SCD-1 vs DVP-S9000ES

Tmartinejn: you had probably read what Simonjtu had written elsewhere. :-)

Simontju: It's really inconceivable that the 9000es would sound more tonally accurate than the SCD-1 or 777; just by common sense. It'd be nice if you could describe specifically how you compared them. IME, memory is very bad at remembering subtle differences sound quality. So many times, I thought a tube is better from another of a different brand, only when listening to them for quite a while and swapping back, would I see that they aren't much difference. When describe subtle improvements, I think it's critical to do (and report) serious comparisions. You probably picked up the difference in dynamics quite easily, but the so-called "magic midrange" is a bit vague because it depends on many things: system synergy, musics, mood at the time you're listening.

ps: in terms of tweak, just by common sense, I'd like to think that Sony did really want their SACD products to do well, and probably put lots of efforts into them. Therefore, it makes more sense to me that "swap" tweaks would probably be better than "redesign" tweaks, which would mean that somehow we have a better understanding of the circuits than the engineers who created the products, and who work for a company at the magnitude of Sony

Simontju:

YES, I have heard the S9000ES. It is indeed a very good SACD player and a fair Red Book CD player. It, certainly, is not in the same class as the 777ES in both modes, and is surpassed easily by the SCD-1. To make it short: the SCD-1 is simply more musical and refined, more extended and pure in the treble, more natural sounding in the midrange, etc....
Is that clear enough?

Why don't you just enjoy your S9000ES and accept the reality that it was not designed to compete with the SCD-1, irrespective of what you would want to beleive?

I like the S9000ES very much, with its CD/SACD/DVD capabilites and retail price, I think it is a great buy. I am considering the purchase of a S9000ES for a HT based second system

Caa: I compared 777Es and 9000es by memory. I owned 777es for two months and then sold it. Many people do not trust aural memory. Therefore, you can easily distrust results of my observation, and it would be very logical. However, I am musician by education (classic piano) and life-long attendee of live concerts. I rarely compare one piece of equipment with other directly. I used to compare to my aural memory of the sound of acoustic instruments.AND I trust my ears. The problem that both 777es and 9000es has each set of shortcomings (defferent ones) needed to be corrected, most desirably by modification of their respective analog stages. - Simon
Gmorris: I fully accept "the reality that it (9000es) was not designed to compete with SCD-1, irrespective of what you would want to believe?". however, then I hear music, the goals of specific equipment design, you so eloquently desribed above, does not interfere with my sub-cognitive acceptance of the fidelity (to acoustic instuments) of the sound. Regarding your suggestion "Why don't you just enjoy your S9000ES..." I can't; its being upgraded to correct its set of shortcoming. Otherwise you are absolutely right - Simon

robert harley votes for sacd and if you own a 9000es his reveiw will make your day,it is in the new perfect vision and it is a glowing reveiw to say the least.

incidentally, I was also a musician for 25 years (trumpet.) Does this fact make my opinion more valid than a non-musician? I think not!