Sony CDP-X333ES Review (CD Player)

[NTTY]

I hope that it can give me the same joy that I had back in the day when playing CDs.

It will

 

[diddley]

I computed 1200€.

Thanks and for a excellent review.

 

[Anatols_Dad]

I recommended this beauty to my brother in 1995 or so - I am still jealous of him nowadays (at the time I already owned a CDP 991), as it is one of the most beautiful CD players I ever set eyes on. The build quality is truly exceptional. And as we can see, it still is good in measurement . Man, the high quality of those times... amazing.
My brother hardly uses the player anymore, but doesn't want to give it away either, what a shame .

My Sony still works, too, am seriously thinking of getting it out of the cellar and exchanging my Musical Fidelity m3cd with it (using my DAC). The 20 direct access buttons - even found on the remote control - are really helpful, always missed those..

Thanks for the awesome test, in any case!

 

[robiceli]

I have the Sony CDP-X333ES, bought in 1995 and it works great. I have it connected to my Sony TA-E2000ESD preamp via SPDIF and it sounds amazing. I tried using it without the preamp (rca cables connected to my Sony Gx79ES receiver using the CD player's DAC) and it sounded dull and lifeless to my ears. Maybe your optical cable was the issue, or a bad cap inside the player.

 

[NTTY]

Not the cable, no, since it’s the one I use for all testing and the issue was the same with other cables. Probably an aged component, but nothing an external DAC would not correct, as I showed.
It’s one one the best results I got from RCA out, so unless a very significant issue elsewhere, it will not sound that bad.
This is exactly why I wanted to test one of these early 1bit DACs, for the reason that some people say they sound harsh, and all sorts of faults. And this is not the case.

 

[SigmaR1]

Back in the 90’ I remember audiophile claiming (at least in France) that Sony players shed a raw light on music, with a surgical precision. They were not considered as "musical" players (as far as it means something). Nowadays, one can read on audiophile websites that those same Sony players deliver the typical 80’ 90’ soft and confortable sound...
I have at home a Sony cdp x505es (95), a scd 555es (2000). They all sound neutral and transparent. They indeed have no specific sound at all. It only depends on the recording.

Whenever your x333es sounds dull, something is broken or unsuitable in your set up.

 

[robiceli]

Whenever your x333es sounds dull, something is broken or unsuitable in your set up.

I wouldn't say it sounds bad as if it were broken, it just sounds flat for my liking. I personally like to use some EQ (I have DSP enabled on my TA-E2000ESD) as I'm used to the V shaped sound, maybe that's why I dislike the audio that comes out from my X333's RCA.

All in all, it is a good CD player and I like listening to it. I'm the first owner and never had any problems with it apart from the door belt which was replaced years ago.

 

[SigmaR1]

I wouldn't say it sounds bad as if it were broken, it just sounds flat for my liking. I personally like to use some EQ (I have DSP enabled on my TA-E2000ESD) as I'm used to the V shaped sound, maybe that's why I dislike the audio that comes out from my X333's RCA.

All in all, it is a good CD player and I like listening to it. I'm the first owner and never had any problems with it apart from the door belt which was replaced years ago.

I understand better now! The results prensented by NTTY demonstrate that the response of x333es is dead flat. It can sound less spicy than a V shape tuning

 

[robiceli]

I understand better now! The results prensented by NTTY demonstrate that the response of x333es is dead flat. It can sound less spicy than a V shape tuning

Yes, that is correct Like NTTY was saying, nothing a good DAC can't fix (in my case, using my TA-E2000ESD as a DAC).