Why does the slim PS2 sound horrible?

Because you Think it sounds bad. Just imagen it's a $50K CD player. Hear the difference?

Ok... seriously, though... do a straight. A/B comparison and see if you can actually tell the difference.

jitter

What sounds "bad" about it? Or, in other words, what is the difference you hear?

akhter, I don't think that you're hearing things. I'm noticing the same thing between two of my CD players, none are PS2s though. It seems to be popular belief that if you're using a digital out, that the quality of the player is a moot subject, and you can buy the cheapest, crapiest player on earth and it will make no audible difference because the receiver's DAC alone determines the sound quality. It sounds cool to me because it's alot cheaper that way. However I have heard the exact same thing you complain about with your slim ps2 on my Panasonic DVD player. You don't have to take my DVD player apart to know that it is cheaply built compared to my H/K CD player. I tried to imagine that my Panasonic was alot more costly, and it still sounds different.

The slim PS2 is not the same as the big model. The slim was made to reduce cost while being more visually appealing. I'm sure they thought nothing of sound quality when they condensed the unit.

I think Locomo has it right. Jitter.

The bigger PS2 was much much better than the Slim PS2. I had so many problems out of mine, that I had to go buy another big PS2 from the pawn shop and I've never had a problem out of it.

If I may suggest something. Playstation products make fine cd players. However! Their optical connections are horrible. I always use analog connections on my Sony Game consoles. THe exception is the PS3, due to games being 5.1 digital, and it sounds great except in cases like Pro Logic II or anything analog based. I don't know why, I'm not a technician, I just know that analog has been my preferred choice with the PS2. Try using only analog connections and see if you hear a difference.

The slim line PS2 is a cheap piece of junk.

Maybe so. I don't have one. I've had probably every other PS2 release, besides the slim one. I imagine the optical outlet and processing is still as bad for analog music as on the other versions of the PS2, however.

That's odd, I wouldn't see why the regular PS2 would sound better than the slim...

I don't know either. I'm just curious if Ahkter ever tried the analog connections and noticed a difference.

On the other hand, there's the PS1, supposedly one of those amazing audiophile deals (only certain models if I recall.)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15484873/

Bad clock timing and/or poorly designed audio outputs are likely causing the problem in your situation. Remember, the PS2 is a game console first, and a CD player second. It's hard to expect a unit costing under $200 to even come close to competing to a Linn Genki (about a $1,500 player when Linn was still making it).

I still have an Ikemi (same guts as the Genki, but a more robust transport) that I acquired used when my company changed ownership and boy, it's been a treat to listen to.

The PS1 beats the PS2 in cd playing because of the cool visuals that accompanied the playing of music. Only later models had it, but the PS2 really dumbed it down to a rotating cube. OF course, this has nothing to do with audio quality....but still.

I have an original Playstation, before they were called PS1s. It has left, right, and video outputs, no "multiout".

I wouldn't say its an audiophile deal. It doesn't sound too bad, just different. I do prefer the sound of my Sony ES CDP. The soundstage the PS portrays is very narrow but astonishingly deep. I also don't think its as dynamic as a stand alone CDP either.

Without starting a war of words, this might be due to the fact I have only used it with the "in the box" cables. I don't know how it would sound with some proper cables. Maybe no different at all.

I personally had no opinion of it

I have yet to find a CD player or cable or DAC which fixed my underlying issue, so I chalked the harsh audio in my bedroom up to accoustics. It was an expensive lesson [At one point prettty much every item got changed except for the room ]