. This statement is simply compromised.

 

[Baki]

That's exactly what many people who attended our tests thought.
Their ears were certainly working perfectly, but their eyes and brains were deceiving them.

I don't dispute scientific approach because I've been following such content for decades. I'm not a reviewer but when I occasionally test something for my own purposes I do it alone in my room and with my own equipment in order to allow for an approximate comparison and to create a preference if any. In short - a controlled environment without distractions. This works just fine for me. To point once more I would not recommend Pioneer PD D9 cd player in today's world plentiful of better options.

 

[JMAudio]

I am not a tech guy neither I have a measuring equipment.
What I have done is to change the OPA2134 for another opamp of your choice. The current one is the discrete one. Also, it has been concluded that there is no need to use the dual opamp but the single one. If you do that even to the stock OPA2134 you will have the benefit. Regulators for the analog and digital stage have been replaced with the better ones. Clock oscillator has been replaced with dedicated circuit. Coupling capacitors could be removed if you already have these in the next stage. The chassis has been additionally damped since the top cover is ringing like hell. Plenty of other minor tweaks as well. With all these mentioned changes you cannot go wrong. All this has been done during a multi year period and of course each change has been repeated back and forth before making the final decision.
It is very useful to have a service manual for all this.
If someone needs it I can send via PM.

what better options would you suggest for around $500? and on the Pioneer D9- can you show a screen shot of the work you did? or explain what it took to remove the OPAs out - did you need to solder anything or remove and drop and play? thank you. Was the work worthy after to keep or did you sell it bc it didn't sound as good or was it just the mutiple outs that you wanted? I only need stereo out for headphones demoing at trade shows and thought the Pioneer was robust and sounds solid with stock Wolfson chips. John M

 

[Baki]

what better options would you suggest for around $500? and on the Pioneer D9- can you show a screen shot of the work you did? or explain what it took to remove the OPAs out - did you need to solder anything or remove and drop and play? thank you. Was the work worthy after to keep or did you sell it bc it didn't sound as good or was it just the mutiple outs that you wanted? I only need stereo out for headphones demoing at trade shows and thought the Pioneer was robust and sounds solid with stock Wolfson chips. John M

I haven't been into CD players for a few years. As a better option, I primarily consider any music streamer that has a USB port to read files from an SSD or USB stick.
I don't have any screenshots other than those showing the inside of the player in its factory form. Removing the factory op amp requires some soldering/de-soldering skills. Then you can decide whether to solder the socket or directly solder the op amp of your choice, which was my case. I didn't understand your next question. This player has optical and coaxial digital and unbalanced analog outputs that you can use as inputs for your DAC/headphone amplifier.