Sony DVP9000ES as a Redbook Transport?

Theoretically, ANY transport should produce IDENTICAL bit for bit output. The true digital output is either 1 or 0. The only way one transport would sound better than another is if it somehow interacts in a "better" way. Perhaps certain DACs perform better with a lower noise threshold, rise time, fall time or jitter in the digital signal. From my standpoint as an engineer, the best way to de-couple the transport and the DAC is use of an optical cable.

I would love to know what your results are, as I have an unmodified DVP-S9000ES.

Lucas

Like Reubent said: "It doesn't make sense that transports sound different, but they do....."

I am well aware that this subject has been talked nearly to death, and I have read the comments of many of the non-believers. All I can say that until YOU hear the changes made by a good transport in an APPROPRIATELY REVEALING SYSTEM, you are simply on the sidelines making guesses.

Like Reubent said: "...they do..."

I used the 9000es in combination with a Bel Canto DAC2. The Bel Canto “warmed” up the sound and improved the detail considerably over the 9000es by itself. I thought it was a nice match-up at the time. I sold the Bel Canto (and kept the 9000 for DVD and SACD) and bought an Audio Aero Prima. For less money than the Sony transport + Bel Canto DAC + digital cable the Prima was a significant upgrade. Kind of made me wonder why I went to all the trouble. Unless you need a DVD player a good 1 box solution is probably a better way to go, IMO.

Thanks for all of the input. I am a big believer in what a difference a transport makes. I have now tried several in my system but just have not found the right one..

BTW: I own an Electrocompaniet ECD-1 DAC. I would consider a one box solution but the DAC serves double duty on my computer music..

Thanks again,

Chris

If you haven't already check out Empirical Audio. He seems to do alot of what you're after.