Review: Sony SCD-XA5400ES CD Player


Category: Digital

I love natural recordings that capture the full acoustic envelope of the performances. The Shostakovich Sonatas performed by Ax and YYMa comes to mind...the Sony portrays the entire event in such an unforced and natural manner that it triggers ones acoustic memory into believing it is real. A player that offers no tone color or openness would be my worst nightmare. I replaced my BAT VK D5 24 bit CDP and was amazed at how much resolution and color was lost on the older design. The Sony re-creates the space, music and acoustic tones with overtones so completely that you start to smile and realize that you have been given a great gift...a peak into the performance as it occured at the recording session. My opinion of the Sony applies as much for the redbook section as it does for the SACD section. This player will become a classic product for digital playback....much better it does not get! It's a keeper at any price,,,for $1500 USD it is a freakin steal. This is Sony's best effort to date and manages to break new ground in the digital domain:)

Associated gear
Wilson Sophia speakers
Krell 400xi amp
Harmonic Tech Cables
MIT Oracle AC 2 power cord

Similar products
Sony SCD-1
Sony SCD-XA9000ES
Sony SCD-XA777ES
Levinson 39, 390S, 360S
Wadia 851
Krell SACD Standard
MF A5
BAT VK D524bit
ARC CD 3
128x128dave_b
is there any review available on this cdp? i've not found any. moreover i'd be very much interested in some measurement results like the ones in stereophile reviews. some say that the sound of sony is a lttle 'technological': do those of you who listened to this cdp think so?
techradar.com has a full review and Kal Rubinson mentioned it as the best RB/SACD player he has heard to date in Stereophile. With great PC and IC it is definately not "technological" sounding.
techradar realy praises this cdp, but comparison is made with xa9000 only, which it bettered for much less money, this is promising. however they mentioned the yamaha s2000 as a competitor for sony xa5400, and they wonder what would be result in a competition... this realy implies no high leage presence, since they would say mcintosh, accuphase, nagra,wadia or whatever otherwise... i would be interested in any direct comparison of this cdp... on the otherhand stereophile reviewers use quite a few times sony xa9000 (or other sony, if i remember well) as a reference (which surprised me at first, because i thought sony had small reputation among audiophiles), which again means xa5400 could be in reference leage...
Crimhead, I owned Levinson No. 39, 390s, 360s&37combo, Wadia 861se, MFA5, ARC CD3, Sony SCD-1, Meridian G8 and a few others. I love the XA5400ES...maybe that helps a little:O)
NO DIGITAL INPUT? I reviewed the official specs and did not see a digital input. This would mean that one cannot access the DAC to stream digital from computer. Seems an odd and severe limitation these days. Am I reading this correctly?