Vintage

Although the Lexicon MC-12 has a single set of analogue inputs for a 5.1 source such as SACD and DVD-A, I didn’t want to get involved with the hassle of configuring it to accept the SCD-XA333ES. I also have another SACD player and a DVD-A player to accommodate. So Sony sent along its TA-P9000ES preamplifier [pictured below], which I am about to laud as the most useful product l’ve seen since the dawn of (non-digital-output) multichannel audio. This device is a godsend.

As you know, the arrival of SACD and DVD-A made obsolete overnight every multichannel processor/preamp or receiver which lacked 5.1 analogue inputs. Additionally, even those which arrived with one set didn’t allow for two 5.1 analogue output sources. It meant (and Pioneer is probably grateful for this) that those who want to use both SACD and DVD-A would have to share the inputs or purchase a universal player.

Not so with Sony’s TA-P9000ES. This substantial line-level only preamp – no processing – is housed in a case which matches the ’333, and it provides three sets of 5.1-channel inputs, a stereo input for two-channel sources and one set of 5.1-channel outs. One of the sets of 5.1 inputs and the stereo inputs completely bypass its active circuitry and can even be used when the unit is switched off at the mains. You can feed an SACD player and a DVD-A player into it, with full control of their volume. At the same time, you can feed a stereo preamp’s output and the output of a multichannel AV processor, such as the Lexicon MC-12, into that bypassed section, using their own volume controls. Thus, all of your connection problems are over. Bar one.

Sonically, the TA-P9000ES is silent, and it tainted the MC-12 not one bit when I used the bypass. I could switch between all multichannel sources via remote, worrying not about swapping leads. To the best of my knowledge, no other company offers a preamp with three sets of six-channel inputs (and a stereo set, too).

Problem? Sony isn’t exactly supplying this as a regular item. What you have to do is ask your local Sony dealer to ask his Sony sales rep to order one. It will set you back £800, but you will thank Sony for the rest of your days if you plan on: 1) having more than one multichannel audio-only source as part of the same system as a multichannel video set-up and 2) aren’t necessarily buying a universal player, such as Pioneer’s DV-747A. So grab one while you can, before it joins Sony’s magnetic isolating feet, the Technics electronic stylus gauge and other Great Lost Hyper-Clever Audio Tools – which all now command collector tariffs... KK