SONY CDP-X555ES

Commentary

ES series CD player equipped with newly developed pulse 8D/A converter and designed for high sound quality.

The D/A converter consists of a high-density linear converter system, a 45-bit noise-shaping digital filter and a pulse D/A converter.

The Pulse D/A converter consists of a current source and an electronic switch. It expresses music waveform by switching two values of 0 and 1 at high speed. By this, the amplitude level is always constant and changes only in the time axis direction. The PLM (Pulse Length Modulation) wave is output. By passing it through a low-pass filter, unwanted high-frequency noise outside the audio band is removed and music waveform is obtained.
To reduce quantization noise in the audible band up to 20 kHz, the pulse D/A converter is equipped with a multi-stage noise shaping operation that employs 64 times oversampling and the Sony Extended Noise Shaping method. Oversampling reduces quantization noise in the audible band by increasing the sampling frequency. Noise shaping reduces quantization noise in the audible band by feeding back the requantization error to the input side when the number of bits is reduced. These technologies ensure a high dynamic range.
The pulse D/A converter operates at 45 mega pulses per second, and it completely eliminates differential non-linear distortion, glitch, and 0 cross distortion, which were difficult with conventional methods.

The newly developed pulse D/A converter has a 4D/A output that outputs positive-phase, negative-phase, and each LR signal.
The ES Series is equipped with two pulse D/A converters in the complimentary service mode, in which two pulse D/A converters are used to produce 8D/A outputs. In the complimentary service mode, two pulse D/A converters are modulated and differentially synthesized so that they are complementary to each other. This mode has the effect of canceling harmonic distortion and improves the distortion factor. In addition, the SN ratio is improved by doubling the output current value.

To take advantage of the pulse D/A converter, the high-density linear converter system is equipped with a 45-bit noise-shaping digital filter in the front stage.
This circuit achieves a high dynamic range by performing a highly accurate oversampling operation and a first order noise-shaping operation on the operation result.

A direct digital sink is included to eliminate jittering issues.
In this system, the master clock is formed on the same chip as the pulse D/A converter, and jitter is eliminated in principle by eliminating jitter immediately before the electronic switch, which is the final stage of the pulse D/A converter.

The analog low-pass filter employs a GIC-type low-pass filter in which passive elements such as capacitors and coils do not enter in series.

Low noise and high stability are achieved by incorporating an RF amplifier in the pickup section.

The digital signal processing LSI uses the fourth generation LSI for the Sony CD player. Previously external RAM has been upgraded to a capacity of 32 kbit and built into the digital signal processing LSI. The precision of the signal processing capability is further enhanced by adopting the strict 6-fold error correction method.

The drive circuit of the optical pickup uses a newly designed fine drive.
This circuit uses a balanced push-pull drive circuit with ± 2 power supply system instead of a single-drive circuit with one side ground in the past. This circuit is separated from the earth by using a balanced push-pull drive circuit with ± 2 power supply system. This eliminates noise current from entering the power supply line and realizes a cleaner optical pickup drive.

The servo circuit is equipped with the S Servo III, which works on out-of-band noise, and the Advanced TS Servo, which works within the servo band.
In the S Servo III, the high-frequency noise component of the servo current is removed with a low-pass filter to supply a smooth servo current, which stabilizes the power supply from the power supply and prevents adverse effects on sound quality.
The Advanced TS Servo reduces the current that is unnecessary for servo operation by nearly 10 dB. In addition, the actuator of the optical pickup is equipped with a newly developed optical pickup to further improve the quietness of the optical system.

A digital CLV servo is installed in the drive system servo circuit that controls disk rotation.
The digital CLV servo detects the rotation of the spindle motor and controls it with 10-bit resolution to maintain an accurate linear velocity regardless of the disk's inner or outer circumference. It also detects the difference in inertial mass between the 12 cm CD and 8 cm CD disks to drive more appropriately.

In order to prevent loss of trace accuracy due to vibration and resonance, a G-base unit is adopted as the base of the optical system mechanism.
The G-base unit is made by adding calcium carbonate, which has the same composition as marbles, to a special resin and strengthening it with glass fiber. By reducing the Kyoshin sharpness, the effect of external vibration is reduced and high rigidity is obtained.

An acoustic shield is mounted on the opening of the front panel where the tray is stored, and a damper made of special rubber material is installed to improve airtightness and reduce the effect of air vibration entering the chassis.
The tray itself uses a high-rigidity G tray made of the same material as the G base unit to prevent unwanted vibrations from being transmitted to the disk.

The FB chassis is used for the chassis structure, and the whole chassis is firmly joined by a frame surrounding the outer circumference and beams passing through the front and rear front and rear to realize a structure resistant to vibration. In addition, the CDP-X555ES uses copper plating inside the chassis to make it nonmagnetic.
Uses fine ceramic insulators for the legs.

The power supply section has a 2-transformer configuration and supplies power independently to the digital servo section and audio section. In addition, a power supply circuit is provided for the D/A converter section to eliminate interference from the power supply.
In addition, rubber dampers are used at four locations to prevent transmission of vibration from the transformer.

Consideration is also been given to the circuit board structure, and interference from the digital part to the analog part is suppressed by the separate sheet structure which separates the digital circuit board and the audio circuit board.
A high-strength glass-epoxy ES board is used for the audio circuit board to prevent degradation of sound quality due to vibration in the board and electrostatic floating capacity.

Aluminum panel is used for the front panel, and side wood is equipped on the side.

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It has a custom edit function and nine functions : peak search, time edit, just edit, program edit, multidisk program, link edit, time fade, variable fade, and manual fader.

In peak search, all songs are searched at high speed, and they are repeatedly played for about 4 seconds before and after the point where the volume level is highest.

Time Edit enables efficient editing of the A-side and B-side when recording tapes.
If you want to edit to fit the length of your tape, use the TIME SET button or AMS button to set the length of the tape (you can also use the direct key to set the length in seconds). Press the Edit button. First, program from the first song for side A. When you encounter a time-over song, select the longest song that fits within the time. Then press the Edit button to edit side B.
Also, if you select and edit a half disk with the AMS button, tracks are distributed so that the A side and B side of the tape are about the same length without changing the order of the songs.

Just Edit is an evolution of Time Edit. It automatically finds and programs the combination of songs closest to the specified time.
You can set the A side and B side at the same time as in Time Edit.

Program Edit allows you to manually edit your favorite songs in any order.
With the AMS key or direct key, you can program your favorite songs in any order while checking the accumulated time. If you turn on Auto Space at this time, you can edit each song by adding a 3-second blank to the playing time. When you press the pause button, you can program the A side and then the B side together.

Multidisk programs allow you to edit across multiple disks.
When you program in program mode and open the tray, the display "MULTI PGM" appears and the program automatically moves to a multi-disc program. You can program up to 6 discs (24 songs). You can also program poses in the middle of the program.

Link Edit allows you to add music to the remaining tapes from Time Edit or Just Edit.
If you have programmed all songs and there is room for more songs within the editing time, the track number of the song to be entered and the LINK display will blink, and you can add a song by reselecting from the songs with the blinking track number.
Link-edit also allows you to swap disks and continue editing.

Time Fade allows you to fade out at a specified time, which can be set with the TIME SET button or the AMS button.

You can set the fade-in / fade-out time for the variable fade from 2 seconds to 10 seconds in units of 1 second.

The manual fader allows you to fade in and fade out at the desired location.

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Equipped with the custom file function, you can take advantage of 6 functions such as disk memo, custom index, program / delete bank, level file, last mode memory and file recall.

Disk Memo can record up to 10 characters per disk, 78 characters including alphanumeric characters, special symbols and blanks.

With a custom index, you can index the disc in your own way wherever you want in the index. You can set up to 10 points per disc and fine-tune it in steps of approximately ± 0.15 seconds.

In the Program / Delete Bank, you can record the settings of a program performance or a 99-track delete play.

The Level File feature lets you set different playback levels for different disks.
You can set the lineout / headphone volume to your desired volume by simply pressing the Level File button. When you insert the same disc, it is automatically set to the stored level.

In the last mode memory, you can store the play mode and fade time set just before removing a disc with a custom file. When the same disc is inserted, that mode is automatically recalled.

With File Recall, you can check what kind of file was stored.
This function can be function even if you don't have a disc installed, and you can delete unnecessary files on the fly.

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It is equipped with a delete play function so that you can play continuously with only the music you want to listen to. If you delete unnecessary music in shuffle mode and then switch to continue mode to play, you can skip that music and play the next one.
In addition, it is equipped with a 99 track delete shuffle function so that you can leave only your favorite music and play it randomly.

It is equipped with Music Scan, so you can play only the beginning part of a song one after another.
You can choose from 3 kinds of playing time, 10 seconds, 20 seconds and 30 seconds.

Equipped with Auto Q, you can search automatically to the point where the sound rises in the pause state.

It is equipped with functions such as program performance of up to 24 songs, 8-mode repeat of 1 song / whole song / part (remote control only) / program / delete play / shuffle / delete shuffle / custom index, and index search.

The display section has a 20-track music calendar.
It also has a dimmer control function that allows you to adjust the brightness of the display to three levels. In addition, the display mode function allows you to switch between all / partial ON / OFF of the display.

Equipped with an optical digital output.

Equipped with two line-out terminals, fixed and variable.
In addition, it is equipped with a headphone terminal with a lineout linked volume that flashes when the remote control is operated.

Wireless remote control is included.
This remote control is equipped with an autospace function, which adjusts the space between songs to silence space of about 3 seconds.

The CDP-X555ES comes in two color variations, gold and black, with a remote control for each color.

Model Rating

Type	CD Player
Reading system	Non-contact optical reading (using semiconductor laser)
Laser	GaAlAs double hetero diode
Number of revolutions	200 ~ 500 rpm (CLV)
Playing speed	1.2m/s ~ 1.4m/s (constant)
Error correction method	Sony Super Strategy Cross Interleaved Read-Solomon Code
Number of channels	2 Channel
Frequency characteristic	2 Hz to 20 kHz ± 0.3 dB
Total harmonic distortion factor	0.0017% or less (EIAJ)
Signal-to-noise ratio	117 dB or more (EIAJ)
Dynamic range	100 dB or more (EIAJ)
Wow and flutter	Below the measurement limit (± 0.001% W. peak) (EIAJ)
Output level	2Vrms(Fixed) 0 V ~ 2 Vrms (Variable)
Digital output	Optical : -18dBm (emission wavelength 660 nm)
Headphone output level	28 mw (32 Ω)
Power consumption	22W
External dimensions	Width 470x Height 125x Depth 375 mm Side Wood Removal : Width 430 mm
Weight	12.8 kg (Including Side Wood)
Attachment	Wireless Remote Control RM-D891 (Gold) RM-D991 (Black)