Official Sony BD Mega-Changer Thread: BDP-CX7000ES & BDP-CX960

Okay, now that the issue is settled, and Sony has finally delivered what many have clamored for, it's time for a thread that no longer anticipates, but trumpets the arrival of the units. Since the earlier thread was as much about wondering whether the units would arrive, and observers need to go to recent posts to discover the answer, the time for this thread has come.

So I'll start this thread with a little background, i.e, my own reasons for preferring changers.

I started in home theater just before DVDs were initally released, and I still have (though not in my system) a LD player, which was the standard back then. I quickly determined that I wanted as nice a high-end system as I could afford, and I've pretty much stuck to that over the years, though now I'll mix in a bit of "value" as well.

I had Proceed Electronics, Krell Amps, Aerial Acoustic Speakers, and my first "good" projector was an NEC-XG1352LC, one of the best 8" CRTs, with a Faroudja NRS video processor. My determination was to get a similar high end DVD front, and that led me to . . . Sony, Pioneer Elite, Meridian, Theta, Proceed . . . until I learned a key lesson.

The real "difference" in terms of video quality (audio was almost always nearly equal) among DVD transports lay in the video transfer on the disc. Got a $4000 player? Bad discs looked bad on it, as they did on the $300 players. Got a great video transfer, like The Fifth Element? It will look great on a budget player, and on the $6000 Proceed player. Until . . .

Lots of discs. I first solved that problem with the first Sony DVD Mega Changer, a 200 disc model. I next gravitated to the Pioneer DV-F727, which was a 300 disc version, and greatly improved. I had both of the later released Sony changers, the 860 and 870 and, after a brief period of going back to a single disc changer, I realized that once you've had the luxury of a changer, you can't go back.

I should interrupt at this point to say that I was always concerned that I was squeezing the "best" out of my electronics, speakers, and video, and there was something too "mainstream" about my changers that bugged me. I did, after all, subscribe to Stereophile.

I began a series of tests, first on my CD changers vs. the reference CD players I had on hand--Sony ES, Proceed, Theta, Pioneer Elite--the same bunch as from the DVD single disc players.

What I learned is that, when using the analog outputs of CD players, the single disc was sometimes a shade better. But then when using the digital outputs of the same CD players, and feeding them into the same digital processor (first a Proceed, then a Krell, then a Lexicon) there was no difference. I could enjoy my CD collection knowing that I wasn't sacrificing an ounce of quality (to my ears), and I could enjoy the best of both worlds.

I was also satisfied, after many A/B comparisons between changer quality and single disc players, that the same was true from a video standpoint. While I don't dispute differences between players, what I have learned is this: In the entire process of judging video quality, there are two dominating factors. Those factors are: (1) The source itself (the quality of the disc or other transmission such as HDTV or SDTV); and (2) The display device--your TV or projector. I also learned that when you did those things right, you could have your cake and eat it too--you could have a high end system, and you could have the convenience of changers.

The most significant development in Changers came in the early 2000s, when Kenwood introduced its Sovereign series. This was the first 400 disc changer, and it introduced a lot of aficionados to the concept of the front-end server, in this case called Entre. While Entre was really a rebadged Escient, it remains one of the most versatile products that we've seen on the changer front. While I still have some Kenwood changers and at least one Entre unit in service, it never really caught on for a number of reasons. But, quietly, Sony continued its preeminence in this market with the release of the best DVD changer of all time, the Sony DVP-CX777ES. It is still the standard for any DVD changer, and, when combined with an Escient Fireball controller, provides one of the best combinations of elegance and quality that exist in the entire A/V market, not just DVD players.

So now, with still some unanswered questions as to why we've had to wait so long, Sony has finally sated us with the BDP-CX7000ES, capturing the early adopters (like me), but, after soaking us for that burst of profit, will release the BDP-CX960 in a few months.

I've already posted some initial observations on the earlier thread, but I'll repeat here. The BDP-CX7000ES is stellar on audio and video, although no more so than the Sony BDP-2000ES single disc player I had ealier. The build quality on the unit is the best I've seen among any changer, and I'm happy to say that Sony has delivered a winner, especially with the GUI that is onboard. While I've opted for the Escient Vision VS-100 (to control up to four changers but still not upgraded or delivered), I could have easily lived with the onboard version.

So there you go. Let's now devote discussion on performance, needed upgrades, and general changer talk since the beast has finally arrived.

Thanks,

Nick

Okay, here are links to the manuals for each changer. This is my idea and only my idea to post these. Never mind the context of the links :


Assuming that Escient keeps its promise--one never knows in consumer electronics--the BDP-CX7000ES will be capable of being controlled by one of Escient's discontinued Vision Products. For the FAQ on controlling the ES version, note:


Although Escient has been folded, D&M, its parent, still says it will support the eventual Escient Vision Support for the 7000ES. Note the following from Escient, on June 9, 2010:


Today (June 18, 2010), Escient updated the software to its Vision Series, including external control of the BDP-CX7000ES. The notes with release state:


This is hopefully a major milestone for the BD changer support. I have a Vision VS-1 in waiting for this very release, and can report back when it gets up and running.

July 21, 2010

I have made some progress with the Escient. Having burned the software update to a disc (I could not, for whatever reason, download it from the Escient server) . . . but I am still in need of help.

Escient support is "there," but they are not terribly helpful. The CSRs that are answering the phone told me: (1) I didn't need null modem cables to connect the changer to the Escient (you do); (2) that there was an RS-232 port on the back of the Escient (there isn't--there are two USB ports); and (3) didn't know how to load the drivers for the necessary USB to Serial Bridge that is recommended on the newly revised Escient FAQs. So, for your edification:


Once I got the Vision to recognize my changers, it started searching for discs, much in the same way that the Fireball did for DVDs. However, after a few abortive attempts, it loaded and catalogued about 50 discs, but that is about 10% of what I have loaded. For some reason, it stops looking them up. When I left home this AM, I had it set up to discover everything in both changers, but we'll see when I get home from work how much of a dent I've made.

Even among those it did find, it is proving finicky with regard to discs it doesn't like--discs it claims has a scratch, smudge, or something else preventing lookup, including those discs that the Sony could find on its own.

Having said that, I have been able to play with the user interface (to the extent of the 50 or so discs that did get recognized, and it is far superior to what's onboard the Sony. You can scroll by page, and the information and the cover art is large compared to the Sony. If I can get past these initial issues (and, alas, Escient's support is learning as we learn), it will be successful. But these are threshold issues that have to be resolved.

More as I keep fiddling around. When I get a chance, I'll post some screen shots of User Interface, and other assorted nuts.

Thanks,

Nick

This unit, NIB, is available for virtually wholesale price (or best offer), shipped, on eBay. This is all you need for complete Escient control of up to 4 BD changers (once the VS-100 receives its upgrade from Escient).

It's when I saw this available over the weekend that I caved and committed to Escient.

It's easily enough found. If you want a link, PM me.

Thanks,

Nick

I have not tried 1080p24, because my Qualia 004 does not accept it. However, the projector does accept 1080p60, and it is output over HDMI.

BYOHC (Bring Your Own HDMI Cable). It's all you need.

Thanks,

Nick