Home > Consumer Reviews > Sony DVP-NS905VB SACD DVD Player

Long ago all music used to be mono-channel. Then along came stereo. It was a great improvement, after all this way you could have a sense of space.

Since then many people have tried to take the next step, sometimes faltering. Some people argued that two channels are enough - after all we've only got two ears - but they failed to realise that we humans have a brain as well as ears, making 'three dimensional sound' not only possible but a necessity if you are to convey music at its most natural form.

To cut a long story short, many years after along came Multi Channel sound systems suitable for your home. First DVD with dts(r) and Dolby Digital(r) sound. But DVD discs can't be played in the more than 500 million CD players around the world.

So Sony and Phillips have invented the Super Audio CD. In a single disc you can have one or two layers. One one layer sound is encoded in multi channel; the other can be of the same kind or can be a 'normal' CD layer, than can be read on any of the existing CD players. This is wonderful back-compatibility, as it means that you can now start buying SACDs and can play them in your current sets; when you get round to buy a SACD player you won't have to buy another CD.

Now the specifics: a Super Audio CD requires you to have a proper cinema sound system or similar 5.1 speakers. Here .1 means the subwoofer but you don't really need one to enjoy the music: you can direct the sound from the subwoofer to large speakers and you'll still get a wonderful sound - at least I do.

Regarding sound quality, let me put it this way: I bought the cheapest Sony SACD player model and it sounds absolutely wonderful. It is just inescapable: multi channel music makes you feel part of the act, as if you were in the studio. Also, there are no gimmicks with this player: you get to hear the music exactly how the sound engineer at the studio decided you should hear it.

Obviously, SACD players can play normal CDs too. Some purists say that what you really need are two different players, one for Super Audio, the other for normal CDs. But between you and I, they're crazy: this and other players perform admirably and will not let you down under any circumstance.

The only drawback of early players such as this one is that when you play a SACD the signal won't come out of the optic fibre cable (though for normal CDs it will). Instead, there are other outputs, one jack for each of the 6 channels, that you will have to hook up to your AV Receiver. So make absolutely sure you have such inputs into your system. If not, wait for a later model that's got Digital Out even for SACD.
Also note that some Sony models don't have a Coaxial output, only optic fibre. Again, have a good look at the input sockets at the back of your receiver.

Finally, get yourself a few Super Audio CDs and let yourself immerse in that wonderful sound I've been telling you about. From that point onwards you will only very grudgingly accept to buy normal CDs again!