This is the highly-acclaimed SONY DVP-9000ES CD/SACD/DVD player with the even more acclaimed Vacuum State (by the late Allen Wright) Level 6 modifications. These mods cost CHF2,200 in 2007, and this unit remains just too good to not be used. All in all, this is an incredibly good-sounding unit, as the reviews attest. It has taken me until now to find a player to actually warrant replacing it. Before reading on, take a look at the reviews here:
https://positive-feedback.com/Issue23/vsei_sony9000.htm
https://positive-feedback.com/Issue39/vsei.htm In the last 10 years I have tried a few, including a Krell SACD standard - but none beat it sufficiently to warrant purchse. And even the Krell had a $50 cheap disc transport.
The player is one of the SONY ES range, and enormously well made. It was made in 2001. The modifications by VSEI (made in 2007) include:
1. An entirely new clock for CD/SACD
2. An analog filter and output circuit using discrete components
3. Individual toroidal transformers and PSU circuits for each of 1 and 2
4. Some modifications to mains filtering and grounding. Please note that he pictures (aside the exterior ones, taken today) were taken during the modification process, so may not show wiring 100% complete! The VSEI output is available on a set of solid silver RCA sockets, replacing two of the original SONY ones. The existing SONY audio output remains available on RCA sockets. See pictures. Note that due to elimination (by-passing) of the original audio output parts of the stock unit, the output level is noticeably decreased—by about 10dB. As a result, the gain or volume control on your preamplifier or receiver will need to be turned-up higher than usual. These units suffer from wear in the laser assembly over time - this unit has benefitted from a new laser and sled assembly in the last five years. Aside one RBCD I have which is made from black plastic and won't read on anything aside my PC, it is 100% reliable on CD On SACD it occasionally refused to read a disc (about 1 in 30) and similarly occasionally it would only read the RB layer of a Hybrid disc. I have run through the SONY recalibration procedure and it currently reads all SACDs correctly. HOWEVER, you need to be aware (and you probably are if you have got this far) that these units eventually need laser replacements. The one done to date was an OE SONY one, but I do not believe you can buy them any longer - only inferior Chinese copies are available. The laser is a KHM-220AAA if you wish to search - what you want is a NOS SONY part ideally. Please note that collection is preferred. If you wish to ship it, you must pay for and arrange shipping, plus any additional boxing other than the original SONY box. Remote included, and I can email you a copy of the SONY Service Manual. Recalibration and other self-testing is done using this and a TV attached to the SCART socket (as it is of course a DVD player!). I note advice about people with single posts. This is my one and only post on AA - simply as I've bought a replacement and wish to sell this and not leave it in the loft in a box. Please ask any questions that you think of!
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