Modwright Ultimate Sony xa5400 sacd -Review

Hello to all This is the 200 hour mark on this Ultimate truth mod of the Sony 5400 sacd player ..The last time I wrote of my initial impressions I was very impressed for a 1st listen ,that has not changed just the machine itself has done through several changes this week.At the 125 hr
mark the player was sounding cloudy if you will. 24 hrs later at the 150 hr mark it started to op up the music is now starting to open up past the boundarys of the speakers
and the front to back layering of the instruments has a solid 20 % more depth .not much change for the next 2 days I am now at Sat 200 hrs and the detail is very good , today another change though it is a little tipped up in the high frequencies but the performance is still full of excellent detail, and excellent seperation between the instruments several people have commented that even their $8k turn table had no where the Bass articulation and slam my cdp does perhaps besides the superb parts quality with the Modwright oil caps and such the 15 lb power supply creates loads of dead quiet background and seperation I am now part of the performance ,and we are only at the 1/2 way point , next Sat will be at the point where the caps have stopped changing and and will start to refining the performance 500 hours is the magic mumber Next week 350 mark ,tune in BTW my freind has a Bryston dac run by a oppo as a transport even new My rig is so much more you are there sounding .

Audioman,
Is this your first Modwright product you've owned? They're pretty dang awesome aren't they? I had a 9000 es Signature which changed my thoughts about digital. I'm hoping to get a Modwright 9100 from Dan who says it will sound much better than a stock 5400--not as good as the mod you have, however. Heck, if it's much better the the 9000, I will probably need extra q-tips to clean up after the eargasm that will ensue. Keep letting the Goners know how it's progressing with further breakin. Now if I can get my analog section to its level or better, that will be nice.

In reference to Modwrights most advanced player and power supply the Sony 5400 incorporates both, also something to mention is that your standard $5k cd player has only less than a $5.00 master clock ,yes your read this correctly and jitter 30-50x as much as the $250 precision Audiocom-4
Masterclock that also has it's regulated enclosed regulation that is temperature controled for optimum operation ,Audiocom is the only Co. currently doing this .
This complements the huge 12lb seperate OTL Vacuum tube power supply for the highly sensitive analog section
It takes a long time to run in .I will be back on the weekend to give my observations on the 300 hr + breakin
on my Sony 5400.

My Modwright 5400 cdp now have over 300 hours on it and it took a solid 200 for it to start opening up it still has 200 more hours to be at it's best .So far the instrumental layering of instruments has improved a solid 15% deeper as well as the soundstage the unit sounds much more at ease than it did a week ago.the top end has gotton much smoother as well as the Bass getting better .Is it perfect no nothing is, but it is far better than most units I have heard and much more moneys and it still has a solid week to go and from what
have been told the refinement as well as inner detail will go to another level .I will tell as exactly as I hear it
stay tuned next weekend .

Hello to all I would like to make a correction the tubes
on the player end are 6sn7 Sylvania yellow label chrome domes , and Mullard steel ring 5ar4 for the power supply
which is over 10 lbs for those who would like to know specifics, also the tone of this cd player is excellent .
MY buudy has a $5k Ayon that has won a few awards
and it is not even close Dan hit this one out of the park
I have no disire to have a turntable when my player gives all the body and tonality I have been missing with my
Accustic arts 2 transport and dac that was over $13k
my Modwright Sony 5400 beats in every dept as all that have come over can attest to and it still have at least another 100 hours to finish refining.As they say what's under the hood that counts most. ONce my New amplifier comes in I would be happy to have audiophiles from the N.E
come over to hear it - Next month.
I just ordered the New KWA 100 SE amplifier and this should truly help add to the mix.

I would love to hear it in your system, kindly let us know when.

Bob

Boy what an informative! A few weeks ago I was ready to pull the trigger on a 5400 when I found out that Sony no longer makes the machine and no longer manufacture SACD parts. Who knew. Drat. My next choice was a PWT-PWD mostly for its sound, connectibility and futureproofing. A week later I made a call to Dan!

Hello That is not true due about the 5400 due to the outcry in Europe Sony has started making production again and rule of thumb for the record by Law all parts have to be readilly available
for 5 years ,for I also asked Dan what if , I needed a transport he sid no problem around $150 if that happened ,but they are solid- For the record.

Audioman58: What is the source of your information that "Sony has started making production again" on the xa5400es ?

I cannot imagine an "outcry" for a $1500 CD player sufficient to influence a company as big as Sony. I'm not saying it's not true, but it's difficult to believe that many people are demanding a CD player that the average person would consider insanely priced.

I do have a Sony mod by Dan for six years now I did not
have the desire to replace it.I have the 9000es Sony.Its
all worth the money I spend,what I like is the musicality
and the palpability.

Every player gets a certain lease on life. What is the big deal. You can still find these Sony's brand new to buy. I just bought one from NJ. My Pioneer Plasma was put to rest, but that didn't stop me from buying it. I still have the best black levels and Panasonic had two years to catch up, not even close.