Great Audio, Great video, Progressive Scan with 480p, SACD, Build Quality, Warranty

No DVD-Audio, no 5.1 analog outputs, SACD is stereo and may be updated to multi-channel

Where the JVC and Panasonic could play DVD-Audio, I still wasn't pleased with the quality of the sound. It was a step above their CD performance, but that's all. I bought the 9000ES on trial and WOW! CD performance on the 9000ES is much better than DVD-Audio performance on the JVC or the Panasonic. SACD performance was another step up. I haven't spent much time studying the video performance. I assume its state of the art. I can't see how I can return to a lessor CD/DVD player. Listening to my CD/DVD collection is like listening to new CDs and DVDs. They sound so much setter. It's as if SACD is a free plus. Still I wish it would support DVD-Audio. I'm sure that soon they're be something on DVD-Audio that I'll want to buy.

Similar Products Used:

JVC523GD, Panasonic A7, Sony DVP300

SACD replay

CD replay

This review discusses only the audio capabilities of the 9000ES, since I hardly ever watch DVD videos but hope to check that out soon.
My attitude toward review of digital components is basically, I've given up. I can tell when I like digital and also when I don't. Exactly *what* I hear that makes me react that way, I don't know. Digital done right I suppose just presents a more accurate analog waveform, or maybe the 44.1/16 format is to blame for the perceived shortcomings of most CD players.
Well, the Sony as CD-only is a decent player. But it doesn't challenge my digital separates, Proceed PDT3/Link Dac. Why, as I said, is hard to describe, but they are in a different class altogether. The ES sounding by comparison, sluggish and undynamic, just less involving. Sure I'll concede that it's good value, at least it is delicate and sweet sounding, but falls short of "compelling". I also tried the ES as a transport driving the Link DAC and in that role it wasn't quite on a par with the PDT3...I know I'm comparing $2500 worth of dedicated CD-only equipemnt with the $1500 3-in-1 Sony, but in trying to come up with a rating you have to use a baseline..........
This is not just attitude on my part: I really wanted to be able to use the 9000 for CD and SACD both -- so much more convenient especially when I have a power outlet shortage in my listening room. But after lengthy warm up I finally realized it was not to be........
With SACD, on the other hand, the 9000ES is truly superb, so I can at least use this chance to lobby for more SACD titles... So definitely 5 stars for SACD, a superior format, but only 3 stars for CD replay.

Similar Products Used:

Wadia, Proceed, Theta

picture,sound , build quality ,aesthetically worth every penny

weighs as much as an anvil (or is that a good thing?)

This player is truly high end and anyone who cannot recognize the difference should not bother investing in this unit there are plenty of APEX players for 149.00 or less that would probrably suit your needs.
First of all if you do not have the capability to display progressive scan , sorry but this players picture quality is unsurpassed nuff said. Then as if that's not enough your'e also getting a high quality SACD player which I might add sounds as good as it looks, a hefty piece, a hefty warranty behind it and a great price @ J&R MUSIC.
I am a big beliver in "you get what you pay for" and this player is a prime example ther's not much to say if you audition it you will love it and if you can afford it buy it. You might want to try my sales guy TODD AT 800 221 8180 EXT 1039. He always gives me a great deal and they are authorized SONY dealers. After burning in this unit with some HARD CORE DTS ACTION I am one satisfied customer
Sorry to keep it short and sweet but I just got my copy of TERMINATOR ULTIMATE EDITION see ya!

Similar Products Used:

SONY 7700, TEC DVDA10 ,

Filmlike picture from DVD

Standby power mode is only accessible from remote.

I consider myself more of a videophile than an audiophile, and purchased the 9000ES to complement my Hitachi 61SDX01B HD-ready RPTV. I have a collection of over 500 DVD's and so far I am extremely pleased with the 9000ES. High quality video transfers such as Gladiator or Toy Story 2 are unbelievably sharp and filmlike in progressive mode. Although I was very pleased with the earlier 7000 reference player, only now can I say that DVD is reaching the potential as advertised 3 years ago.

With my humble audio system: Integra DTR-5 /Paradigm Monitor 9 / CC-350 center / mini-Monitor surrounds and PS-1000 sub, the CD player only slghtly outperformed the 7000 DVD player or JVC XL-MC222 carousel.

The SACD feature was a truly amazing and unexpected surprise. My wife immediately grabbed the SACD catalog that came with the unit and exclaimed: "I want all of these SACD's and any others that are available!" Well considering she has over 200 CD's I may have to find a second source of income. She described the sound as "even better than the Bose system" she listens to at her friend's house. This is a real relief for me as I prefer the sound of the more conventional Paradigm Monitor series to the Bose design, especially for Home Theater. Kudos to SONY!

Similar Products Used:

DVP 7000, DVP 3000

Tom is right. Personally I found the video quality of this player to be similar to the DVP-S7700. The transport mechanism (for cd play back etc.) is virtually the same between the two players as well. So the only thing you're paying for is the SACD feature, but if this is what you want, why not just buy the SACD player instead?

Great picture,build quality,SACD,CD playback.

Quality control problems. Tray.

The picture is excellent but the audio switching is quirky. Whenever I watch a movie and I turn off the panel light the audio direct switch somehow gets disabled after I switch from a DVD disk to a CD. Repeatedly pressing the direct audio button will not do anything when the fluorescent panel light is switched off. But if you power off the unit and press the direct audio switch it will engage. If you have the panel lights "on", you can access the direct switch. I swapped out the DVD player with the same type and so far I did not see any defects on switching but the video quality is somehow not as clear as the first unit. I gave a heads up on the store telling them that I will exchange it again if the picture does not improve after burn-in. The first unit had great video right out of the box. The second unit's picture had a milky resolution to it but I will wait and see if it disappears after a few hours. Also it flickers slightly during the DVD menu screen, also it pixelizes on some menus. I want to keep this unit but something is telling me that it still needs to be swapped out for another one. Quality control problems? Other than the above-mentioned problems, this DVD player is really a great bargain. I am using the component outs for the player. (This is the best way of connecting it to your TV, do not connect it to your pre amp it will loose some video quality.
Any suggestions are appreciated.

Sunfire Theater Grand 2 Pre amp
Acurus A-150
Acurus 100X3
Sony S-10 53" RPTV
MIT T2 interconnects
Snell speakers

Similar Products Used:

Pioner 414

excellent video; very good SACD; good CD

still not a universal player (i.e., no DVD-A), but then those cost $5k+

I auditioned this piece at home in my system and decided not to purchase it. The video was great; I found the progressive scan picture to be a little better (richer and sharper). But it was not a night/day difference vs. my excellent Denon machine. As for movie sound, I didn't hear much difference (which means transport performance was pretty comparable).

As for music, I have to STRONGLY disagree with the previous reviewer who said CD sounds better than SACD on this machine. I auditioned a few dual-layer discs (identical music program in both cd/sacd formats on the same disc) and the difference this time WAS like night/day: CD sound was consistently revealed to be more *electronic* and artificial sounding in direct comparison with the sacd version of the same piece. SACD was clearly superior and imparted an enhanced clarity and naturalness to the sound.

However, I decided against buying this piece. The key is that I now use my Denon as a 5-disc transport into the giant-killer Bel Canto Design DAC1 upsampler. Comparing the SACD track with the identical CD track from the Sony into the Bel Canto revealed a virtual tie in sound quality. Perhaps the more expensive, dedicated SACD machines would clearly outperform my upsampling rig, but i haven't heard those. Since the video quality was only slightly better with the Sony and it is a single-disc design (vs. 5 for the Denon), I saw no benefit to upgrading. That said, this is a quality machine, with great video and SACD performance and OK CD performance.

Similar Products Used:

Denon DVM-3700

Progressive Playback of DVD

None

It seems to me that many people are buying the 9000es for all the wrong reasons, This is first and foremost a DVD player, The Progressive scan output (480p) is breathtaking, who cares about cd playback and cd-r. I have a 57" Pioneer elite HDTV, 16:9 ratio and the picture is second to none, one would have spend thousands more on top of the line Runco stuff to see a better picture. People, please get with the program!! Just consider the SACD playback a thrown in bonus, it sounds wonderful and cd playback is just as good as 99.5% of the stuff that's out there today. If you do not have a TV that will except a 480p signal, your not experiencing the full potential of this player, it's that simple!! Buy something from Cosco or Best Buy.

Home Theater Set-up

B&K AVR 307
Sony 9000es DVD
Pioneer Elite 57" widescreen
B&W Naut. 804's Front
B&W Naut. center
B&W Surronds (4)
Boston PV 1000 Sub
Transparent cabeling

DVD picture quality is outstanding, even with only the S-VHS cable. DD surround also excellent. Much better than my former Sony 7700 DVD player.SACD sound quality is very good, although not quite up to the Sony 777 or SCD-1.

Regular CD playback not as good as my Sony XA7ES. A little too laid back with rolled off highs. Perhaps unfair to compare to a $3000 cd player, just call it as I hear it. It will not play any of the CDR's I own either...the owners manual says it does not support this format as well.

As stated above the picture quality is excellent. I have compared the SACD playback to a Marantz, Sony 777 & SCD-1 and while very good it still isn't quite up to these units and perhaps shouldn't be due to price. I still believe it sounds better than 85% of the regular CD's I own SACD's of and have compared to...it's hard to top a XA7ES on regular cd playback...the 9000 will not play on the same level. Top end is just too rolled off and dark. Bass is a little muddy and lacks refinement. All in all what you are getting here is an excellent DVD player that does a very good job with SACD's and a soso job with CD's at a bargin price...

Similar Products Used:

Sony 7700, Proceed CDD & DAP, Sony XA7ES. Sony 777 & SCD-1. Marantz SACD player.

I cannot say it any better than Russ. The sony XA7ES is indeed a tough one to beat. The regular cd sound of the DVP S9000ES is way too laid back. Not a bad DVD player though.