I have owned this player for over 2 years. After these years I have the followed conclusions:

1) It is very well constructed. Everything inside is arranged reasonably and quality is good.
2) The sound of this CD player is not as good as my old Philips CD850. A little bit light weight and mechanical.
3) It is a fair transport (maybe due to its excellent construction). But the sound is still not as good as Philips CD850 (use same external DAC).
4) The little "weigh" for CD is not easy to handle. It puts a few dings on my CD player and power amp. But it is minor.

Well, I guess I can say this one is a fair CD player. But it is not as good as my old CD850. It suprised me because CD850 was not top of the line in Philips products at that time (there are LHH series). Maybe Philips made those old CD players too good?

Transparent, Clear and well-balanced sound

None at this price

This is the player I owner since 1997 and I haven't change the CD player since then because I am very satisfy with the player. I totally agree with what the gentlemen said before and the sound may be a litter bit analyical. However, this is a very funny CD player, and I am still using it with other replacement of my audio equipment, except my speakers (LS3/5a) which is also a wonder product.

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer,NAD,Sony

Beautiful crafted, excellent sound.Very userfriendly with the jog-dial.
Variable digital filter enables to correct CD's with problems in the high.
Perfect match for my B&W Matrix 803 Series II speakers.
I can not imagine that someone is prepared to pay more for another CD-player. This one has it all.
Of course there are always people who say that Japanese company's can't make High-end products. That's because they never listen to them....

I acquired the Sony XA50ES about a month ago. In Japan, three ES-line units, the XA7ES, XA50ES and XA30ES are available. However, the first two share many common parts including the display, chassis, transport drawer and lens system while the XA30ES (and XA20ES) is lighter and cheaper. In fact, the repective weights for the "7" and "50" are virtually the same. The big difference is price, with the former costing about $1,100 vice $500 for the "50." It was possible to audition both units in a number of audio shops in Akihabara, Tokyo's electronic district, and I could not hear any noticable differences between the two units. However, the differences between my existing Carver CD player and the Sony were evident. Aside from its obvious mechanical quality (the XA50ES is wonderfully made and precise), sonics are much more mellow. Mid-level and highs are much smoother and this unit will track any CD in my collection. In fact, one CD that was mechanically damaged in my Carver changer will play virtually without problem from beginning to end. By contrast, the Carver cannot handle the first two tracks without hanging. The same is true of some CDs acquired in China which may not be bone fide originals. I've have read somewhere that due to its digital filters, the XA50ES cannot be sold in the States. That's a real pity since it offer XA7ES quality at about one third the cost. And unlike the XA20ES sold in the U.S, the "50" uses a superior chassis and transport. If one has a chance to get the XA50ES (particularly at Japanese prices), don't hesitate, it's a fantastic piece of equipment.

Excellent product! I am from Bangkok and got it a week ago around $1000. I tested it in paraellel with XA7ES. I prefer it more than 7ES. Nine digital filters with patents of several high-end brand are included (That's why can not sale in US). 7ES give less bass but very smooth and details. While 50ES give all!!!
I have used line level out to drive KSA-150 with Carver AL-III with bi-amplifier. It give very remarkable sound with impression to every details in every bit.

For my preference, besides Mark Levinson... Now this is my second choice and the last!

Transport, musicality

Having had the machine for 4 months now I have noticed the musical stage really opening up, the various filters definately give options on sound preferences, but only three I would say compliment my tastes / system, these are Standard,3A & 4A, (altho 3C is not bad) the rest don't suit my tastes.The xport must be one of the best around as it plays a couple of my discs that no other cdp even tries to read. Build quality was one of the attractions of the Sony, as I recon with the new technologies on the horizon this will be the last standard cdp I will buy, so it must be built to last,and it surely feels like it! also another plus are the many features, especially the delete finction which I find very handy. Back to the sound, foot tapping musicality, very good after 3 months, but even better after 4 months? I had not listned for a couple of weeks (my wife keeps it ticking over) and I was amazed to find it still improving (detail & imaging) on what I thought last month was very good is now even better.
Very happy with my purchase, and no I am not just trying to justify spending a fair bit of money on a cdp to myself or anyone else, I really enjoy music with the Sony.
Other components in system:
AUDIOLAB 8000A AMP,
SONUS FABER CONCERTINO SPEAKERS (also amazing product)AUDIOQUEST RUBY I/C'S
MONSTER SPEAKER CABLES
CHEERS FROM GEORGE, SOUTH AFRICA

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Rotel 965 /

I have been silent long enough! I recently bought a Sony XA50ES from an importer, that is on the Web. You can buy this player and have it sent to your home in the us for about $1000. I got mine for $900. This player is not as good as the best $3K player. Its not Krell, Meridian, ARC, ETC. IMO this is a good $900 player. It doesn not have extended highs like the big boys. It is very, very smooth. In my book, so smooth it takes the life out of the music. Unless you have onwed some of the big boys, you might not noticed this. With samll mini-monitors, this can be a very good player. If your system is very bright, this player could be for you. I have NHT 3.3 and Krell and this player does not fit. The adjustable filters are nice, but it does not fixed the laid back highs. The player does have good bass and a nice soundstage. If you want good sound at a resonable price this is the player to beat, but It Does NOT play with the big boys. If you want a good player,find a Resolution CD50 for $2K.

Im sure that the XA50ES sounds great and Im a magor Sony fan. I own an Xa7esand I find it hard to believe that the 50es sounds better than the 7es. The built of the XA7es is better and for that reason more expencive. Its not like we are comparing a sony to a meridian this is a sony vrs a better sony that is more expencive. I got my Sony new for 2000$ and I never heard the Xa50es but I find it really strange that the Company releases a CD player for 2000$ less than the XA7ES which also sounds allot better according to some of reviews here. If this is true which I dont believe then Sony is real dumb. I would like to know what Sony has to say about this player vrs the XA7ES.

I picked mine up in Japan a year ago, and my reaction was very similar to Ben's (I also had a XA7ES for about two months). Last month, I started a series of upgrades to the XA50ES. First of all, and this is most straight forward, a Bright Star Air Nass 3 isolation platform was added. It did wonders to the soundstage presentation. The image is better defined, especially at the corners. My profession is in shock and vibration measurement. The isolation platform surprises me in terms of its effects on a piece of digital gear. Highly recommended.
Second step, which has just been implemented two weeks ago, was to upgrade the clock inside the player to improve internal clock jitter. Check out www.lcaudio.com in Denmark. They offer a crystal clock upgrade for $70. The result is much firmer bass (the lower registers of a grand piano really comes alive), image outline also improved substantially. Highly recommended, if you can use a soldering iron.
The third step, which is about to commence, includes changing all the electrolytics to Black Gates non-polarized, and upgrading the op-amp's to the best sounding Burr Brown's.
The machine sounds heavenly after stage II, I can't wait to see how much better it can get when it's done.

I heard that the reason the XA50ES is not sold in the US is due to patent issues. The variable coefficients filters actually use similar software codes from various famous US high-end digital manufacturers (you can name them). I like the filter 3A, which is minimal pre and post ringing in the time domain.

Mine does not required a step-down transformer to run. May be my good old isolation transformer did the trick.

I have been buying and upgrading my equipment for years. From the time I was about 10 -- I am 48 now with a lot better cash flow -- I always insisted that I have a stereo and a top line one at that!Here is my system, now that I have totally upgraded for the last time. Trust me, it is the ULTIMATE in sound and vision:

Kenwood Receiver
Kenwood CD Player
Kenwood Radio
Kenwood Amplifier
Kenwood Tape Deck (DUAL CASSETTE)
Kenwood Surround Speaker System inclding the subwoofer.
RCA 19 inch (right now I am saving to get a 19 inch color tv)
Magnavox VCR ( the only thing left to upgrade. The next one will have stereo/hi-fi and will make movies sound even better)


From the moment I found out that this awesome package delivers 200 WATTS, I said that is it. Whenever I have seen a 200 watts system at the store I ALWAYS wanted to buy it on the spot but could not afford the $800 tey were asking for it. Now, I have traded all my old stuff plus $450 for the new system. What a steal! I hope I did not take advantage of that guy too much!