PDVDP for audio --> worth a look (maybe)!

Hello,

After seeing some of the requests for PDVDP info and thoughts, I decided to take a closer look at the audio performance of a couple of PDVDP and post some impressions. The Sony EX71 earplugs were used in all cases. The players evaluated/compared were the Sony D-555, Toshiba SD-P2000, Toshiba SD-P1000, Sony D-EJ2000. The Toshiba units are the PDVDP.

Sony D-555: The standard by which the others were judged. Absolutely the best sound of the compared units. Extraordinary frequency range and depth. Incredible low level detail. Only real minus to the sound is the "Bass Boost" circuit's tendency to distort with some recorded material.

Sony D-EJ2000: Good overall sound. Balanced highs and lows. Somewhat hampered by some loss of low level detail. Does well in RightMark tests. The 1st bass boost level is OK but the 2nd level is just way too much.

Toshiba SD-P2000: Good overall sound. Balanced highs and lows. Has better low level detail than the D-EJ2000 but not as good as the D-555. Low level hiss (not too bad though) hurts the sound on this one. Have not run a RightMark test on this unit but I suspect it would test well -- maybe a good as the D-EJ2000. Has added bonus of playing DVD-A discs (2 channel). No real tonal controls. Has a dialogue enhancer and a 3-D pseudo surround effect. None of these enhancements recommended for music. Can play fairly loud through headphones. If this player had bass/treble control, it would be a real contender. DVD video quality good but not great.

Toshiba SD-P1000: OK sound. Decent highs but the bass (as confirmed by RightMark tests) is a bit lacking. Still, this unit has better low level detail than the D-EJ2000. Disc operation noises clearly heard through the earplugs. Has 3-D pseudo surround effects. Not good for music. Can play fairly loud. Worst sound of the four. DVD video quality outstanding.

Rankings:

Freq resp: D-555, D-EJ2000, SD-P2000, SD-P1000
Distortion: D-555, D-EJ2000, SD-P2000, SD-P1000
Detail: D-555, SD-P2000, SD-P1000, D-EJ2000
Noise: D-555, D-EJ2000, SD-P2000, SD-P1000

A comment on the detail. I suspect the D-EJ2000 is hurt by the use of tantalum electrolytic headphone coupling capacitors. When repairing my D-555 a few months ago, I tried tantalums and did not like them AT ALL. The detail missing on the D-EJ2000 headphone outputs is heard in the line out. Therefore, I think tantalum headphone coupling capacitors are BAD NEWS. While using tantalums can lead to a smaller, thinner player, the headphone outputs are not the place to use them.

While the D-555 is the clear sonic winner, the D-EJ2000 and the SD-P2000 are neck and neck overall. SD-P2000 might be just a bit better. The SD-P1000 trails the others by a good margin.

Will run RightMark tests on the SD-P2000 and will try again to run them on the D-555.

Best regards,

Paul

I have not opened up the D-EJ2000 so I cannot state for certain but if the D-EJ1000 is any indication, I would say it would be extremely difficult. One bright spot is that the D-EJ2000 uses one battery, so there *might* be a little extra room to fly some leads onto the board and mount some electrolytics somewehere.

I may investigate it.

Not for the test. To keep headphone debates from starting the same ones were used for all of the players.

Incorrect. The headphones are sufficient for the test. Headphones are not being evaluated, the players are.