Sony CDP XE700 cd-player

We are in 1996, and Sony fires new models of compact disc players like Clint Eastwood uses his Colt in a cowboy movie.

The subject is mastered, and the technical specifications in response, dynamics and distortion show extremely impressive figures. But most of the Hi-Fi brands achieve those, so when we select a player we try to focus on its durability and musicality.

This upper side of the range was introducing a concept we do appreciate, called the "fixed pickup". In a conventional drawer cd, you open a tray platter that is hollow, you place the cd that goes inside the machine and at the end of the drawer movement, is supposed to be aligned with the optical laser pickup head.

Here, the tray is a large and solid drawer that is moving with the laser optical unit attached. So when you open the tray the whole system follows in one block. The advantage is that you don't take chances of the tray misaligning and presenting the cd disc in an offset position, that may reject the disc or introduce too much laser signal corrections. Note also you can clean the laser way easily.

Full of program features, decently built for a plastic era machine, but first and foremost capable, musical, and affordable this player is one to consider when in good order.

The digital output is optical.