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Personal CD Players through the ages ~ A Review [Updated 10/05/2003] - Page 9

post #121 of 292
4/29/03 at 3:12pm
Quote:
Originally posted by Duncan
Rice...

If you (or for that matter anyone) ever come across another D-J50 for sale, please let me know... if its in good condition, i'm prepared to pay very TOP dollar for one... as it may well be the very pinnacle of Discmen

Thanks Rice, for making me want to spend more cash
Pod-Lover runs to check his closet again
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post #122 of 292
4/29/03 at 11:18pm
Rice,

Quote:
Well, as a headphone fan, the only standard of judge a discman is good or not is the sound quanlity when their headphone output driven hifi headphone.
I used to have similar view like you, but you just can't ignore the player with exceptional line out quality like Sony D-555, D-311, D-515, and especially D-303.

Quote:
I don't think D303 and D515's lineout is the best. D303's lineout is as weak as its headphone output, esp. in the bass range. I think the elder the discman, the better the sound quility. d-100 is my favorite, it was produced in 1985, much earlier than D303/555/515/311, and its sound quality wonderful.
My impression on D303 and D-515 is not the same as you. I firmly believe that D-303's line out has outstanding details. I have discussed this topic with Hirsch, a moderator here at Headfi, and we agreed that D-303 has the best line out out of any portable discmans in his posession. He has Denon DCP-150, D-303, D-25S, Optimus CD-3400. Again, I purely enjoy the D-303 with its line out through my Meta42 and CD3K. I agree with you that the D-303 can't drive Senn HD-580 via the line out...but you can't ignore its amazing details, wide soundstage, great clarity, and its accurate bass.


Quote:
The produce date of D-777 and d-905 are so late that, their sound quanlity is not very good. In Chinese forum, some guy ague this question for a long time and they do not compromise now.
Again, my D-E905 and D-777 sounds great with my CD3K, Koss KSC-35, and Sony MDR-E484. I especially love the D-E905. I can go ampless with CD3k and D-E905 anytime.

Quote:
The favorite discman in chinese forum is d-z555, because d-z555's sound quanlity is very good and it is relatively easy to find in China last year. But I don't like it for its weak headphone output.
How much D-555 command in China? I agree with you that D-Z555 is one of the best ever Discman. Do you listen to your Discman with DSP or Bassboost on?


Purk
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post #123 of 292
4/29/03 at 11:25pm
Duncan,

Quote:
Purk,

The biggest distraction of the E905 (to my ears) is that it doesn't have the 'auto-eq' function of the D777... so when things get loud, the headphone out loses control a little... making things sound sharp ~ that is the only reason that I marked it below the D777... If it had a similar system, to my ears the E905 would better the D777 hands down

Duncan
I feel that D-E905/900 has better clarity, soundstage, and high than the D-777. Although these two share similar chasis, they do differ a lot in their headphone out characteristic. D-777 sounds darker, more liquid, and more intimate (smaller soundstage effect). I believe this is up to one preference. IMHO, both Discmen are at the top of a real portable device.


Purk
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post #124 of 292
4/29/03 at 11:38pm
Quote:
Originally posted by purk
I have discussed this topic with Hirsch, a moderator here at Headfi, and we agreed that D-303 has the best line out out of any portable discmans in his posession. He has Denon DCP-150, D-303, D-25S, Optimus CD-3400.
I don't have the D-25S, but I do have the rest. IMO the D-303 has the best line out of the Sony's I've heard. However, I think the DCP-150 edges it out (I recently lubricated the DCP-150, which apparently needed it). Close, though. I liked the D-555, but couldn't justify keeping it while I had the D-303 and DCP-150. I'd never use it.

There are a lot of older Sony's I've never heard.
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post #125 of 292
4/29/03 at 11:50pm
hirsch,
thanks for clarifying my statement.
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post #126 of 292
4/30/03 at 1:25am
can't wait to go home to my beloved cd3k's.
Quote:
Originally posted by purk
I especially love the D-E905. I can go ampless with CD3k and D-E905 anytime.
bullseye there, purk. soundstage as wide as the universe from a portable.
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post #127 of 292
4/30/03 at 2:05am
Thread Starter 
Convince me to get a D303 then...

...The line out, how much better is it than the D311s?

Purk,

I agree, it is probably down to personal listening preference why our opinions differ, they are basically the same, just that I am maybe seeing things from a darker perspective
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post #128 of 292
4/30/03 at 2:06am
Purk,


Quote:
Originally posted by purk

My impression on D303 and D-515 is not the same as you. I firmly believe that D-303's line out has outstanding details. I have discussed this topic with Hirsch, a moderator here at Headfi, and we agreed that D-303 has the best line out out of any portable discmans in his posession. He has Denon DCP-150, D-303, D-25S, Optimus CD-3400. Again, I purely enjoy the D-303 with its line out through my Meta42 and CD3K. I agree with you that the D-303 can't drive Senn HD-580 via the line out...but you can't ignore its amazing details, wide soundstage, great clarity, and its accurate bass.
Although I rarely use discman/headamp/headphones system listenning music, I tested D303/250/150/55T's lineout 2 years ago. D303's line output is much more powerful than the others. When D303 system (Discman/headamp/headphone) compared with the others, the volume is much higher than the others. It is the high volume deceive you, which gives you an illusion that D303's line out is better. In fact, I guess that D303's lineout is directly connected to the headphone-out (fixup somewhere in volume control), that will increase distortion.


Quote:
Originally posted by purk
Rice,

How much D-555 command in China? I agree with you that D-Z555 is one of the best ever Discman.
D-Z555's price: about 100$

Quote:
Originally posted by purk


Do you listen to your Discman with DSP or Bassboost on?
Never.


Nice to talk with you.

Rice
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post #129 of 292
4/30/03 at 2:30am
... Someone's gotta find me a D-E900/905 to compare between my D-777 and the D-E900/905, then....

Is there any difference between the E900 and E905?.. {yeah.. I could look it up.. but.. that's too much work with homework to be done }
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post #130 of 292
4/30/03 at 2:35am
Quote:
Originally posted by Rice
D-Z555's price: about 100$
Rice, can you get one for me? I'm willing to pay plus FedEx charges, etc.

Duncan, I think Purk mentioned someweher that the D-303 and D-311 has almost identical sound qualities thru the line-out. As to what extent, I'm not sure. Purk, more points would be great. In fact, I think you ranked both of these units to be almost identical in both outs. Any changes?

vwap, they're just model numbers. the e900 is the japanese release. e905 is international (or europe?). same unit. just like D-25 (D-250 for Japan).
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post #131 of 292
4/30/03 at 2:41am
Quote:
Originally posted by Tina
Rice, can you get one for me? I'm willing to pay plus FedEx charges, etc.
Sorry, I can't. D-z555 can be find much more easily in Hongkang or Guangzhou. I live in Tianjin, about 2,000 miles away from Guangdong province.
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post #132 of 292
4/30/03 at 4:06am
Thread Starter 
I will re-evaluate the D777 and D-E905 sometime soon, and if I find there to be a suitable difference from my initial findings, then i'll amend my review

vwap... the only difference between the two players is... One has a 0 on the end of the model number, and the other has a 5

As Tina says, they're both the same, just for different markets (although why such a small model number difference is beyond me )
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post #133 of 292
4/30/03 at 2:11pm
Quote:
Originally posted by Duncan
I will re-evaluate the D777 and D-E905 sometime soon, and if I find there to be a suitable difference from my initial findings, then i'll amend my review
cant wait for that, duncan. dont know what's its gonna be but just want to say again that the time you're spending for this is really commendable.

saludos!!!
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post #134 of 292
4/30/03 at 2:23pm
Quote:
Originally posted by Rice
Although I rarely use discman/headamp/headphones system listenning music, I tested D303/250/150/55T's lineout 2 years ago. D303's line output is much more powerful than the others. When D303 system (Discman/headamp/headphone) compared with the others, the volume is much higher than the others. It is the high volume deceive you, which gives you an illusion that D303's line out is better. In fact, I guess that D303's lineout is directly connected to the headphone-out (fixup somewhere in volume control), that will increase distortion.
The D-303 has a very clean and detailed line output. I've used it a lot recently. Superior to the D-555 and D-777, IMO, but not quite at the level of the Denon DCP-150. It's definitely not a volume issue. The D-303 is one of the least distorted pcdp's I've heard.
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post #135 of 292
4/30/03 at 2:27pm
Anyone else think the D-303 is dark sounding? I agree that the bass goes deep and the soundstage is wide but the overall sound is just too dark for me.
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