Sony Playstation 1... this is not a joke

[drew8mc]

The original Sony playstation (1001 model) is an excellent CD player. I was turned on to this by a review of an entire system reviewed at 6moons.

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/leben2/system.html

I picked one up on ebay for 40 bucks and it really has no right to sound this good. It has quite a big bold sound. Good dynamics. A warmish midrange. I have not had a chance to compare it to my Raysonic CD-128, but I have a feeling it wouldn't be embarassed.

 

[tom10167]

And I quote.

Ugh....I am trying so hard to resist the urge to scream. Completely moronic.

PS1's are sub-par CD players, pure and simple. It's not hard or expensive to get a CD player to output decent sound. Flat response, low distortion, bandwith easily covering the audible spectrum. PS1's really don't even do that...which is probably why idiot subjectivist audiophiles like them. Because it really actually does sound different! (It's worse.) Their audio output circuitry just was too cheaply done. The PS2 was actually a big improvement and sounds pretty much like a CD player should sound like.

It was really great with the part about the one model having the RCA output jacks so that they can use their "audiophile" cables.

I should sell this guy a special "audiophile PS1 stand" that eliminates unwanted vibrations and stray electromagnetic fields to improve performance for an outrageous amount of money.

Heheh....oh, and they sound best when you leave them on all the time.....HAHAHAHA....

"Before I started my listening tests, Michael had a warning for me: "Plug in the units — turn ‘em on — and don’t turn them off." It seems the PlayStations sound best when left on all the time. Michael was right. You shouldn’t even listen for the first three days. Both units need every second of the break-in period."

Apparently it takes three days for the self-induced brainwashing to sink in.

 

[koob]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom10167 /img/forum/go_quote.gif PS1's are sub-par CD players, pure and simple.

Clearly you've got your directional interconnects on backwards. Have you tried upgrading the power cord on the PS1? Completely opens up the soundstage, where before it was greenish-gray around the instruments it is now pitch-black. You can hear where each musician was sitting and what kind of stool they were sitting on.

 

[drew8mc]

Of course it's made with cheap parts. I expect nothing less from Sony. The truth is I don't care. For 40 bucks there's nothing else that can touch it. Mass market DVD players sound way worse.

When's the last time you listened to one?

 

[Filburt]

An AK4309 w/ NJM2100 and a basic transport will give, I guess, decent sound but nothing particularly spectacular in my experience. I never found the PSX1 to give particularly superlative performance. The NJM2100 is a basic quality op-amp that has been popular in consumer electronics since the 1980s (including famous PCDPs such as the Sony D-303). It's alright, but that combination isn't something I'd be out raving about.

 

[spritzer]

It is a great cd player for people that do not have their heads up their collective asses. Bypass the output stage and it gets even better. Put in a linear PSU and it goes to a whole new level. Sure it's made from cheap parts and it will never challenge the Meridian G08 but fully modded with V-caps and silver wire it will cost 500$. It isn't bright and edgy light most budget players and it is very musical with great detail and clarity. It's the perfect partner to the Stax Lambda.

 

[drew8mc]

Quote:

Originally Posted by spritzer /img/forum/go_quote.gif It is a great cd player for people that do not have their heads up their collective asses. Bypass the output stage and it gets even better. Put in a linear PSU and it goes to a whole new level. Sure it's made from cheap parts and it will never challenge the Meridian G08 but fully modded with V-caps and silver wire it will cost 500$. It isn't bright and edgy light most budget players and it is very musical with great detail and clarity. It's the perfect partner to the Stax Lambda.

I think you've got it exactly right. It's not edgy at all. For cheap digital, that's all I need. I wondered about modding it, but I've never attempted anything of the sort. My only thought was to somehow get a better power cord and better rca jacks.

 

[tom10167]

I was quoting another source, just thought it was interesting is all.

 

[euclid]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom10167 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I was quoting another source, just thought it was interesting is all.

thanks for the info, this cropped up sometime in late 2005 as well and i tested it against Meridian 596 and the PS-1 failed miserably, maybe it would do better against something entry level, but yeah the PS-1 is basically free and the RCA-out is a nice touch.

 

[drew8mc]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom10167 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I was quoting another source, just thought it was interesting is all.

Oh. I couldn't tell if the quote stopped and some of it was you.

I think the whole subjectivist vs objectivist arguments are hilarious. I'm a total subjectivist. If I'm pleased, then I'm pleased. Even if it's all phsycological, who cares. Objectivists are hell bent on proof. I could care less about proof.

 

[Sherwood]

Straight up -- if you're pleased, then you're peased. I wonder how much of that pleasure is derived from sharing collective experiences, though. Would you have stumbled upon the PS1 at a garage sale and given it the time of day?

 

[drew8mc]

No way. I wouldn't have given it a second thought. It makes me think though. Someone obviously did look at that thing and go "Hmmm. I wonder".

 

[GreatDane]

Here's an old thread about this subject, in case anyone wants to read more.

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showth...ht=playstation

 

[newguru]

I hear 6moons is doing a review on how great the Sony Cassette Walkmans from the early '80's are next!

 

[tom10167]

Ahaha! I just went and looked and Sho nuff! I'm going out to dinner with my mommy now but when I get back:

PS1-1001(Flipped upside down of course)
Monstercables
Harman Kardon HK-3480
Shure E500-PTH for some testing.

Anyone know if this amp has a 'good' headphone jack or not? I remember reading that most amps didn't do ____________ and as a result headphones didn't sound too good through the jack.