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Why does a Sony PlayStation sound good to me?

Okay I bought a couple of the Sony play stations with the rca audio outputs and hooked one up.First impression was not very good. Not detailed like my other CD players but left it on for a couple of days and am really enjoying the sound. It does sound more like an lp to me. I know the highs and lows are rolled off some and the build quality is poor but I like the sound. I now want a better quality more reliable CD player that sounds more like this. Especially for my CDs that are not recorded or transferred to digital as well. I'm happy to use this as an additional CD player but was thinking maybe Rega has a sound similar from some of the threads I have read. Sometimes I think welcome the soul of the music with too much precise details. Any suggestions on a different CD player?
128x128dylanfan
mikirob
955 posts
 
Dylanfan,
I really like the sound of the original PlayStation 1 (1001) with RCAs. You can improve the sound further without subtracting what you like about it by adding the Furutech power cord and inexpensive Belden 8402 interconnect. I did and love it.

Please read Jeff Day Blog on the PlayStation 1; Day wrote a article on it in Positive Feedback, beside the Blog write-up. These articles might help you with ideas to get the best out of the PlayStation. I've owned mine for a very long time and it is extremely enjoyable. Yes, very analogue like. Best, Rob
dylanfan's avatar
dylanfan OP
138 posts
 
Thanks Mikirob. I will look for the power cord. Right now it is hooked to Morrow MA-3 cables. I might try the one you suggest as well and read Jeff Days site.
zd542
5,339 posts
 
"11-25-15: Mapman
I wonder if it's doing something to digitally Doctor up the sound? Equalization, dynamic range processing maybe? Anything is possible with digital and no rule that says a device must target flat accurate response. Often that is underwhelming alone."

I think its highly unlikely that Sony would have done anything to the PS-1 to enhance its audio playback SQ. Its a video game system that may be used to play an occasional CD. People like it because it covers up some of the digital "unpleasantness" normally associated with low cost CD players.
dylanfan's avatar
dylanfan OP
138 posts
 
So how much more do you have to go up from a low cost CD player to get a CD player that sounds good? My Marantz 6005 is fair but nothing great. My California Audio seems better until I a/b with the Sony. Any recommendations?
zd542
5,339 posts
 
"So how much more do you have to go up from a low cost CD player to get a CD player that sounds good?"

No idea. I go by sound quality, not price. Going by your description of what type of sound you are looking for, you may like: Rotel 1072, Arcam 33, Wadia 830, Meridian 508.24, AMC CD-6.

I've owned all of those at one time or another and still have the Arcam. Depending on what your budget is, I can list more.
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