Urgent Help Needed:Which New ES Model is Comparable to C555ES?

Called Sony customer service this morning to find out about the status of my C555ES which they have had for nearly two months now and I was transfered to a higher level , at my request. Since 3 March, 2004 my repair status has shown that my unit was in process to be exchanged and to allow 5 to 7 business days. Since it is now the 22nd, I was getting impatient. My suspicions about what was going on were confirmed when the CSR told me that my unit is no longer available and that they had to 'see what they had' and contact me about what I would like to do. Big thanks to Sony for just holding on to my player indefinitely and not informing me of this . Anyway, if in fact I do have to exchange it for a new model (which is highly likely), I need to know which model best compares to the SCD-C555ES in both price and features. I would be willing to go to a single-disc player if need be. From what I have seen, there aren't really any stand-alone players in the new ES model line that compare to the C555ES. The 9000ES is not a changer and has a MSRP about $2000 higher than the MSRP on the C555ES at the time I purchased it, which was MSRP $999, which was actually lowered from an MSRP of, I think, $1299. The DVP-NC555ES 5-disc changer has a MSRP of about $400 less than the C555ES did, and, besides not being standalone, doesn't even seem to do CD-Text, or allow for the front panel and video circuitry to be turned off. The recently announced stand-alone 5-disc ES changer the SCD-C2000ES is about $600 cheaper than the C555ES and, as of now, there is not much information available on its features and specifications that I can find.

Is the DVP-NS999 the only one that comes close to being comparable to the feature set of the C555ES (besides being single-disc) as far as sound quality and other features like CD-Text? It is a DVD player also, but it does at least allow you to turn off all video circuitry and the front panel.

An urgent response is requested. I was told that i would be contacted within 48 hours.

 

Having been through this issue with Oade Bros. (I was told the 555 was sold out and discontinued and then when I was ready to compromise on a 222, was told that that too was sold out and discontinued) , I do not believe that there is a player out now that compares with the 555. Sometimes, when you reallly like a unit, you have to bite the bullet and pay the money to have an independent expert fix it. Had I not found a new 222 (the freaking LAST one in San Francisco!!), I would have bought a used 555 on ebay. It pops up there now and again. Usually in the box too.

Also, the pre-amp I use in both my systems is a QUAD 44, both of which I bought used. Why? Because there really is nothing comparable to it, especially for the money. The first one I bought I paid $250.00 for. Then, with all the module changes, etc., I am probably into it for $1,200.00. Do I care? Not one bit. The second one I got cost $475.00 and was a later model and needed no upgrades/repairs etc. I had to outbid 7 people for it.

My advice: Pay Sony to ship you back your 555 and find someone who can fix it. And be happy you spent the money. Second choice: Take the DVP NS99 from Sony, sell it and use the money to buy another 555.

 

You know, I see your point, but as much as I love the sound of the C555ES, I'm not so certain that I want to pour cash into a machine that has so many problems. Right from the start with the C555ES it didn't not operate as 'smoothly' as the player it replaced, the Sony CDP-C801ES CD changer. It is a very quirky machine in operation. The carousel sometimes gets stuck, it shows the wrong disc information, if you put in a track number before the mechanism 'clicks in' it will switch it to track 1 then there is the noise when playing back SACD's. Mine was so loud I couldn't take it anymore and I had to send it in for repair. If I spend the money on fixing this thing, I just know that I'll end up spending more money yet again a year or two from now to repair either the same or a different problem. Not only did my C801ES last me longer (8 years until taking a nose dive onto the floor), but, IMO, it had better-sounding CD playback, although it didn't do SACD's (and no CD-Text). As I was getting ready to replace my Pioneer 563a with a higher priced, DVI equipped DVD-A player anyway, I think I'm going to breakdown and go for one of the 'flagship' universal players as my main player and take my money back from Sony - assuming they are willing to give me a refund instead of making me take another player.

 

If I were you I would insist that Sony has an obligation to provide you with an equal or better quality machine, such as the 777ES or even SCD1. Put the onus on Sony to make things right to your satisfaction.

 

Do you think they would really give me a player that cost some $2000 or so more than mine? If that were the case, then why not try for an XA9000ES? Somehow, I think they would probably prefer to give me a refund. I will, however, put the point forward when I do speak to them. I have been a loyal ES customer for 10 years now having owned two ES changers, an ES AM/FM receiver and an an ES A/V receiver. Maybe they'd be willing to bite the bullet and give me the flagship to keep me as a customer for another 10 years; who knows?

 

Too bad you can't go for xa9000es as it was mine all time best audio purchase. Kills anything I ever heard - and I compared it to MUCH more expensive Hi End players. There is NO better upgade at the moment. End of story.

 

Better than the 777 ES? I think I'd have to hear them side by side to believe it.

 

Well, I think that I will ask for the xa9000ES just to see what happens. One never knows.

 

Those problems you describe are pretty bad--I had no idea. It really sucks when this sort of thing happens. I have yet to use my 222 because I am still waiting to afford an amp and speakers (it's the 2nd system in the house). I hope I do not experience what you have experienced, but I might! Who knows? In my main system, I use a Sony 775 for SACD playback and it is loud too when the drawer opens and closes. Had the Absolute Sound not raved over this machine, I would not have bought it. Again, I got, literally, the last one in SF. Price out the door with tax was $270.00. Not bad I thought.

This month's Stereophile lists the Marantz 8260 (plays SACD) as a Class A unit. The only one is Class A that costs so little, $1,100.00. Who knows, maybe I dump everything--the 775, my Marantz CD 63SE and get that. Or maybe the new Cary one with HDCD...or maybe the new Rotel, also with HDCD for half the money.....

I am going crazy here.......

Best of luck to you. Did not mean to rant.

 

Sorry to hear of your experience. My 555 (Dec 02') does produce some carousel chatter when it loads, but settles down right away.

Had a strange experience last night. I was loading a disc onto the tray using my left hand (away from the open/close button on r/s of unit) and the carousel suddenly closed as I was placing the disc in the holder. Well, it didn't seat properly, then gave a nasty whine as I pressed the open/close button. Fortunately, the machine and disc are fine but left me bewildered.

That said, it's still a very nice player and I would seek local repair from a trusted shop. Unless of course they give you an upgrade. Let us know how it works out!

 

JT,

I have heard the whine you described on my 555 as well. I have no idea what that is about. I have also had the 555 lock up on me and refuse to let me open the tray. I had to turn the unit off and back on again before it would open up. I love the sound of the 555, but I just can't stomach poor quality control. The whole 2 year (Jan. '02) experience with that unit has left me questioning whether I would be willing to ever again spend that kind of money on an ES player. My previous experience with a C801ES was wonderful, but the 555ES, though it has given me many hours of listening pleasure, has been terrible.

 

GoldenBoy,

Sorry to hear of your troubles....I will say this the 999ES is a great machine. The Absolute Sound loved the sonics and gave it an Editor's Choice award I believe (or was it Stereophile GHT?). The video is superb as well.

Hope that helps...also the Recommended Components issue of Stereophile is out which might be a good source.

 

Sony is really starting to p**s me off. Not only has their Bristol service center NOT contacted me when I was told they would, but I called the Sony CS line and was moved three levels up only to be told that the request for them to contact me was only put in yesterday evening. Besides that, what really p**ses me off is that the lady I spoke to informed me that the service center will probably do a buy-back of my player and - here's the real laugher - that it would be prorated, meaning, because I had the player for 2 years they would deduct that from my purchase price! It was all I could do to keep from throwing a wobbler right then and there. The filthy words that were on the tip of my tongue were just dying to get out. But, I figured I would try to keep it under control until someone from over there actually contacted me and then let it rip. In the mean time, I contacted an executive over at Sony who was formerly the ES product manager(not sure what his capacity is now) and left a message on his voice mail. If he doesn't contact me, I will keep calling until I do get in touch with him. Now this is war. I will settle for nothing less than a full refund of the original MSRP or an XA9000ES, otherwise I will make them understand that, not only will I expose them here and on other Internet forums, but that I will contact the media and my local congressman, US Senators and the governors of New Jersey (where they are based) and New York regarding this matter.

 

Go get em' GoldenBoy! They can't treat our Imperial Guinea Pig in that fashion and get away with it!

 

Thanks Dave.

I see that my post above has been edited and I want to apologise to the forum members and Steve for my use of inappropriate language. I was a bit hot under the collar when I posted and, in retrospect, should have been more careful with my words. Meanwhile, the saga continues....

 

I just hope mine continues to operate flawlessly. If you remember, i had to take my open box 555es back and exchange it for a new one at an added expense. i think it was a $100 and tax. I've been pretty happy with mine since. if it was to tatally take a dive, I'm not sure what I would do. I might just buy a dedicated CD player(nice one) and go buy a cheapo SACD/DVD-A/ CD etc. player.I feel for you.

 

I hope yours continues to work flawlessly as well. What I don't understand is, here I am barely two years into a 5 year warranty on a product that, upon its release, Sony deemed to be worth $1600, and they are acting like it's tough-luck for me. As far as I'm concerned anything less than a comparable unit or a refund of the original $1599 MSRP will be a failure to comply with the terms of their own warranty. It is not my fault that they sold me a poorly made product, discontinued my unit, changed their product line, failed to release a product that is comparable to the 555ES and then ran out of A & B stock replacement units. Let's assume that I were to settle for a refund of the depreciated value of the C555ES. That would leave me with not only less than what I originally paid for the unit, but having to put out more cash on a comparable (but definitely non-Sony branded) player. All of this when, since there is a 5-year warranty, I should have, at the very least, had the product repaired or replaced with one of equal quality and value at no cost whatsoever.

I really don't want to jump the gun here, but this seems to me like serious grounds for legal action and a media onslaught.

 

This defeats the whole purpose of the "ES" badge. The only reason I buy "ES" is the build quality and the warranty. If the warranty is just reduced to this pro-rated refund rubbish, why bother.

 

I agree. Besides the fact that I felt the Sony SACD/CD players to be the best sounding at the time, two overriding factors influenced my decision to buy the C555ES - first my previous, 8-year experience with the Sony C801ES CD changer, and the 5 year warranty. In the absence of the reliability of the product line from which the C801ES came from and a valid fulfillment of the warranty obligations, I would see no reason to continue on as an ES customer, of which I have been a loyal one for the past 10 years.

 

You should (maybe) talk to a lawyer and sue them in small claims court in NY. Most small claims info (including forms) are available on line, at least here in California.

I bet that will make SONY stand up and take notice. Just don't forget to research on your state's Secretary of State's web-site who the designated agent for service of process is in NY state. Fancy way of saying you need to figure out what person or entity you need to serve the lawsuit on. In California, the court clerks can, for $20.00, mail-serve the defendant and is usually good enough. Check the NY statutes.

 

I had a Sony MDS-JA555ES minidisc deck die after six months (stuck drawer). Two months and two repair centers later, Sony not only failed to fix my unit, but it came back in worse aesthetic condition each time (it went in mint). Finally, Sony said that they couldn't get replacement parts for my deck, so they gave me a check for the purchase price. I bought a Kenwood minidisc deck for $250 and pocketed $600. The Kenwood deck has worked flawlessly for a year-and-a-half, and I love it. I still miss the 'JA555ES, but it all worked out for me in the end.

Take a check from Sony and buy a non-Sony SACD player. I would look at the Marantz SA8260 and Music Hall Maverick.

 

If I had been home this afternoon I would of gotten my XA777ES back. Fedex is supposed to attempt delivery with signiture again tomorrow. I had to send it back to Bristol after they sent it back to me with the digital outputs inoperable. They did a very fast turn-around on this second trip in. I'll be nervous till I open the box and try all functions and confirm it's not bashed up.

I'm stille not so happy with Sony because I paid to ship the unit twice. They sent me a prepaid shipping tag for the return trip but it limited insurance to $100, which is totally unacceptable for this player!!!!!

I doubt I'll ever send the 777 to them ever again. Next time it needs a repair I'll proably contact one of the several moders and see if they can do it whilst giving the deck the royal treatment. Sony has gotten too big for it's own good and folks like me who bought their higher priced products should be coddled a bit not jerked off.

My 555ES has been flawless so far....knock on wood! It seems like Sony's warranties are rather disengenuous when they frequently want to pay off rather than fix. Something/s is wrong with that picture. If I ever buy another SACD player, I'll be looking closely at non-Sony alternatives.

 

Sony customer service has been famously bad over the last few years...their RPTV's went completely in the crapper for the past 4 years....and some of their recent electronics are poorly built.

I for one would stay far away from Sony these days.

No wonder your frustrated.

 

I've owned the SA-8260 for quite a few months now. Love that piece of equipment to death. I used to own a 63SE (RIP), and have a CD 6000OSE in my bedroom. Smokes those players. I got mine on a closeout for $650, and generally on Audiogon you can find 'em around $800.

 

Thank you! I will CERTAINLY keep this info in mind over the next few months.