Sony BDP-S300 (incl. S1, S500 and more)

[NTTY]

Nice review, thanks. A Sony always delivers, obviously.
For the intersample over test, remove the low pass filter in distorsion setting (by default 20kHz) to include all harmonics up to 90kHz (if you’re sampling at 192kHz), else you don’t get the odd harmonics into the calculation, already with the 7350Hz test tone.
Cheers

 

[DrZingo]

I had this model. After a few minutes, that little fan would start up and be quite audible. In general, I wouldn't recommend using a blu-ray player as your standard music player. They are noisy and tend to take forever to load a disc.

 

[trevor_bartram]

I had this model. After a few minutes, that little fan would start up and be quite audible. In general, I wouldn't recommend using a blu-ray player as your standard music player. They are noisy and tend to take forever to load a disc.

The Sony BDP-S1700/3700/6700 don't have a fan.

 

[fordiebianco]

This is an 18 year old disc player. I suggest a more recent Sony player, more likely to exist “in the wild” (i.e., on eBay) be tested instead, like the UDP-x1000es or UDP-x1100es. Those are the last two Sony universal players with stereo analog outputs.

I have the UDP x1000. Unfortunately I am too stupid to measure it.

 

[Jimster480]

Goes to show that there were some very competent devices even 20 years ago. Sad to see any newer product come out today and have worse performance than a 20 year old product even if it is at a lower price today.

 

[leebergtally]

I'm using a Sony BDP-S550 as a CD player, Coaxial output to Schiit Modi 5. I assume it has similar circuitry. Unfortunately a few CDs won't play, (Unknown Disc Error). Thought about buying a new player, but I listen to streaming mostly these days. Thanks for your testing.

 

[snowbl1nd]

I'm using a Sony BDP-S550 as a CD player, Coaxial output to Schiit Modi 5. I assume it has similar circuitry. Unfortunately a few CDs won't play, (Unknown Disc Error). Thought about buying a new player, but I listen to streaming mostly these days. Thanks for your testing.

They are similar only on the outside. Inside, everything is different. DACs AK4358VQ are used.
I forgot to add that the player in the review is also identical to the BDP-S2000ES.

 

[leebergtally]

Google search on that DAC “
The AK4358VQ is an obsolete 8-channel, 24-bit Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) from Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM), designed for high-end audio systems, including DVD-Audio and SACD applications. It features a sampling rate of 8kHz to 192kHz, a 112dB dynamic range, and supports 1-bit DSD data input. The chip is housed in a 48-pin LQFP package. Key specifications and features for the AK4358VQ include:

• Performance: The modulator uses a multi-bit architecture for improved Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise (THD+N). It features a -94dB THD+N and a 112dB S/N ratio.
• Output: The device uses full differential Switched Capacitor Filter (SCF) outputs, which eliminates the need for AC coupling capacitors.
• Functionality: It includes a digital de-emphasis filter, a channel-independent digital attenuator with soft-transition, and a soft mute function.
• Interfaces: The DAC supports 3-wire serial and
  I2C
  bus microcomputer interfaces for mode setting. Input formats include MSB justified, LSB justified (16/20/24-bit),
  I2S
  , TDM, and DSD.

 

[dsd4life]

I think these are the perfect machines for SACD rips.

 

[Sal1950]

I think these are the perfect machines for SACD rips.

I've got the BDP-S5100 I bought off EBay for $40 including the remote and used it to rip a ton of SACD's
It's now semi-retired, I haven't had to rip a SACD in a long time but will keep it around just in case. LOL

 

[Moises]

I have an old Sony BDP-S590 and I used also for extraction of SACD. DSD 64 files. I found many older recordings are much better than loud commercial High Resolution streaming versions. But sorry if I know how to technically provide some evidence will be great. I have limited space, so buying second hand SACD and reselling them again does the trick! All kept on 2Tb HD with Roon.

 

[Billy Budapest]

I have the UDP x1000. Unfortunately I am too stupid to measure it.

I have both a UDP-x1000es and a UDP-x1100es and likewise am too stupid to measure it. No complaints about audio quality for either.