Picked up a unit that was used by my regular dealer for 2 months as a demo. Paid $300, inc. tax. I did not hear any appreciable differene between this machine and my NAD 512 and Sony CDP-XE500. (please keep your "you're deaf" type comments to yourself). Keeping that in mind the machine is not worth the list price of $700 to me.
It is Very solidly built, the controls and mechanics operate with polish and sophistication, and the thing exudes quality. I popped open the top and was not impressed with the interior. the parts used may be high specification, but they are of no better quality than those in cheaper players.

It is worth mentioning that I got rid of my Conrad Johnson pre-amp and connected the CD PLayer's variabl outputs directly to my poweramp. The CD Player's volume control is superb, noise and distortion free, with no channel to channel problems. I could hear NO difference between the CJ in the circuit connecte dot the fixed outs, and it absent. This is very admirable performance from the CD Player.

This is probably the last CD player I will need to buy. The unit is well-built and controls have nice feel and refinement. The tray operates with silky sophistication. However, I wish the LCD display was dot matrix instead of the ordinary "stick" read-out. The sound is what I would call mature digital: no easily identifiable flaws, accurate, high-resolution, free of distortion and artifacts, smooth, almost sweet sound. Unless you deliberately alter the signal path, this is the realization of digital sound, after 20 years. No, it's not the PERFECT digital player, but the possible advances are too small from here to worry about. It's not the CD player for everyone since it is less involving (read: more accurate and truer to the datastream) than some other players. The Sony views its job as faithfully reproducing the analog signal before it was encoded into 16-bit digital. No fancy audiophile enhancements. No added warmness, "hifi-ness", etc. Just the facts, maam.
IMO, the Sony does what an input source should do. Provide the facts and nothing else. Since the facts as encoded on the CD is music anyway, I personally don't find the dead accuracy a fault. The player is involving if the music it plays is involving.

I have owned the xa-20es for nearly a year-and-a-half and have been very pleased with its overall performance. Bass reproduction is strong and accurate. Soundstaging is wide but somewhat shallow. Generally neutral overall but it tends to smooth over some of the details.Do yourself a favor and use the xa-20es as a transport. I have added and Entech D/A which has a much better processor than the Sony, what a difference. The sony provides the accurate reading of the disc due to its ultra-stable platter and moving disc mechanism and the outboard D/A does the rest. Now I have great accuracy with much better depth and detail with extradorinary treatment of female voices. A word of advice, if auditioning a CD player for Pop music be sure to bring along some Natalie, Annie, or Sarah along with your Clapton and Dave discs. Female voices are never that sweet, they all have a little harshness in their voice, a truly good D/A will show that.

Good Hunting!

Excellent transport and error correction, great build quality, variable out, headphone jack

None

First bought this in 1997. Although it did blow a laser in 2000, it cost just $100 to fix. I have been very happy with this product. When I went to buy something cheap for a second system, I went through 2 cheap Sonys that blew a gasket in one way or another and then upgraded to an NAD C521. The NAD has problems reading certain CD's and CD-R's unless they are completely pristine. Since I do a fair amount of recording and prefer to do it without babysitting the process, I ruined a few blanks when the original gave the NAD fits. So the search went on for a CDP with more accurate data retrieval. Duh! I already owned one, the XA20-ES! So I bought a second one, and at a discount of over $200 from the first!

Sonically, there isn't much to say about this which is a good thing. It is slightly on the soft side of neutral which is good since many CD's tend to be brash and glaring. The bass is more than adequate although both the NAD and the CAL betters the Sony in that respect. But I'd say the detail of the Sony is another strength. Pinpoint imaging and sweeter treble than the other two although perhaps a tad, and I mean just a tad less transparent than the CAL. But in terms of reliability, the Sony stomps all over the CAL and virtually annhiliates the NAD. Add to this the build quality which makes the admittedly much less expensive NAD look like a Wal-mart special. Compared to the Rega which tries too hard (IMHO) to sound like analog, the Sony is more detailed and transparent. The Rotel was more exciting but a bit fatiguing over the long haul. The Sony combines exceptional sonics for the bucks with an absolutely superb transport. If you're into upgrades, buy this thing, listen to it for a year and then buy yourself a DAC if it improves the sound.

This CDP is highly recommended. I paid less than $500 for this one and it would be a bargain at twice the price.

Similar Products Used:

NAD C521, CAL Audio Icon, REga Planet 2000, Rotel 971, various cheapo Sonys

Nice build quality and I can find no faults with the sound. The puck that must be placed on top of the C.D. was charming at first but gets to be a bit of a pain. I have to explain to my friends how to change a C.D..

I have owned the xa-20es for 2 months and have been very pleased with its overall performance. Bass reproduction is strong . Very neutral overall but it tends to smooth over some of the details.The Best buy .Thank you Sony.

Flawless peformance. Will be a good transport when you're ready to upgrade to an external DAC.

None at current used prices.

I've had this ES model for two years. The only complaint I have is that you can't turn off the unit with the remote control. Otherwise, this unit is a joy to own. The fixed pick-up mechanism is way too cool. It makes an interactive experience everytime you load a new CD. I will be adding an external DAC - I believe the fixed pick-up mechanism will be a good transport. I have this unit linked directly to my amp via the variable outputs. With these outputs, you can bypass the preamp, save money, and enjoy a purer sound.

Sound, build quality, look, very easy to use, remote control.

There's not power switch on the remote

Sony's XA20ES is good looking CD-player. It's build quality is superior when compared to Marantz se67mkII. CD-tray works very smoothly and every knob feels and works fine. I didn't dislike that "puck" you have to put over the cd. Actually I like it, because it feels so... hmmm.... "high-end" :)

The sound was great. Bass is strong and treble is clear but not too harsh. Sound is little bit analytical but not cold at all. Actually I think that there's much warmness in Sony's sound. I listen my XA20ES with Sennheiser's HD-580 headphones and X-cans tube headphone amplifier. I think that this system is wonderfull. X-cans add some warm elements to the Sony's sound.

I got my XA20ES veerrryyyy cheap, actually it was free to me. I heard that Sony's X930E is same machine as XA20ES is. The difference between x930e and XA20ES is color, visual image, build quality and price. Can ayone confirm this? I don't care if they are same machine, becase XA20ES is very good sounding CD-player, it looks and feels brilliant and It didn't cost anything to me. So, if you are looking for good CD-player you should check that Sony's x930E if it is really same machine that XA20ES. It's much cheaper than XA20ES. But if you are looking good sound and cool looking CD-player at "low" price XA20ES is very good choise.

Similar Products Used:

Rega Planet, Marantz se67 mkII, Yamaha 993.

Nothing new to say really, but a reaffirmation of the already-stated is necessary. This CD player is OUTSTANDING! As said many times before, the lows on this unit are LOW and well defined while not overwhelming. Beautiful reproduction of sound (understatement!). Build quality? A TANK! And for a company that is known for its excessive, worthless perks, Sony has given us a player with little more than the necessities (A few forms of repeat and play, fixed or variable output with independant volume control, peak search, fade-in/fade-out, NO CD text). Overall I'd say this player deserves a spot along side the big boys...but grab it while you can. The XA20ES is being discontinued. The bright side: prices should be dropping, find it and buy it! My simple system: Sony STR-GA7ES receiver with JMLAB towers, Paradigm in the rear.

I bought this player with the intention of modifying it. My previous KenwoodDPD3060 was heavily altered with 3 transformers, rebuild output stage,
better op amps etc.
The modified kenwood is very sweet, musical (valve-like?) and detailed.
So, the the XA20ES comes as something of a contrast. Its sound is completely different, dare I say unusual!

The player took at least 15 hours to run in and is still improving after
a week. At first it sounded a bit harsh but this has completely mellowed.
What throws the listener is the astonishing detail, clarity, bass and
pinpointing of imagery in space. Voices are fantastically clear.

But, be aware this player is so revealing that you may hear your favourite
pop artist with warts and all! Annie Lennox sounds great but others seem to
need singing lessons.

I think the unit works best with modern recordings of classical material.
In Naxos' Haydn quartets I heard all four instruments distinctly in space for
the first time. Dvojak's fifth symphony (also Naxos) was incredibly clean and
detailed.

The sound does take time too get used to. (Do violins really sound
that sweet?). But, slowly and surely this player grabs your soul.

I think what's seems wrong with the player is it adds nothing to the
original recording. Hence some reviewers have described it as "uninvolving"

There are some faults of course. The sound stage is slightly narrow and
a slight lack of slam exists. These are probably down to the power supplies
not quite being of the absolute highest quality. Good supplies, however, are expensive so this is expected at the price.

Inside the layout is extremely neat. I can confirm that there are separate
DACs per channel and dedicated specialist, filter and output buffer op amps.
Elna's highest quality electrolytic caps are used throughout as are
polypropylene caps in the signal path. Extensive cabinet damping and
bracing is used.

I think the player is being discontinued so bargains are around. I got it
for $420 in the UK. Its recommended price being $675.

If you can, buy the UK version which does not have a remote volume control
or headphone socket. This probably gives a small improvement in sound
quality.

The XA20ES is an incredible player for the money. Buy it, but listen to it first.