How old is too old?

I went thru quite a batch of near keepers before finding my lightly used Sony xa5400es that members here suggested I try.

It sounds so good, I am still re-discovering my too many CDs, SACDs, and began buying used CDs (whereas I was only listening to/buying Vinyl)

lasers weaken with hours of use, finding the SACD layer can become problematic, so knowing it’s history can help you make a choice.

Prices went up during Covid, so that this is actually a decent price, and has proof of renewal

https://www.ebay.com/itm/205601097465?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338381866&toolid=10001&customid=5797b032-5b36-11f0-9296-646334613235

check to see if replacement lasers are available, these still are

https://www.kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/original-laser-head-fuer-sony-scd-xa5400es-luxman-d30u-nad-m5/3006443430-172-7552

hopping about the site, many discussions of the 5400, I thought this comment fit my experience

"bigtee

803 posts

12-11-2009 at 11:09am 

The Sony sight says they are available.

In answer to your question-NO! A better question would be: Is it any better?

The Sony seems to be one of those "Special" components that pop out of Sony every once and a while. It is killer at its price point.

I have used many high dollar CD players and I now see it was a waste. The Sony competes with any of them.

I will say the Bryston is better built as for the case. I would hope some of the internal components would be better spec'd but Sony has a way. Economy of scale is a wonderful thing".

@petaluman  I brew my own coffee with an espresso machine. It's wonderful. 

If you're looking to reduce your caffeine intake, consider experimenting with teas.  In approximate order from most to least caffeine/drink:

expresso

...

@noromance 

Personally, I'm not much of a caffeine imbiber, but have had many friends into food & drink.  I've consumed everything listed above over the years; these days drink them rarely, and usually at the green tea level.  I've got a hankering to explore the whites, though...  (Living in the birthtown of Lagunitas means I have lots of connections to music & drink through beer).

If the risk of failure inherent to a decades-old mechanical device gives you anticipatory anxiety and curtails your enjoyment of the music, then buy new. If on the other hand you’re like, I’ll just buy another one if this one craps out, or if you or someone you know is able to fix it, then buy old.

It all goes down to knowing yourself and what makes you happy :)

Old Marantz players used Philips transports, back when Philips owned Marantz, and later they did develop their own transports. Personally I would avoid proprietary parts that make you 100% dependent on a single supplier. Major transport makers (Phillips, TEAC, Sony, etc.) usually have major wear parts, or even entire transport units, available to this day.

CDM-family Philips transports are very well built and quite reliable.

There are several units listed on eBay but, caution, some are 230/240 volt Japanese market units.

Power in Japan is 100V

And from the senseless nitpicking dept.: 

I left the world of transports and cd’s when my wonderful Mark Levinson No.37 (Phillips Pro mechanism) died.

@sns Mark Levinson No. 37 use a CDM12IND transport, not the later CD-PRO. At least, mine does. Wonderful piece of kit indeed.

By the time No. 390s came around they may have switched to CD-PRO.