Repair my Sony CDP 608 ESD?

Zd542, I seriously doubt that "others" have directly compared a Sony 608 ESD and an Oppo 105D.

I happen to own both right now although they are in different systems.

I am not a believer that a so called modern dac chip is that much better than a high quality 20 + year old chip. The performance of the Oppo is proof enough for me.

I have a Sony X779 ES that I use as a transport for the Hugo. I have plenty of inputs on my VAC preamp so I can try an A/B of the Sony analog out directly against the Oppo using identical cables and report my findings. I could also switch the 608 esd from the second system.

My point is there's a lot of hype about the superiority of a model year 2015 dac/player over anything older that I find is simply not true.

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06-01-15: Rhljazz
Zd542, I seriously doubt that "others" have directly compared a Sony 608 ESD and an Oppo 105D."

You didn't even read my post. Or yours for that matter. Have another look.

"I have both a new 105D and a 26 yr old 608 ESD. I have not performed a direct shootout between those two, I will say I prefer the Oppo as a transport with a 19 yr old VAC tube dac to the Oppo itself.

How is that even relevant to the discussion? You prefer the Oppo when its used with a 19 year old dac. Great. How does that help the OP?

"My point is there's a lot of hype about the superiority of a model year 2015 dac/player over anything older that I find is simply not true."

That's your opinion based on what looks to be very limited experience. You'll no doubt try to argue me on that, but before you do, did it ever occur to you that people have different taste in equipment than you? If you sat 10 different people down in front of your system, and demoed the CD players and dac that you have, do you think everyone will have the exact same opinion on them as you?

"My point is there's a lot of hype about the superiority of a model year 2015 dac/player over anything older that I find is simply not true."

What you find to be "simply not true", is not based on fact. Its based on your opinion.

"I have a very clean Sony 608 ESD, I bought it brand new in 1986. So I can not complain that it has been a good sounding and flawless performing player all these 29 years."

That is good run. My Cary CDP went 10 years before replacing the laser. Not cheap to fix; I just did not want to scrap yet, like you say. You have earned an excuse to "upgrade".

Thanks for the input. And yes RhlJazz voiced his opinion, nothing wrong with that, I asked for opinions. And while I cannot say I've had many CD players in my system over these years, I had listened to others, and did have my daughter's $800 Marantz in my system about 3 or 4 years ago for a direct comparison, and I found them to sound different, but it was not better. I haven't heard anything that made me want to upgrade, and that's why I haven't.

It's also true that I honesty don't need a multi format player. I own a DVD player I use for video, it is not in my stereo rack. I intend to use it for Red Book CD's, and maybe a few WAV file CD's of my own making.

Sure we all want detail, we all want to listen deep into our recordings and hear more than we've heard previously, don't we? But there was a quality to the Sony that made it my favorite, it had dynamics! Not bright, but certainly not smooth or laid back. It had bass slam, it was most effective on rock music, really delivered the venue, from studio to live concert halls, it was lively and envolving. I guess I'm from the camp who say, "if it works don't fix it", and that's why I have not upgraded it in all these years. In fact, the only piece of stereo that I have not upgraded in that time, many pieces 3 or 4 times in it's life. Perhaps the Sony 5400 is worthy of an audition? I also see in the listings a Cary 306 with a new laser, that has my interest, along with an Ayre 7, and two Esoterics. I'm sure it's a win/win situation, any of the above will make me happy, I can't see how they couldn't unless I got a lemon.

In the price range you listed, there are very many, very good players...