I’m a big fan of Sony vintage top ES CD players. In this article I collected all of the top of the line Sony CD players from the beginning to the end of fixed pickup line. I consider this era as the Sony classic CD player era. (Sony started to promote SACD after 1999 and that is a different story.)
I ordered the ES CD player line into 4 categories. It seems to me that sometime Sony’s marketing papers also classified products but this calssification is based on my own concept. I only took the top 4 categories into account. If an ES player didn’t fit one of these 4 categories, I left that out. At the end of the 90’s Sony added low category products to ES line also (like X111ES). I didn’t want to deal with these.
There were multiple sources for technical and other data. Primary source was the official Sony Service Manual for the specific model. If a data wasn’t available in service manuals, I took old Sony marketing materials. Sometime I searched photos about the inside of the players itself. I used other fan sites about CD technology and Sony (mainly Japanese sources). It seems to me that even official Service Manuals wasn’t always correct about a specific data. Not to mention marketing papers. Exact release date is also very hard to determine. I added notes for the doubtful data. Please take into consideration that I don’t have phisycal example from these players and I haven’t seen most of them (except 1-2).
Because of the high number of players, I ordered the timeline into categories and every category contains only a few players. Release date and distribution based on original Japanese product catalogs. It is obviously possible that if there were stock items, distribution easily lasted longer (especially in non-Japanese areas where distribution dates are sometime different). But I only took into consideration original catalogs.
Below is the summary of the 4 level of the complete ES CD player line. I included the pick-up type, original Japanese type number and price and overseas type number (if there was) on the picture. Blue line shows the lineage: what player inspired the development of the next player.
Non-oversampling players
CDP-701ES was one the most expensive integrated Sony CD player ever released. There were more expensive transport/dac systems later but this was one box player. Only CDP-R3 was more expensive in the one box range.
CDP-101 and CDP-501ES used only one 1 channel DAC which generated left and right channel audio output alternately. So these weren’t real 2 channel DAC in these players.
CDP-501ES is a little bit controversial. Its service manual states that its Canadian/US model name is CDP-610ES but it also states that its name is CDP-400 in the US and CDP-501 in Europe (without ES but also with ES). I’ve seen CDP-501 and CDP-400 models in white color but I’ve never seen CDP-501ES in color other than black. It is not clear to me that all these names refer the same model or these are slightly different models. In this article however I only included the one and only CDP-501ES from the original contemporary Japanese catalog.
| Japanese model | CDP-101 | CDP-701ES | CDP-501ES |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA/Canada model (if different) | CDP-610ES | ||
| European model (if different) | |||
| Japanese release | 1982. 08 (USA, Europe: 1983) | 1983. 03 | 1983.10 |
| Distribution | 1982-1984 | 1983-1985 | 1983-1985 |
| Frequency response | 5-20000Hz +-0,5dB | 5-20000Hz +-0,5dB | 5-20000Hz +-0,5dB |
| Harmonic distortion | 0,004% (1kHz) | 0,003% (1kHz) | 0,003% (1kHz) |
| Dynamic range | >90dB | >95dB | >95dB |
| Signal-to-noise ratio | >90dB | >102dB | |
| Channel separation | >90dB (1kHz) | >90dB (1kHz) | >90dB (1kHz) |
| DAC | |||
| DAC nickname | - | - | - |
| Digital filter IC | - | - | - |
| DAC IC | CX20017 | 2xCX890 (CX20017 in later version) | CX20017 |
| DAC clock | 44,1 kHz | 44,1 kHz | 44,1 kHz |
| Oversampling | - | - | - |
| Bitrate converting in filter | - | - | - |
| Dither | - | - | - |
| Low-pass filter | 9 point | 11th order | |
| Mechanism | |||
| Mechanism type | |||
| Base unit | BHR-2600A | BHR-2601A | BHR-2600A |
| Optical pick-up | KSS-100A | KSC-100A (Toshiba OPH-31) | KSS-100A |
| Linear drive | - | - | - |
| BSL motor | x | x | x |
| Base unit material | - | - | - |
| Chassis material | steel | ||
| Fine ceramics | - | - | - |
| Servo | |||
| Disc tray | composite | ||
| Outputs | |||
| Line out, unbalanced | 2Vrms (1 pair RCA) | 2Vrms (1 pair RCA) | 2Vrms (1 pair RCA) |
| Line out, balanced | - | - | - |
| Variable line out, unbalanced | - | - | 0-2V (1 pair RCA) |
| Digital coax output | - | - | - |
| Optical output | - | - | - |
| Digital coax input | - | - | - |
| Optical input | - | - | - |
| Phone jack | 28mW (32 ohm) 6,3mm | 28mW (32 ohm) 6,3mm | 28mW (32 ohm) 6,3mm |
| Remote controller type | RM-101 (plus 10000 yen) | RM-101 (plus 10000 yen) | RM-111 |
| Power consumption | 30W | 38W | 30W |
| Power transformer | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Dimensions | |||
| Width | 355 mm | 430mm | 430mm |
| Height | 105 mm | 105mm | 105mm |
| Depth | 325 mm | 385mm | 325mm |
| Weight | 7,6kg | 11,5kg | 8,6kg |
| Original price | 168000 yen; 2300 DM; 7500 franc (incl. remote); 800 GBP | 260000 yen; 3950 DM; 1500 USD | 168000 yen |
2nd generation Sony ES CD players
Sony’s contemporary catalog called CDP-502ES as a reference player. It was the first player which utilized the linear drive mechanism. Sony made many versions of the linear drive in the following years. It was the distinctive characteristic of Sony’s CD mechanism in the golden era of CD players: between 1984 and 1994.
CDP-502ESII (CDP-620ESII) is somehow a mystery. It seems to me that this player released only on western market. I found 502ESII only in a 1987 German catalog.
As it can seen on the photo, CDP-552ESD had big vibration „isolators” which can be put under the player’s standard feet.
CDP-552ESDII (CDP-650ESDII) is a mystery too. It seems to me that this player released only at western market too. I found 552ESDII only in a 1987 German catalog. It seems to me that CDP-552ESDII is a direct improvement of the CDP-552ESD. 552ESDII is very similar to the CDP-553ESD which released only on Japanese market I suspect.
| Japanese model | CDP-502ES | not released | CDP-552ESD | not released | DAS-702ES | CDP-302ES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA/Canada model (if different) | CDP-620ES | CDP-620ESII | CDP-650ESD | CDP-650ESDII | DAS-702ES | USA: CDP-520ES; Canada: CDP-302 |
| European model (if different) | CDP-502ES | CDP-502ESII | CDP-552ESD | CDP-552ESDII | DAS-702ES | CDP-302ES |
| Japanese release | 1984.11.21 | 1985 (?) | 1985.01 (other source said 1984) | 1985 (?) | 1985.01 | 1984.10 |
| Distribution | 1984-1986 | -1987 | -1985 | -1987 | 1985-1986 | 1984-1985 |
| Frequency response | 2-20000Hz +-0,5dB | 2-20000Hz +-0,5dB | 2-20000Hz +-0,3dB | 2-20000Hz +-0,5dB | 5-20000Hz +-0,5dB (44,1kHz or more) | 2-20000Hz +-0,5dB |
| Harmonic distortion | 0,0025% (1kHz) | 0,0025% (1kHz) | 0,0025% (1kHz) | 0,0025% (1kHz) | 0,004% | 0,003% |
| Dynamic range | >96dB | >96dB | >96dB | >96dB | >95dB | >96dB |
| Signal-to-noise ratio | ||||||
| Channel separation | >95dB | >95dB | >95dB | >90dB | >95dB | |
| DAC | ||||||
| DAC nickname | UNILINEAR CONVERTER SYSTEM | UNILINEAR CONVERTER SYSTEM | UNILINEAR CONVERTER SYSTEM | UNILINEAR CONVERTER SYSTEM | UNILINEAR CONVERTER SYSTEM | UNILINEAR CONVERTER SYSTEM |
| Digital filter IC | CX23034 | CX23034 | CX23034 | CX23034 | CX23034 | CX23034 |
| DAC IC | CX20152 | 2 x PCM53KP-V-S | CX20152 | 2xPCM53KP-V-S | 2 x PCM53JG-I | CX20152 |
| DAC clock | 88,2kHz | 88,2kHz | 88,2kHz | 88,2kHz | 88,2kHz | 88,2kHz |
| Oversampling | 2x | 2x | 2x | 2x | 2x | 2x |
| Bitrate converting in filter | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dither | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Low-pass filter | 7th order GIC (Generalized Impedance Converter) | 7th order GIC (Generalized Impedance Converter) | 7th order GIC (Generalized Impedance Converter) | 7th order Butterworth | ||
| Mechanism | ||||||
| Mechanism type | - | |||||
| Base unit | BU-1 | BU-1C | BU-1C | - | BU-1 | |
| Optical pick-up | - | |||||
| Linear drive | x | x | x | x | - | x |
| BSL motor | x | x | x | x | - | x |
| Base unit material | cerasin | cerasin | - | |||
| Chassis material | - | |||||
| Fine ceramics | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Servo | - | |||||
| Disc tray | - | |||||
| Outputs | ||||||
| Line out, unbalanced 1 | 2Vrms (1 pair RCA) | 2Vrms (1 pair RCA) | 2Vrms (1 pair RCA) | 2Vrms (1 pair RCA) | 2Vrms (1 pair RCA) | 2Vrms (1 pair RCA) |
| Line out, balanced | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Variable line out, unbalanced | 0-2V (1 pair RCA) | 0-2V (1 pair RCA) | 0,05-2Vrms (1 pair RCA) | 0,05-2Vrms (1 pair RCA) | 0-5V (1 pair RCA) | - |
| Digital coax output | - | - | 0,5V/75 Ohm | 0,5V/75 Ohm | 2 x 0,5V/75 Ohm | - |
| Optical output | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Digital coax input | - | - | - | - | 2 x 0,5V/75 Ohm | - |
| Optical input | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Phone jack | 28mW (32 ohm) 6,3mm | 28mW (32 ohm) 6,3mm | - | 28mW (32 ohm) 6,3mm | 14mW (32 ohm) 6,3mm | 28mW (32 ohm) 6,3mm |
| Remote controller type | RM-D 502 | RM-D 502 | RM-D 502 | RM-D 502 | - | RM-D 302 |
| Power consumption | 16W | 16W | 16W | 16W | 28W (USA version: 25W) | |
| Power transformer | 1 (35VA, OFC) | 1 (35VA, OFC) | 1 | 1 | 1 (190VA) | 1 (20VA) |
| Dimensions | ||||||
| Width | 430mm | 430mm | 430mm | 430mm | 430mm | 430mm |
| Height | 80mm | 80mm | 80mm | 85mm | 105mm | 80mm |
| Depth | 355 mm | 355 mm | 365mm | 365mm | 410mm | 335mm |
| Weight | 8,5kg | 8,5kg | 10,4kg | 9,3kg | 11,5kg | 6,7kg |
| Original price | 150000 yen; 2500 DM; 950 USD | 700 GBP | 180000 yen; 1300 USD | 2700 DM | 200000 yen; 3000 DM | 118000 yen; 650 USD |
1: I don’t have exact data for all Sony players but it seems to me that most ES CD players had 2,5V max output level on unbalanced outputs, instead of 2V as stated in manuals.
1985-1986: 3th and 4th generation
CDP-553ESD is hardly different than CDP-552ESDII and in my opinion it was not sold outside Japan.
At October of 1986 Sony released the new 1986 ES CD product range which brought new outer design to all Sony CD players. With these, Sony gave end to the slim design of the early ES CD players.
In my opinion Sony not released CDP-222ES outside Japan. They released CDP-222ESD in the western market.
| Japanese model | CDP-303ES | CDP-555ESD | CDP-333ESD | CDP-222ES | not released | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA/Canada model (if different) | not released | CDP-705ESD | CDP-605ESD | not released | CDP-505ESD | ||
| European model (if different) | not released | not released | CDP-222ESD | ||||
| Japanese release | 1985.10 | 1985.11 | 1985.10 | 1986.10 | 1986.10 | 1986.10 | |
| Distribution | 1985-1986 | 1985-1987 | 1985-1986 | 1986-1987 | 1986-1987 | 1986-1987 | |
| Frequency response | 2-20000Hz +-0,3dB | 5-20000Hz +-0,5dB | 2-20000Hz +-0,5dB | 2-20000Hz +-0,3dB | 2-20000Hz +-0,3dB | 2-20000Hz +-0,3dB | 2-20000Hz +-0,5dB |
| Harmonic distortion | 0,0025% | 0,004% | 0,003% | 0,0025% | 0,0025% | 0,003% | 0,003% |
| Dynamic range | >96dB | >95dB | >96dB | >97dB | >97dB | >95dB | |
| Signal-to-noise ratio | >106dB | >106dB | 102dB | >102dB | |||
| Channel separation | >95dB | >90dB | >95dB | >100dB | >100dB | >98dB | |
| DAC | |||||||
| DAC nickname | UNILINEAR CONVERTER SYSTEM | UNILINEAR CONVERTER SYSTEM | UNILINEAR CONVERTER SYSTEM | UNILINEAR CONVERTER SYSTEM | UNILINEAR CONVERTER SYSTEM | UNILINEAR CONVERTER SYSTEM | UNILINEAR CONVERTER SYSTEM |
| Digital filter IC | CX23034 | CX23034 | CX23034 | CXD1088Q | CXD1088Q | CX23034 | CXD1088Q |
| DAC IC | 2 x PCM53KP-V-S | 2x PCM53JP-1 | CX20152 | TDA1541 | TDA1541 | 2xPCM56P-J | TDA1541-N5 |
| DAC clock | 88,2kHz | 88,2kHz | 88,2kHz | 176,4kHz | 176,4kHz | 88,2kHz | 176,4kHz |
| Oversampling | 2x | 2x | 2x | 4x | 4x | 2x | 4x |
| Bitrate converting in filter | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dither | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Low-pass filter | 7th order GIC Butterworth | 3rd order GIC | 5th order | ||||
| Mechanism | |||||||
| Mechanism type | - | CDM4-1C | CDM4A-1E | CDM6-6 | |||
| Base unit | BU-1C | - | BU-1C | BU-1E | BU-1E | ||
| Optical pick-up | - | KSS-121A | KSS-151A | KSS-151A | |||
| Linear drive | x | - | x | x | x | x | x |
| BSL motor | x | - | x | x | x | - | |
| Base unit material | cerasin | - | gibraltar | cerasin | cerasin | cerasin | cerasin |
| Chassis material | gibraltar | ||||||
| Fine ceramics | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Servo | - | S-SERVO | S-SERVO | S-SERVO | S-SERVO | ||
| Disc tray | - | ||||||
| Outputs | |||||||
| Line out, unbalanced | 2V 50 kOhm (1 pair RCA) | 2,5Vrms (1 pair RCA) | 2Vrms (1 pair RCA) | 2V 50 kOhm (1 pair RCA) | 2V 50 kOhm (1 pair RCA) | 2,5Vrms (1 pair RCA) | 2Vrms 50 kOhm (1 pair RCA) |
| Line out, balanced | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Variable line out, unbalanced | 0,05-2V 50kOhm (1 pair RCA) | 0-2,5Vrms (1 pair RCA) | - | 0-2Vrms 50kOhm (1 pair RCA) | - | - | - |
| Digital coax output | 0,5V/75ohm | 1 | - | 0,5V/75ohm | 0,5V/75ohm | - | 0,5V/75ohm |
| Optical output | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Digital coax input | - | 3 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Optical input | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Phone jack | 28mW (32Ohm) 6,3mm | 14mW (32Ohm) 6,3mm | 28mW (32Ohm) 6,3mm | 28mW (32Ohm) 6,3mm | 28mW (32Ohm) 6,3mm | 6,3mm | 28mW (32Ohm) 6,3mm |
| Remote controller type | RM-D502 | - | RM-D302 | RM-D502A | RM-D550 | RM-D350A | |
| Power consumption | 15W | 25W | 15W | 20W | 20W | 12W | 15W |
| Power transformer | 1 (35VA) | 2 (digit/analog) | 1 (17VA) | 2x35VA (digit/analog) | 1 (20VA) | 1 (21VA) | 1 |
| Dimensions | |||||||
| Width | 430mm | 430mm | 430mm | 430mm | 430mm | 430mm | 430mm |
| Height | 85mm | 110mm | 85mm | 125mm | 110mm | 100mm | 100mm |
| Depth | 365mm | 435mm | 336mm | 395mm | 340mm | 335mm | 335mm |
| Weight | 9,3kg | 15kg | 6,8kg | 14,1kg | 8,35kg | 5,4kg | 5,3kg |
| Original price | 160000 yen | 250000 yen | 99800 yen; 1600 DM; 500 GBP | 150000 yen; 1000 GBP; 1500 USD | 89800 yen | 66800 yen | |
1987-1988: last two generation from multibit era
These were the last Sony ES CD players with multibit DAC. There was the R1 also but there is a dedicated chapter for „R”-players/DACs.
557ESD was the first player with so-called „fine ceramics” foot. It was the heaviest one box Sony ES CD player ever released besides CDP-R3.
| Japanese model | CDP-557ESD | CDP-337ESD | CDP-227ESD | CDP-X7ESD | CDP-338ESD | CDP-228ESD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA/Canada model (if different) | CDP-707ESD | CDP-507ESD | CDP-608ESD | |||
| European model (if different) | ||||||
| Japanese release | 1987.09 | 1987.09 | 1987.09 | 1988.09 | 1988.09 | 1988.09 |
| Distribution | 1987-1989 | 1987-1988 | 1987-1988 | 1988-1989 | 1988-1989 | 1988-1989 |
| Frequency response | 2-20000Hz +-0,3dB (at 557: +-0,5dB) | 2-20000Hz +-0,5dB | 2-20000Hz +-0,5dB | 2Hz-20kHZ +-0,5dB | 2Hz-20kHZ +-0,5dB (608ESD: +-0,3dB) | 2Hz-20kHZ +-0,5dB |
| Harmonic distortion | 0,0015% | 0,0025% | 0,0025% | 0,0015% | 0,0022% | 0,0025% |
| Dynamic range | >100dB (EIAJ) | >98dB | >96dB | >100dB | >100dB | >100dB |
| Signal-to-noise ratio | >115dB (EIAJ) | >110dB | >106dB | >115dB | >113dB | >110 dB |
| Channel separation | >110dB (EIAJ) | >100dB | >100dB | >110 dB | >110 dB | >105dB |
| DAC | ||||||
| DAC nickname | - | - | - | HI-PRECISION D/A SYSTEM | HI-PRECISION D/A SYSTEM | HI-PRECISION D/A SYSTEM |
| Digital filter IC | CXD1144P | CXD1144P | CXD1144P | CXD1244S | CXD1244S | CXD1244S |
| DAC IC | 2xPCM64P (18 bit) | 2xTDA1541-N5 | 2xTDA1541-R5 | 2xPCM58P-S (18bit) | 2xPCM58P-J (18 bit) | 2 x PCM58P-J (18 bit) |
| DAC clock | 352,8kHz | 352,8kHz | 352,8kHz | 352,8kHz | 352,8kHz | |
| Oversampling | 8x | 8x | not obvious whether 8x or 4x | 8x | 8x | 8x |
| Bitrate converting in filter | 18 bit | 18 bit | 18bit (some instances it was nothing) | 45bit | 45bit | 45bit |
| Dither | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Low-pass filter | 3rd order GIC | |||||
| Mechanism | ||||||
| Mechanism type | linear motor; BSL | CDM4B-10 | CDM9-6 | CDM4F-10A | ||
| Base unit | BU-10 | BU-6 | BU-10A | BU-6B | BU-6B | |
| Optical pick-up | KSS-190A | KSS-190A | KSS-151A | KSS-190A | KSS-151A | KSS-151A |
| Linear drive | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| BSL motor | x | x | - | x | - | - |
| Base unit material | ADC (aluminium die-cast) | ADC | ADC | gibraltar | gibraltar | |
| Chassis material | gibraltar | gibraltar | gibraltar | FB chassis | FB chassis | |
| Fine ceramics | x | - | - | x | x | - |
| Servo | S-SERVO II | S-SERVO II | S-SERVO II | S-SERVO III | S-SERVO III | S-SERVO III |
| Disc tray | - | |||||
| Outputs | ||||||
| Line out, unbalanced | 2Vrms 50 kOhm | 2Vrms 50 kOhm | 2Vrms 50 kOhm | 2Vrms 50 kOhm | 2Vrms 50 kOhm | 2Vrms 50 kOhm |
| Line out, balanced | - | - | - | 2 (L/R) | - | - |
| Variable line out, unbalanced | 0-2V 50kOhm | 0-2V 50kOhm | 0-2V 50kOhm | 0-2V 50kOhm | 0-2V 50kOhm | 0-2V 50kOhm |
| Digital coax output | 0,5V/75ohm | 0,5V/75ohm | 0,5V/75ohm | 0,5V/75ohm | 0,5V/75ohm | 0,5V/75ohm |
| Optical output | 660 nm/-18dBm | 660 nm/-18dBm | 660 nm/-18dBm | 660 nm/-18dBm | 660 nm/-18dBm | 660 nm/-18dBm |
| Digital coax input | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Optical input | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Phone jack | 28mW (32Ohm) 6,3mm | 28mW (32Ohm) 6,3mm | 28mW (32Ohm) 6,3mm | 40 mW (32Ohm) 6,3mm | 28mW (32Ohm) 6,3mm | 28mW (32Ohm) 6,3mm |
| Remote controller type | RM-D650 | RM-D650 | RM-D650 | RM-D770 | RM-D670 | RM-D570 |
| Power consumption | 22W | 27W | 22W | 26W | 27W | 18W |
| Power transformer | 2 (digit/analóg) | 1 (45VA) | 1 (22,7VA) | 2 (digit/analog) | 1 | 1 |
| Dimensions | ||||||
| Width | 470mm (UK model: 430mm) | 430mm | 430mm | 470mm (430mm: UK) | 470mm | 430mm |
| Height | 125mm | 125mm | 110mm | 125mm | 125mm | 120mm |
| Depth | 395mm | 375mm | 345mm | 375mm | 375mm | 340mm |
| Weight | 18kg (UK model: 17kg) | 11,5kg | 6,3kg | 17kg (16kg: UK) | 12,5kg | 12,5kg |
| Original price | 180000 yen; 1800 USD; 1000 GBP | 89800 yen; 550 GBP | 59800 yen; 350 GBP | 200000 yen | 89800 yen | 59800 yen; 400 GBP |
1989-1990: first two generation from 1-bit era
Sony CDP-X77ES was the first ES player which produced in two colors: golden and black. Golden version sometimes called as „champagne” at auctions and vintage pages but Sony’s original catalog called it „golden”.
| Japanese model | CDP-X77ES | CDP-X55ES | CDP-X33ES | CDP-X777ES | CDP-X555ES | CDP-X333ES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA/Canada model (if different) | ||||||
| European model (if different) | ||||||
| Japanese release | 1989.09 | 1989.09 | 1989.09 | 1990.09 | 1990.09 | 1990.09 |
| Distribution | 1989-1990 | 1989-1990 | 1989-1990 | 1990-1991 | 1990-1991 | 1990-1991 |
| Frequency response | 2Hz-20kHZ +-0,3dB | 2Hz-20kHZ +-0,3dB | 2Hz-20kHZ +-0,5dB | 2-20000Hz +-0,3dB | 2-20000Hz +-0,3dB | 2-20000Hz +-0,3dB |
| Harmonic distortion | 0,0015% | 0,0018% | 0,002% | 0,0017% | 0,0018% | |
| Dynamic range | >100dB | >100dB | >100dB | >100dB | >100dB | >100dB |
| Signal-to-noise ratio | >117dB | >115dB | >113dB | >118dB | >117dB | >115dB |
| Channel separation | >110dB | >110dB | >110dB | >110dB | >110dB | >110dB |
| DAC | ||||||
| DAC nickname | High Density Linear Converter | High Density Linear Converter | High Density Linear Converter | High Density Linear Converter | High Density Linear Converter | |
| Digitális szűrő IC | CXD1244S | CXD1244S | CXD1244S | CXD1244S | CXD1244S | CXD1244S |
| DAC IC | 2xCXD2552Q-1 | CXD2552Q-2 | CXD2552Q-2 | 2xCXD2552Q-1 | 2 x CXD2552Q-2 | 2 x CXD2552Q-2 |
| DAC clock | 45MHz | 45MHz | 45MHz | 45MHz | 45MHz | 45MHz |
| Oversampling | 8x | 8x | 8x | 8x | 8x | 8x |
| Bitrate converting in filter | 45bit | 45bit | 45bit | 45bit | 45bit | |
| Dither | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Low-pass filter | GIC | |||||
| Mechanism | ||||||
| Mechanism type | CDM4F-10B | CDM11E-6C | CDM11E-6C | CDM4K-10D (black) CDM4J-10D (golden) | CDM11H-6C (black) CDM11I-6C (golden) | CDM11H-6C |
| Base unit | BU-10B | BU-6C | BU-6C | BU-10D | BU-6C | BU-6C |
| Optical pick-up | KSS-280A | KSS-270A | KSS-270A | KSS-281A | KSS-271A | KSS-271A |
| Linear drive | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| BSL motor | x | - | - | x | - | - |
| Base unit material | ADC | gibraltar | gibraltar | ADC | gibraltar | |
| Chassis material | FB Chassis | FB Chassis | FB Chassis | FB Chassis | FB Chassis | |
| Fine ceramics | x | x | - | x | x | - |
| Servo | S-SERVO III | S-SERVO III | S-SERVO III | TS Servo II | TS Servo II | |
| Disc tray | ||||||
| Outputs | ||||||
| Line out, unbalanced | 2Vrms 50 kOhm | 2Vrms 50 kOhm | 2Vrms 50 kOhm | 2V (50kOhm) | 2V (50kOhm) | 2V (50kOhm) |
| Line out, balanced | 2 (L/R) | - | - | 2V (50kOhm) | - | - |
| Variable line out, unbalanced | 0-2V 50kOhm | 0-2V 50kOhm | 0-2V 50kOhm | 0-2V 50kOhm | 0-2V 50kOhm | 0-2V 50kOhm |
| Digital coax output | 0,5V/75ohm | - | - | 0,5V 75ohm (CDP) | - | - |
| Optical output | 660 nm/-18dBm | 660 nm/-18dBm | 660 nm/-18dBm | 660 nm/-18dBm | 660 nm/-18dBm | 660 nm/-18dBm |
| Digital coax input | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Optical input | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Phone jack | 40 mW (32Ohm) | 28mW (32Ohm) | 28mW (32Ohm) | 100mW (32Ohm) 6,3mm | 28mW (32Ohm) | 28mW (32Ohm) |
| Remote controller type | RM-D770 (black); RM-D771 (golden) | RM-D590 | RM-D590 | RM-D992 | RM-D891 (golden); RM-D991 (black) | RM-D991 |
| Consumption | 26W | 22W | 20W | 30W | 22W | 23W |
| Power transformer | 2 (digit/analog) floating | 2 (digit/analog) floating | 11 | 2 (digit/analog) | European: 1; Non EU: 2 (digit/analog) | |
| Dimensions | ||||||
| Width | 470mm (430mm without wooden side panels) | 470mm (430mm without wooden side panels) | 430mm | 430mm (UK) 470mm (máshol) | 470mm | 430mm |
| Height | 125mm | 125mm | 125mm | 125mm | 125mm | 125mm |
| Depth | 375mm | 375mm | 375mm | 375mm | 375mm | 375mm |
| Weight | 17kg | 12,5kg (UK: 11,5kg) | 10kg | 16kg (UK) 17kg (máshol) | 12,8kg | 11kg |
| Color versions | golden, black | black | black | Japan: golden; Other: golden, black | golden, black | black |
| Original price | 180000 yen; 1000 GBP; 1700 USD | 89800 yen; 600 GBP | 59800 yen | 180000 yen | 89800 yen; 900 USD | 59800 yen |
1: All manuals wrote that CDP-X33ES contains 1 transformator but there are photos about its internal where it is clearly seen that it sometime contains 2 transformators sometime contains only 1.
1991-1992: end of moving pick-up and linear motor
| Japanese model | CDP-777ESA | CDP-555ESA | CDP-333ESA | CDP-777ESJ | CDP-555ESJ | CDP-333ESJ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA/Canada model (if different) | CDP-X779ES | CDP-X559ES | CDP-X339ES | CDP-X707ES | not released | CDP-X303ES |
| European model (if different) | CDP-X779ES | CDP-X559ES | CDP-X339ES | CDP-X707ES | CDP-X505ES | CDP-X303ES |
| Japanese release | 1991.10 | 1991.10 | 1991.10 | 1992.10 | 1992.10 | 1992.10 |
| Distribution | 1991-1992 | 1991-1992 | 1991-1992 | 1992-1994 | 1992-1994 | 1992-1994 |
| Frequency response | 2-20000Hz +-0,3dB | 2-20000Hz +-0,3dB | 2-20000Hz +-0,3dB | 2-20000Hz +-0,3dB | 2-20000Hz +-0,3dB | 2-20000Hz +-0,3dB |
| Harmonic distortion | <0,0015% | <0,0017% | 0,0018% | 0,0015% | 0,0017% | 0,0018% |
| Dynamic range | >100dB | >100dB | >100dB | >100dB | >100dB | >100dB |
| Signal-to-noise ratio | >119dB | >118dB | >116dB | >119dB | >118dB | >117dB |
| Channel separation | >110dB | >110dB | >110dB | >110dB | >110dB | >110dB |
| DAC | ||||||
| DAC nickname | Advanced HDLC | Advanced HDLC | Advanced HDLC | |||
| Digital filter IC | CXD2560M | CXD2560M | CXD2560M | CXD2567M | CXD2567M | CXD2567M |
| DAC IC | 2xCXD2562Q | CXD2562Q | CXD2562Q | 2xCXD2562Q | CXD2562Q | CXD2562Q |
| DAC clock | 90MHz | 90MHz | 90MHz | |||
| Oversampling | 64x | 64x | 64x | 8x | 8x | 8x |
| Bitrate converting in filter | 45bit | 45bit | 45bit | 45bit score (20 bit output) | 45bit score (20 bit output) | 45bit score (20 bit output) |
| Dither | - | - | - | x | x | x |
| Low-pass filter | ||||||
| Mechanism | ||||||
| Mechanism type | CDM19A-6F70 (black) CDM19B-6F70 (golden) | CDM19C-6G50 (black) CDM19D-6G50 (golden) | CDM19E-6H50 | CDM19A-6F70 (black) CDM19B-6F70 (golden) | CDM19E2-6H50 | |
| Base unit | BU-6G | BU-6H | BU-6G | BU-6H | ||
| Optical pick-up | KSS-272A | KSS-272A | KSS-272A | KSS-272A | KSS-272A | KSS-272A |
| Linear drive | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| BSL motor | x | x | - | x | x | - |
| Base unit material | gibraltar | gibraltar | gibraltar | gibraltar | gibraltar | gibraltar |
| Chassis material | FB chassis | FB chassis | FB chassis | FB-copper chassis | FB-copper chassis | FB chassis |
| Fine ceramics | x | x | x | x | ||
| Servo | S-SERVO III | S-SERVO III | S-SERVO III | |||
| Disc tray | gibraltar | gibraltar | gibraltar | |||
| Outputs | ||||||
| Line out, unbalanced | 2V (50kOhm) | 2V (50kOhm) | 2V (50kOhm) | 2V (50kOhm) | 2V (50kOhm) | 2V (50kOhm) |
| Line out, balanced | 2V (50kOhm) | 2V (50kOhm) | ||||
| Variable line out, unbalanced | 0-2V 50kOhm | 0-2V 50kOhm | 0-2V 50kOhm | 0-2V 50kOhm | 0-2V 50kOhm | 0-2V 50kOhm |
| Digital coax output | 0,5V 75ohm | 0,5V 75ohm | ||||
| Optical output | 660 nm/-18dBm | 660 nm/-18dBm | 660 nm/-18dBm | 660 nm/-18dBm | 660 nm/-18dBm | 660 nm/-18dBm |
| Digital coax input | ||||||
| Optical input | ||||||
| Phone jack | 100mW (32Ohm) 6,3mm | 28mW (32Ohm) 6,3mm | 28mW (32Ohm) 6,3mm | 100mW (32Ohm) | 28mW (32Ohm) | 28mW (32Ohm) |
| Remote controller type | RM-D996 (black); RM-D995 (golden) | RM-D991 (black); RM-D891 (golden) | RM-D991 | RM-D996 (black); RM-D995 (golden); RM-D998 (Japanese golden) | RM-D991(black); RM-D891(golden) | RM-D991 |
| Power consumption | 38W | 29W | 23W | 38W | 29W | 24W |
| Power transformer | 1 (Twin Core) | 2 (digit/analog) | 1 | 1 (Twin Core) | 2 (digit/analog) | 1 |
| Dimensions | ||||||
| Width | 470mm | UK: 430mm; Other: 470mm | 430mm; 470mm (US, Canada) | 470mm | 470mm (Australia: 430mm) | 470mm |
| Height | 125mm | 125mm | 125mm | 125mm | 125mm | 125mm |
| Depth | 375mm | 375mm | 375mm | 375mm | 375mm | 375mm |
| Weight | 16,5kg | 13kg (AEP), 12kg (UK), 12,2kg (EU) | 11kg (US,Canada: 12kg) | 16,5kg | 13,2kg (EU); 12,5 (Australia); 12,3kg (other) | 11,5kg (US, Canada), 10,6kg (other) |
| Color versions | Japan: golden Other: golden; black | golden, black | black | Japan: golden Other: golden; black | golden, black | black |
| Original price | 200000 yen; 1900 USD; 3600 DM (golden); 3500 DM (black) | 90000 yen; 1900 DM (golden); 1800 DM (black) | 60000 yen; 1200 DM | 200000 yen | 90000 yen | 60000 yen |
Apart from some minor differences, CDP-777ESA (X779ES) is basically the same model as CDP-777ESJ (X707ES). It has the same structure, same circuitry and same components. It seems to me that CDP-777ESA and CDP-777ESJ released only in golden color. European and American version (CDP-X779ES, CDP-X707ES) released in golden and black version too although service manual lists black version only in European version.
Black version has black disc tray, golden version has grayish disc tray. Hence the difference in the mechanism type number.
1988-1994: reference line
CDP-R1/DAS-R1 and CDP-R1a/DAS-R1a have the so-called twin link optical interface besides coaxial interfaces and optical interfaces (on R1a). Information about CDP-R10/DAS-R10 is very limited and mainly in Japanese. As my understanding it used some kind of DSP type digital filter. With its 2 million yen price, probably this was the most expensive two-box CD player Sony ever made. Sony made it just on special order.
| Japanese model | CDP-R3 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA/Canada model (if different) | |||||||
| European model (if different) | |||||||
| Japanese release | 1989.12 | ||||||
| Distribution | 1989-1995 | ||||||
| Frequency response | - | 10Hz-20kHz +0-0,5dB (44,1-es mintánál) | - | 10Hz-20kHz +-0,5dB (44,1-es mintánál) | 2Hz-20kHZ +-0,5dB | - | |
| Harmonic distortion | - | 0,0025% (EIAJ: 0,005% (20Hz-20kHz)) | - | 0,002% | 0,002% | - | |
| Dynamic range | - | >97dB | - | >100dB | >100dB | - | |
| Signal-to-noise ratio | - | >110dB | - | >117dB | >117dB | - | |
| Channel separation | - | >100dB | - | >110dB | >110dB | - | |
| DAC | |||||||
| DAC nickname | - | UNILINEAR QUADRUPLE D/A CONVERTER SYSTEM | - | HIGH DENSITY LINEAR D/A CONVERTER SYSTEM (Pulse D/A; Extended Noise Shaping) | High Density Linear Converter | - | Current Pulse D/A converter |
| Digital filter IC | - | CXD1144AP | - | CXD1244S | - | ||
| DAC IC | - | 2xTDA1541A-S1 | - | 2x CXD2552Q-1 | 2x CXD2552Q-1 | - | |
| DAC clock | - | 352,8kHz | - | 45MHz | 45MHz | - | |
| Oversampling | - | 8x | - | 8x | 8x | - | |
| Bitrate converting in filter | - | 18 bit | - | 45bit | 45bit | - | |
| Dither | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Low-pass filter | - | 2nd order AD712JN | - | AD712JN Cauer | AD712JN Cauer | - | |
| Mechanism | |||||||
| Mechanism type | CDM4D-10 | - | CDM11G-6D | - | - | ||
| Base unit | BU-10 | - | BU-6D | - | - | ||
| Optical pick-up | KSS-190A | - | KSS-151A | - | KSS-151A | - | |
| Linear drive | x | - | x | - | x | - | |
| BSL motor | x | - | - | - | x | - | |
| Base unit material | ADC | - | gibraltar | - | - | ||
| Chassis material | FB chassis | FB Chassis | FB Chassis | ||||
| Fine ceramics | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Servo | TS-Servo | - | - | GTS Servo | - | ||
| Disc tray | - | - | - | ||||
| Outputs | |||||||
| Line out, unbalanced | - | 2,5V | - | 2,5V (50kOhm) | 2,5V (50kOhm) | - | 1 pár RCA |
| Line out, balanced | - | - | - | 2,5V | 5V (1 pair XLR) | - | 1 pár XLR |
| Variable line out, unbalanced | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Digital coax output | 0,5V 75ohm | - | 0,5V 75ohm | 0,5V/75ohm | 1 | - | |
| Optical output | - | - | 660 nm/-18dBm | 660 nm/-18dBm | 2 | - | |
| Digital coax input | - | 2x (32, 44,1, 48kHz) | - | 2x 0,5V 75Ohm (32, 44,1, 48kHz) | - | - | 1 |
| Optical input | - | - | - | 2x 660nm -18dBm | - | - | 3 |
| Phone jack | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Remote controller type | RM-A1 | - | RM-A1a | - | RM-A1a | - | |
| Power consumption | 13W | 25W | 14W | 19W | 17W | 30W | 53W |
| Power transformer | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 (Twin Core) | 1 | |
| Dimensions | |||||||
| Width | 470mm | 470mm | 470mm | 470mm | 470mm | ||
| Height | 125mm | 125mm | 125mm | 125mm | 125mm | ||
| Depth | 410mm | 410mm | 410mm | 410mm | 410mm | ||
| Weight | 17kg | 17kg | 18kg | 17kg | 18kg | 30kg | 25kg |
| Original price | 300000 yen; 8000 USD; 5000 GBP | 300000 yen; 8000 USD; 5000 GBP | 300000 yen | 300000 yen | 300000 yen | 1200000 yen | 800000 yen |
1994-1999: fixed pick-up all the way
CDP-XA3ES was not fixed pick-up player.
| Japanese model | CDP-XA7ES | CDP-XA5ES | CDP-XA3ES | CDP-XA50ES | CDP-XA30ES | CDP-XA55ES | CDP-XA555ES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA/Canada model (if different) | |||||||
| European model (if different) | |||||||
| Japanese release | 1994.10 | 1994.10 | 1994.10 | 1996.11 | 1996.11 | 1998.12.10 | 1999 |
| Distribution | 1994-1997 | 1994-1996 | 1994-1996 | 1996-1999 | 1996-2001 | 1998-2001 | |
| Frequency response | 2-20000Hz +-0,3dB | 2-20000Hz +-0,3dB | 2-20000Hz +-0,3dB | 2-20000Hz +-0,3dB | 2-20000Hz +-0,3dB | 2-20000Hz +-0,3dB | 2-20000Hz +-0,3dB |
| Harmonic distortion | 0,0015% | 0,0017% | 0,0018% | 0,0017% | 0,0018% | 0,0017% | 0,0020% |
| Dynamic range | >100dB | >100dB | >100dB | >100dB | >100dB | >100dB | >100dB |
| Signal-to-noise ratio | >119dB | >119dB | >118dB | no longer listed in the catalogs | no longer listed in the catalogs | no longer listed in the catalogs | no longer listed in the catalogs |
| Channel separation | >110dB | >110dB | >110dB | no longer listed in the catalogs | no longer listed in the catalogs | no longer listed in the catalogs | no longer listed in the catalogs |
| DAC | |||||||
| DAC nickname | Current Pulse D/A converter | Current Pulse D/A converter | Current Pulse D/A converter | Current Pulse D/A Converter | Current Pulse D/A Converter | Current Pulse D/A Converter | Current Pulse D/A Converter |
| Digital filter IC | CXD8504M | CXD8504M | CXD8504M | CXD8679Q | CXD8679Q | CXD8762Q | |
| DAC IC | CXD2562Q + 2xCXA8042S | CXD2562Q + 2xCXA8042S | CXD2562Q + 2xCXA8042S | CXD2562Q-CS + 2xCXA8042AS | CXD2562Q-CS + 2xCXA8042AS | CXD9521Q+2x CXA8042AS | |
| DAC clock | |||||||
| Oversampling | 8x | 8x | |||||
| Bitrate converting in filter | 45bit | 45bit | 24 bit (5 digital filter) | ||||
| Dither | |||||||
| Low-pass filter | Cauer | ||||||
| Mechanism | |||||||
| Mechanism type | CDM32HB-12H (black) CDM32HN-12H (golden) | CDM32MB-12M (black) CDM32MN-12M (golden) | CDM19E2-5BD10B | CDM32BB-12B (black) DM32BN-12B (golden) | CDM36A-14A | CDM32EB-12C (black) DM32EN-12C (golden) | |
| Base unit | BU-12H | BU-12M | BU-5BD10B | BU-12B | BU-14A | BU-12C | |
| Optical pick-up | KSS-273A | KSS-273A | KSS-240A | KSS-273B/J1N | KSS-213B | KSS-273B/J1N | |
| Linear drive | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| BSL motor | x | x | - | x | x | x | x |
| Base unit material | zinc | zinc | |||||
| Chassis material | FB chassis | FB chassis | FB chassis | FB chassis | FB chassis | ||
| Fine ceramics | - | - | - | ||||
| Servo | - | ||||||
| Disc tray | BMC plastic | - | |||||
| Outputs | |||||||
| Line out, unbalanced | 2V (50kOhm) | 2V (50kOhm) | 2V (50kOhm) | 2V (50kOhm) | 2V (50kOhm) | 2V (50kOhm) | 2V (50kOhm) |
| Line out, balanced | 2V (50kOhm) | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Variable line out, unbalanced | 0-2V 50kOhm | 0-2V 50kOhm | 0-2V 50kOhm | 0-2V 50kOhm | 0-2V 50kOhm | 0-2V 50kOhm | 0-2V 50kOhm |
| Digital coax output | 0,5V 75ohm | 0,5V 75ohm | - | 0,5V 75ohm | 0,5V 75ohm | 0,5V 75ohm | 0,5V 75ohm |
| Optical output | 660 nm/-18dBm | 660 nm/-18dBm | 660 nm/-18dBm | 660 nm/-18dBm | 660 nm/-18dBm | 660 nm/-18dBm | 660 nm/-18dBm |
| Digital coax input | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Optical input | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Phone jack | 100mW (32Ohm) 6,3mm | 28mW (32Ohm) 6,3mm | 28mW (32Ohm) 6,3mm | 28mW (32Ohm) 6,3mm | 28mW (32Ohm) 6,3mm | 28mW (32Ohm) 6,3mm | 28mW (32Ohm) 6,3mm |
| Remote controller type | RM-D 921 | RM-D 921 | RM-D 921 | RM-D950 | RM-D950 | RM-D950 | |
| Power consumption | 28W | 20W | 17W (EU/Australia), 19W (USA/Canada) | 20W | 18W | 20W | 23W |
| Power transformer | 1 (Twin Core) | 2 R-core (audio/digital) | 1 (R-core) | 2 R-core (audio/digital) | 1 (R-core) | 3 (R-core) | 3 (R-core) |
| Dimensions | |||||||
| Width | 430mm | 430mm | 430mm | 430mm | 430mm | 430mm | 430mm |
| Height | 125mm | 125mm | 125mm | 125mm | 125mm | 125mm | 126mm |
| Depth | 375mm | 370mm | 375mm | 375mm | 350mm | 375mm | 375mm |
| Weight | 15kg | 13,5kg | 6,6kg | 15,2kg | 9kg | 13,2kg | 13,2kg |
| Original price | 250000 yen; 3000 USD | 98000 yen | 60000 yen | 98000 yen | 66000 yen | 99000 yen | 99000 yen |
Róbert Sipos (2023)
I would like to special thanks to folks who scanned vintage Sony papers!
Special information sources: