Topic: Sony STR-DAx000ES - which to get?

[Brian Skalinder]

Alright, time to slim down the playback system - too much damn gear at the moment, doesn't suit the new living room very well, PITA to switch between 2-ch and 5.1, PITA to run 5.1 at all for that matter, just plain time for a change, moving some of my old gear into the home office system, blah blah blah.

Soooo...gonna go the Sony route after the rave reviews here, especially by Nick (damn you, encouraging my slutdom).  Which to get?

For the moment - though I'd like to swap 'em out in the near future - I'm sticking with my Magnepan MMGs + Babyboomer sub for 2.1.  Will use 2.1 setup + MMG-C and -Ws for 5.1.  Thanks Todd R for the info on running 2.1 instead of 2.0 and setting up to switch between 2.1 and 5.1.

WPC specs for the different units:

120wpc | STR-DA2000ES
150wpc | STR-DA3000ES
170wpc | STR-DA5000ES
200wpc | STR-DA9000ES

Will the STR-DAx's even drive my 4-ohm Maggies?!?

I'm thinking minimum STR-DA3000ES.  But also considering the STR-DA5000ES - but is the extra 20wpc really gonna make that much of a difference?  As far as I can tell, no other differences between these two units (though I haven't compared the specs in detail yet).  Definitely don't need the extra features on the 9000: extra vid comp, i.Link for SACD, DVI, so I'm thinking no point in spending the extra cash on the 9000.

What say you all?

Edit:  FYI, finding online pricing ~$900 + shipping for the 5, $600 + shipping for the 3, though I'll see what Oade can do on pricing as well.

[Brian Skalinder]

FYI, found out over on the Oade board that the Sony's will drive 4-ohm speakers:

http://www.oade.com/Tapers_Section/Forum/dcboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=101&topic_id=109&mesg_id=174&page=

[Nick's Picks]

If I had it to do all over again...
and if I were to replace my 3000es...
I would go stright for the 9000es.  Do not pass go.  do not collect $200.
I'd also get the DVP-9000es SACD/DVD player to go w/it.

[Jason B]

I run the DVP-S9000ES 2 channel sacd/dvd player with my 5000ES. It is an extremely nice unit.

[Nick's Picks]

You'll have to buck up and get the 7000es when it comes out so that you can use the iLink direct DSD stream into the reciever.

[Jason B]

You'll have to buck up and get the 7000es when it comes out so that you can use the iLink direct DSD stream into the reciever.

7000es? They are releasing this?

[dnsacks]

re 7000es -- see http://www.oade.com/Tapers_Section/Forum/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=101&topic_id=659&mesg_id=659&page=

Re Brian's question -- Aren't maggies pretty low efficiency?  If so, I'd think you should go for as much power as you can afford.

The advantage (besides power) of the 9000es (and likely 7000es if it's released) over the 3000es/5000es is that the 9000es can accept a digital signal from a sacd player (ilink technology) and perform the d>a from the sacd internally.  The 3000es/5000es will only accept a pcm-based signal (up to 24bit/9600k) and you'd likely need to feed a sacd's output to the 3000/5000es via analog in, which would result in d>a (on sacd player) > a>d>a on the 3000/5000es (though I'm unaware of any other affordable option that would provide a digital in for a sacd player. This is only a sacd issue, all of the units above will accept a digital out from a dvd-a (and dvd) player.

[Nick's Picks]

...what he said.

[Brian Skalinder]

Thanks for the 7000ES link over on the Oade board, somehow missed that one in my searching over there.

I'm definitely going for as much power as I can afford.  The 9000 comes in at over $1k (!) more than the 5000 for only 30 wpc more power.  I'm not into SACD now and not sure I will be, though if I get into it I definitely would like to avoid the D>A>D>A.  Right now I'm having a tough time justifying the 9000 based on +30wpc and iLink (couldn't care less about the other fluff / bells / whistles).  So I'm leaning towards the 5000 because it'll allow me to keep some of my components for a 2nd system in my home office. 

But I may just have to wait and see if the 7000 hits the US market, sounds like it's exactly what I'm looking for - a bit more power and SACD support in case I go down that path - especially if it's priced relatively equally between the 5000 and 9000.

Jason - so you're running SACD analog-in to the 5000, then, based on Darrin's comments, yes?

[Nick's Picks]

the 9000 weighs in at a conciderably higher number than the 5000.  the power supply is MUCH beefier says Doug.  Its on a different level entirely, i bet.

[scervin]

Thanks for the 7000ES link over on the Oade board, somehow missed that one in my searching over there.

I'm definitely going for as much power as I can afford.  The 9000 comes in at over $1k (!) more than the 5000 for only 30 wpc more power.  I'm not into SACD now and not sure I will be, though if I get into it I definitely would like to avoid the D>A>D>A.  Right now I'm having a tough time justifying the 9000 based on +30wpc and iLink (couldn't care less about the other fluff / bells / whistles).  So I'm leaning towards the 5000 because it'll allow me to keep some of my components for a 2nd system in my home office. 

But I may just have to wait and see if the 7000 hits the US market, sounds like it's exactly what I'm looking for - a bit more power and SACD support in case I go down that path - especially if it's priced relatively equally between the 5000 and 9000.

Jason - so you're running SACD analog-in to the 5000, then, based on Darrin's comments, yes?

You would still only have 1 D>A.  Run analog in to receiver.
SC

[dnsacks]

Scott:

Don't think that's the case, it's my understanding that the sony da 3000/5000es performs all changes to the incoming signal (including volume processing) in the digital realm.  ANY analog signal being fed to the da3000/5000es is going to be converted to digital (DSD). 

[Jason B]

Jason - so you're running SACD analog-in to the 5000, then, based on Darrin's comments, yes?

Yes, exactly. It sounds great. I could not justify spending $2999 on the 9000ES just for the digi in, the DVI switching and the 30wpc more. To use the iLink input, you would have to pony up to the SCD-XA9000ES SACD player which is over 2k itself. Though I am getting ready to pick up this player now anyway, I wasn't when I bought the 5000ES. Now that I am getting the XA9000ES, I may sell the 5000 if I can find someone interested, and pick the 9000 up. I would not worry too much about going through the D>A of the CD player though. I couldn't be happier with the sound of the setup.

-J

[scervin]

Scott:

Don't think that's the case, it's my understanding that the sony da 3000/5000es performs all changes to the incoming signal (including volume processing) in the digital realm.  ANY analog signal being fed to the da3000/5000es is going to be converted to digital (DSD). 

There is no analog bypass/direct you could use???  Doesn't seem right.  Most WILL use a digital chip for volume, but bypass DSP.  Doesn't seem logical to me if this is not the case.  At least you will save money on an external DAC as you wouldn't want one.

SC