Sony CDP-338ESD CD Player

Why This One

• Fair condition - noticeable signs of use including scratches, scuffs and marks to the casing
• Please note: the disc drive is faulty, sticking and juddering when opening - see condition notes below before purchasing
• All other applicable functions tested and verified working
• A genuine Japanese-built ES series player from Sony’s high-end era, worth restoring rather than replacing

Condition: Fair
This Sony CDP-338ESD is a fair-condition CD player. The disc drive is faulty: the tray sticks and judders when opening. The player otherwise operates, and has passed our 9-point functional test with 1 item(s) not applicable to this unit, but it is not fully functional as supplied and will require attention to the drive mechanism. It also shows significant signs of previous use, including scratches, scuffs and cosmetic wear to the casing and top plate. Please review all photos carefully, as they provide an accurate representation of the cosmetic condition of the product.

What’s Included

• Sony CDP-338ESD CD Player (Black)
• No additional accessories included

About This Model
The Sony CDP-338ESD is a CD player from Sony’s Elevated Standard range, released in 1988 and built in Japan during the period when the ES badge represented the company’s most serious domestic audio engineering. It is valued as a well-built, authentic ES-series player representing Sony’s early high-end digital audio philosophy, known for solid construction, stable disc playback and clean, natural sound reproduction. The disc is read by a non-contact optical system using a GaAlAs laser in the KSS-151A assembly, with digital conversion handled by the well-regarded Burr-Brown PCM-58P DAC, an 18-bit converter paired with an 8x oversampling digital filter. De-emphasis is handled digitally for ideal phase, eliminating the sound quality degradation caused by parts and circuits and achieving ideal gain and phase characteristics. Frequency response is quoted at 2Hz to 20kHz ±0.5dB with a signal-to-noise ratio of approximately 110dB. The chassis measures 470 x 125 x 375mm and weighs 12.5kg, finished in black with wooden side panels. Working examples continue to command strong prices, and the player is also sought after as a CD transport on the strength of its disc mechanism and digital output.