Sony CDP-228ESD (1988)
The CDP-228ESD is a Japanese-market ES-class player from 1988, originally priced at ¥59,800. Sony positioned it as inheriting the technology of its high-grade machines, and Russian classified listings still call it a "cult" model that needs no introduction. What survives in the record is a mix of official design notes and enthusiastic seller claims. The conventional audio specs (frequency response, THD, S/N) were never captured in the archive.
The design story is the interesting part. The digital section runs an 8 fs, 45-bit noise-shaping digital filter (the CXD 1244), which resamples the 44.1 kHz signal up to 352.8 kHz. Sony claimed in-band ripple of ±0.00001 dB and an echo level of −124 dB or less for that chip. The D/A converter is a single-chip, high-precision linear type with independent left and right channels. Some Russian listings identify the DACs as Burr-Brown PCM58P-J, one per channel, though a forum post describes the chip as an 18-bit PCM85. The audio circuits after conversion are twin-mono. Digital sync ICs were used to reduce jitter by locking the signal timing to the master clock right before conversion.
Mechanically, it's a heavy-duty piece. The transport uses Sony's linear motor tracking for fast, quiet access, and the whole block floats on a suspension to reject vibration. The G (Gibraltar) base is a resin reinforced with glass fiber and calcium carbonate. The chassis is an integrated monocoque design with a double-structured top plate of two steel sheets. A rubber damper seals the tray opening for airtightness when closed. The servo circuit is S Servo III.
The 228ESD was well equipped for its day. It has a custom edit system combining time edit, program edit, and time fade, plus a file recall function. Disk memory labels discs with up to 10 characters. Custom indexing comes with a rehearsal function for fine-tuning index points, and there is a multi-mode timer. It also has a digital output and an adjustable headphone jack. One listing notes a 100V power supply. It's a Japanese domestic model, though units have clearly made their way abroad.
Surviving information on this model is thin. No dimensions, weight, or standard audio measurements are recorded. What exists comes largely from audio-database.com's design notes, a ManualsCenter owner's manual listing (81 pages, multi-language), and Russian classified ads. Those seller claims are consistent: "reads discs without hesitation," "excellent unit," "best in the series." One Russian owner compared it to the CDP-970 and called them practically identical. An audioscope.net commenter noted that with its digital output and an external DAC, "you reach the 10K spheres with an eye wink." Enthusiastic, if not precisely measured.
Known specs, as documented:
- Released 1988; ¥59,800; 100V Japanese-market unit
- Digital filter: CXD 1244, 8 fs, 45-bit noise shaping
- Error correction: Sony Super Strategy Cross Interleaved Read-Solomon Code
- DAC: single-chip linear type, L/R independent (reported as Burr-Brown PCM58P-J or PCM85 in different sources)
- Transport: linear motor tracking, floating mechanical block, G (Gibraltar) base
- Outputs: digital output, adjustable headphone jack
- Manual: 81 pages, available in PT/FR/EN/ES
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