PHILIPS MAGNAVOX CDB-650 PINK TRIANGLE NUMERAL PIONEER DV-717 PIONEER PD-52 PIONEER PD-75 PIONEER PD-77 PIONEER PD-93 PIONEER PD-95 PIONEER PD-204 PIONEER PD-4500 PIONEER PD-4550 PIONEER PD-5100 PIONEER PD-5300 PIONEER PD-5700 PIONEER PD-7300 PIONEER PD-7700 PIONEER PD-8500 PIONEER PD-9300 PIONEER PD-9700 PIONEER PDR-04 PIONEER PDR-609 PIONEER PDR-W739 PIONEER PDR-W839 PIONEER PD-S06 PIONEER PD-S501 PIONEER PD-S502 PIONEER PD-S505 PIONEER PD-S507 PIONEER PD-S605 PIONEER PD-S703 PIONEER PD-S707 PIONEER PD-S801 PIONEER PD-S802 PIONEER PD-S901 PIONEER PD-S904 PRIMARE CD31 PRIMARE D20 PRIMARE D302 PROCEED PCD2
TDA1541 TDA1305T PE8001A PD2028 PD2028A (vagy PD2028B) PD2028B PD2028A PD2028A (vagy PD2028B) PD2026B PCM1700 PCM1700P PD0034 PCM56 PD2026A PCM58P PD2026A PCM63P PCM58 PD2028A AKM4321 PCM1716 PCM1716 PCM1716 PCM1702J PD2026A PD2026B PD2029A PE8001A PD2029A PD2029A PE8001A PD2028 PD2028B PD2028B PD2028B 4x PCM1704K AKM4324 4x PCM1702 PCM58P
PROTON AC423 PROTON AC424 QUAD66 QUAD77 REGA PLANET REVOX B225 REVOX B226 REVOX C221 ROKSAN ATTESSA DP3P ROKSAN CASPIAN ROTEL RCD-02 ROTEL DCM-9PRO ROTEL RCD-855 ROTEL RCD-856BX ROTEL RCD-865BX ROTEL RCD-870 ROTEL RCD-945AX ROTEL RCD-955AX ROTEL RCD-955 ROTEL RCD-961 ROTEL RCD-965BX ROTEL RCD-970BX ROTEL RCD-971 ROTEL RCD-975 ROTEL RCD-991 ROTEL RCD-1070 SANSUI CD V1000 SANYO CP489 SEG CD200 SHANLING CD-T80 SHANLING CD-T80UK SHARP DX112 SHARP DX650 SHERWOOD CD1 SHERWOOD CD1060C SHERWOOD CD1160R SHERWOOD CD1192R SHERWOOD CDC2000C SHERWOOD CDC2010RC
LC78820 TDA1311A TDA1541A CS4328 PCM1710U TDA1540 TDA1541 SAA7310 CS4328 TDA1305 PCM1732 PCM63 TDA1541 SAA7323 SAA7323 TDA1540 SAA7341GP T TDA1541A TDA1541 PCM1732U SAA7323GP T TDA1305T PCM63 TDA1305T PCM63P PCM1732 PCM56 LC7881 YM3020 PCM1738E PCM1738E IR 3K16BM LC7880 TDA1547 D6372 CX PCM56 YM4113B PD6376 PD6376
SHERWOOD CD4030R SIMAUDIO MOON ECLIPSE SONIC FRONTIERS SFCD1 SONY CDP-40 SONY CDP-101 SONY CDP-222ES SONY CDP-222ESD SONY CDP-227ESD SONY CDP-228ESD SONY CDP-302ES SONY CDP-303ESII SONY CDP-313 SONY CDP-315 SONY CDP-333ESA SONY CDP-333ESD SONY CDP-333ESJ SONY CDP-337ESD SONY CDP-338ESD SONY CDP-497 SONY CDP-501ES SONY CDP-502 SONY CDP-502ES SONY CDP-502ESII SONY CDP-520ESII SONY CDP-552 SONY CDP-552ESD SONY CDP-553ESD SONY CDP-555ESA SONY CDP-555ESD SONY CDP-555ESJ SONY CDP-557ESD SONY CDP-620 SONY CDP-650 SONY CDP-701ES SONY CDP-707ESD SONY CDP-770 SONY CDP-777ESA SONY CDP-M95 SONY CDP-MS1
SAA7350BS 4x PCM1704K UltraAnalog D20400A 1x PCM54 (S/H) CX20017 PCM56P J 1x TDA1541 TDA1541 PCM58P CX20152 CX20152 CXD2565M CXD2565M CXD2562 TDA1541 CXD2562 TDA1541 2x PCM58P CXD2561 CX20017 PCM54 CX20152 PCM53JP-V CX20152 PCM54 CX20152 PCM53JP-V K CXD2562 TDA1541A CXD2562 PCM58P PCM54 PCM54 CX20017 PCM58P PCM56P CXD2562Q TDA1541 CXD8594 + CXA8042AS
SONY CDP-R3 + DAS-R1a CXD2552Q + CXD2552 SONY CDP-X229ES CXD2562Q SONY CDP-X3000 CXD2562Q + CXA8042AS SONY CDP-X303ES CXD2562Q SONY CDP-X5000 CXD2562 + CXA8042 SONY CDP-X505ES CXD2562Q SONY CDP-X33ES CXD2552Q SONY CDP-X55ES CXD2552 SONY CDP-X777ES CXD2552BQ SONY CDP-X779ES CXD2562 SONY CDP-X77ES CXD2552 SONY CDP-X7ESD PCM58P S SONY CDP-X900 CXA8042 SONY CDP-XA20ES CXD8505BQ + CXA8042AS SONY CDP-XA30ES CXD2562Q + CXA8042AS SONY CDP-XA50ES CXA8042AS SONY CDP-XA55ES CXD8594Q + CXA8042S SONY CDP-XA5ES CXD2562Q + CXA8042AS SONY CDP-XA7ES CXD2562 + CXA8042AS SONY CDP-XB920 CXD8715 + CXA8355 SONY CDP-XB720E CXD8735N SONY CDP-XB930 CXD8735N SONY CDP-XE300 CXD8567 SONY CDP-XE310 CXD8567 SONY CDP-XE330 CXD2529Q SONY CDP-XE900 CXD8505 + CXA8055 SONY CHC-P11 (mini hifi) PCM1710U SONY DAS-R1 2x TDA1541A S1 (single crown) SONY PLAYSTATION SCPH-1002 AKM AK4310VM or AK4310AVM (late) SONY PLAYSTATION SCPH-5502 AKM AK4310AVM SONY PLAYSTATION SCPH-5552 AKM AK4310AVM SOUND WAVE CD1100 LC7881 SUDGEN OPTIMA TDA1543 SUDGEN SDA-1 TDA1541 SUDGEN SDT-1 TDA1541A S1 (single crown) T+A CD1210R SM5864AP TAG McLAREN CD20R CS4329 TALK ELECTRONICS THUNDER 3 CS4390 TASCAM CD201 MN6474

TEAC CPD3450SE TEAC PD155mk2 TEAC PD160 TEAC PD365 TEAC VRDS 7 TEAC VRDS 8 TEAC VRDS 9 TEAC VRDS 10SE TEAC VRDS 25 TEAC ZD5000 TECHNICS SL-P1 TECHNICS SL-P2 TECHNICS SL-P50 TECHNICS SL-P110 TECHNICS SL-P120K E TECHNICS SL-P272A TECHNICS SL-P520 TECHNICS SL-P555 TECHNICS SL-P720 TECHNICS SL-P770 TECHNICS SL-P990 TECHNICS SL-P999 TECHNICS SL-P1200 TECHNICS SL-PG480A TECHNICS SL-PJ28A TECHNICS SL-PS670D TECHNICS SL-PS700 TECHNICS SL-PS770A THETA DSP THOMSON LAD300 THULE CD100 THULE SPIRIT TOSHIBA XR40 UHER UCD-210 UNIVERSUM CD4682 USHER CD-100 WADIA 23 WADIA 850 WADIA 860
YDC103 Y3015 TC9218F YM7121B SAA7350 PCM1702 PCM1702 TDA1547 AD1862J PCM53 PCM53 PCM53 MN6474 PCM54HP PCM54HP MN6474 MN6618A MN6471 MN6618A 2x PCM56P + 2x PCM56P-J 4x PCM56P-J 4x PCM56P-J PCM54HP MN662713 MN6477 MN6474 MN6474 MN64733 PCM67 TD6720N CS4303 PCM1715U TD6705AP LC7882 PCM56 PCM1732 AD1865 PCM1702 4x PCM1702
WADIA 861 YAMAHA CD-2 YAMAHA CD-3 YAMAHA CD-2000 YAMAHA CDX-3 YAMAHA CDX-410 YAMAHA CDX-420 YAMAHA CDX-470 YAMAHA CDX-480 YAMAHA CDX-490 YAMAHA CDX-580 YAMAHA CDX-590 YAMAHA CDX-593 YAMAHA CDX-700 YAMAHA CDX-810 YAMAHA CDX-880 YAMAHA CDX-890 YAMAHA CDX-893 YAMAHA CDX-900 YAMAHA CDX-993 YAMAHA CDX-1100 YAMAHA CDX-2020
4x PCM1704 PCM53 PCM53 PCM54HP PCM54 PCM56 PCM56 YDC103 MN66271 MN66271R YAC514 YAC514 YAC514 PCM56 2x PCM56J YAC514 YAC514 YAC514 PCM56 YAC514F PCM56 PCM58

Product Review

Sony CDP-XE400 and CDP-XE500 CD Players

Reviewed by Gary Galo

Sony CDP-XE400 and CDP-XE500 CD players. Sony Electronics Inc., 1 Sony Drive, Park Ridge, NJ 07656, 800-2227669 or 941-768-7669, FAX 941-768-7790, www.sel.sony.com. CDP-XE400: $160; CDP-XE500: $180. Warranty: one year parts and labor. Sonys CDP-XE400 and CDP-XE500 are the least expensive single-play CD players from the Japanese electronics giant. Inexpensive single-play CD players are becoming increasingly difficult to find, since most manufacturers are pushing CD changers. The CDP-XE400 and CDP-XE500 players are identical except for a few basic features. The CDP-XE400 is a barebones playerno remote, no digital output. For $20 more, the CDP-XE500 adds a Sony Remote Commander infrared remote control, a Toslink digital output, and digital volume control operated from the remote. The digital volume control affects both the line outputs and the headphone jack. The CDP-XE400 chassis contains the receiver for the infrared remote control, so full remote capability (including the digital volume control) is possible with the remotes supplied with many Sony receivers. You may also control the CDP-XE400 with a universal remote, with one caveat: Sonys track-selection system does not allow direct entry of tracks higher than tenall Sony remotes contain a greater than ten button (>10) for this purpose. If your universal remote does not have this button, it may not be compatible with these players. Among the incompatible remotes is the Radio Shack 15-1994 remote I reviewed in aX 3/01.
PHOTO 1: The Sony CDP-XE500 CD player with its supplied remote. The lower-cost CDPXE400 does not come with the remote control, but the internal infrared remote receiver allows you to use it with the remotes supplied with most Sony receivers, as well as many universal remotes.

FEATURES

The Sony CDP-XE400 and CDP-XE500 players include a full array of standard features. Play modes include program play, in which you can program up to 24 tracks on a disc to play in any order
you choose, and shuffle play, in which the player randomly selects the program order. The repeat feature can repeat an entire disc, track, or selected program, or begin another shuffle of the entire disc. The edit/time fade button allows you to produce a program to fit any standard cassette tape length. You can also program the player to fade out at a specific time on the CD. The peak search feature quickly locates the highest recorded level on a CD, allowing you to set the level on a cassette deck at that spot. When you insert a disc in the player, the total number of tracks and total playing time are displayed. If the disc is not played after insertion, the displayed information disappears after a few seconds (the display reads 0 tracks). Pressing the time button restores the total time and track information for about three seconds. The time and track display is always active when the player is in the play mode. The time button also allows you to toggle between elapsed time, remaining track time, and total remaining time on the disc. The music scan feature plays the first ten seconds of each trackwhen you hear the track you are looking for, simply press the play button to play this track from the beginning. You can change the playing time of each track sample to 20 or 30 seconds by toggling the music scan button.

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These players do not contain a keypad for track selectionyou select individual tracks using a rotary control located in the upper right-hand corner of the front panel. Sony calls this control the AMS (Automatic Music Sensor). Direct keypad entry is supported on the remote supplied with the CDP-XE500, or the remotes supplied with Sony receivers. Both players come with standard double-arrow search buttons. You can conduct the search silently, monitoring the time and track display, by pressing the pause button.

INTERNALS

Sony uses what it call a Hybrid Pulse D/A Converter in these players. This chip bears Sony number CXD8567AM and is a combination 8 oversampling digital filter and bitstream-type D/A
TABLE 1 MANUFACTURERS SPECIFICATIONS (IDENTICAL FOR BOTH MODELS)
Frequency response: 2Hz20kHz, 0.5dB Total harmonic distortion: 0.0045% Signal-to-noise ratio: 100dB Dynamic range: 98dB Channel separation: 95dB Line output voltage: 2V with 50k load Recommended load impedance: >10k Headphone output: 10mW/32 Power consumption: 10W Dimensions: 11 (295mm) Weight: 6 lbs, 10 oz (3.0 kg) Supplied accessories: Stereo audio patch cord (both models) Remote control and (2) AA batteries (CDP-XE500 only)

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converter with analog voltage outputs. The analog circuitry is about what Ive come to expect in low-cost players. Each channel uses a JRC NJM4558 op amp for analog filtering and output buffering, and a Mitsubishi M5218AL for the headphone amplifier. The M5218AL will sink 50mA of load current, making it suitable for headphone amplifiers. The CDP-XE400 and CDP-XE500 players are surprisingly well-built, particularly considering the price. The chassis and cover are all-metal, and the frontpanel controls have a solid operational feel. The mechanism is quite sturdy, and the CD tray operates smoothly. The isolation feet are mounted with the screw holes off-center to help diffuse vibration modes. Both players bear the designation Made in China and, in case you havent noticed, the quality of Chinese manufacturing has improved considerably in recent years. Overall, these players exhibit none of the chintzy look and feel so prevalent in inexpensive consumer electronics.

PERFORMANCE

At these prices, the sonic performance of the CDP-XE400 and CDP-XE500 cant be beatthese players are as good as any Ive heard for under $200, and better than most in this price range. Although Toslink is not the best digital interface, the CDP-XE500 makes a respectable entry-level CD transport when used with an outboard digital
processor. I recommend a high-quality Toslink interconnect, such as the Kimber OPT1 I reviewed in AE 4/99. Looking for an under-$1000 system for your son or daughter? Try mating the CDP-XE500 with Sonys STR-DE445 receiver (street price $250) and a pair of Boston Acoustics CR-9 loudspeakers ($420 per pair; www.bostonacoustics. com). You can operate the Sony receiver in the two-channel stereo mode or as a five-channel Dolby surround unit (with additional speakers, of course). The receiver has both Toslink optical and S/PDIF coaxial digital inputs, so you can digitally link the CDP-XE500 CD player to the receiver, which also comes with a Sony universal remote to operate the CD player. I assure readers that I havent abandoned perfectionist, high-end audio, but I do find it remarkable what $820 will buy these days, if you pick your components carefully. Over the past two years we at The Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam, have purchased around 20 of these players for use in the faculty studios and music library. About six months ago I installed a dozen CDP-XE400 players in library listening carrels, where students tend to give any piece of electronic equipment a real workout. So far, they are holding up extremely well. My dealer told me that several local radio stations are using these players, with similarly positive reports on reliability. These players typically sell for about $30 below the manufacturers suggested retail price, whether through mail order
or a local retail dealer. If there is no dealer near you, try J&R Music World (www.jandr.com). At these prices the Sony CDP-XE400 and CDP-XE500 are a great bargain, and are my first choices among under-$200 CD players.

PHOTO 2: Inside view of the CDP-XE500 (the CDP-XE400 is virtually identical). The build quality belies the low cost of these players.
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