Once again, Sony ES has raised the bar for multichannel music performance to remarkable new heights. The flagship of their SACD line, the SCD-XA9000ES, packs an arsenal of cutting-edge technologies that team up to deliver a phenomenally involving musical experience, detailed enough to reproduce even the subtlest nuances of the original performance. Whether it's playing SACDs or standard CDs, the 'XA9000ES offers the perfect union of digital clarity and analog smoothness, musicality and warmth.

One of the major breakthroughs of this player its i.LINK® digital output. This is designed for use with Sony's STR-DA9000ES receiver, or other compatible receivers, preamplifiers, and outboard D/A converters (i.e. those with an i.LINK input and the DSD decoding necessary to translate SACD signals into analog form). If you've got such a unit, the 'XA9000ES can transfer SACD signals to it digitally, for musical reproduction of incredible precision and clarity. You'll also be able to achieve this connection with a single i.LINK cable, rather than the six analog cables required by almost every other SACD player on the market.

The construction and design of this player are ES quality all the way. The analog, digital, and power supply sections are completely separated on 3 audio circuit boards — expensive to produce, but priceless to your music. Two oversized R-core power transformers (one for analog, one for digital), mounted on a copper plate, provide minimal vibration and maximum stability. And the ultra-rigid frame-and-beam chassis restricts resonance masterfully, to keep your music ultra-pure.

Specifications

• plays multichannel SACDs,
• stereo SACDs, CDs, audio CD-Rs, and audio CD-RWs
• 18 Super Audio D/A converters
• Tri-Power DAC system for stereo and multichannel playback
• frame-and-beam chassis
• 3 audio circuit boards
• dual-laser (1 for SACD, 1 for CD) optical pickup
• multichannel bass management and level control
• speaker time alignment control
• i.LINK digital output (for use with compatible receivers and preamps)
• 5.1-channel and stereo analog outputs
• optical and coaxial digital outputs (for CD only)
• twin large R-core power transformers
• aluminum front panel
• remote control
• SACD Text/CD Text® capability
• SACD playback specifications:
•     frequency response 2-50,000 Hz (-3dB)
•     0.0012% THD
•     108+ dB dynamic range
• 16-7/8"W x 5"H x 17-3/4"D
• warranty: 5 years

Suggested Retail: $2,999.99