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
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128x128dave_b
Dave_b! very interesting post about the 5400 Sony,you make me very courious.Please tell me if you heare/compare the sound of 5400 with a Accuphase player made after 2000,(year),and what you can say.And ..you try Pc cable from Nordost on this 5400?
No and no, but the Accuphase stuff is known for musicality. Nordost is my least favorite cable company based on past experience.
Thanks Dave_b for your answer! I use now a cd player from Accuphase,(and I am very happy with them),and in the near future I will buy also a Sony 5400,(when I have monney)!
Just recieved a pair of MIT M1.3 Prolines from Joe Abrams at Equus Audio. They are terrific...better than the old Oracle V2.2's I owned last year. Music simply sounds more authentic and accurately voiced.
I bought one through crutchfield and I am on the fence. I give it an 8/10. It's a good deal for the price, but there is plenty of room for improvement. Compared to my recently deceased Audio Research CD-2, the bass is less extended, has a hollow characteristic, and doesn't image as well, the upper bass frequencies are bit exaggerated/punchy, the upper mids/highs have a bit of grain, and the sound stage isn't as wide or deep. The CD-2 is much more extended, refined, detailed, linear, and musical.

The deal breaker for me is that using the sony remote turns the volume down and/or mutes my preamp. What a pain in the arse! I'm constantly readjusting the volume every time I switch tracks via the sony remote.

My system:
-ARC LS22R
-ARC 100.2
-ProAc Response 1.5
-Audio Magic Clairvoyant XLR interconnects
-Harmonic Tech Truth Link ICs
-Audio Magic Sorcerer speaker cables
-Harmonic Tech AC10 PC