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PlayStation 1: The audiophile's dream?
11:38 AM on 06.04.2007, Brad Rice 99 comments

PlayStation 1: The audiophile's dream? photo
     Money

Sometimes we get these tips that come out of left field. We got one late last night from reader Riku, who talks about his dad's unusual acquisition for his high-end audio setup:

Hi!

My father's hobby is to search for "the perfect sound" making him a high-end audiophile. I was very surprised when I saw an old Playstation 1 (Version SCPH-1001/2) plugged into his super expensive audio rig. He told me, that that particular version of the console has RCA-inputs in the back which has a superb sound output. The console has become an underground sensation in the Hi-Fi scene. He told me to check out some articles at 6moons.com, an audiophile website.

So wait, the old beatup PS1 that I gave to my friend is a high-end audiophile machine? There's no way this can be true! Yet Riku was kind enough to provide us some links from 6moons that talk about the power of Sony's debut console. In one article:

During all this audio fun, my pal Pete Riggle stopped by with an audio underground digital favorite, the Sony PlayStation 1 (Model No. SCPH-1001). I had heard rumors of just how good this particular version of the PS1 is when used as a CD player and was curious to give it a listen. This kid's video game player really does have outstanding audio performance. I'm guessing you'd have to spend more than $6000 on a one-box CD player to equal let alone better it.

$6000? To eBay and beyond (the jump)!

[Thanks for the wonderful pic, Dyson!]

I'm impressed that Sony put together such high-end parts in the PlayStation 1 that it could produce such quality sound. Running a quick search on eBay for SCPH-1001 brings up consoles priced at $5-$35, way below the $6000 equivalent system. Another article provided to us says:

The Sony Playstation 1 SCPH-1001 is another giant killer that's a darling of the audio underground. If you're looking for audio sonic fireworks, the PS1 might not be your cup of tea but if you're looking for an outstandingly musical digital front end that can play music better than just about every multi-kilobuck digital source, look no further - way recommended.

Now, I want to ask all our audiophile readers out there (i.e. Dale North): what about the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3? Do these two later iterations of Sony's console keep up the good work and provide a great deal for audiophiles? Or instead, did Sony only provide mediocre parts for your sound system?


Next page: More Sony stories




munkimatt's Avatar
munkimatt at 06/04/2007 11:44
I'm just not convinced either. I'm just had a go through my fairly decent sperate system, and it just doesn't compare to my CD player.
Mxyzptlk's Avatar
Mxyzptlk at 06/04/2007 11:49
I've actually heard this before. Sony did make the SNES's excellent sound chip after all. I'm not quite convinced it holds up to top of the line stuff now, but do those have a trippy visualizer?
BlindsideDork's Avatar
BlindsideDork at 06/04/2007 11:51
Do I have one of those at home..hmmm
LethalHairdo's Avatar
LethalHairdo at 06/04/2007 11:54
Call me crazy...but I always thought that my cd's played through these always sounded better than my stereo. Now there is justified proof that I wasn't just imagining things. I had convinced myself that I just liked the tv interface paired with my bose speakers.

I doubt that the same applies for the playstation 2 tho...the audio and video output are combined into a single output socket. The reason that model of PS1 would sound better (from my basic understanding of electronics) is because it gives you the option to not use the single output and instead use the sound outputs (red and white) that are separate from the video (yellow).
GuitarAtomik's Avatar
GuitarAtomik at 06/04/2007 11:56
Wait a minute? Did he just call the PS1 a "kid's gaming machine"?!
Snaileb 's Avatar
Snaileb at 06/04/2007 12:02
Doesn't take much to confuse me now does it....

o.O
Kif 's Avatar
Kif at 06/04/2007 12:11
GuitarAtomik: No, he said "This kid's video gaming player".

Rather a strange find really. I won't be jumping to buy one just because of it's output, but pretty cool for the real audiophiles.
mono's Avatar
mono at 06/04/2007 12:11
You know you're at a good party when the music stops, so the host has to flip his cd player upside down because it is overheating.
Crunshii's Avatar
Crunshii at 06/04/2007 12:17
PS3 has a optical audio thingy... im no audio guy but is that high performance or something?
LostCrichton's Avatar
LostCrichton at 06/04/2007 12:17
Like munkimatt and Doomtrain, I too pulled out my PS1 this morning and tried it out for myself. My computer sounded the best, followed by my component cd player, my dvd player and then the PS1.
LostCrichton's Avatar
LostCrichton at 06/04/2007 12:18
Like munkimatt and Doomtrain, I too pulled out my PS1 this morning and tried it out for myself. My computer sounded the best, followed by my component cd player, my dvd player and then the PS1.
LostCrichton's Avatar
LostCrichton at 06/04/2007 12:20
sorry for the double post...my tubes are weird this morning.
michiyoyoshiku's Avatar
michiyoyoshiku at 06/04/2007 12:21
I need one of those PS1s for the Museium collection
Mozgus's Avatar
Mozgus at 06/04/2007 12:24
Yes the early models had those awesome RCA jacks. I wish all consoles had those back then, before s-video and beyond became mainstream. Yes it is fact that good sturdy RCA audio jacks will provide better signal quality with less interference when compared to these shoddy proprietary jacks that all consoles were/still are using, where all the multimedia signals are combined into one cable.

If you take a look at the backs of the PS1s over the years, you'll notice that Sony kept gradually removing port after port until the later versions barely had any hookups on the back. But no one cared. But when Nintendo removes the digital port on their Gamecubes, which was equally stupid, the whole world shit.
vinnchan's Avatar
vinnchan at 06/04/2007 12:24
No one's mentioned though that a lot of the time to get the really nice sound out of the systems they recommend you leave them on for at least 2 days before you even try to play a disc.
GuitarAtomik's Avatar
GuitarAtomik at 06/04/2007 12:26
@Kif

Oh ok. I was about to go Chuck Norris nuclear.
Maxsunset's Avatar
Maxsunset at 06/04/2007 12:28
Audiophiles can be pretty damn wacky sometimes. A few years ago, having an old Optimus portable CD player (yes, from Radioshack), was considered a "high-end secret" as well. I find, as a audiophile myself, that most of these claims are the result of some specific distortion in the device (a 1st gen PS1 in this case) that happens to have a pleasant quality when paired with specific audio components, however, this is just one distortion making up for another elsewhere in the audio system, such as the pre-amp.

I have one of these old PS1's somewhere. I'll hook it up and compare it to my $1400 denon and see if it holds a candle.
Raymod's Avatar
Raymod at 06/04/2007 12:28
COOL!!! i have 2 of them. :D
deanhatescoffee's Avatar
deanhatescoffee at 06/04/2007 12:48
@ vinnchan:
Why would you have to leave it on for two days? That doesn't make any sense. Is it like a warm-up period? You'd think that, for a serious audio investment, something would just work when you turn it on... right?
hoi1ma's Avatar
hoi1ma at 06/04/2007 13:03
omg, i know an audiophile. I broke his only playstation, should i get him a new one, he doesnt know about this. he has so many high end sound system in his posession. He helps me with sound setup much like i help him with everything else like software, hardware, graphic, and everything beside networking which he is also an expert in.
robotplague's Avatar
robotplague at 06/04/2007 13:04
I've read about this before and was equally as blown away. I couldn't believe it. I read somewhere that you're supposed to leave it on for a day or so to get the most maximum audio quality out of it. Something about warming up one of the components makes it even more optimal. Crazy stuff.
Demios's Avatar
Demios at 06/04/2007 13:04
Read about this on some tech blog before...At least there was some good games for that console unlike their current uber-console...Ooooh wait, "Blu-Ray FTW"...for fuck sake..
Niero's Avatar
Niero at 06/04/2007 13:13
A 12" vinyl add-on is rumored for the ps3. Believe it!
vinnchan's Avatar
vinnchan at 06/04/2007 13:24
@Deanhatescoffee

It's what I read, but the logic is that the parts have to settle down, so there's warm up of components (getting to a steady operational temperature), and balancing of the rotation mechanisms so that there's limited vibration.

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

There you go, the 6moons.com guy said in 2006:
"Before I started my listening tests, Michael had a warning for me: "Plug in the units — turn ‘em on — and don’t turn them off." It seems the PlayStations sound best when left on all the time. Michael was right. You shouldn’t even listen for the first three days. Both units need every second of the break-in period."
jerrt's Avatar
jerrt at 06/04/2007 13:39
when i was looking to get a ps1 of my own [a few years after the ps2 was out, so i had a chance to get what i wanted] I picked that particular version just because it has audio/video rca outs. i'm glad to hear it is a nice audio player to boot.
Niero's Avatar
Niero at 06/04/2007 14:12
This reminds me -- the back of the NES also had RCA audio ports. Did anyone ever use those, ever?
LordRegulus's Avatar
LordRegulus at 06/04/2007 14:27
@Niero

I sure did, and DAMN. You haven't lived until you've played Starfox in Dolby Digital 7.1 surround with flanger and reverb.

"D-D-D-DDOOOOO AAAAA B-B-BAARRRELL R-R-RRRROOOLLLL!!!"
LordRegulus's Avatar
LordRegulus at 06/04/2007 14:37
Crap, Starfox was on the SNES.

fearian's Avatar
fearian at 06/04/2007 14:38
lmao.

I dont know about how good it is from an audiophiles view, but If can use the optical out on a ps2, DO! amazing quality 7.1 surround sound (to my ears!)

mmm ffXII
Doomtrain's Avatar
Doomtrain at 06/04/2007 15:21
I'm still not buying it. Leave it on for three days? I don't care what kind of science mojo you try to throw on that. Someone somewhere made a bullshit statement and had to craft something to back it up.

CDs don't work like record players. Either the sound is read from the disk correctly or it isn't. The mechanism doesn't need to "balance out". You either get the sound from the disk or you don't. Either it plays or it skips.

I'm calling bullshit.

After trying a few more disks of various music types on my setup here, I'm still hearing much better sound out of my computer and kenwood than I am out of my Playstation.

You can notice the difference the best with Jazz, or with Techno music that isn't too much of a train wreck. Instruments sound muted in the Playstation, like the volume of every sound (all the instrument, and any vocals) is being normalized. With both the Kenwood and the computer the sound is much more diverse and full.
Fizzleyak-O's Avatar
Fizzleyak-O at 06/04/2007 15:39
Doesn't it depend on the speakers? I mean if you're using your TV, it's going to sound like an assfart. I've got a pair of great speakers but I'm away from home and I believe I have that PS1 model. Hopefully someone knowledgeable about audio can lend some deeper insight on it.
Alastair's Avatar
Alastair at 06/04/2007 15:41
Well leaving Audio on, does make a difference.
High end audio makers like naim in fact recommend you leave them on for months, or even never turn them off.
justsomeguy's Avatar
justsomeguy at 06/04/2007 15:45
@ Doomtrain

Go to any major recording studio and you'll see they leave every piece of gear on 24/7 unless they're doing maintenence. The componets perform better when they're left on, they also last longer.
Grimspoon's Avatar
Grimspoon at 06/04/2007 16:30
What kind of speakers are you using to compare the difference between PS1 vs PC vs other?

If you're using some crappy PC speakers, you're not hearing the full potential of the audio player. Using an audiophile grade audio player with some random speakers, be it logitech, klipsch or whatever else speakers - you're not hearing the full potential. They aren't anywhere near close enough to audiophile grade quality.

Those closest you'll come (to hearing the player's potential) short of spending a small fortune is if you try using a really good set of audiophile headphones. Like some Grado SR325i or better, or maybe some Stax electrostatic earspeakers. (Not Sennheiser. Don't beleive the hype. Any audiophile who knows whats what will tell you Grado > Senn.)

Otherwise, if you're using crappy speakers - you won't be in a position to tell which ACTUALLY sounds better, a PS1 or PC or otherwise.
realyst's Avatar
realyst at 06/04/2007 16:50
@Niero

Actually, I modded my NES to have stereo output:P (the high bloops go on the left channel and the lower ones on the right).

Final Fantasy 1 never sounded sooo good;)

Clicky
Necros's Avatar
Necros at 06/04/2007 17:01
This may be true for CDs, but I seem to remember hearing comments on the supposed inferiority of the PS1 (and PS2) sound chip for actual games when compared to other disc-based systems. It's not on PS1, but the only example I can specifically remember is Rez sounding better on Dreamcast than PS2.
brainderailment's Avatar
brainderailment at 06/04/2007 19:22
The PS2 has the optical Dolby Digital audio output and now it is still difficult to find a dvd player with that on it along with a surround sound system that is good enough to use it.
tychus's Avatar
tychus at 06/04/2007 20:14
I dont think that any PS1 version is better than PS2 or PS3 in terms of sound

http://www.tychus.com
Doomtrain's Avatar
Doomtrain at 06/04/2007 20:42
You don't need audiophile speakers to make comparisons. When I play these three sound sources over these speakers (a pair of Kenwood JL-630W), I can make comparative judgment to see which is best. It doesn't have to be the best speaker setup possible for me to be able to make a judgment on what sounds better to me.

This is all opinion slinging anyways. There isn't a meter that measures how "good" something sounds. Anyone can listen to anything and say that it's the best sound they've ever heard, or that it's terrible.

All I can make calls on is what sounds best to my ears, and that sure as hell isn't the old busted Playstation.
Grimspoon's Avatar
Grimspoon at 06/04/2007 22:24
The point of using this particular model of PS1 as an audiophile-grade CD player is to use it in a proper audiophile-grade setup, complete with proper speakers.

The people snatching these up on ebay aren't buying it to listen to cds on their wonky sub-100 dollar speakers. They know it won't do their highly trained ears proper justice. They have discovered that in order to experience the true fidelity this cd player has to offer, they have to hear it through high-end speakers. Thats the whole point.

Comapratively speaking, it might not sound so hot on entry-level speakers. Most people probably won't be able to tell much of a difference one way or another which sounds better, listening through proper speakers. Not until you have the means to properly produce the crispness and clarity of the original recordings - through proper speakers - will you begin to see what this model of PS1 has (or for arguments sake, doesnt have) to offer.

Also, the source materal, the quality of the original recording being listened to will make a big difference as well.
Lord_Satorious's Avatar
Lord_Satorious at 06/05/2007 01:24
Screw CDs, digital audio by design includes compression. You know, cutting out those pieces of audio you'll never hear because they claim you'll never hear them? The logic is just oh-so convenient for those wishing to push this newfangled digital technology down our throats.

Reel-to-reel is still the best source of audio, listening to it is basically like having a master copy. However, can you imagine walking around with a huge reel of magnetic tape, listening to your favorite smooth jazz through a pair of wood chamber headphones? Yeah, not exactly as portable a CD and CD player. Oh wait, we have iPods now, even CDs aren't considered portable anymore. When can I just download the music directly to my head, when's that technology coming?
Arco's Avatar
Arco at 06/05/2007 02:06
Here's the real question.

I'm pretty sure I have one of these old-style PSone's. Can't really verify as it's at my Mom's house, but for argument's sake let's say that I do have one. How much can I sell it to the right person for?
MrNoMoniker's Avatar
MrNoMoniker at 06/05/2007 08:23
Alright, here's the deal.

Cd's are digital right? but it's not just play or not play. It IS readable or not readable, but the sound of the output depends on the quality of the Digital to Analog converter (DAC).

So, This box has RCA jacks, which are old school and not particularly awesome, just kind of standard, but apparently it has a really freaking good DAC.
That bundled cables with audio and video are probably not that great, but it's not the output that would make this thing a good component or not.
The digital (optical output) is indeed HiFi, but it's different. Optical cables send the signal digitally, so essentially it'd just be passing the buck to your stereo receiver and the quality of your sound would depend on the DAC in your receiver.

I wouldn't get too excited about selling them though, I do tend to think a large amount of 'audiophile' excitement is really just being able to say, "look, I spent $$$$$$$$ on my CD player" and that wouldn't work as well if it looks like you sit around in your room playing bushido blade all day.
MrNoMoniker's Avatar
MrNoMoniker at 06/05/2007 08:29
oh and Lord Satorius,

Digital audio using Surround sound or MP3/aac/wmv etc. codecs use compression to reduce the data size of the sound, so sound is 'missing'
but a standard CD uses PCM (16 bit 44.1 k) encoding which is NOT compression.
There are better things than PCM (like SACD), but it is a relatively un-tainted signal.
ZombieLifeTaker's Avatar
ZombieLifeTaker at 06/05/2007 17:48
makes me wish my ps1 didnt break :(
Orionsaint's Avatar
Orionsaint at 06/05/2007 18:37
I just called my sister and she has one. woot woot! I told her to put it away. She even has the box. Even if she gets a 1000 for it. That's a good deal. Considering she payed $199 for it in 96
davidm's Avatar
davidm at 06/06/2007 08:56
Recording studios leave their gear on out of laziness. The only components that benefit from being warm are vacuum tubes (which are actually hurt every time you power them on).

The RCA connectors you praise have little bearing on the sound compared to the DA converters on the PS1 (which are horrible BTW). A good DA converter costs more than $200 to manufacture. Unless a $5k CD player is overpriced - a big possibility in the audiophile world - then there is no way the PS1 is more transparent than a *true* high-end device.

This audiophile myth was popular a few years ago too. It was BS then and it is BS now.
spameggspam's Avatar
spameggspam at 06/07/2007 23:17
does anyone remember the ps2 commercial where they show like ps8 or something...
and then theyre like "the future starts here" and shows the ps2

i remember thinking wow yeah playstations are going to be around for a long time...
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