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Headphoneus Supremus
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Nice read markl, you made some excellent points. In fact, check out the poll your observations and opinions motivated me to do in the source component section.
Sony SCD-C555ES Hot Rod: sacdmods.com Mods Impressions/Review
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M_Anker
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A few points:
Quote:
This is a very interesting point. Sony's series of multichannel, audio-only, SACD players all use the same laser assembly and transport. Your $2500+ XA777ES shares the same transport with the C555ES, C222ES, CE775, XE670. So if the XA777ES has a great transport, then the lower priced changer models do, too, because it is the same piece of hardware. There is nothing wrong with changers. I used to think that singles were better, too, but the lowly CE775 changed my mind. The only way you're going to get a better transport is to go to a SCD-1.
Quote:
Hit MENU on player front. Turn the AMS knob until MCH/2CH SELECT appears. Push in the AMS knob to select this option. Turn the knob until 2CH appears and push in to select. Hit MENU until options go away. The player will then default to stereo.
Quote:
The player does not upsample. Rather, it oversamples. The PCM1738 oversamples the signal by 8 times (8 x 44,100) before sending it through the digital filters. This prevents the filters from doing further damage. Upsampling is little more than a gimmick in my opinion, the computer cannot add more information or produce an accurate interpolation in real time. You cannot add information that has already been lost in the AD conversion process, so every other trick like up- and over- sampling is just damage control.
The LClock does not effect the sampling rate or clock speed. It is simply an accurate timing source for the data stream. The signal better be accurate because a lot can go wrong if there is a minute amount of jitter in something working at 11.2896MHz. All that harshness we associate with digital is nothing more than data loss.
Quote:
| IMO, the only difference between single-disc and 5-disc changers is the platter mechanism, not the "transport" itself. Both 5-disc changers and single-disc units have a platter that loads the disc onto the spindle to be read by a laser. To me, it makes no difference if the platter holds 5 discs or one, it simply isn't involved in what we consider the "transport" beyond holding and loading the disc. |
This is a very interesting point. Sony's series of multichannel, audio-only, SACD players all use the same laser assembly and transport. Your $2500+ XA777ES shares the same transport with the C555ES, C222ES, CE775, XE670. So if the XA777ES has a great transport, then the lower priced changer models do, too, because it is the same piece of hardware. There is nothing wrong with changers. I used to think that singles were better, too, but the lowly CE775 changed my mind. The only way you're going to get a better transport is to go to a SCD-1.
Quote:
| Really, the player (in a headphone system, at least) seems to have only one quirk that I've come across so far, and that is the fact that it automatically defaults to the multi-channel layer when it senses a multi-channel SACD. |
Hit MENU on player front. Turn the AMS knob until MCH/2CH SELECT appears. Push in the AMS knob to select this option. Turn the knob until 2CH appears and push in to select. Hit MENU until options go away. The player will then default to stereo.
Quote:
| Although the 555ES has 24-bit DACs inside, there is no definitive answer I have found to the question of whether or not it "upsamples" old Redbook CDs. However, if upsampling is simply re-clocking the signal at a much higher, more precise rate, then it could be argued that the LC Audio X02 Clock which is a standard part of Anker's mod, performs a somewhat similar function (although it's primary purpose is to reduce digital "jitter" and errors). |
The player does not upsample. Rather, it oversamples. The PCM1738 oversamples the signal by 8 times (8 x 44,100) before sending it through the digital filters. This prevents the filters from doing further damage. Upsampling is little more than a gimmick in my opinion, the computer cannot add more information or produce an accurate interpolation in real time. You cannot add information that has already been lost in the AD conversion process, so every other trick like up- and over- sampling is just damage control.
The LClock does not effect the sampling rate or clock speed. It is simply an accurate timing source for the data stream. The signal better be accurate because a lot can go wrong if there is a minute amount of jitter in something working at 11.2896MHz. All that harshness we associate with digital is nothing more than data loss.
Gallaine
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Quote:
Yes, I will be getting both the regular mod's and the clock mod. I decided to stick with the 333ES mainly because of cost. If I went the 555ES route I'd have to sell my old one, buy a new one, and then have the mods done. There is also the issue of availability of the 555ES since I wouldn't be ready to purchase for a couple of more months. All things considered it seemed better for me to stick with my current player. I'll admit though that the 555ES sure is tempting...
| Originally posted by markl Hi gallaine, ... Note, I never got the clock mod on the 333ES, I only had the analog section parts upgrade and Bybee filters. Clock mod is said to be best bang for the buck mod, are you getting that as well as the regular mods? Gotta go, be back in the AM. Mark |
Yes, I will be getting both the regular mod's and the clock mod. I decided to stick with the 333ES mainly because of cost. If I went the 555ES route I'd have to sell my old one, buy a new one, and then have the mods done. There is also the issue of availability of the 555ES since I wouldn't be ready to purchase for a couple of more months. All things considered it seemed better for me to stick with my current player. I'll admit though that the 555ES sure is tempting...
markl
Hangin' with the monkeys.
Member of the Trade: Lawton Audio
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Sony 555ES Hot Review Part 2
OK, here's Part 2 (the final installment, I promise!). BTW, I wouldn't spend so much time describing this beast if I didn't really like it.
Musical Preferences, Headphone Listening Style, Preferred Volume Level
I also forgot to list some important things about myself, to show my biases.
Here's my musical prefrences:
"Rock"/”Pop”-- some alternative rock, some classic rock, some punk, some electronic, some 60's soul, some singer-songwriters, some folk, some blues, and some country. Expanding into jazz and classical.
My "headphone listening style" is typically eyes closed, focused solely on the music, kicking back in the big comfy chair with the occasional cat in the lap.
My preferred volume level is what I would label "above average", but not outrageous or potentially harmful, or to cause ringing.
Burn-In
Conventional wisdom on the Sony SACDPs is that they have a much longer than average burn-in time, in some cases up to 500 hours to reach its full potential. I have about 300 hours so far, but I'm certain I'm at least 90% of the way there, only very small marginal gains ahead.
This player went through a slightly "awkward" phase from about 75 hours to 150 hours. It was very hard to place what was "off" from the early WOW performance, but I could sense a disturbance in the force.
But I was also rolling power cords during this period, so that may account for some of it, but it seemed to persist no matter what cord was in place. Anyway, this has since cleared up and its smooth sailing. Point is, be prepared for a little bit of awkwardness during break-in.
Power Cord Rolling
For the extra $40 it costs you to get the IEC receptacle put on the 555ES, I feel it is ESSENTIAL that you do so. I used to draw the line at fancy powercords (it just didn't make sense that they could be effective) until I actually tried a Virtual Dynamics Power 3 on my Modwright mod-ed Sony 333ES. For $75 bucks I thought what the hell. Well I was STUNNED by how much of a boost the Power 3 gave my 333ES, by far the biggest bang for the buck tweak I had ever experienced to that time. However, I also discovered over time that this WOW effect did not translate to every piece of gear I put a VD cord on. There were gains to be had, but not to the same degree that took my breath away when I put the Power 3 on the 333ES.
"Conventional wisdom" on power cords is "put your best one on your source". My experiennce seems to mesh with this advice. In my case, these two similar Sony players, the 333ES and the 555ES, seem to be especially sensitive to power cord swapping. In other words, there is a lot of extra upside to these players with *the right* aftermarket power cord. IMO, the Anker mod or any other source mod is incomplete without the ability to add a better power cable. You will be missing out on a lot that your $1200 new source is capable of.
However, this extra sensitivity of the 333ES/555ES to power cords is both a blessing and a curse. You'll really get to hear the "sound" of your power cord through the Hot Rod, so choose wisely. In my small sample of brands I tried on the 555ES, Zu Cable, KAS Audio, Virtual Dynamics, it was really no contest. (As for the Zu Cable BoK, just stay away-- YUCK!)
Without the Virtual Dynamics cable in line, electric guitars, for example, lose some of their "edginess", "crunch", and "electricity" and cajones. The Virtual Dynamics Power 2 is not as "clean" as the KAS Audio Primus, but it's more "exciting" and forceful up top with slightly better soundstaging capabilities and slightly fuller bass. The KAS Primus, though, has found a very synergistic partner in the Emmeline HR-2 Headamp, a really nice combo I'm keeping her!
I'm betting that the new version of the VD Power 1 with Speed of Light technology that I have coming will be about optimal in price/performance curve for the VD line. I've owned a VD Nite power cord and a Signature power cord. In my experience, these cables were definitely better than the Power 3 or the Power 2 I have now, but not better enough to fully justify the cost. The VD cables have a basic "house" sound that extends from their power cables to their ICs, the higher up the line you go, the more of the "VD Effect" you get along with added refinement and cleanliness.
So, based on this small sample, I'd vote for the VD cables as the best compliment to the 555ES Hot Rod. VD makes a lot of frankly "wacky" claims about their products that can be a turn off, yet in my experience, for whatever reason, these cables really stand apart from others I've heard, and I keep coming back to them as a safe harbor after I go out cable-rolling again and get frustrated.
Anyway, one of VD's wacky claims about their power cords is that they can actually reduce the operating temperature of the components they're attached to. They claim to have measured this effect on amplifiers. Whether its due to their lower distortion, greater efficiency, extra bandwidth, or who knows what, they enable components to operate more easily and at a cooler temperature.
You may remember earlier I mentioned some concern about how warm the Sony Hot Rod seemed to be to the touch. It was at a level where it bothered me a *little*, especially when I'm running it for 24 hours in a row in this miserable heatwave. Long story short, I can tell you anecdotally, that the VD Power 2 has subjectively lowered the temperature of the 555ES Hot Rod, just as VD claims. I have not stuck a thermometer in there, but the top of the player is not as hot as it was with the Primus or the BoK attached, the difference is such that I don't even question the result.
So, for all these reasons, I'd say you can't go wrong with a VD cord on the 555ES Hot Rod!
IC Rolling
I'm using VD Reference ICs with Speed of Light these are around $275 used on Audiogon. I love these cables and they make a great companion for the 555ES. It's also possible that they have added synergy with the VD power cord I have on the 555ES. All cable manufacturers will tell you that you should only use their cables throughout your system to maximize mystical "synergy", but of course, they'd say that, wouldn't they???
Well VD says it as well, and these days, I don't feel inclined to argue with them, all their wacky claims seem to bear out in practical experience for me.
Of all the other brands of cables I've tried, the other one that I think would go really well with the Hot Rod are the Voodoo Cables Reference, I wrote about these here a little while ago. At $250 list $150 used, they're the best I've heard at their price point. They do have a forward, slightly edgy sound that emphasizes the upper range, and are especially great with electric guitars.
Amp Rolling
I feel that 555ES Hot Rod has tremedous synergy with the Ray Samuels Emmeline HR-2 headphone amp (see here for my review: http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showt...light=emmeline). At $875, it's a tremedous bargain in headphone amps. With a source as "pure" as the 555ES Hot Rod, you need an amp that can keep up with it, and show you all that it can do. When I say "keep up", I mean literally keep up, you don't want to lose the amazing quickness of the Hot Rod by teaming it with a sluggish lightweight amp. I feel that the Hot Rod is going to ask A LOT of the amp it's hooked up to. Luckily, as I predicted, the HR-2 is definitely up to the challenge of any source I could ever hope to afford. (ray himself uses a very expensive Meridian CDP with his HR-2). Anyway, the HR-2 (with AD797 op-amps) and the 555ES Hot Rod seem to resonate at the exact same frequency, they are in total harmony and mutual agreement.
So the HR-2 is my reco for an amp to match with the 555ES. Things to consider in other possible partners:
1. A solid state amp with even a hint of that icky "transistory" sound just won't cut it with the Hot Rod.
2. You need an amp with an extraordinary signal to noise ratio. A high noise floor will negate a lot of the benefits of upgrading to the 555ES Hot Rod.
3. A prudish amp that prides itself on its "neutrality" (yawn!) will also be a waste.
4. An amp with a wimpy power supply will quickly become a bottleneck on this source.
5. It would take a very special tube amp to fully deliver on the dynamic capabilities of this amp or otherwise make a good match. I don't think the Ear Max Pro would be up to it. I doubt the MGHead is up to it (based on what I've read of this amp), I don't think the so-called "dark" RKV would be the first place to start, either. A Melos would give you *great* tone/timbre and midrange yumminess but you would sacrifice in terms of dynamics, speed and attack. A MicroZOTL would be an interesting option for someone looking to "tame" the Hot Rod a little. But the ZOTL's basic cleanliness and balanced sound should suit the Hot Rod more than adequately. The SinglePower Supra amps might be a very interesting possibility with the Hot Rod, (again, based on what I've read) they seem to be very dynamic tube amps. I know Nightfall has a Cary with something like 70 watts per channel of tubey goodness, I'd have every reason to believe that's going to be a fantastic combo.
Performance on Older CDs, Re-Mastered CDs, and SACD
For some CDs, there's absolutely nothing the Hot Rod can do to save them. Discs from the 80s-early 90s have that "veiled" washed-out sound with low signal to noise ratio that makes them so unlistenable. Well, no CDP no matter how good can "add back" info that simply isn't there in the first place. The 555ES is fully capable of extracting every last drop of sound from your CDs, and as a result, it draws an even bigger distinction between older badly mastered discs and today's better releases. This can be frustrating, as it may make discs that were once tolerable, totally useless. Once you get accustomed to the amazing panoramic full-bodied sounds the 555ES delivers from modern masterings, it makes it that much harder to go back and listen to the older material. OTOH, this player really lets me get the most out of modern re-masters, so it's a bit of a wash in the end.
As I've reported already, the Hot Rod plays back regular CDs better than any of the hi-rez players I've owned in the past play back SACDs/DVD-As. This is not a small revelation. Two weeks later, I'm still getting a "buzz" from the player, a contact high, when I listen to my modern, well-mastered CDs. It's incredibly satisfying for me as I've invested a lot in re-masters to replace older CDs. Now a lot of these re-masters are coming out on SACD, but I feel less of a need to upgrade yet again.
I have now learned to better hear the differences between Redbook and SACD on the Hot Rod. SACD has more body, more midrange richness, more "presence", an even cleaner and less brittle sound, lower noise floor, and silkier, more articulate and easy-going highs. There is slightly larger soundstage width, height and depth on SACDs. All that said, these differences aren't the sort that are night and day.
Re-Mixed and Re-Mastered?
Just like my experience with the Emmeline HR-2 headamp, I found the 555ES seemed to present musical information in a definitive way, making everything sound "new". This can be a bad thing, and disconcerting if the component's take on the presentation is "off"; it can make all your favorite CDs sound not just "new", but "wrong" somehow. Luckily the 555ES Hot Rod re-mixes and re-masters the sound in a way that leaves you no doubt that this is how this recording was INTENDED to be heard. You quickly come to see that the presentation of your other components clearly was compromised and frankly "wrong", although until shown otherwise, you couldn't have known. The 555ES seems to give the DEFINITIVE reading of every track you throw at it, everything holds together beautifully.
The 555ES is a master at taking complex recordings composed of dozens of tracks, instruments, sound effects and presenting EVERYTHING, yet doing it all in proper proportion to one another, all in the service not of gee-whiz technology but *musicality*. To save time, I've copied from my HR-2 review, just replace "HR-2" with "555ES Hot Rod":
Quote:
Again, I feel this sense that everything has been mixed and mastered properly all relates to the ability of the 555ES to draw amazing distinctions between "quiet" and "loud" sounds. Once again, please replace "HR-2" with "555ES Hot Rod":
Quote:
ZERO Sibilance
Almost forgot, one of most remarkable things about the 555ES Hot Rod, is its literal inability to produce sibilance. this is liquid smooth, crystal clear edges to music that just flows effortlessly. LiSSSten to the Ss being sssung in your favorite ssssongsss. ZERO sibilance, NONE. Listen to cymbal hits, hear them hit fast then resolve completely and totally, bashhhhh, crashhhh, splashhhhhh, no earstrain but full impact. No break up, no grit, no hash (unless its there in the recording), just pure sound. Niccccccccce!
Conclusion
OK, I probably have more to say, but I'm getting tired.
I think I have hit most of the important attributes of the 555ES Hot Rod at various points in this thread. Suffice to say, I am very happy with my purchase.
If you are in the market for a $1200-$2000 source, I definitely recommend giving the 555ES Hot Rod some serious considerations. How do I criticize something that's better (sometimes marginally, sometimes incredibly) than every other source I've heard in virtually any aspect I can name? How can I know what this player isn't doing, what it's limits are, when to me it's already doing the impossible with plain vanilla Redbook CDs? If I had lots of experience with $2000-$4000 CDPs in my own system, I could give you a better sense of how it really stacks up to the big boys, and where it falls short and where its ahead. Nevertheless, at roughly $1200 I think it's an absolute steal! If you are coming at this purchase like me, as someone whose experience is with "typical" $1000-$1600 players, the 555ES is a no-brainer.
sacdlover says that his Anker mod-ed Sony 222ES (little brother of the 555ES) is pretty darn close in performance to his 555ES Hot Rod, and I have every reason to believe him. I believe the 222ES can be had for under $400 and Matthew's mods for it are just over $300. I think that particular option would be very attractive indeed for someone who's budget is closer to $700 than it is to $1200. I don't see it listed on his site, but I would ask about having an IEC connection installed so you can power cable-roll the 222ES. Definitely worth investigation!
If people have specific questions about certain aspects of the Hot Rod's sound, that I have not covered, feel free to ask. Cheers.
Mark
OK, here's Part 2 (the final installment, I promise!). BTW, I wouldn't spend so much time describing this beast if I didn't really like it.
Musical Preferences, Headphone Listening Style, Preferred Volume Level
I also forgot to list some important things about myself, to show my biases.
Here's my musical prefrences:
"Rock"/”Pop”-- some alternative rock, some classic rock, some punk, some electronic, some 60's soul, some singer-songwriters, some folk, some blues, and some country. Expanding into jazz and classical.
My "headphone listening style" is typically eyes closed, focused solely on the music, kicking back in the big comfy chair with the occasional cat in the lap.
My preferred volume level is what I would label "above average", but not outrageous or potentially harmful, or to cause ringing.
Burn-In
Conventional wisdom on the Sony SACDPs is that they have a much longer than average burn-in time, in some cases up to 500 hours to reach its full potential. I have about 300 hours so far, but I'm certain I'm at least 90% of the way there, only very small marginal gains ahead.
This player went through a slightly "awkward" phase from about 75 hours to 150 hours. It was very hard to place what was "off" from the early WOW performance, but I could sense a disturbance in the force.
Power Cord Rolling
For the extra $40 it costs you to get the IEC receptacle put on the 555ES, I feel it is ESSENTIAL that you do so. I used to draw the line at fancy powercords (it just didn't make sense that they could be effective) until I actually tried a Virtual Dynamics Power 3 on my Modwright mod-ed Sony 333ES. For $75 bucks I thought what the hell. Well I was STUNNED by how much of a boost the Power 3 gave my 333ES, by far the biggest bang for the buck tweak I had ever experienced to that time. However, I also discovered over time that this WOW effect did not translate to every piece of gear I put a VD cord on. There were gains to be had, but not to the same degree that took my breath away when I put the Power 3 on the 333ES.
"Conventional wisdom" on power cords is "put your best one on your source". My experiennce seems to mesh with this advice. In my case, these two similar Sony players, the 333ES and the 555ES, seem to be especially sensitive to power cord swapping. In other words, there is a lot of extra upside to these players with *the right* aftermarket power cord. IMO, the Anker mod or any other source mod is incomplete without the ability to add a better power cable. You will be missing out on a lot that your $1200 new source is capable of.
However, this extra sensitivity of the 333ES/555ES to power cords is both a blessing and a curse. You'll really get to hear the "sound" of your power cord through the Hot Rod, so choose wisely. In my small sample of brands I tried on the 555ES, Zu Cable, KAS Audio, Virtual Dynamics, it was really no contest. (As for the Zu Cable BoK, just stay away-- YUCK!)
Without the Virtual Dynamics cable in line, electric guitars, for example, lose some of their "edginess", "crunch", and "electricity" and cajones. The Virtual Dynamics Power 2 is not as "clean" as the KAS Audio Primus, but it's more "exciting" and forceful up top with slightly better soundstaging capabilities and slightly fuller bass. The KAS Primus, though, has found a very synergistic partner in the Emmeline HR-2 Headamp, a really nice combo I'm keeping her!
I'm betting that the new version of the VD Power 1 with Speed of Light technology that I have coming will be about optimal in price/performance curve for the VD line. I've owned a VD Nite power cord and a Signature power cord. In my experience, these cables were definitely better than the Power 3 or the Power 2 I have now, but not better enough to fully justify the cost. The VD cables have a basic "house" sound that extends from their power cables to their ICs, the higher up the line you go, the more of the "VD Effect" you get along with added refinement and cleanliness.
So, based on this small sample, I'd vote for the VD cables as the best compliment to the 555ES Hot Rod. VD makes a lot of frankly "wacky" claims about their products that can be a turn off, yet in my experience, for whatever reason, these cables really stand apart from others I've heard, and I keep coming back to them as a safe harbor after I go out cable-rolling again and get frustrated.
Anyway, one of VD's wacky claims about their power cords is that they can actually reduce the operating temperature of the components they're attached to. They claim to have measured this effect on amplifiers. Whether its due to their lower distortion, greater efficiency, extra bandwidth, or who knows what, they enable components to operate more easily and at a cooler temperature.
You may remember earlier I mentioned some concern about how warm the Sony Hot Rod seemed to be to the touch. It was at a level where it bothered me a *little*, especially when I'm running it for 24 hours in a row in this miserable heatwave. Long story short, I can tell you anecdotally, that the VD Power 2 has subjectively lowered the temperature of the 555ES Hot Rod, just as VD claims. I have not stuck a thermometer in there, but the top of the player is not as hot as it was with the Primus or the BoK attached, the difference is such that I don't even question the result.
So, for all these reasons, I'd say you can't go wrong with a VD cord on the 555ES Hot Rod!
IC Rolling
I'm using VD Reference ICs with Speed of Light these are around $275 used on Audiogon. I love these cables and they make a great companion for the 555ES. It's also possible that they have added synergy with the VD power cord I have on the 555ES. All cable manufacturers will tell you that you should only use their cables throughout your system to maximize mystical "synergy", but of course, they'd say that, wouldn't they???
Of all the other brands of cables I've tried, the other one that I think would go really well with the Hot Rod are the Voodoo Cables Reference, I wrote about these here a little while ago. At $250 list $150 used, they're the best I've heard at their price point. They do have a forward, slightly edgy sound that emphasizes the upper range, and are especially great with electric guitars.
Amp Rolling
I feel that 555ES Hot Rod has tremedous synergy with the Ray Samuels Emmeline HR-2 headphone amp (see here for my review: http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showt...light=emmeline). At $875, it's a tremedous bargain in headphone amps. With a source as "pure" as the 555ES Hot Rod, you need an amp that can keep up with it, and show you all that it can do. When I say "keep up", I mean literally keep up, you don't want to lose the amazing quickness of the Hot Rod by teaming it with a sluggish lightweight amp. I feel that the Hot Rod is going to ask A LOT of the amp it's hooked up to. Luckily, as I predicted, the HR-2 is definitely up to the challenge of any source I could ever hope to afford. (ray himself uses a very expensive Meridian CDP with his HR-2). Anyway, the HR-2 (with AD797 op-amps) and the 555ES Hot Rod seem to resonate at the exact same frequency, they are in total harmony and mutual agreement.
So the HR-2 is my reco for an amp to match with the 555ES. Things to consider in other possible partners:
1. A solid state amp with even a hint of that icky "transistory" sound just won't cut it with the Hot Rod.
2. You need an amp with an extraordinary signal to noise ratio. A high noise floor will negate a lot of the benefits of upgrading to the 555ES Hot Rod.
3. A prudish amp that prides itself on its "neutrality" (yawn!) will also be a waste.
4. An amp with a wimpy power supply will quickly become a bottleneck on this source.
5. It would take a very special tube amp to fully deliver on the dynamic capabilities of this amp or otherwise make a good match. I don't think the Ear Max Pro would be up to it. I doubt the MGHead is up to it (based on what I've read of this amp), I don't think the so-called "dark" RKV would be the first place to start, either. A Melos would give you *great* tone/timbre and midrange yumminess but you would sacrifice in terms of dynamics, speed and attack. A MicroZOTL would be an interesting option for someone looking to "tame" the Hot Rod a little. But the ZOTL's basic cleanliness and balanced sound should suit the Hot Rod more than adequately. The SinglePower Supra amps might be a very interesting possibility with the Hot Rod, (again, based on what I've read) they seem to be very dynamic tube amps. I know Nightfall has a Cary with something like 70 watts per channel of tubey goodness, I'd have every reason to believe that's going to be a fantastic combo.
Performance on Older CDs, Re-Mastered CDs, and SACD
For some CDs, there's absolutely nothing the Hot Rod can do to save them. Discs from the 80s-early 90s have that "veiled" washed-out sound with low signal to noise ratio that makes them so unlistenable. Well, no CDP no matter how good can "add back" info that simply isn't there in the first place. The 555ES is fully capable of extracting every last drop of sound from your CDs, and as a result, it draws an even bigger distinction between older badly mastered discs and today's better releases. This can be frustrating, as it may make discs that were once tolerable, totally useless. Once you get accustomed to the amazing panoramic full-bodied sounds the 555ES delivers from modern masterings, it makes it that much harder to go back and listen to the older material. OTOH, this player really lets me get the most out of modern re-masters, so it's a bit of a wash in the end.
As I've reported already, the Hot Rod plays back regular CDs better than any of the hi-rez players I've owned in the past play back SACDs/DVD-As. This is not a small revelation. Two weeks later, I'm still getting a "buzz" from the player, a contact high, when I listen to my modern, well-mastered CDs. It's incredibly satisfying for me as I've invested a lot in re-masters to replace older CDs. Now a lot of these re-masters are coming out on SACD, but I feel less of a need to upgrade yet again.
I have now learned to better hear the differences between Redbook and SACD on the Hot Rod. SACD has more body, more midrange richness, more "presence", an even cleaner and less brittle sound, lower noise floor, and silkier, more articulate and easy-going highs. There is slightly larger soundstage width, height and depth on SACDs. All that said, these differences aren't the sort that are night and day.
Re-Mixed and Re-Mastered?
Just like my experience with the Emmeline HR-2 headamp, I found the 555ES seemed to present musical information in a definitive way, making everything sound "new". This can be a bad thing, and disconcerting if the component's take on the presentation is "off"; it can make all your favorite CDs sound not just "new", but "wrong" somehow. Luckily the 555ES Hot Rod re-mixes and re-masters the sound in a way that leaves you no doubt that this is how this recording was INTENDED to be heard. You quickly come to see that the presentation of your other components clearly was compromised and frankly "wrong", although until shown otherwise, you couldn't have known. The 555ES seems to give the DEFINITIVE reading of every track you throw at it, everything holds together beautifully.
The 555ES is a master at taking complex recordings composed of dozens of tracks, instruments, sound effects and presenting EVERYTHING, yet doing it all in proper proportion to one another, all in the service not of gee-whiz technology but *musicality*. To save time, I've copied from my HR-2 review, just replace "HR-2" with "555ES Hot Rod":
Quote:
| The more I listened to the HR-2, the more I felt I was hearing the music and the mixes as the artist intended for the first time. I have a weakness for well-recorded rock/pop with great “production values”, and very carefully constructed mixes. I enjoy it when a skilled record-maker uses the tools of his trade to mess with my mind, scare the bejesus out of me, or make me feel like I’m generally stoned and disoriented. I love “trippy” music or albums that have been “psychedelicized” by canny artists/producers, and feel that this type of music is especially suited to headphones. But the problem with these types of recordings is that they are all extremely complex, composed of literally dozens of tracks, instruments, and vocals. The ability to resolve all of that information and present it all in a coherent, well-proportioned fashion so it sounds like actual *music* is no mean feat. With the HR-2, you get to hear these carefully-constructed tracks as they were meant to be heard. It’s almost like hearing your favorite music mixed and mastered properly for the first time. Albums you thought too busy and overproduced, make perfect sense when they’re all held together correctly and given the proper presentation as they are through the HR-2. The Emmeline experience brings me much closer than ever before to replicating the sound of a great speaker system in a real room through the more limited medium of headphones. The HR-2 makes all those scattered tracks, instruments, and sounds cohere into a whole that can be quite awe-inspiring with the right material. I’d call this quality “musicality”. Yeah, saying that a component is “musical” is just about the most vague and useless comment you can make, but there you go. Bottom line is that tracks I used to skip on some CDs I now listen to all the way through. The Emmeline makes it all so appealing, so real, and well, “musical”. In short, the Emmeline reminds you of just how amazing and mysterious the pure experience of sound can be. |
Again, I feel this sense that everything has been mixed and mastered properly all relates to the ability of the 555ES to draw amazing distinctions between "quiet" and "loud" sounds. Once again, please replace "HR-2" with "555ES Hot Rod":
Quote:
| One of the most bizarre attributes of the HR-2 is its seeming suppression of the sound of tape hiss on analog recordings. Where does it go? With The Emmeline, I am much less aware that I’m listening to a recording, and feel more like I’m witnessing an event. Somehow, in the Emmeline’s presentation of this amazing soundfield, tape hiss becomes much less pronounced. It’s like the amp is pulling so much information off the master tape that the small matter of tape hiss is muted somewhat in relation to the music which is blooming all over the place. I suspect this all has to do with the Emmeline’s fantastic ability to distinguish between loud and soft sounds. It doesn’t compact everything into a narrow band, shoring off dynamic peaks and boosting low-level info to a similar plane as the music. I also believe that the ability to play soft sounds soft and loud sounds loud contributes to the sense that everything has been mixed and mastered correctly that I spoke of a moment ago. I think this quality of being able to accurately portray subtle shadings in volume can be as important to good sound reproduction as the ability to reveal subtle shades of tone and timbre, yet is often overlooked. |
ZERO Sibilance
Almost forgot, one of most remarkable things about the 555ES Hot Rod, is its literal inability to produce sibilance. this is liquid smooth, crystal clear edges to music that just flows effortlessly. LiSSSten to the Ss being sssung in your favorite ssssongsss. ZERO sibilance, NONE. Listen to cymbal hits, hear them hit fast then resolve completely and totally, bashhhhh, crashhhh, splashhhhhh, no earstrain but full impact. No break up, no grit, no hash (unless its there in the recording), just pure sound. Niccccccccce!
Conclusion
OK, I probably have more to say, but I'm getting tired.
sacdlover says that his Anker mod-ed Sony 222ES (little brother of the 555ES) is pretty darn close in performance to his 555ES Hot Rod, and I have every reason to believe him. I believe the 222ES can be had for under $400 and Matthew's mods for it are just over $300. I think that particular option would be very attractive indeed for someone who's budget is closer to $700 than it is to $1200. I don't see it listed on his site, but I would ask about having an IEC connection installed so you can power cable-roll the 222ES. Definitely worth investigation!
If people have specific questions about certain aspects of the Hot Rod's sound, that I have not covered, feel free to ask. Cheers.
Mark
markl
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Matthew, thanks for the corrections/elaborations particularly regarding what the clock does and does not do.
Gallaine,
With the Superclock 2 and the mods to the analog section Kern does, you're a lot of the way closer to what Matthew does to the 555ES. I'm sure it will be a major upgrade for the 333ES. Please let us know how it sounds! Cheers.
Mark
Gallaine,
With the Superclock 2 and the mods to the analog section Kern does, you're a lot of the way closer to what Matthew does to the 555ES. I'm sure it will be a major upgrade for the 333ES. Please let us know how it sounds! Cheers.
Mark
Nightfall
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I just finally received my 555ES Hot Rod last night from UPS. I certainly dont want to be classified as one of those people who immediately just babble incoherently about how great and amazing ANY new piece of equipment they get is, so I will give it sufficient time before I post any serious comments. However...........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!
JC
JC
dd3mon
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My wallet totally fears your upcoming impressions...
On the other hand, I can't wait to hear!
-dd3mon
On the other hand, I can't wait to hear!
-dd3mon
markl
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He he, methinks he likes it!
Congrats, JC, I knew it would work out! Good news is that the "WOW" effect you get from your first listening session continues, it's still going strong for me two and a half weeks later. Can't wait for your impressions. Cheers.
Further update from me, I received the new version of the VD Power 1 on Monday, and put it on my Hot Rod, and indeed it is a step up from the Power 2. The new Power 1 is by far the lightest and most flexible of the VD power cords, so that is definitely a plus. This is my first VD power cord with Speed of Light and I can tell you the new Power 1 is very fast indeed, plus it has increased treble response, yet maintains a very light almost "delicate" touch upstairs. It leans to the warm side of neutral so tone is very pleasing to the ear. In terms of bass response, I'd say it falls slightly behind the Power 2. Soundstaging is also *slightly* better on the Power 2, but otherwise, they both maintain the signature "VD sound".
In the end, I am selling both these excellent cables (check the For Sale forum here), and upgrading to the Virtual Dynamics Reference power cord, which is two steps above the new Power 1 in the Virtual Dynamics line. I should get it Fri. I'll post some thoughts later after burn-in.
Mark
Further update from me, I received the new version of the VD Power 1 on Monday, and put it on my Hot Rod, and indeed it is a step up from the Power 2. The new Power 1 is by far the lightest and most flexible of the VD power cords, so that is definitely a plus. This is my first VD power cord with Speed of Light and I can tell you the new Power 1 is very fast indeed, plus it has increased treble response, yet maintains a very light almost "delicate" touch upstairs. It leans to the warm side of neutral so tone is very pleasing to the ear. In terms of bass response, I'd say it falls slightly behind the Power 2. Soundstaging is also *slightly* better on the Power 2, but otherwise, they both maintain the signature "VD sound".
In the end, I am selling both these excellent cables (check the For Sale forum here), and upgrading to the Virtual Dynamics Reference power cord, which is two steps above the new Power 1 in the Virtual Dynamics line. I should get it Fri. I'll post some thoughts later after burn-in.
Mark
markl
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So, JC, how's it going with the 555ES Hot Rod? Dieing to get your thoughts.
Quick follow-up from me. After about 3 days with the Virtual Dynamics Reference power cable with Speed of Light, it's plain that the 555ES likes this cable best of all. The Reference is a very balanced cable, maybe not quite as much high-frequency extension and energy as the Power 1, but with a very solid foundation, phenomenal bass, and more midrange "presence". Where the VD Reference excels most over the Power 1 and the Power 2 is in the midrange, which isn't as warm as the power 1, but has better clarity/resolution and inner detail retrieval. This is most noticeable on vocals where you seldom have to strain to make out what the singer is singing no matter how far down in the mix he may be buried. All in all, a very coherent, balanced yet powerful sound, with the classic VD soundstaging abilities.
I also want to add that I tried the KAS Audio Primus again on the 555ES, and this time around I was more impressed with the sound, this is indeed a fine cable. Perhaps it had opened up a bit due to further break-in, or I had the chance for more psychological burn-in to occur, but I felt this time the cable has a lot to offer. Hard to describe the sound because as KAS Audio claims, it is indeed *very* neutral, but not the bland vanilla "neutral" that will leave you yawning. Good stuff, and just fantastic with the Ray Samuels HR-2, but the VD Reference just makes the 555ES sing.
Having now tried virtually every power cable VD makes, I am convinced that the Reference is the peak of price/performance in their line. On the downside, it's a lot heavier, stiffer and bulkier than the over-achieving Power 1; you will need between 6-7 inches clearance behind your component and the wall to make it bend at a right angle, unlike the Power 1 which is very flexible and requires only 3-4 inches of clearance.
Mark
Quick follow-up from me. After about 3 days with the Virtual Dynamics Reference power cable with Speed of Light, it's plain that the 555ES likes this cable best of all. The Reference is a very balanced cable, maybe not quite as much high-frequency extension and energy as the Power 1, but with a very solid foundation, phenomenal bass, and more midrange "presence". Where the VD Reference excels most over the Power 1 and the Power 2 is in the midrange, which isn't as warm as the power 1, but has better clarity/resolution and inner detail retrieval. This is most noticeable on vocals where you seldom have to strain to make out what the singer is singing no matter how far down in the mix he may be buried. All in all, a very coherent, balanced yet powerful sound, with the classic VD soundstaging abilities.
I also want to add that I tried the KAS Audio Primus again on the 555ES, and this time around I was more impressed with the sound, this is indeed a fine cable. Perhaps it had opened up a bit due to further break-in, or I had the chance for more psychological burn-in to occur, but I felt this time the cable has a lot to offer. Hard to describe the sound because as KAS Audio claims, it is indeed *very* neutral, but not the bland vanilla "neutral" that will leave you yawning. Good stuff, and just fantastic with the Ray Samuels HR-2, but the VD Reference just makes the 555ES sing.
Having now tried virtually every power cable VD makes, I am convinced that the Reference is the peak of price/performance in their line. On the downside, it's a lot heavier, stiffer and bulkier than the over-achieving Power 1; you will need between 6-7 inches clearance behind your component and the wall to make it bend at a right angle, unlike the Power 1 which is very flexible and requires only 3-4 inches of clearance.
Mark
meech
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Hey Markl,
Have you ever considered trying the VD Nites on your 555?
If I had the $2000 to spend right now, I would get the Hot Rod 555 and used VD Nite power cord. It would be a long time before any of my friends would hear from me again!
Have you ever considered trying the VD Nites on your 555?
If I had the $2000 to spend right now, I would get the Hot Rod 555 and used VD Nite power cord. It would be a long time before any of my friends would hear from me again!
Nightfall
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Quote:
Coming soon, LONG weekend and little time. Sorry for the delay, my impressions will appear sometime this week...........
JC
| Originally posted by markl So, JC, how's it going with the 555ES Hot Rod? Dieing to get your thoughts. Mark |
Coming soon, LONG weekend and little time. Sorry for the delay, my impressions will appear sometime this week...........
JC
markl
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JC,
Looking forward to it.
meech,
I've owned an older version of the Nite power cable, which I sold to help save up for my new source (I was given a used Nite by VD as a thanks for being a good customer, I would not have purchased myself). The Nites are definitely great cables, no two ways about it. But I feel it's overkill for the Sony 555ES Hot Rod, and too expensive for me. You are putting a $1500 cable on a $1600 player, not a great balance, IMO. The Reference provides enough of the Nite's performance and makes more sense for a player on the level of the 555ES Hot Rod to me. The Nite cables should probably be connected to very expensive devices.
Mark
Looking forward to it.
meech,
I've owned an older version of the Nite power cable, which I sold to help save up for my new source (I was given a used Nite by VD as a thanks for being a good customer, I would not have purchased myself). The Nites are definitely great cables, no two ways about it. But I feel it's overkill for the Sony 555ES Hot Rod, and too expensive for me. You are putting a $1500 cable on a $1600 player, not a great balance, IMO. The Reference provides enough of the Nite's performance and makes more sense for a player on the level of the 555ES Hot Rod to me. The Nite cables should probably be connected to very expensive devices.
Mark
bluesaint
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Unless you buy used from Audiogon, it's not worth paying for new Nite's to put on $1500 product as Mark pointed out.
meech
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I don't get it.
The Reference cables are great for it, but the Nites are totally out of the question? Is there that much difference between the two PCs for one to be acceptable and the other one not?
The Reference cables are great for it, but the Nites are totally out of the question? Is there that much difference between the two PCs for one to be acceptable and the other one not?
markl
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meech,
It's all about balance and resources. If one has unlimited resources, of course the Nites are the way to go. But IMO, you start to reach a point of diminishing returns on investment above the Reference. That's my own value judgement, yours might be different.
I sold my VD Signature and Nite power cords after I sat back one day, looked at my system and said: "too much cable, not enough source". I put that money into my new 555ES Hot Rod, which was money very well spent. My system with a better source and "lesser" power cables is a big step up from my system with uber-cables and merely *very good* source.
Mark
It's all about balance and resources. If one has unlimited resources, of course the Nites are the way to go. But IMO, you start to reach a point of diminishing returns on investment above the Reference. That's my own value judgement, yours might be different.
I sold my VD Signature and Nite power cords after I sat back one day, looked at my system and said: "too much cable, not enough source". I put that money into my new 555ES Hot Rod, which was money very well spent. My system with a better source and "lesser" power cables is a big step up from my system with uber-cables and merely *very good* source.
Mark
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