Description
Sony CDP-X777ES. Exclusive Version. Fully revitalized.
The company was founded by Masaru Ibuka and Akio Morita in Tokyo in 1946 as the Tokyo Tsushin Kenkyu-jo research institute, initially supporting itself through repair and service work. One year later, it was transformed into a company called Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, abbreviated as Totsuko, whose main objective was the production of telecommunications equipment and voltmeters. The 1950s proved to be a breakthrough period for the company. During this time, it developed a tape recorder and a transistor radio, and in 1955 the decision was made to use the SONY logo on Totsuko products. The name originated from the Latin word “sonus” – sound – and ”sonny boy”, a term used in the USA to describe a young boy. The 1960s were a period of rapid development and international expansion for the company. During this time, Sony also created the TA-1120, the world?s first amplifier based on silicon transistors. In 1979, one of SONY’s most iconic products appeared on the market – the portable cassette player known as the ”Walkman”. In the following decades, the company also introduced and popularized such trademarks as Discman, Trinitron and PlayStation. The company’s rapid growth resulted in increasing sales and a growing international reputation. In 1960, the decision was made to establish the first overseas subsidiaries in the USA and Switzerland, transforming Sony into a truly international corporation.
Sony CDP-X777ES is one of the most highly regarded CD players from the Japanese manufacturer, originating from the early 1990s. This model belongs to the legendary ES series and represents a period when Sony created some of its most advanced digital designs without compromise in terms of build quality, mechanics or the components used. Like the other top models from the X7 family, the CDP-X777ES is distinguished by its extremely solid construction and exceptional build quality, which remains impressive even today. The massive chassis, extensive shielding of individual sections and very high quality of the mechanical components make this a player designed according to standards that are practically unseen in most modern CD players. One of the most important elements of the CDP-X777ES is its extremely stable, precise and fast reading mechanism, equipped with the highly regarded Sony KSS-281A laser. The construction of the transport provides very reliable disc reading and perfectly demonstrates how much attention Sony devoted to the mechanical section of its top models.
The digital and analog sections are equally sophisticated. Sony used its own solutions for digital-to-analog conversion together with an extensive analog output stage, allowing the CDP-X777ES to deliver a sound far removed from the stereotypical character associated with early digital players. The sound is full, spacious and very natural, with a high level of detail without sacrificing musicality. Particular attention should also be paid to the three analog outputs provided on this model. They allow different variants of the player’s analog signal path to be used. Especially interesting is the fixed RCA output, which offers a very pleasant, full and slightly more “lush” character of sound. Sony CDP-X777ES is a perfect example of a component created at a time when the CD player was one of the most important sources in an audio system, and the leading Japanese manufacturers competed not only in technical specifications, but also in construction, mechanical quality and workmanship. It is one of those players that, more than three decades after its introduction, continues to impress both with its construction and the way it reproduces music.
The cabinet has undergone a complete revitalization. The side elements have been cleaned and painted using professional automotive wet-painting techniques. Black paint was used and protected with a clear matte finish. High-quality finishing screws have been installed. New rosewood side panels give the player an elegant appearance.
The unit has undergone a complete inspection and service.
– the unit was completely disassembled, and all PCB boards were thoroughly resoldered and cleaned after soldering
– cold solder joints were eliminated
– 30 Elna Duorex electrolytic capacitors were replaced
– the memory backup capacitor was replaced
– the drive belts were replaced
– comprehensive cleaning and adjustment of the player mechanism
– cleaning of the mechanism guide rails
– old grease was removed and all mechanical components requiring lubrication were relubricated
– new grease was applied under the drawer slide
– the optical pickup was cleaned and adjusted
– the laser optics were cleaned and measurements of the optical system were performed
– measured laser power ? 120 ?W
– RF signal level ? 1.2 Vpp with a commercial CD and 1.3 Vpp with a test CD
– channel symmetry was checked and adjusted according to the service documentation
– the potentiometer mounting was straightened
– the potentiometer was cleaned and serviced
– the front panel PCB contacts were cleaned
– sockets and screws were cleaned
– the display and diffuser were cleaned
Technical specifications:
– disc format – CD
– frequency response – 2 Hz – 20 kHz
– dynamic range – 100 dB
– signal-to-noise ratio – 118 dB
– total harmonic distortion – 0.0015%
– line output – 2 V
– channel separation – 110 dB
– digital converter – 2 × CXD2552BQ
– CD mechanism / optical pickup – KSS-281A
– dimensions – 47 × 37.5 × 12.5 cm (W × D × H)
– power supply – 110 V
– remote control included
– weight -19 kg
– manufactured in Japan – 1991/92